MIAMI -- If you asked someone who the best quarterback in Miami is, they'd probably say Ken Dorsey -- even though Dorsey didn't win the Heisman on Saturday night.

But they'd be wrong. Because Jay Fiedler just led the Dolphins to a 23-17 victory over the red-hot Oakland Raiders.

	Fiedler

He didn't win the Heisman. The Dartmouth grad didn't even play Division 1-A college football. But Fiedler was fantastic in his second start after missing five games with a broken thumb.

"I'm feeling great right now," Fiedler said afterwards. "I felt real comfortable out there."

The Dolphins didn't feel quite so comfortable a couple of weeks ago, after losing four of six with backup quarterback Ray Lucas -- Fiedler was forced to relieve Lucas in the last loss due to injury. But now Miami finds itself tied for the AFC's best mark at 9-5, and features an offense firing on all cylinders.

Ricky Williams still got his 100 yards on the ground, but Fiedler was prolific in the air, finishing 21 of 32 for 237 yards. He did not throw a pick, and connected with Cris Carter for a one-hand catch in the back of the end zone. "He threw it in the perfect spot," said Carter.

Fiedler did that repeatedly, completing at least two passes to five different receivers. But his favorite was second-year wideout Chris Chambers, who caught seven balls for 138 yards.

Yes, the Raiders were without both of their starting corners, including All-Pro Charles Woodson. But Fiedler was impressive in every aspect of the game.

For instance, deep in Miami territory midway through the fourth quarter, Raiders linebacker Bill Romanowski had his arm wrapped around Fiedler's ankle, who was facing a 15-yard loss. Fiedler lost his shoe, but wiggled free, and in a split-second found Williams for a nine-yard gain.

This was a far cry from the last time these two teams met, Sept. 23 of last season. Fiedler struggled throughout that game, completing only 16 of 34 and throwing two interceptions -- the second of which was returned for a touchdown, giving Oakland a 15-10 lead. But with less than two minutes to play, Fiedler redeemed himself, leading the Dolphins down the field and diving into the end zone with five seconds left for a game-winning score -- perhaps Fiedler's finest moment since taking over for Dolphins legend Dan Marino.

But you get the feeling there are better Fiedler moments to come. His teammate Carter, who has played with some top-notch NFL quarterbacks over the course of his career, has that feeling too.

	“	Everyone knows now that the combine QB is a little overrated. You know -- the guy who's 6-foot-4, with a rocket arm. You've seen it around the league the last couple of years -- guys who are smart, who make good decisions, are the ones finding success. ”
		— Dolphins WR Cris Carter

"He's very good, very smart, makes very good decisions," said Carter. "He also has the stuff that doesn't show up on paper, the intangibles. He's a real leader in the huddle."

Fiedler resembles his counterpart in this contest, Rich Gannon -- both unheralded coming out of college, both out of the league entirely at one point in their careers. Neither is the physical prototype for a superstar NFL signal-caller. Each uses his head to stay ahead of the game.

Gannon has persevered, to the point where he could be the league's MVP and break the NFL record for passing yards in a season, held by Marino.

"He's a quarterback that I admire very much," Fiedler said of Gannon. "He's having one of the best seasons a quarterback has ever had. It's a testament to how much work and effort he's put into it, how much persistence he's had over his career."

"Everyone knows now that the combine QB is a little overrated," said Carter. "You know -- the guy who's 6-foot-4, with a rocket arm. You've seen it around the league the last couple of years -- guys who are smart, who make good decisions, are the ones finding success."

Who knows how good Ken Dorsey will be in the NFL. Better yet, who knows how good Jay Fiedler will be?

Kieran Darcy covers the NFL for ESPN The Magazine.