Maybe it’s too bad the Rams don’t play the Dolphins this season.
While St. Louis put 41 points on the board Sunday at Atlanta, its NFL-record 10th straight game with 30 or more, Miami was setting a standard of its own.
Miami became the first team in NFL history to allow just one touchdown in its first four games, holding the Patriots to 210 yards and a field goal in a 10-3 victory Sunday at home.
“The scary thing is we can still play better,” defensive end Kenny Mixon said.
Miami has allowed just 22 points, the first team to give up that few since the Atlanta Falcons gave up 19 in their first four games of the 1977 season.
The Dolphins have surrendered 22 points in victories against New England, Seattle (23-0), Baltimore (19-6) and a loss to Minnesota (13-7).
“We’ve got to do it again next week,” safety Brock Marion said. “Our plan every week is to create turnovers, keep their offense out of the end zone and even off the field.”
Next week that shouldn’t be a problem. The Dolphins face Cincinnati, which has one touchdown in three games.
EMERGENCY
Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher decided to hold Steve McNair out of the lineup Sunday, going with Neil O’Donnell at quarterback against Pittsburgh.
McNair, who bruised his sternum two weeks ago and was hospitalized for two days, was going to play only if something happened to O’Donnell.
Something happened with 2 minutes 35 seconds left in a game the Steelers were leading 20-16. A bloodied O’Donnell staggered off the field after being sacked.
McNair, who had limited practice time all week, took a few warmup tosses and entered on to a third-and-11 situation at the Titans’ 36. He completed a pass right away, a 22-yarder to Chris Sanders for a first down, then ran for 9 yards before taking a hit as his stunned coach looked on.
Fisher said he yelled for McNair to slide before being hit, but said, “That’s how Steve is.”
McNair was fine. Derek Mason caught a pass for 15 yards to the Steelers’ 18, and McNair found a wide-open Erron Kinney wide open for what turned out to be the winning TD in a 23-20 victory.
“Steve’s a hero,” Titans running back Eddie George said. “He’s done this numerous times. When our backs are to the wall, he comes out and makes plays. That’s why he’s Steve McNair.”
NOT ON MY STAR
San Francisco defeated the Cowboys 41-24 Sunday in Dallas, and receiver Terrell Owens rubbed it in by going to midfield after both of his touchdown catches to celebrate on the Cowboys’ star logo.
Emmitt Smith responded to Owens’ first outburst with his own midfield celebration after a 1-yard TD just before halftime that closed the Cowboys to 17-10.
When Owens caught a 1-yard TD pass with 4:05 left to make it 41-17, he again took off toward midfield. This time, Dallas safety George Teague followed Owens and leveled him as he went to kneel on the logo.
Teague was ejected.
“You don’t disrespect someone in front of their home crowd, but I guess that’s his style,” Smith said of Owens. “This game is played with a lot of emotion, and it shows when you are both winning and losing.
“Teague did not make a good decision by going after Owens, but he did what he had to do, and I liked it.”
San Francisco and Dallas, two teams that played each other in six NFC championship games and have combined to play in 13 Super Bowls, are both 1-3 this season.
TURNAROUND
Vinny Testaverde is 16-2 as a starter for the New York Jets after Sunday’s 21-17 victory over Tampa Bay. He was 24-48 with Tampa Bay from 1987-91.
NOT MUCH TO SAY
The Bengals (0-3) have been outscored 74-7 this year. Dating back to last season, Cincinnati has lost five straight, three by shutout.
After Sunday’s 37-0 defeat at Baltimore, Cincinnati coach Bruce Coslet was brief.
“I’m going to be short,” he said. “You saw the game. Congratulations to the Ravens. They played a heck of a football game and we didn’t play very well at all. I’ll just leave it at that. Thanks.”
