ESPN NFL

The AFC East struggled for the second week in a row. This time, only the New England Patriots walked away with a victory.

But that doesn't take away from some of the great individual performances the division had in Week 4. Vote for who deserves AFC East Player of the Week honors.

Was it Patriots receiver Wes Welker? He's been on a tear this year and leads the NFL in receiving. Welker recorded nine receptions for 158 yards and a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders.

Buffalo Bills safety George Wilson also had a solid game. He led the team with 12 tackles and recorded an interception in his second straight game.

Linebacker David Harris showed up to play for the New York Jets. The team struggled, but Harris recorded seven tackles and a pick-six off Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.

Finally, Miami Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter was 3-for-3 on field goals, including a 51-yarder, in a loss to the San Diego Chargers. Cast your vote.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Rudy Carpenter threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Overbay with 3:11 remaining, giving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a 17-13 preseason victory over the Miami Dolphins on Saturday night.

Josh Freeman directed a touchdown drive just before the half to finish on a positive note. Connor Barth kicked a 28-yard field goal for the Bucs, who overcame 15 penalties in a performance not nearly as crisp as they'd hoped for coming off last week's sloppy, lopsided loss to New England.

Brandon Marshall scored on a 60-yard reception from Chad Henne and Dan Carpenter kicked field goals of 21 and 47 yards for the Dolphins (2-1), who were penalized 11 times themselves.

For the complete game story, click here.

NEW ORLEANS -- New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is against the proposed rules to revamp kickoffs.

Belichick, speaking to a small group of reporters at the NFL owners meeting, expressed confusion and dismay over the competition committee's recommendation to move kickoffs up to the 35-yard line from the 30 and spot touchbacks at the 25-yard line instead of the 20.

The competition committee even considered removing kickoffs completely before coming up with this proposal.

"Pretty complicated proposal," Belichick said. "I don't like the idea of eliminating the kickoff from the game. I think it's one of the most exciting plays in football. It looks like the competition committee is trying to eliminate that play. I don't know that's really good for the game."

Safety is believed to be the chief concern, but after attending a presentation Sunday night about the kickoff proposals, Belichick didn't seem to know what the motivation was for change.

The proposal also calls for the ban of all wedge blocks, when multiple players assemble to clear a path for the return man. Wedge blocks result in violent collisions. The NFL adopted a rule that reduced the allowable number of players in a wedge from three to two in 1999.

"From the presentation last night, I don't know that it's because of head injuries," Belichick said. "And the ones they showed, there weren't very many of them. So I don't know. I think you should really talk to the competition committee. They're the ones, really, that proposed the rule.

"There's a lot of components to it, four different elements to it. It's kind of a complicated rule. ... It's pretty confusing. I mean, we're moving the kickoff up and the touchbacks out."

The rule also would help negate Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski as a weapon because he covers more distance than his peers. He averaged 67.9 yards per kickoff last year, fifth in the league, before a thigh injury sidelined him in November. He generated a touchback 35.7 percent of the time, second in the league behind Baltimore Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff.

Miami Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter was next in the AFC East with a 65.8-yard average and 20 percent touchback rate. Buffalo Bills kicker Rian Lindell averaged 63.3 yards and 11.9 percent, and New York Jets kicker Nick Folk was at 62.0 yards and 8.6 percent.

The extra 5 yards will do them -- and their coverage units -- wonders.

ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton calculated how much the different spots would impact the game and figured the number of kickoffs last year that would have been touchbacks under the proposal would've risen from 416 to about 800.

Sports labor squabbles often are described as billionaires arguing with millionaires over money.

While that's a catchy rhyme that sums up fan frustration, the phrase is not entirely true.

Inspired by a blog entry from the minister of all things AFC South, Paul Kuharsky, I looked at NFL Players Association files to count up the number of AFC East players scheduled for $1 million base salaries in 2011.

Granted, up-front bonuses and incentives can make base salaries misleading. But base salaries are the only figures that create a common ground, player for player.

You'll see a vast majority of NFL players make much less than $1 million a year. Although many will make seven figures before they walk away from the game, careers are short and treacherous. They'll never see that kind of cash again for the rest of their lives.

That's why they're fighting for every dollar now.

Of the 226 players under contract in the AFC East, only 62 of them (27.4 percent) will make base salaries of $1 million or more.

The NFLPA hasn't acknowledged any franchise tags that have been signed. Those players are marked with an asterisk and not factored into the totals.

Buffalo Bills

• Receiver Lee Evans, $3.275 million
• Cornerback Terrence McGee, $3.2 million
• Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, $3.195 million
• Defensive end Spencer Johnson, $3 million
• Outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, $2.75 million
• Defensive end Dwan Edwards, $2.6 million
• Center Geoff Hangartner, $2.55 million
• Outside linebacker Chris Kelsay, $2 million
• Running back Fred Jackson, $1.75 million
• Defensive lineman Kyle Williams, $1.75 million
• Kicker Rian Lindell, $1.45 million
• Punter Brian Moorman, $1.425 million
• Cornerback Reggie Corner, $1.2 million
• Receiver Steve Johnson, $1.2 million
• Safety Bryan Scott, $1.15 million
• Linebacker Andra Davis, $1.1 million
• Receiver Roscoe Parrish, $1.025 million
• Safety George Wilson, $1.025 million
• Cornerback Leodis McKelvin, $1 million

Base salaries of $1 million or more: 19

Players under contract: 54

Percentage of roster making $1 million or more: 35.2

Miami Dolphins

• Nose tackle Paul Soliai, $12.47 million*
• Tackle Jake Long, $11.2 million
• Receiver Brandon Marshall, $6.5 million
• Tackle Vernon Carey, $4.15 million
• Safety Yeremiah Bell, $3.7 million
• Defensive end Randy Starks, $3.625 million
• Inside linebacker Karlos Dansby, $2.7 million
• Inside linebacker Channing Crowder, $2.5 million
• Tight end Anthony Fasano, $1.9 million
• Cornerback Benny Sapp, $1.9 million
• Inside linebacker Tim Dobbins, $1.7 million
• Cornerback Will Allen, $1.5 million
• Safety Tyrone Culver, $1.25 million
• Fullback Lousaka Polite, $1.25 million
• Receiver Davone Bess, $1.013 million
• Kicker Dan Carpenter, $1.005 million

Base salaries of $1 million or more: 15

Players under contract: 55

Percentage of roster making $1 million or more: 27.3

New England Patriots

• Quarterback Tom Brady, $5.75 million
• Cornerback Leigh Bodden, $3.9 million
• Tackle Nick Kaczur, $3.4 million
• Defensive end Ty Warren, $3.1 million
• Center Dan Koppen, $2.9 million
• Safety James Sanders, $2.8 million
• Tight end Alge Crumpler, $2.4 million
• Outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain, $2.3 million
• Receiver Deion Branch, $2.2 million
• Receiver Wes Welker, $2.15 million
• Kicker Stephen Gostkowski, $1.7 million
• Cornerback Jonathan Wilhite, $1.2 million
• Offensive lineman Dan Connolly, $1.025 million
• Inside linebacker Gary Guyton, $1 million

Base salaries of $1 million or more: 14

Players under contract: 60

Percentage of roster making $1 million or more: 23.3

New York Jets

• Quarterback Mark Sanchez, $14.75 million
• Inside linebacker David Harris, $10.1 million*
• Cornerback Darrelle Revis, $6 million
• Tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, $5.615 million
• Inside linebacker Bart Scott, $4.9 million
• Outside linebacker Calvin Pace, $3.855 million
• Outside linebacker Bryan Thomas, $3.2 million
• Guard Brandon Moore, $2.75 million
• Running back LaDainian Tomlinson, $2.425 million
• Center Nick Mangold, $2.26 million
• Defensive end Mike DeVito, $2.125 million
• Safety Jim Leonhard, $1.95 million
• Receiver Jerricho Cotchery, $1.8 million
• Defensive tackle Sione Pouha, $1.28 million
• Quarterback Mark Brunell, $1.25 million

Base salaries of $1 million or more: 14

Players under contract: 57

Percentage of roster making $1 million or more: 24.6

Super Bowl week is upon us. Prepare to get bombarded with stats, analysis, anecdotes and obscure storylines about the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers.

I won't go out of my way to hammer folks over the head with Super Bowl angles all week, but there's a fitting way to look at ahead to Sunday's showdown in this space.

Regardless of what AFC East team you follow, your boys squared off against both Green Bay and Pittsburgh in the regular season. AFC East cross-divisional opponents for 2010 were the AFC North and NFC North. They played each other nine times.

The Steelers went 3-2 against the AFC East, including their AFC Championship Game victory over the New York Jets. The Packers went 2-2.

The New England Patriots were the only AFC East club to beat both Super Bowl entrants, but the Miami Dolphins came close.

Let's review the games to see if we can find a comfort zone for making a prediction for Super Sunday.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Results versus AFC East: Won at Dolphins 23-22; lost to Patriots 39-26; won at Buffalo 19-16 in overtime; lost to Jets 22-17; won over Jets in playoffs 24-19.

What we learned: There are no perfect teams, but the Steelers looked particularly flawed in their games against the AFC East. They Steelers easily could have been swept in the regular season and wouldn't have won the AFC North if not for two lucky breaks against the AFC East's non-playoff teams.

The sloppy Dolphins didn't deserve to win at home in Week 7, but they should have anyway. Ben Roethlisberger appeared to fumble into the end zone in the final minutes and Dolphins outside linebacker Ikaika Alama-Francis appeared to recover. But officials prematurely blew the play dead and didn't follow the fumble as they should have. Video evidence didn't help clarify the sequence, so the Steelers maintained possession and kicked a field goal for the victory.

The Steelers, conversely, didn't deserve to beat the Bills in Week 12 at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Steelers were shaky and went into sudden death against one of the league's worst teams. In overtime, Bills receiver Steve Johnson infamously dropped a perfectly thrown Ryan Fitzpatrick bomb in the end zone. The Steelers survived to kick a field goal.

The Steelers lost both of their home games against the AFC East. The Patriots thumped them in Week 10, and the Jets pulled out of a potential nosedive with a Heinz Field victory in Week 15.

Of course, the Steelers rebounded in the playoffs to beat the Jets in the conference title game. The Jets sleepwalked through the first half, but outscored the Steelers 16-0 in the third and fourth quarters before falling short.

Green Bay Packers

Results versus AFC East: Won over Bills 34-7; lost to Dolphins 23-20 in overtime; won at Jets 9-0; lost at Patriots 31-27.

What we learned: Green Bay's games against the AFC East went a little more by the book, but not totally. And one of their losses was mitigated by Aaron Rodgers' absence.

Buffalo still had Trent Edwards at quarterback when Green Bay properly cruised in Week 2. The other game that went (mostly) as expected was a Week 15 loss in Gillette Stadium. Rodgers was out with a concussion against New England, but backup quarterback Matt Flynn still drove Green Bay within 15 yards of victory in the closing moments.

The Packers' other games were a tad peculiar. The Packers lost a thriller to the Dolphins at Lambeau Field in Week 6. Rodgers scored on a fourth-down run from the 1-yard line to send the game into overtime. Dan Carpenter's 44-yard field goal won it.

Two weeks later, the Packers went to the Meadowlands and blanked the Jets in one of the biggest head-scratchers of the year. Neither team scored a touchdown. The Jets' shutout was even worse considering they were coming off their bye week.

Prediction

I'm basing my prediction on what I witnessed throughout the season.

All in all, the Packers looked pretty solid against the AFC East and had a shot to beat the Patriots without Rodgers.

But what stands out even more for me is how wobbly the Steelers looked in all four regular-season games and the second half of the AFC Championship Game. Without two fortuitous bounces, the Steelers would have been swept in the regular season and wouldn't have had a first-round bye.

I can't get that out of my mind when I predict the Packers to win 27-20.

With head coach Tony Sparano's job in the balance, the Miami Dolphins came up small Sunday in Gillette Stadium.

The hodgepodge New England Patriots rested their top two wide receivers and best pass-rushers and shuffled backups in and out of the game throughout. Yet they still dominated the Dolphins 38-7.

The Patriots were up 38-0 with almost seven minutes left in the third quarter. The Dolphins avoided getting skunked when Davone Bess scored with 2:17 to play.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, who publicly declared before the season that his team was Super Bowl bound, must be embarrassed.

Ross didn't attend the game and reportedly was out of the country. Sparano, his staff and his players should pray that wherever Ross was they don't show NFL games on television.

The Dolphins were 6-5 and still had hope after Thanksgiving. They lost four of their last five games. The Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions beat them in Sun Life Stadium before the preseason-mode Patriots gave the Dolphins a clear idea how far behind they are in the AFC East.

The Dolphins went 1-7 at home this season, tying their worst record in club history. The only other time they were so bad at home was when they went 1-15 the year before Sparano and general manager Jeff Ireland arrived.

Ross didn't hire them. Former football operations boss Bill Parcells did with former owner Wayne Huizenga's consent. Huizenga sold the team shortly thereafter. Parcells supposedly still is with the Dolphins as a consultant, but he cleaned out his office months ago.

Ross put an emphasis on making Sun Life Stadium an entertainment destination from the moment he took over the Dolphins. One measly victory in an arena that was half-full toward the end of the season is unacceptable. And if Sparano can't motivate his players to play with any kind of edge, then how can Ross expect fans to respond at the box office?

The Patriots had nothing to play for Sunday other than tuning up for the postseason. It was like an exhibition for them.

But with jobs on the line, the Dolphins didn't show up.

Miami's offense, defense and special teams were equally disgusting. They gave up big plays all over the field. Their breakdowns were both strategic and mental. Tackling was poor. They committed bad penalties.

Chad Henne threw an interception on the opening drive and had a 29.2 passer rating in the first half. Dan Carpenter missed another field goal, this one from 40 yards. Ricky Williams fumbled, and Ronnie Brown ran six times for 14 yards in what might be the last games as Dolphins for the backfield mates.

Miami went into Week 17 with the third-ranked defense. Even with Wes Welker and Deion Branch not on the field, Tom Brady completed 10 of 16 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

The Dolphins' secondary also got torched by the immortal combo of Brian Hoyer to Brandon Tate for a 42-yard touchdown in the third quarter. One play before the bomb, the Dolphins' defensive line encroached on fourth-and-1.

The Patriots gained 502 yards -- that doesn't include Julian Edelman's 94-yard punt return for a touchdown -- and had the ball for over 36 minutes.

A call from the governor might not even save Sparano after a performance like that, and he has a direct line to Tallahassee. Dolphins cornerback Nolan Carroll's mother is Florida's new lieutenant governor.

When Ross gets around to examining what transpired Sunday in Gillette Stadium, it very well could be a lethal inspection.

The NFL will announce Pro Bowl rosters at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Here's a look at the most likely candidates from each AFC East club.

You'll notice a dearth of wide receivers. Before the season began, that looked like a loaded position within the division. They've been good, but none has the numbers worthy of Honolulu.

As a reminder, fans, coaches and players each count for one-third of the selection process.

Buffalo Bills

Legit candidates: None.

Outside shots: Receiver Steve Johnson, defensive tackle Kyle Williams.

Note: The Bills have a lot of players, Williams included, who are easy to root for because they were late-round draft choices or not drafted at all. But they weren't prolific enough to crack a Pro Bowl roster this season. Williams' 5.5 sacks are tied for sixth among all defensive tackles, but it will be tough to surpass Vince Wilfork, Haloti Ngata and Casey Hampton when the Bills rank dead last against the run. Williams could make it as an alternate. Johnson has impressive numbers, but his drops will cost him.

Miami Dolphins

Legit candidates: Offensive tackle Jake Long, outside linebacker Cameron Wake, kicker Dan Carpenter.

Outside shots: Inside linebacker Karlos Dansby, cornerback Vontae Davis, punter Brandon Fields.

Note: Long has been selected for the Pro Bowl each of his first two seasons. He has the reputation and is having a decent season while fighting through a shoulder injury. Wake leads the NFL with 14 sacks. Dansby has never been so much as an alternate before and didn't play like the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history. Fields likely won’t displace Shane Lechler, but might have garnered enough attention with his brilliant performance (56.4-yard average on 10 punts) to beat the Jets in Week 14. Carpenter went as an alternate last year and carried the Dolphins for a long stretch, but his four misses right before the players and coaches turned in their ballots will hurt.

New England Patriots

Legit candidates: Quarterback Tom Brady, receiver Wes Welker, nose tackle Vince Wilfork, inside linebacker Jerod Mayo, cornerback Devin McCourty.

Outside shots: Tight end Rob Gronkowski, guard Logan Mankins.

Note: Brady and Wilfork are locks. Mayo leads the NFL in tackles (unofficially). McCourty is having a fine rookie season and is tied for second with six interceptions. Quite a few receivers have had better seasons than Welker, but he has an established reputation and captured even more respect from players and coaches for his remarkable recovery from reconstructive knee surgery. Gronkowski also has been sensational in his first year. He's second to Antonio Gates and tied with Marcedes Lewis for touchdowns among tight ends. Mankins has been phenomenal, but didn't join the team until November.

New York Jets

Legit candidates: Center Nick Mangold, guard Brandon Moore, cornerback Darrelle Revis, special-teamer Brad Smith.

Outside shots: Tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, inside linebacker David Harris.

Note: Mangold and Revis are stars who automatically get voted for. They'll probably get selected again. Smith would be a newcomer. Smith is deserving as a return specialist with a 28.6-yard kickoff average. But will he beat out Jacoby Ford (three touchdowns) and Joshua Cribbs? Moore seems to gain increasing respect from opposing players and coaches every year, and with Mankins a difficult pick and Alan Faneca out of the AFC, maybe Moore makes it. Ferguson and Harris have been fantastic, but they're at tough positions. Ferguson went to the Pro Bowl last year as an alternate.

ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer explains the Miami Dolphins haven't lived up to their expectations because they don't perform in critical situations.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Tony Sparano, Dolphins head coach: On a day ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported Bill Cowher is getting itchy to return to the sideline and has Miami ranked highly on his short list of preferred destinations, the Dolphins lost at home to the Bills and fell to 1-6 at Sun Life Stadium. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross predicted his team would play in the upcoming Super Bowl, and while that bit of bravado shouldn't be taken as some sort of guarantee, winning a single home game must embarrass him. With Bill Parcells no longer around to protect his protégé, what's to stop the starry-eyed Ross from mixing up his dull team?

2. C.J. Spiller, Bills running back: The Bills' roster is loaded with contributors who were late-round picks or not drafted at all. Spiller, meanwhile, keeps struggling. Spiller was the ninth overall draft choice and the first back off the board. He ran nine times for 16 yards Sunday against the Dolphins, and that includes one carry for 12 yards. He has 248 rushing yards and is averaging 4.7 yards on 22 catches.

3. Dan Carpenter, Dolphins kicker: He refused to make any excuses after Sunday's three-point loss, but there were two big reasons he missed four field goals. The Dolphins' offense didn't exactly set him up for high-percentage attempts, and winds gusted around 20 mph. Carpenter was wide right from 48 yards, short from 61 yards, wide left from 53 yards and wide right from 48 yards again. But Carpenter did go to the Pro Bowl last year. He can't miss three kicks from 53 and shorter.

RISING

1. Chan Gailey, Bills head coach: The Bills continue to win despite mounting injuries and a roster that seems to get greener by the week. Gailey called a game that allowed Ryan Fitzpatrick to move the ball with a seventh-round pick and three undrafted rookies at receiver. Buffalo's defense also is finding its way. ESPN Stats & Information noted the Bills went into Sunday having allowed an NFL-high 959 rushing yards up the middle, but they let Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown gain 20 yards on nine carries.

2. Patriots cornerbacks: Devin McCourty and Kyle Arrington each had a strong game in Sunday night's victory over the Packers. McCourty continued his campaign for defensive rookie of the year with 10 tackles, two for losses and a sack. Arrington returned a third-quarter interception 36 yards for a touchdown.

3. Jets offensive line: LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene had been getting stopped cold for a while, and you couldn't have expected them to do much against the NFL's top-rated run defense. The Steelers went into Week 15 allowing 60.1 rushing yards a game. Tomlinson and Greene found enough room to combine for 89 yards. Mark Sanchez also ran for 15 yards, including a 7-yard bootleg touchdown.

Dan Carpenter wasn't asked to kick any gimmies Sunday for the Miami Dolphins. His attempts were long. The wind was gusting about 20 mph.

And it's tough to get on him for missing all four of his kicks. If not for Carpenter consistently bailing out the Dolphins' moribund offense, the Dolphins' playoff hopes would have died weeks earlier. He was the AFC's special teams player of the month for October.

Still, the Pro Bowl kicker had a miserable afternoon -- one of the worst in the past 30 years for any kicker, as you'll read below. The Dolphins desperately could have used just one field goal in a 17-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Sun Life Stadium.

Carpenter was a Pro Bowler last season. He missed from 48 yards (wide right), 61 yards (short), 53 yards (wide left) and 48 yards (wide right). The last miss came with 1:48 left in the game and the Dolphins in need of three points to maybe force overtime.

Instead, the Dolphins fell to 1-6 at home and had their nominal playoff hopes extinguished. The Bills beat their first opponent with a winning record.

"It hurts knowing that you cost your team and the chance to move on to the playoffs," Carpenter said.

If the Dolphins' offense could move the ball, then Carpenter wouldn't have been asked to kick from a different zip code.

Nevertheless, his performance was epically unsuccessful.

Carpenter was just the second kicker to miss four field goals without making one since 1992. He was the first kicker to miss four field goals in a loss of three points or less since Kris Brown did so on five attempts in 2001.

The Elias Sports Bureau found Mike Cofer in 1991 was the last kicker to miss all four without a conversion in a loss of three points or less.

"I'm going to put the guy out there and let him take his swings," Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano said. "He's been kicking great. I've got a lot of confidence in the guy. I felt like he would knock it through on a 44- or 45-yarder. He's made a bushel of those kinds of kicks and farther.

"We wouldn't have a chance to be where we are right now without him, we know that."

With the Miami Dolphins apparently headed to overtime, the Cleveland Browns came up with an interception in the final minute and kicked the decisive field goal as time expired for a 13-10 win.

What it means: Any realistic hope the Dolphins had for the postseason evaporated in defeat. They slipped back to .500 for the fifth time, failing to win consecutive games for the first time since Week 2. The Dolphins lost for the seventh time in their past eight home games.

Play of the game: On a third-and-9 play from Miami's 26-yard line and 1:05 on the clock, Chad Henne's pass was batted by former Miami defensive lineman David Bowens at the line and caromed to Cleveland safety Mike Adams, who returned it to the 2-yard line. Phil Dawson drilled the chip shot as the clock struck 0:00.

Henne inconsistent: After one of his best pro games last week, Henne perhaps had his worst. He completed 16 of 32 passes for 174 yards and one touchdown with three interceptions. His 37.8 passer rating was the lowest of his career.

Dolphins negate Hillis: Browns running back Peyton Hillis managed just 57 yards and 3.2 yards a carry, while Dolphins duo Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams combined for 98 yards and 3.8 per attempt.

Long ball: Dan Carpenter set a club record with a 60-yard field goal at the end of the first half. Only four kicks in the history of the NFL have been longer.

Wake makes noise: Dolphins outside linebacker Cameron Wake picked up another 1.5 sacks, giving him an even dozen for the season. He can go ahead and arrange his tickets to Honolulu.

What's next: The Dolphins will play their first intra-divisional game in 10 weeks. They'll visit the New York Jets on Sunday at the Meadowlands in a spoiler role.

The Miami Dolphins thumped the Oakland Raiders 33-17 on Sunday in the Black Hole.

What it means: A great victory is somewhat muted by the fact the New York Jets, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are not losing. The Dolphins are 6-5, but still three games out of the division race. They probably can afford to lose only one of their remaining games to still have a shot at a wild-card berth.

Run attack on track: Ten days after one of the flimsiest rushing performances in Dolphins history, Ricky Williams ran 20 times for 95 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to stamp the victory. Ronnie Brown added 85 yards on 24 carries.

Henne returns: With a big brace on his left knee, quarterback Chad Henne started and played well even though Brandon Marshall (hamstring) could not play. Henne completed 17 of his 30 throws for 307 yards and two touchdowns with one bad interception near the goal line. His touchdowns were to Marlon Moore and running back Patrick Cobbs.

Not-so-special teams: The Dolphins continue to struggle in that phase. Raiders rookie Jacoby Ford returned the opening kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown. Dolphins punt returner Davone Bess did have a 47-yard return though.

Pro Bowl watch: Outside linebacker Cameron Wake added another sack, giving him 10.5 for the season. Dan Carpenter kicked four field goals with a long of 49 yards. Carpenter missed from 51 yards and 49 yards.

What's next: The Cleveland Browns will visit Sun Life Stadium in Week 13.

ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton has put together his midseason All-Pro team, and you won't find any New England Patriots.

There's one New York Jets player.

Yet there are three Miami Dolphins.

No other team placed as many players on Clayton's squad than the 4-4 Dolphins: left tackle Jake Long, outside linebacker Cameron Wake and kicker Dan Carpenter.

The Jets are represented by center Nick Mangold.

Tom Brady, who has guided the Patriots to a 6-2 record, didn't make the cut. He was beaten out by Peyton Manning.

What a crazy Sunday for kicking in the AFC East.

A 300-pounder tried an extra point in one game. A receiver tried an extra point in another game.

Players who have been automatic couldn't convert.

Buffalo Bills kicker Rian Lindell went into Sunday with 321 consecutive extra points, the NFL record to start a career. The Chicago Bears blocked one. The evaporated point made two-point conversions appropriate. The Bears converted one, but the Bills didn't in a 22-19 loss.

The NFL named Miami Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter special teams player of the month a few days ago. Carpenter missed a 46-yard field goal attempt that would have pulled the Dolphins within a touchdown of the Baltimore Ravens early in the fourth quarter. Carpenter had made 13 in a row.

Nick Folk made a 36-yarder as the fourth quarter expired and a 30-yarder in sudden death to beat the Detroit Lions 23-20. Regular kicker Jason Hanson was hurt, and Lions rookie defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh was the emergency replacement. Suh hit the right upright on an extra point in the third quarter.

New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker made his extra point in a 34-14 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski had a thigh injury. Welker, who has played a lot of soccer, said he never has practiced that kind of situation and hasn't kicked a football in years.

"You don't really expect that to happen," Welker said, and then added sarcastically, "As you can see, it's an easy job."

The Elias Sports Bureau noted the last day two non-kickers (players whose listed position were not kicker or punter) attempted extra points was Sept. 9, 1979. San Diego Chargers quarterback Cliff Olander and New Orleans Saints running back Tony Galbreath took their cuts.

ESPNBoston.com reporter Mike Reiss mentioned the Patriots might look to Shane Graham or Shaun Suisham as a free-agent possibility if Gostkowski's injury is serious enough to warrant another leg.

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Miami Dolphins 26-10 in M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday.

What it means: The Dolphins no longer are kings of the road. They were thoroughly outplayed on both sides of the ball and would've lost by a wider margin had the Ravens not collapsed twice inside the 15-yard line.

Great start squandered: The Dolphins' struggling offense made a statement on their opening possession, driving 75 yards on 11 plays for a touchdown. They didn't score another one. Chad Henne threw three interceptions.

Defensive troubles: Throughout the game, the Dolphins struggled with tackling the Ravens' backs. Cornerback Sean Smith should have had a pick-six in the third quarter but dropped a Joe Flacco pass he broke on perfectly.

Brown out: Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown ran six times for 45 yards and a touchdown on the opening drive. He had one more carry the rest of the first half. He finished with nine runs for 59 yards.

Carpenter's streak ends: Dan Carpenter received the NFL's special teams player of the month honor a few days ago and extended his streak of successful field goal attempts to 14. But he missed from 46 yards early in the fourth quarter on a kick that would have drawn the Dolphins within a touchdown.

What's next: The Dolphins will see Randy Moss' debut with the Tennessee Titans firsthand in Sun Life Stadium.