MIAMI, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Cornerback Patrick Surtain returned an interception 29 yards for the go-ahead score 3:08 into the second quarter Sunday as the Miami Dolphins downed the Carolina Panthers, 23-6.
Surtain grabbed a pass that was deflected by safety Brian Walker, bounced off tacklers and raced into the end zone, snapping a 3-3 tie.
It was the first interception by a Dolphins defensive back since Week 1 at Tennessee and the 12th interception thrown by rookie Chris Weinke this season.
"B Walk (Walker) made a great break on the ball but he was bobbling it and it didn't seem like he wanted it," Surtain said. "And I just happened to be there. It bounced in my hands and I took it into the end zone."
Miami's only offensive touchdown came five seconds into the final quarter when quarterback Jay Fiedler threw to fullback Rob Konrad for a five-yard score.
"I think they were in man-to-man (coverage)," Fiedler said. "The guy who had Rob got caught up in the fake and Rob came out clean."
Fiedler passed for 287 yards, completing 20 of 33 attempts with one interception.
The Dolphins (5-2) remain in first place in the AFC East while the Panthers (1-7) suffered their seventh straight loss, matching a franchise worst set in 1998.
Weinke, who finished only none of 22 for 158 yards, suffered a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder and received a cortisone shot at halftime. He started the second half but was ineffective and was replaced by Dameyune Craig.
"It hurts more that we lost another game," Weinke said. "That's the bottom line. We took care of it at halftime and I felt like I would be able to go out there and get it done."
"He was cleared to play and went in at the beginning of the second half," Carolina coach George Seifert said. "I felt the shot was affecting him so I took him out of the game."
Craig was also taken out when he injured his left hip and was replaced by lefthander Matt Lytle.
The game was played in inclement weather on the fringes of Hurricane Michelle.
Miami opened the scoring with 3:54 left in the first quarter when Olindo Mare booted a 36-yard field goal, one of three in the game. Mare has not missed a field-goal attempt this season in 11 attempts.
John Kasay answered for Carolina with a 27-yarder of his own with just 19 seconds left in the quarter.
After Surtain gave the Dolphins the lead, Kasay connected on a 20-yarder with 6:56 left in the first half, cutting the Panthers deficit to 10-6, but the 11-year veteran came up short just over four minutes later when he missed from 51 yards out.
Mare connected on a 45-yard attempt with 1:01 remaining in the half, giving Miami a 13-6 advantage at halftime.
Carolina had a fourth and two play at the Miami 40 with just over three minutes left in the third, but Craig's pass was broken up by Surtain, giving the ball back to the Dolphins.
"Miami played a good game," Seifert said. "The interception for a touchdown was certainly key. Later in the game, when we didn't convert a fourth-down, that was pivotal in the game."
"It was just an outstanding effort defensively," Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said. "Guys did a heck of a job keeping them out of the end zone."
Fiedler drove Miami 60 yards in six plays, culminating in Konrad's five-yard touchdown reception.
After the Panthers were forced to punt from Miami's 40 with 10:02 left, the Dolphins used 3:59 of the clock and drove 73 yards in eight plays, setting up a 29-yard field goal by Mare, capping the scoring.
Carolina went three-and-out in its next two possessions, failing to pass midfield both times.
"We're not going to sit here and make excuses," Weinke said. "And for myself to make excuses would be wrong."
