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Surging Dolphins hope to remain alive in AFC playoff race

Dec 16, 2008 - 3:31 PM MIAMI (9-5) AT KANSAS CITY (2-12), 1:00 pm EST

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Coming off the worst season in franchise history, the Miami Dolphins are on the verge of completing an improbable run to the playoffs.

With a monumental division clash looming in Week 17, the red-hot Dolphins aim for their fifth straight win Sunday when they visit the lowly Kansas City Chiefs.

Miami went a league-worst 1-15 last season, the worst record in the history of the storied franchise.

But thanks to the guidance of first-year coach Tony Sparano and the solid play of veteran quarterback Chad Pennington, the Dolphins (9-5) are in a three-way tie with the New England Patriots and the New York Jets atop the AFC East.

Miami, New England and New York also are tied with Baltimore (9-5) for the conference's second wild card, one game behind the Indianapolis Colts.

The Dolphins remained on pace with their division rivals by edging the San Francisco 49ers, 14-9, last weekend.

Pennington threw two touchdown passes while Joey Porter sealed the victory with a late sack for Miami, which has won seven of its last eight contests and has not allowed an offensive touchdown in three straight games.

The 32-year-old Pennington has thrived in his first season with the Dolphins, passing for 3,218 yards and 14 TDs against just six interceptions. Following an up-and-down eight-year stint with the Jets, Pennington has posted a 95.1 passer rating this season, his best since 2002.

"Each year is its own entity," Pennington said. "I've been on teams where one year, everything goes your way, the next year, it's like a paddle on a boat with a rope. That's why you try and enjoy these moments."

Porter, a 10-year veteran plagued by injuries in recent seasons, also has enjoyed a renaissance with the Dolphins. The talkative linebacker has recorded a career-high 17 1/2 sacks, the most in the AFC.

It certainly has been a stunning turnaround for the Dolphins, who can become the first team in NFL history to record 10 victories following a 1-15 season.

The Dolphins, who have not won the AFC East since 2000, can secure the division title by winning their final two games. Miami and the Jets will square off in the Meadowlands in a season finale that could determine the division champion.

But the Dolphins first must focus on the Chiefs, who will look to rebound from a heartbreaking loss.

"Right now, we have full control over what's going to happen to our playoff picture and just take it one game at a time," Porter said. "The whole focus will be on Kansas City."

The Chiefs (2-12) squandered a late 11-point lead in last weekend's 22-21 loss to San Diego.

Facing a 21-10 fourth-quarter deficit, the Chargers scored two touchdowns over a 37-second span, including Vincent Jackson's go-ahead 10-yard TD reception with 36 seconds remaining.

The Chiefs got within field goal range with the help of a Chargers penalty - but Connor Barth's 50-yard attempt missed wide left as time expired.

"In 30 years, I've never lost one like that," Chiefs head coach Herman Edwards said. "This is the toughest one we've had this year, and we've had some tough ones. We've lost six games now within (one) score."

"It hurts like every loss," added Chiefs quarterback Tyler Thigpen, who passed for 171 yards and a TD. "A loss is a loss, and all we can do is take from it, learn from it."