MIAMI — Three times the New England Patriots lost the lead, and three times they took it back. The message: Don't count them out of the AFC East race just yet.

Matt Cassel threw for 415 yards, Randy Moss caught three touchdown passes and the resilient Patriots won a shootout today, beating the feisty but outgunned Miami Dolphins 48-28.

The Patriots (7-4), who remained a game behind the AFC East-leading New York Jets, avenged an upset loss to Miami in September. New England hasn't been swept in a season series by a division opponent since 2000.

For the Dolphins (6-5), the loss snapped a four-game winning streak and hurt their chances of an improbable playoff berth after going 1-15 last year.

Cassel had his second consecutive 400-yard day, completing 30 of 43 passes, including touchdowns of 25, 8 and 29 to Moss. Cassel directed five touchdown drives of at least 63 yards and ran 8 yards for a score.

Moss made eight catches for 125 yards for his best day since an injury ended Tom Brady's season.

The Patriots needed a big showing on offense, because they had trouble stopping the Dolphins, who mounted three touchdown drives of 69 yards or longer. The result was an offensive display reminiscent of the Dan Marino era, with the teams swapping scores until New England pulled away in the last 16 minutes.

The sixth and final lead change came when Moss' 8-yard touchdown catch capped a 78-yard drive for a 24-21 advantage. After New England forced a punt, Wes Welker took a short pass and hugged the sideline for a 64-yard gain — the longest of his career — to set up a 21-yard touchdown run by Kevin Faulk on the final play of the third quarter.

That put the Patriots ahead 31-21.

The Dolphins weren't finished — they drove 69 yards and scored on Ricky Williams' 13-yard reception. But Moss answered with a 29-yard touchdown reception, and Brandon Meriweather's interception sealed the outcome.

It got a little ugly toward the end: Miami linebacker Channing Crowder and New England tackle Matt Light were ejected midway through the fourth quarter. Crowder lost his helmet when blocked by Light on a field-goal attempt and shoved Light, who responded by taking several swings at Crowder's head.

With less than three minutes left, Miami's Joey Porter was penalized for a personal foul and unsportsmanlike conduct.

New England bounced back from an overtime loss to the Jets on Nov. 13. Since the start of the 2003 season, the Patriots are 17-1 in games following a loss.

They kept bouncing back against Miami, with four lead changes in the first half alone. Moss put the Patriots up 17-10 at halftime when he scored on a 25-yard catch and run, dragging Yeremiah Bell into the end zone.

New England converted a fourth-and-1 to keep a 74-yard touchdown drive going midway through the first half. The Dolphins then drove 72 yards, converting three third-down situations before Chad Pennington scrambled for a 7-yard score and a 14-10 advantage that lasted less than three minutes.

Pennington threw for a career-high 341 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for one. He completed 24 of 41 passes with one interception.

The Dolphins' Wildcat formation was shut out after producing four touchdowns in six plays when Miami won at New England in September. This time the Dolphins snapped directly to running back Ronnie Brown eight times, and the plays netted 25 yards.

Still, the Dolphins had plenty of punch. Fullback Casey Cramer even contributed, scoring his first NFL touchdown on a 2-yard reception.