Week 12 Game Recap: Miami Dolphins 33, Oakland Raiders 21

What you need to know

Miami Dolphins

A week after Nick Saban declared the final score did not matter the Dolphins took a game on the road in hostile Oakland. Gus Frerotte played a very efficient game completing 18 of 31 pass attempts for 261 yards and a touchdown and an interception. His touchdown came on the Dolphins’ initial possession on a beautiful 44 yard strike to Brian Gilmore.

The rushing game for the Dolphins was split straight down the middle with Ronnie Brown carrying 15 times for 58 yards and a touchdown. Ricky Williams had 16 carries for 82 yards including a 34 yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. Chris Chambers led all receivers with 101 yards on six catches while being targeted 11 times.

The Dolphins were penalized seven times for a total of 70 yards.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders continue to find ways to shoot themselves in the foot. They also continue to minimize Randy Moss’ ability to contribute. Moss was targeted five times on the game and once in the first half. Their other free agent signing Lamont Jordan finished the game with 97 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns. He also added another 47 yards on seven receptions. While Moss finished with three total touches on the game Jordan had an incredible 30 touches and was targeted on 13 pass plays.

Kerry Collins was often under pressure and was sacked seven times. Collins finished 21 for 37 for 226 yards no touchdowns and was intercepted twice. One interception came at the end of the first half on a Hail Mary pass. Collins’ favorite target not named Jordan was TE Courtney Anderson. Anderson finished with five catches for 50 yards on nine targets.

The Raiders were penalized 13 times for 90 yards.

What you ought to know

QB Gus Frerotte, Pass: 18 - 31 - 261 - 2 TD / 1 INT

Frerotte completed 18 of 31 attempts for 261 yards and two touchdowns. He was victimized by a number of drops on the day. His passes were crisp and with the exception of his interception in the end zone in the first quarter, his passes were accurate.

RB Ricky Williams, Rush: 16 - 82 - 1, Rec: 2 - 13 - 0 (2 targets)

Williams continues to split carries evenly with Ronnie Brown. Williams’ 34 yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter was pretty much the clincher on this game. He carried the ball 16 times for 82 yards and added two catches for thirteen yards.

RB Ronnie Brown, Rush: 15 - 58 - 1, Rec: 2 - 23 - 0 (4 targets)

Brown and Ricky Williams continue to alternate series. Brown’s touchdown came on a one yard dive and he finished with 15 carries for 58 yards and two catches for another 23 yards. He did have two costly fumbles.

WR Chris Chambers, Rush: 1 - 5 - 0, Rec: 6 - 101 - 0 (11 targets)

Chambers was Frerotte’s favorite target on the day finishing with six catches for 101 yards. He could have had a much better game except he had a couple of costly drops on the game. He contributed five yards on a reverse as well.

WR Bryan Gilmore, Rec: 1 - 44 - 1 (3 targets)

Gilmore started the scoring for the Dolphins hauling in a 44 yard strike from Frerotte on Miami’s third play from scrimmage. Had it not been for an outstanding read by Oakland free safety Stuart Schweigert Gilmore may have had two touchdowns on the day. Instead his only catch on his three targets was the touchdown.

WR Wes Welker, Rec: 1 - 16 - 0 (2 targets)

Welker had one catch for 16 yards.

TE Randy McMichael, Rec: 4 - 59 - 1 (8 targets)

McMichael is Frerotte’s second option in the Miami passing game. He turned eight targets into four catches for 59 yards and a touchdown.

PK Olindo Mare 1 - 2 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 7 points

Mare was one for two on field goal attempts. He connected from 27 yards out to complete the Miami scoring. His miss came from 38 yards out. Mare also converted his four extra point attempts.

MIA Rush Defense

The Dolphins rush defense allowed the Raiders to rush for 4.8 yards per attempt including an 18 yard touchdown scramble by Kerry Collins. Linebacker Derrick Pope led the Dolphins with seven tackles.

MIA Pass Defense

The Dolphins pass defense allowed 226 yards passing but did not allow a touchdown to the Raiders. They finished with seven sacks of Collins including three each by Jason Taylor and Vonnie Holliday. One of Taylor’s sacks went for a safety. The Dolphins also had two interceptions with Travares Tillman and Lance Shulters contributing one a piece.

QB Kerry Collins, Pass: 21 - 37 - 226 - 0 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 2 - 23 - 1

Collins spent most of the afternoon trying to avoid the Dolphins’ pass rush. He was sacked seven times and intercepted twice, one being an end of half Hail Mary attempt. He finished with 226 yards on 21 of 37 attempts. Collins did have an 18 yard scramble for a touchdown.

RB Lamont Jordan, Rush: 23 - 97 - 2, Rec: 7 - 47 - 0 (13 targets)

Jordan was the entire Raiders’ offense in the first quarter and finished the first half with 20 touches. He had finished the game with 97 yards on 23 carries and two rushing touchdowns. He also had seven catches for 47 yards. Jordan’s longest run of the day, a 22 yard jaunt, was called back on an offensive holding call.

RB Zack Crockett, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (1 targets)

Crockett turned his only target into a catch for three yards.

WR Jerry Porter, Rec: 3 - 57 - 0 (8 targets)

Porter turned three catches into 57 yards. He had a ball go through his hands in the end zone.

WR Randy Moss, Rec: 3 - 28 - 0 (5 targets)

Whether it is injuries or coverage Moss is still not getting the looks one would expect a receiver of his caliber to get. Moss finished with a paltry 23 yards on three catches and was targeted only five times on the game. He received one look in the first half against what had been considered a suspect Miami secondary.

WR Alvis Whitted, Rec: 1 - 18 - 0 (2 targets)

Whitted had one catch for 18 yards.

WR Doug Gabriel, Rec: 1 - 23 - 0 (4 targets)

Gabriel had 23 yards on his only catch but did cost himself a 34 yard touchdown when he illegally caught the football after stepping out of bounds on the route.

TE Courtney Anderson, Rec: 5 - 50 - 0 (9 targets)

Anderson was Collins’ second favorite target on the day. He converted five of his nine targets into 50 yards. He and Jordan served as Collins’ safety valves against the pass rush being put on by the Dolphins.

PK Sebastian Janikowski 0 - 0 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 3 points

Janikowski converted all three of his extra point attempts.

OAK Rush Defense

The Raiders allowed 4.5 yards per carry to the Dolphins. They did force two Ronnie Brown fumbles. Defensive back Renaldo Hill led the team in tackles with nine.

OAK Pass Defense

The pass defense allowed 261 yards and two touchdowns to Gus Frerotte. Derrick Burgess had two of the team’s three sacks and Stuart Schweigert contributed a touchdown saving interception.