In Brief
Ronnie Brown leads a Dolphins offense centered around the running game.
(Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press)
Last meeting:
The Dolphins had five sacks and dominated defensively in a 21-6 win over the Saints at Baton Rouge in Week 8 of 2005.
Streaks:
Miami has won three of the last five meetings and owns a 6-3 overall series edge.
Last week:
An NFC showdown turned into a blowout as the Saints dominated the Giants, 48-27. ... Miami was on a bye.
Keep your eye on ...
The Wildcat's success: Miami's best chance to pull off the upset might be to continue with the Wildcat and pound the ball with Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown in an attempt to control the time of possession. The formula almost worked against Peyton Manning and any strategy to keep Drew Brees off the field as much as possible is sound.
The Dolphins' rookie cornerbacks:Sean Smith and Vontae Davis get significant playing time for the Dolphins and they have performed relatively well in primary roles. They will get their biggest test yet against the Saints' explosive set of receivers.
New Orleans' underestimated rushing attack: While Brees and the Saints' passing offense gets all the attention, it is actually the running game that is ranked in the top five this season -- not the aerial attack. Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell and Reggie Bush form a very effective committee, but they will meet a tough Dolphins run defense that ranks third in the league.
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