Instead what they ended up with was the lowest scoring game in 14 years when Jeff Reed's 24-yard field goal with 17 seconds left gave the Steelers a 3-0 victory tonight over winless Miami (0-11).

It was the first 3-0 game in the NFL since the Jets beat visiting Washington on Dec. 11, 1993.

Hanging with the division-leading Steelers (8-3) for 59› minutes in the longest scoreless tie since the Lions and Giants on Nov. 11, 1943, the Dolphins couldn't get the game to overtime in the first 3-0 game since the Jets beat the Redskins on Dec. 11, 1993.

The only scoring drive started on the Dolphins' 42 after Miami punted out of its end zone. Ben Roethlisberger drove the Steelers into field goal range with completions of 21, 11 and 6 yards to Hines Ward.

Reed, who had missed badly from 45 yards earlier on a rain-drenched field, came through after Roethlisberger was sacked on third down.

NFL games have been played in downpours and blizzards, and the aftermath of a hurricane — the Steelers-Dolphins game in Miami in September 2004 — but this was a first: a lightning and heavy rain delay in a late November game in Pittsburgh.

Lightning chased the players off the field during their pregame warmups, and the teams were given only nine hurried-up minutes for additional warmups before the game started at 8:55 p.m., 25 minutes later than scheduled.

The delayed start meant no national anthem or player introductions. The rain washed away nearly all the yard lines on a new grass field that had been in place less than 24 hours, and Heinz Field crews hurriedly put down new lines at halftime.

At least for the first half, the offenses didn't need to be introduced, considering how little yardage was being gained on the slippery, rain-soaked field. The Steelers had 112 yards and the Dolphins only 71 by halftime, even with Dolphins running back Ricky Williams back on the field, at least for a few minutes.

The 2002 NFL rushing champion, reinstated last week following a drug-related suspension, carried six times for 15 yards in his first game since Jan. 1, 2006, before injuring a shoulder.

The Dolphins, already without injured running back Ronnie Brown, also lost Jesse Chatman (neck) during the game. Chatman, who started the previous three games, was questionable with a sore ankle going into the game.

The field conditions created the absence of offense. After five high school and college games were played at Heinz Field last weekend, crews hurriedly put down a new layer of sod atop the chewed-up turf for Monday night's game.

The field was covered during the daylong rain, but so much water found its way under the protective tarps and there were numerous puddles and mushy spots once the covering was removed. Wide receivers slipped on several pass plays, and running backs repeatedly lost their footing before tacklers arrived.

Late in the third quarter, Brandon Fields' punt from near the Miami goal line came straight down and plugged in the drenched turf like an arrow, burying itself several inches deep.

A few minutes later, Pittsburgh kicker Jeff Reed's 45-yard field goal attempt into a swirling wind and rain fell far short. Reed had missed only once previously in 19 tries this season, a 60-yarder in Denver.

Pittsburgh's opening drive ended with Ben Roethlisberger being intercepted by, of all players, former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter in his first game against the team that cut him in March.