Henne helps Dolphins rally by Bucs 25-23

MIAMI - In a fourth quarter that had comebacks by young quarterbacks, Chad Henne came out on top with seconds to spare.

Henne directed a 77-yard scoring drive in the final 1:10, and Dan Carpenter kicked a 25-yard field goal with 10 seconds left to give the Miami Dolphins a wild 25-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Henne's heroics spoiled the Bucs' comeback led by Josh Freeman, who rallied his team in the fourth quarter for the second time in two NFL starts. The rookie shook off an awful first half and led his team to a pair of late touchdowns.

The Dolphins (4-5) won despite losing running back Ronnie Brown to a right ankle injury in the third quarter. The Bucs (1-8) were unable to build momentum after beating Green Bay a week earlier.

An ill-advised pass by Henne was intercepted to set up the Bucs' go-ahead score with 1:14 left, and following the kickoff, the Dolphins started from their own 16. Henne hit Davone Bess for gains of 25 and 16 yards, and Ricky Williams ran for 27 yards to the 7.

Carpenter then kicked his fourth field goal, more than compensating for the extra-point attempt he had blocked in the first quarter.

Henne, a second-year pro, finished 17 for 31 for 175 yards and improved to 4-2 as a starter. Williams ran for 102 yards, and Brown rushed for 82 and a touchdown before his injury.

Miami tight end Kory Sperry, signed from the practice squad Saturday, caught a touchdown pass in his NFL debut. A replay reversal helped the Dolphins score 10 points in the final 1:25 of the first half.

The Dolphins' defense stymied Freeman in the first half, when he had a lower quarterback rating than Miami backup Pat White, who went 0 for 1.

Freeman fumbled a snap under center and the Dolphins recovered to end a Bucs scoring threat. He mishandled a shotgun snap and lost 13 yards to stall another drive. He fumbled twice when sacked, although the Bucs recovered each time.

Then Freeman hit Maurice Stovall with a 33-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the final period to cut Miami's lead to 19-16. Linebacker Quincy Black intercepted Henne at the Dolphins' 26 with 1:43 left, setting up Carnell Williams' 1-yard touchdown run to put the Bucs ahead — but only briefly.

A replay review helped Miami build a 13-point halftime lead. With the Bucs at their own 4, Michael Clayton bobbled a pass and Miami's Jason Taylor snatched the ball. The throw initially was ruled incomplete, but following a replay review — and a penalty on the Bucs for unsportsmanlike conduct — the officials credited Taylor with an interception and gave the Dolphins the ball at the Bucs' 8.

Miami scored two play later when Henne hit Sperry for a 5-yard score with 1:25 left in the first half. The Dolphins quickly forced a punt and moved 40 yards for a field goal and a 19-6 lead.

Ted Ginn Jr. was back in the Dolphins' starting lineup, and he drew boos when he dropped a potential 40-yard completion on their first play. Miami regrouped to mount a 77-yard TD drive, with Brown's 45-yard run from the wildcat setting up the score.

The Bucs' Connor Barth made the three longest field goals of his career, hitting from 51, 50 and 54 yards without a miss. Tampa Bay came into the game 3 for 9 on field-goal attempts, worst in the NFL.