The Miami Dolphins went into Sunday without several key players. Outside linebacker Joey Porter, left guard Justin Smiley, tight end Anthony Fasano and defensive tackle Paul Soliai were missing from the lineup.
Didn't matter. The Dolphins pulled out a 25-23 victory over the persistent Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Land Shark Stadium.
The Dolphins are 4-5, and -- although they own the same record as the New York Jets -- essentially are in second place because they've jolted the Jets twice already.
The Dolphins have remote playoff hopes, but they have the best shot of the three AFC East teams not called the New England Patriots. The Dolphins have an easier remaining schedule, and the Jets are freefalling with three straight home losses and one victory in their past six tries.
Ronnie Brown led the Dolphins' offense with 12 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown and two receptions for 16 yards. Ricky Williams ran 20 times for a game-high 102 yards.
Receiver Ted Ginn's roller-coaster season continued. Ginn returned to the starting lineup after a week of being demoted in favor of rookie Brian Hartline, but had zero catches for the second time in three weeks.
The Dolphins' defense stepped up without Porter.
Inside linebacker Channing Crowder, often criticized for not doing anything more than make tackles, recorded his first sack of the year. He went into the game with 1.5 for his career, recording his previous full sack in 2006.
Quasi-rookie pass-rusher Cameron Wake had another sack, giving the Canadian Football League émigré 4.5 sacks in only seven games.
Didn't matter. The Dolphins pulled out a 25-23 victory over the persistent Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Land Shark Stadium.
The Dolphins are 4-5, and -- although they own the same record as the New York Jets -- essentially are in second place because they've jolted the Jets twice already.
The Dolphins have remote playoff hopes, but they have the best shot of the three AFC East teams not called the New England Patriots. The Dolphins have an easier remaining schedule, and the Jets are freefalling with three straight home losses and one victory in their past six tries.
Ronnie Brown led the Dolphins' offense with 12 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown and two receptions for 16 yards. Ricky Williams ran 20 times for a game-high 102 yards.
Receiver Ted Ginn's roller-coaster season continued. Ginn returned to the starting lineup after a week of being demoted in favor of rookie Brian Hartline, but had zero catches for the second time in three weeks.
The Dolphins' defense stepped up without Porter.
Inside linebacker Channing Crowder, often criticized for not doing anything more than make tackles, recorded his first sack of the year. He went into the game with 1.5 for his career, recording his previous full sack in 2006.
Quasi-rookie pass-rusher Cameron Wake had another sack, giving the Canadian Football League émigré 4.5 sacks in only seven games.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Tim Graham
Graham joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Miami Dolphins for the Palm Beach Post. He previously spent eight years at the Buffalo News, where he was an award-winning NHL and boxing writer. The Baldwin-Wallace College grad also has worked for the Las Vegas Sun and Boston Herald.
