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Keeping momentum a challenge for Dolphins

Sep 30, 2008 - 4:32 PM SAN DIEGO (2-2) AT MIAMI (1-2), 1:00 pm EDT

MIAMI (Ticker) -- A bye week could not have come at a worse time for the Miami Dolphins.

Looking to build off just their second win since the 2006 season, the Dolphins host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

Two weeks ago, Miami posted a shocking 38-13 upset over the New England Patriots, which snapped an 11-game road losing streak and was just the team's second victory in 22 games.

The thoroughness of the beating inflicted by the Dolphins was as stunning as ending the Patriots' regular-season winning streak at 21 games - the longest in league history.

Ronnie Brown, less than a year removed from major knee surgery, shredded New England for 113 yards and a team-record four touchdowns. He also threw a scoring pass.

However, Miami coach Tony Sparano stressed that the Dolphins, coming off a bye week, must look forward to the dangerous Chargers rather than bask in the win over New England.

"Our whole focus right now is just on winning the next game, and the next game is this game against San Diego," Sparano said. "Taking care of home field is something that needs to become more important to us. We talked about winning on the road last week and how important going on the road and winning games are. That's over, that's in the past.

"Now we have a home game. ... We know we have a hard challenge. We know we have a great football team coming in here."

The Dolphins (1-2), utilizing a formation with Brown often lining up and taking a direct snap from center, seemed to catch the Patriots off-guard.

Quarterback Chad Pennington, who lined up as a wide receiver when Brown took the direct snap, carved up New England's defense by completing 17-of-20 passes for 226 yards.

That element of surprise will be gone against San Diego (2-2), which has regained its footing with victories over the New York Jets and Oakland Raiders after opening the season with last-second losses to Carolina and Denver.

Quarterback Philip Rivers already has thrown 10 touchdown passes and running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who had been battling a nagging toe injury, rushed for two touchdowns and had his first 100-yard effort of the season in a come-from-behind win over Oakland.

"The quarterback is having an outstanding year, he really is. He's doing an outstanding job throwing the football right now, managing the game and doing all those things," Sparano said. "But more importantly, Tomlinson and what you have to do with him and how you have to tackle this guy.

"You might do everything perfect at the point of attack and all of a sudden this guy brings it all the way back. I've seen him do it a million times."