Miami, FL -- (Sports Network) - Dan Carpenter kicked a 38-yard field goal in the final minute, and the Miami Dolphins escaped their matchup against the Oakland Raiders with a 17-15 victory.

Johnnie Lee Higgins had just returned a punt 93 yards to the end zone for Oakland with 4:48 to play in the game to give the Raiders a 15-14 edge, but Chad Pennington guided Miami 61 yards down the field to set up Carpenter for his game-winning field goal.

"My experience right now with Chad Pennington is that he proved himself," Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano said. "I trust (Pennington). I trust my players. There wasn't a guy on the sideline in the fourth quarter that didn't think we would take the ball down the field."

Pennington finished the game 16-for-22 passing for 174 yards for the Dolphins (6-4), who have won four straight to pull to within one game of the AFC East- leading New York Jets. Ronnie Brown ran for 101 yards on 16 carries, and Ted Ginn and Patrick Cobbs each had rushing touchdowns in the win.

"I'm like a tornado inside, but on the outside I'm trying to keep a complexion of focus," Pennington said. "I really think that helps in the huddle. I think that translates to how (the other players) play."

JaMarcus Russell threw for 156 yards on 15-of-22 throws for Oakland (2-8), which has lost four straight games since defeating the Jets in Week 7. Ronald Curry caught six passes for 73 yards, while Zach Miller had four receptions for 67 yards in the loss. Justin Fargas led the paltry Raiders rushing attack with 57 yards on 17 carries.

"Tremendous effort by our football team," Raiders head coach Tom Cable said. "What hurt us was six penalties in the first half -- took us out of three drives. We had some chances, with one of those (three drives) being near the red zone. (I'm) really proud of the team, how they are sticking together. With one more play, we win that football game."

The Raiders failed to score an offensive touchdown for the third consecutive game, with their last offensive score coming late in the third quarter of a loss to Baltimore on October 26.

Down 14-5 midway through the fourth, Sebastian Janikowski pulled the Raiders to within six, completing a 10-play, 73-yard drive with a 37-yard field goal with 8:02 left in the game.

The Dolphins faltered on their next possession, and Higgins returned a punt 93 yards down the left sideline to the end zone, giving the Raiders a 15-14 lead with 4:30 to play.

But Miami would go back ahead on the following drive. From the 20, Pennington found Greg Camarillo and Davone Bess for 13 and 27 yards, respectively, down to the Oakland 40. On 4th-and-5, Pennington hit Ginn across the middle for seven yards to keep the set going.

Miami again faced fourth down from the 19, and Carpenter nailed a 38-yard field goal with 38 seconds left to give the Dolphins a 17-15 lead and Oakland had too little time to move the football.

After being pinned with 2nd-and-12 at its own five in the opening quarter, Miami took it the distance for a touchdown. A pair of offsides penalties helped the Dolphins get out of their own zone, and Ginn's 40-yard end-around gave the team an early 7-0 lead.

A 41-yard pass interference penalty put the Raiders on Miami's 32 late in the first half. A 27-yard strike to Miller gave the team 1st-and-goal at the five, but the offense faltered and Janikowski kicked a 21-yard field goal with 1:09 to go until halftime.

A Shane Lechler punt put Miami at its own six early in the second half, and Jay Richardson tackled Pennington in the end zone on the first play of the drive for a safety, making it 7-5.

Janikowski had a chance to give the Raiders the lead on the ensuing possession, but his 46-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright.

The Dolphins took advantage of the missed opportunity, driving 64 yards in nine plays with Cobbs taking it in from 10 yards out, giving Miami the 14-5 lead with just under two minutes left in the third.

Game Notes:

The Dolphins have won seven of the past eight against the Raiders...Miami has won four in a row for the first time since November 23, 2006...The Dolphins outgained the Raiders, 382-186 and gained over 300 yards for the eighth consecutive game...Oakland has scored one first-half touchdown this season (Week 4 against San Diego).