New England Wins on a Miss, 6-3

MIAMI — Tony Franklin’s kicking helped the New England Patriots win several games over the past four seasons, and Sunday night he did it again.

Now kicking for the Miami Dolphins, Franklin missed three field-goal attempts--including a 23-yarder with 7 minutes left--and the Patriots escaped with a 6-3 victory.

When he missed the final time, former teammate Johnny Rembert had a few words for Franklin.

“I said, ‘Thank you, Tony, we needed that. Thank you very much,’ ” Rembert said.

The kick was Franklin’s first miss from inside 30 yards since 1985. He was wide left with a 54-yard try at the end of the first half and wide right with a 50-yarder in the third period.

Miami (5-7) moved 64 yards to the New England 6 before Franklin missed. Franklin, who joined the Dolphins 5 weeks ago when Fuad Reveiz was injured, avoided reporters after the game.

Jason Staurovsky kicked field goals of 22 and 34 yards as the Patriots (7-5) won their fourth straight game. Franklin kicked a 27-yard field goal in the first quarter.

The Patriots won for the seventh straight time against the Dolphins. Rembert had 9 tackles to lead a defense that limited Marino to 169 yards on 19 completions in 29 attempts.

“I have to take a lot of the responsibility,” Marino said. “I could have made the throws when we got down close, but I just didn’t.”

The Patriots have a 6-2 record since Doug Flutie took over at quarterback. Rookie John Stephens rushed for 88 yards in 20 carries.