A Madison-Avenue Defense

MIAMI — With a second-string quarterback and first-rate defense, the Miami Dolphins smothered one of the NFL’s hottest teams.

So what does Sunday night’s 17-0 victory over the Tennessee Titans say about the Dolphins?

“There was no statement,” Coach Jimmy Johnson said. “The only statement we’re making right now is we’re better than seven teams we’ve played. We’ve got a lot more to play.”

The Dolphins, with their best start since 1990, are AFC front-runners at 7-1 along with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Damon Huard--the replacement for the injured Dan Marino--threw two touchdown passes and Sam Madison intercepted Steve McNair three times.

Tennessee fell to 6-2 and was shut out for the first time since it lost 34-0 as the Houston Oilers, at Kansas City in 1989.

Huard improved to 3-0 as a starter, completing 15 of 25 for 210 yards with four sacks but no interceptions.

“The biggest thing is, I’ve screamed at him and screamed at him, ‘Do not throw the ball into coverage,’ ” Johnson said. “If there’s any question he won’t throw it into coverage. He’ll take the sack. When you don’t turn the ball over, with defense you’re going to have a chance to beat anybody you play.”

Marino might return as starter next Sunday at Buffalo.

Huard threw touchdown passes of six yards to Stanley Pritchett and 43 yards to Tony Martin, giving Miami a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter. The defense did the rest.

The Dolphins haven’t given up a touchdown in 14 quarters, and they recovered from a slow start to stifle Tennessee. Eddie George rushed for 55 yards in his first six carries but gained only 10 yards in eight carries the rest of the game. McNair was 22 for 42 for 205 yards with four sacks.

“We’ve got to swallow this bad pill, digest it and let it go,” McNair said.

Three times Madison stepped in front of McNair’s passes near the left sideline.

“As a cornerback, you dream of three-interception games,” Miami cornerback Terrell Buckley said. “You might not get one your whole career. I haven’t. But it was fun watching.”

Only one interception led to a score--Olindo Mare’s 46-yard field goal at the start of the fourth quarter for a 17-0 lead.

Tennessee reached the Miami 3 in the final minute, but McNair threw incomplete on fourth down.

Until then, the Titans’ best threat came with the game scoreless. They drove 72 yards before Al Del Greco’s 33-yard field goal bounced off the left upright.

“We moved the ball very well,” George said. “We just didn’t finish it off.”

Two lucky plays on the next series helped Miami take a 7-0 lead. Oronde Gadsden caught a deflected, fluttering pass for a 29-yard gain, and after Huard recovered his own fumble, he improvised on a 20-yard pass play to O.J. McDuffie. Those gains set up Pritchett’s touchdown.

George was stopped on a fourth-down run at the Dolphin 33, and two plays later Martin weaved through the Titan secondary on his touchdown reception.