Ben Watson had a career-high 10 catches and the Browns only touchdown.
View full sizeBen Watson had a short stroll to the end zone after being uncovered after catching Jake Delhomme's 3-year toss in the third quarter Sunday.MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Ben Watson must be making the Patriots sorry they ever let him go.
Watson, who signed with the Browns as an unrestricted free agent after six seasons in New England, had a career-high 10 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown Sunday against the Dolphins. He now leads the team with 574 receiving yards and is second with 50 receptions (Peyton Hillis has 53). He also leads with three receiving touchdowns.
"Ben had an outstanding game," said coach Eric Mangini. "I'm happy with the way guys continue to work and they resilience they're showing."
Watson said it felt like a career day for him, although he did have a 107 yards and two TDs in a New England win over the Browns in 2007.
"It was great to be able to contribute," he said. "That's why you play the position, to get a chance to go out there and make plays like that. I'm definitely thankful for the win above all else. This team fought to the end and was able to pull out a win."
Watson's 50 catches are a career high, one more than in 2006. He's on pace for 765 receiving yards, which would also be a personal best. Seven catches and 74 of his 100 yards came in the second half when the Browns opened things up.
"It was a combination of the defense, playcalling, of Jake [Delhomme] making those throws," he said. "We wanted to come in and take what the defense gave us, and that's what they were giving us, so we took it."
On the second drive of the third quarter, Watson caught passes of 20 and 22 yards to set up Phil Dawson's 47-yard field goal attempt, which hit the left upright. On the next drive, he caught a 15-yarder that led to his own 3-yard TD.
"It was a play we practiced," he said of the score. "I had a little crossing route and Jake just waited for me and threw the ball. It just opened up, kind of like how we worked on."
The only pass thrown his way that Watson didn't catch was the one almost picked off by cornerback Nolan Carroll, who dropped what would have been a likely TD with 1:44 left.
"It was close," said Watson. "We've got a lot of sight adjustments and stuff like that built in. Sometimes [defenders] jump stuff, and fortunately for us he didn't pick it off."
No respect: Dolphins defensive end Kendall Langford revealed a possible reason why the Dolphins lost.
"I thought we were going to beat the ---- out of Cleveland. Just like everybody else did," said Langford. "But, it didn't happen like that. Like I said, it's a big disappointment."
Someone must have forgot to tell him about the Saints and Patriots.
Roth's homecoming: Linebacker Matt Roth got what he came for: a victory against the team that unceremoniously dumped him last year. Roth made four tackles, but was flagged 15 yards for unnecessary roughness when his helmet grazed Chad Henne's after a scramble.
"I didn't hit him hard," said Roth. "I just came inside on a pass rush move and Henne was there and we kind of just barely tapped helmets. I didn't think it was a foul. Hopefully I don't get fined for it. It was nothing dirty towards Henne. I like the guy."
Roth revealed that an arbitration hearing against the Dolphins for events surrounding his waiver last year is a couple of months away.
"I feel 100 percent confident I'll win that," he said. "I came here and got my win. It's everything I wanted to do."
Roth also admitted he's still not fully recovered from a recent virus.
"I wasn't feeling too good the last couple weeks and I had to muster the energy to come in here," he said. "I knew this was a big game for us and obviously this was my old team."
Good day in front of friends: Safety Abe Elam had an interception against his hometown team in the second quarter that led to a field goal. Elam, from nearby Riviera Beach, had 100 people at the game, including 50 underprivileged kids from his Team Elam Foundation.
"It was crazy," he said. "Pulling up to the stadium, I was in tears because I remember dreaming as a little kid, praying and hoping to one day be able to play in this stadium. Now I'm living it out, so it was great. I'm thankful for the win. My team, they played well, and it was very exciting."
Elam led the team with seven tackles and had his third straight game with a big play. In Jacksonville, he had an interception and fumble recovery for a touchdown. Last week, he had two sacks.
"I'm just steady doing my job, being consistent, being able to step up when my number's called and being what our team needs," said Elam. "I don't think my preparation has changed. I don't think my play has changed. Just when those opportunities come, I'm making those plays now."
Letting his play speak: Shaun Rogers blocked a field goal, made a shoe-string tackle of Henne in the fourth quarter and sacked Henne in the second.
"Just another day at the office," he said, declining to answer further questions.
His 14 blocked field goals are the most since the stat started being kept in 1992. Among active players, Chicago's Julius Peppers is second with 10.
A happy spectator: David Bowens had no idea where the ball went after he deflected Henne's fourth-quarter pass towards Mike Adams for the decisive pick.
"I was looking for it, I didn't know where it went, then out of my periphery I saw Mike. He had a little Easter basket. It was awesome. It was sweet. I'm glad we made some plays to help our team win."
Explained Adams: "We were in a Cover 5 and my man was in the backfield. As he blocked I started to blitz, go in and sack the quarterback. I saw him release the ball, D-Bo got his hand up, and it was Merry Christmas."
A hard day's work for Phil: Dawson's 23-yard field goal as time expired was his 14th career game-winner and second in as many games.
"It was pretty intense wind," Dawson said. "It seemed to pick up as the day went on. A lot of gusts, a lot of swirling. I've got to give the guys who kick here every week a lot of credit. Everybody thinks 'We're going to Florida, it's going to be a nice, easy day.' It definitely wasn't easy today. One of the tougher days we've had all season."
Earlier, Dawson smacked a 47-yarder off the left upright.
"Sometimes the ball doesn't do what you think in the air," he said. "I didn't expect that one to go to the left quite as much as it did. Those are the kind that hurt."
Extra points: Tight end Evan Moore left with a hip injury and didn't return. ... Dolphins Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall was inactive with a hamstring. "It was easier to win without him, but you always want to play the best," said Joe Haden. ... Former Buckeye Brian Hartline left with a finger injury in the second half. ... Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter's 60-yard field goal was his career long and longest in Dolphins history. ... Over the last two years, Mangini is 5-1 during December/January, winning the last five contests.