FOXBORO, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- After losing two straight games and squandering a chance to clinch the AFC East title last week, the Miami Dolphins get another opportunity today when they visit the New England Patriots.
The Dolphins can clinch a playoff berth and the division title with a win or tie against New England. They can also earn a first-round bye if Oakland loses to Carolina.
If Miami loses, it can still reach the postseason with a loss or tie by either the New York Jets against Baltimore or the Indianapolis Colts against Minnesota. However, the Dolphins will be squeezed out if they lose and the Jets and Colts win.
The Dolphins may have to perform in inclement weather conditions today, but seem to be better equipped for that with a reliable running game and a short passing game.
Miami's Lamar Smith has rushed for 1,113 yards and 12 touchdowns. Delvin Williams holds the club record with 1,258 yards in 1978.
With Jay Fiedler, the Dolphins essentially use short to intermediate routes. But he has struggled in the last two weeks, getting intercepted four times in a 16-13 loss to Tampa Bay on December 10 and completing just 12-of-25 for 150 yards with an interception in last week's 20-13 loss to Indianapolis.
Miami has won 16 of the last 22 regular-season meetings from the Patriots, including a 10-3 victory on September 24.
The Dolphins held the Patriots to 56 yards rushing and 154 passing, but weren't exactly explosive themselves.
Fiedler completed 12-of-24 passes for 153 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown to Bert Emanuel, and Miami gained 99 yards on the ground.
New England's only points came on a 40-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri, 17 seconds into the second quarter.
Vinatieri, who missed a 27-yard field goal in the inclement conditions on the final play of regulation, made amends with his winning kick.
New England's Drew Bledsoe is not known as a running quarterback, but he used his legs on an icy field to set up the game-winning kick by Vinatieri in last week's 13-10 overtime win at Buffalo.
After Steve Christie had a 30-yard field goal blocked in overtime by Chad Eaton, Vinatieri drilled a 24-yarder with 19 seconds left in the extra session. Bledsoe then engineered a 14-play, 83-yard drive and put the Patriots in prime field goal position when he broke off a 14-yard run on a 3rd-and-6 play to the Buffalo 3.
Bledsoe has enjoyed three 400-yard passing games against the Dolphins in his career, but was intercepted five times in a 27-17 loss last season at Miami.
The Patriots suspended cornerback Ty Law, who was detained last week in Niagara Falls for carrying pills that tested positive for MDMA (commonly known as the drug Ectasy).
The Dolphins lead the series, 41-28, including playoffs.
