NFL Dolphins gain momentum with rout of reeling Dallas

Miami has won three straight, while the Cowboys have lost three of six.
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Both are 8-4 and in second place in their respective divisions.
Yet, while the Miami Dolphins are gaining confidence, coach Bill Parcells isn't so sure about his Cowboys any more -- especially after Dallas' 40-21 loss on Thursday.
"I just don't think our team quite has the maturity yet to understand the kind of situation we're going to get ourselves in," Parcells said. "We've still got a lot on the line and I don't know whether we can do it or not."
The Cowboys have lost three of six games since a five-game winning streak. Just four days after an impressive win over Carolina, Parcells said his team should be embarrassed.
Miami has won three straight and is 5-1 on the road, the kind of momentum the Dolphins need considering their history of disastrous Decembers and a schedule that could set them up for another: at New England a week from Sunday, then home against Philadelphia.
"We have to keep it going. It doesn't get any easier," linebacker Zach Thomas said.
Cruise control
Not many games will be easier than Thursday.
Jay Fiedler threw three touchdown passes to Chris Chambers and ran for another score in his first start after being out a month with a sprained left knee. He was 16-of-20 for 239 yards, and Miami scored its most points since 49 in the 2002 season opener.
Fiedler's 1-yard plunge on the game's opening drive was set up when Chambers drew a 30-yard pass interference penalty against Mario Edwards on the first play of the game.
"The confidence is very high right now," said Fiedler, who replaced Brian Griese in the second half Sunday against Washington in a comeback win. "We have to play with some passion and confidence next week against New England as we have been the past few weeks."
Miami is 11/2 games behind the Patriots in the AFC East and 11/2 games ahead of Denver and Cincinnati for the conference's final wild-card spot.
Falling back
Dallas dropped out of a first-place tie with the Eagles in the NFC East, and out of a four-way tie for the best record in the conference. The Cowboys play three of their last four games on the road, and are at Philadelphia next.
"Sometimes you just come out flat and get beat. We don't have any excuses," Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter said. "We understand [Parcells] is embarrassed. We're all embarrassed."
Carter's 27-yard TD pass to Richie Anderson with 2:44 left in the first half got Dallas to 17-14. But the Dolphins answered before halftime, with Chambers stretching for a 6-yard TD, tapping the tips of his toes while falling out of the back of the end zone.
Then, on the third snap of the second half, Carter fumbled when defensive end Adewale Ogunleye tapped the ball loose. Jason Taylor returned it 34 yards for a 30-14 lead.
"We're definitely happy with the win, but we're not satisfied," Taylor said. "We know we have to stay poised for the next four games."
Fiedler threw only three passes after that. The Dolphins protected the lead by handing off to Ricky Williams, who finished with 104 yards to go over 1,000 yards for the fourth straight season, the last two in Miami.
Tampa Bay's Michael Pittman had been the only runner to go over 100 yards against the NFL's top-ranked defense.