-- If you watched Carolina last night, you saw what Bill Parcells and company would like the Dolphins to ultimately become. The Dolphins don't have an elite receiver like Steve Smith (no team in the NFL does), but they do have two backs, and they are trying to build from the trenches out. The offensive line isn't playing close to the level of Carolina's at this point but, after another year's growth of Jake Long and the healthy return of Justin Smiley and Donald Thomas, that's the goal.

-- Yes, there's even a Dolphins parallel in the Greg Maddux retirement. Chad Pennington isn't a Hall of Famer, but he's succeeding in very much the same way that Maddux always did.... by making up for a lack of velocity with preparation and accuracy.

-- Don't look now, but the Dolphins could actually get a bye. Pittsburgh and Baltimore play each other this week. The Dolphins likely need to finish 11-5 to win the division, and that record might put them ahead of Pittsburgh. I know, getting ahead of ourselves....