NFL: Fiedler tosses a gem

With four touchdowns -- three passing and one rushing -- Thursday, Fiedler led the Dolphins past the Cowboys, 40-21, in the Thanksgiving Day classic at Texas Stadium.

Fiedler threw all three touchdown passes (39, 6, and 35) to wideout Chris Chambers.

In his second game back from a knee injury, Fiedler was almost flawless. He completed 16 for 20 for 239 yards --- with two of the passes intentional spikes to stop the clock. Most importantly, Fiedler didn't throw any interceptions.

The Miami victory revenges a 20-0 loss four years ago at Dallas in which Marino threw five interceptions. The future Hall of Famer never won on Turkey Day.

With the same confidence that sparked the Dolphins to a fourth- quarterback against Washington Sunday, Fiedler basted the Dallas secondary, especially cornerback Mario Edwards, with deep and accurate passing.

"The confidence is very high right now," Fiedler said. "I felt I was throwing the ball better downfield today -- don't know if anything has changed since my injury. I have just been on the last four or five days."

Miami has been on, too.

With its third straight win, Miami improves to 8-4 and moves within a game and a half of New England, next's week opponent, in the AFC East. The Cowboys who were tied for the lead in the NFC East drop to 8-4, also.

Jason Taylor, who scored a touchdown on a 34-yard fumble recovery, hopes that beating a "so-called" Super Bowl contender in Dallas finally will get Miami some respect.

"We beat a team that most people were talking about," Taylor said. "People don't give us a lot of credit or what if ever you want to call it but every thing leading up to this game was about the Tuna and Cowboys going to the Super Bowl."

The Dolphins took advantage of several misplayed Cowboys' coverages and five turnovers.

Dallas coach Bill Parcells said the mistakes were due to a lack of maturity. The loss was unsettling for him.

"We had no chance at a win today," Parcells said "I am a little embarrassed that we came out here on Thanksgiving, on a national broadcast, and played like that."

After coming off an impressive win over Carolina, Dallas came out flat. The Dolphins defense didn't help matters holding the Cowboys to just 91 yards of rushing. Quarterback Quincy Carter shared his coach's sentiment.

"We took it personal," said Carter, who had impressive numbers -- completing 24 for 40 for 288 yards and two touchdowns -- but threw three interceptions.

"We just came out today and played flat. We understand (coach) is embarrassed. We're all embarrassed."

From the start, Miami attacked the Cowboys through the air.

On the first play, Chambers got behind Edwards on a simple down and out pattern but Fiedler floated the pass. Basically, his only poor pass of the game. But Edwards ran into Chambers, who came back for the ball, drawing a 30-yard pass interference penalty. Seven plays later, Fiedler plunged in from the 1-yard line to give the Dolphins a 7-0 lead.

In was the first time in 21 games that the Cowboys had allowed an opponent a touchdown on its first drive. The opening play didn't go for a completion but it was a sign of things to come.

In the second quarter, Chambers burned Edwards with the same move again. This time, Fiedler was right on the mark, hitting his favorite target on a 39-yard touchdown pass.

With just 16 seconds left in the half, Fiedler found Chambers open again. With a leaping grab and some fancy footwork at the back of the end zone, the 5 foot 11 wide receiver put the Dolphins ahead 23-14 at the intermission.

The officials reviewed the play but the replay clearly showed that Chambers came got both feet in bounds. Chambers, who finished the game with five catches for 96 yards, gave much of the credit to the game plan compiled by offensive coordinator Norv Turner. Turner said he tried to keep it short and sweet because of the short week.

"Just the way we came out in the game I think it was a great game plan," said Chambers, who added 35-yard touchdown in the third quarter. "It was simplified we didn't have many plays we had to worry about. We played aggressive and it was one of the first games that we played all four quarters as a team and as an offense."

After building the lead, the Dolphins turned the ball over to Ricky Williams, who recorded his third straight 100-yard game.

With 104 yards on 31 carries, Williams surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the second-straight season.

The 40 points was the most Miami has scored since the 2002 season opener against San Diego.

Just over a minute into the third quarter, the defense got into the scoring act, too. Taylor scooped a Carter fumble, forced by Adewale Ogunleye, and rumbled unscathed 34 yards for a touchdown.

"I don't think anyone saw it," said Taylor, who also recorded a sack, "I got to the sidelines and that was it."

Much of the talk before the game was about the quick four- day turnaround between games.

Now, the Dolphins will have 10 days to prepare for the pivotal- game against New England.

"We need to play with the same passion and confidence, next week against New England," Fiedler said. "As we have in the past few weeks."