by ELI PACHECO , News & Record

TV: NFL Network Radio: WZTK-101.1 Weather: Partly cloudy, 58 degrees at kickoff

THE STORY LINE

Carolina, which has lost two Pro Bowl-caliber players to injuries in two weeks (T Jordan Gross, LB Thomas Davis), can reach .500 against Miami and former Panthers assistant coach Dan Henning, the Dolphins' offensive coordinator.

THREE TO WATCH

Dolphins

QB Chad Henne: Injured Chad Pennington's replacement won't have RB Ronnie Brown's support tonight. Henne was the hero late in a win vs. Tampa Bay last week, but three of his four interceptions have come in the past two weeks.

RB Ricky Williams: He rolled up 102 yards by ground after Brown's injury last week and is averaging a career-best 5.3 yards per carry for the season. He might even see some Wildcat action tonight.

C Jake Grove: Carolina has given up 13 rushing TDs, and Grove anchors a line that accounts for 156.2 yards per game, fourth best in the NFL.

Panthers

QB Jake Delhomme: After throwing 13 interceptions through six games, he's pick-free in his past three. That Cajun swagger appears to be back. Delhomme has been scrambling and even finding WR Steve Smith lately.

Coach John Fox: Carolina led with the run and won last week. Can Fox stick to it? When Delhomme throws more than 30 times, he's 9-31. When it's 30 or fewer? He's 50-7. Let the run create the pass.

WR Steve Smith: With three scores in three weeks, he doesn't have to hear much about the Giants' Steve Smith these days. Don't expect sore ribs to slow him. BY THE NUMBERS

RUSHING

Dolphins Att. Yds. Avg. TD

Brown 147 648 4.4 8

R. Williams 105 558 5.3 6

TOTAL 303 1,406 4.6 14

Panthers Att. Yds. Avg. TD

D. Williams 168 860 5.1 7

Stewart 98 466 4.8 6

TOTAL 293 1,409 4.8 13 PASSING

Dolphins Comp.-Att. Yds. TD Int.

Henne 110-189 1,165 5 4

Panthers Comp.-Att. Yds. TD Int.

Delhomme 145-245 1,658 7 13 RECEIVING

Dolphins Rec. Yds. Avg. TD

Bess 40 334 8.4 0

Camarillo 27 277 10.3 0

Ginn 19 218 11.5 1

TOTAL 163 1,600 9.8 7

Panthers Rec. Yds. Avg. TD

Smith 38 512 13.5 3

Muhammad 30 310 10.3 0

D. Williams 21 215 10.2 0

TOTAL 152 1,723 11.3 7

THREE KEY INJURIES

Dolphins: RB Ronnie Brown (ankle, foot) is out. LG Justin Smiley (shoulder) should play, as should OLB Joey Porter, who was inactive vs. Tampa Bay.

Panthers : DE Julius Peppers slowed considerably after breaking a hand two weeks ago, but should play. FB Brad Hoover (ankle) is likely to miss his third consecutive game. WR Steve Smith (ribs) is a go.

THREE TRENDS

1. Miami has surrendered a league-worst 96 fourth-quarter points.

2. Carolina gave up 176 yards and 6.1 per carry in a win against Atlanta.

3. Carolina has never qualified for the postseason in consecutive seasons.

ANALYSIS

Dolphins win if ... they strike big with well-timed trick plays, Henne makes sound decisions (look to emerging rookie TE Kory Sperry) and coach Tony Sparano gambles a bit after taking a conservative approach Sunday vs. Tampa Bay.

Panthers win if ... they can operate smoothly offensively and with patient balance (and some two-minute material thrown in for Jake), avoid a game-changing special-teams foible and keep Ricky Williams between the tackles.

Outcome: Atlanta's fortunes turned with RB Michael Turner's ankle Sunday vs. Carolina, which is discovering the quality of its depth with every season-ending injury. Without Ronnie Brown, Miami lacks its main ingredient. Expect Carolina's shuffled line to effectively mow paths for DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart and give Delhomme time to add some spice of his own. Panthers 31, Dolphins 16

- Eli Pacheco, Special to the News & Record SCHEDULES/RESULTS

Dolphins (4-5)

Sept. 13 at Atlanta L, 19-7

Sept. 21 Indianapolis L, 27-23

Sept. 27 at San Diego L, 23-13

Oct. 4 Buffalo W, 38-10

Oct. 12 N.Y. Jets W, 31-27

Oct. 25 New Orleans L, 46-34

Nov. 1 at N.Y. Jets W, 30-25

Nov. 8 at New England L, 27-17

Nov. 15 Tampa Bay W, 25-23

Today at Carolina 8:20

Nov. 29 at Buffalo 1

Dec. 6 New England 8:20

Dec. 13 at Jacksonville 10

Dec. 20 at Tennessee 1

Dec. 27 Houston 1

Jan. 3 Pittsburgh 1

Panthers (4-5)

Sept. 13 Philadelphia L, 38-10

Sept. 20 at Atlanta L, 28-20

Sept. 28 at Dallas L, 21-7

Oct. 11 Washington W, 20-17

Oct. 18 at Tampa Bay W, 28-21

Oct. 25 Buffalo L, 20-9

Nov. 1 at Arizona W, 34-21

Nov. 8 at New Orleans L, 30-20

Nov. 15 Atlanta W, 28-19

Today Miami 8:20

Nov. 29 at N.Y. Jets 1

Dec. 6 Tampa Bay 1

Dec. 13 at New England 1

Dec. 20 Minnesota 8:20

Dec. 27 at N.Y. Giants 1

Jan. 3 New Orleans 1

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