At 8-5 and winners of six of their last seven, they control their own destiny. Beat the 5-8 49ers at home, the 2-11 Chiefs at Arrowhead, and close out in New Jersey -- the birthplace of Dolphins architect Bill Parcells against the 8-5 J-E-T-S, and the greatest turnaround in NFL history will be complete. Miami would claim the AFC East title and receive a first-round bye.

Of the eight teams to finish 1-15 since going to 16 games in 1978, only the '97 Jets under Parcells and the '92 Colts under Ted Marchibroda won at least nine games the next season. Both finished 9-7.

For quarterback Chad Pennington, a major factor in the Dolphins' turnaround because of his game management and ball-protection skills, the playoffs start Sunday.

"I think the way things are shaking out in our league this year, the playoffs are now, they really are, they've already started," he said. "You don't have a lot of teams that are just waiting for the playoffs to begin, that can just lose games and have it not affect their status. All of the teams, most of the teams involved, we're all going to have to play all of the way to Week 17. Then you'll see who makes the postseason and who does not. It's extremely important that you win in December, the stakes rise."

Pennington and coach Tony Sparano are quite aware that the resurgent 49ers, who have won two in a row against AFC East teams, including the Bills and Jets, and three of their last four under fiery interim head coach Mike Singletary, aren't about to lie down for them.

"I see an inspired football team. I know (Singletary) motivates them pretty well. When they came out last week, they hit the Jets right in the mouth and at the end of the day, they won the football game. It was impressive watching it," Sparano said.

"The other thing I think they're doing very well right now is when you look, they're not having as many penalties right now and they're not turning the ball over as much. Although their turnover ratio is very high -- they're minus-14 -- a lot of those turnovers were a while ago."

San Francisco has committed seven of its league-high 30 turnovers in the past four games.

Sparano credited 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill with his ball skills, but the Dolphins know that San Francisco has lost 15 fumbles while Miami has lost just four fumbles and leads the NFL with fewest turnovers with 10. If running back Frank Gore (ankle) can't play, then look for the Dolphins to try to strip his replacement, DeShaun Foster, who had five lost fumbles last season for the Panthers and one last week.

Hill is ranked 11th among quarterbacks in fourth-quarter efficiency with a 92.8 passer rating while completing 33 of 54 with four touchdowns and two interceptions.

Also, the 49ers are stingy when opponents reach the red zone, having held the Bills to just three points in four trips inside the 20 a few weeks ago. Overall, they're ranked fourth in red-zone defense, having allowed 21 touchdowns on 47 drives for a 44.7 percent conversion rate. Conversely, the Dolphins are ranked sixth in red-zone offense with 22 touchdowns in 36 possessions for an 88.9 percent TD success rate.

Veteran running back Ricky Williams has played in just one playoff game over his eight-year on-and-off again career. That was in 2001 with the Saints.

"For us it's important we have it in our sights, but I was here in 2002 when we were a really good team and in a similar situation and we lost our last two games and we ended up not making the playoffs," Williams said of Miami's 9-7 finish that season. "Yeah, it's nice but we have to understand that we have to finish. It feels good to be in first place but we understand it can all change pretty quickly and I think if we don't make the playoffs we're going to be disappointed."

Defensive end Vonnie Holliday, part of a defense that hasn't allowed a touchdown in the past two games, is also wary of the 49ers.

"We know if we don't get a win this weekend that playoff picture ... that light starts to dim a little," he said. "These guys are playing well over the last several weeks. Under Singletary they're fired up.

"You look at these guys, there's talent on film, especially watching the last three games. Even Dallas, it was 35-22. They were able to run the ball some, make some big plays down the field. Isaac Bruce, here's a guy; you think he's done but he's a great route runner.

"They made a switch at quarterback. Hill is doing a great job for them, so watching these guys on film, offensively, they can get it done. We're going to have to go out and start fast. We have them in our house and we have to play smart football. If we can go out and start fast and hopefully break their spirit and put them away early because if not, we'll be in a dog fight."

SERIES HISTORY: 10th regular-season meeting. Dolphins lead series, 5-4, but are 0-1 in the postseason, a 38-16 loss in Super Bowl XIX. That was the only Super Bowl Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino would ever play in. The Dolphins are 2-2 in Miami, but 0-1 at Dolphin Stadium. The 49ers are one of five NFL teams who haven't loss at Dolphin Stadium. The teams haven't met since the 2004 season, a 24-17 victory by Miami in Candlestick Park. Former Dolphins DE Jason Taylor had three of Miami's eight sacks that day.