First Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams caught it, having been sold on the idea that sharing carries would benefit the Dolphins.

Then Chad Pennington caught it, lining up as a decoy receiver in a gimmicky formation known as the Wildcat.

Starting offensive and defensive linemen were not immune. They split time with backups for most of the season.

The common thread has been sacrifice.

Eight playoff teams have more Pro Bowlers than coach Tony Sparano's squad. But from the Dolphins' standpoint, no team in the postseason has more complementary players. They're one reason the Dolphins have gone from NFL doormat to AFC East champion.

Ask anyone associated with this team and they'll testify the Dolphins' success - nine wins in the past 10 games - is credited to each player buying into a team-first approach.

"It's difficult by nature [to buy into] because we're individuals. But when you've got older guys like Chad [Pennington] making sacrifices, and you see linemen sharing time, they see the way me and Ronnie do it, it just becomes contagious," said Williams, who began the season as the starting tailback but has carried the ball 160 times, 54 fewer than Brown.

The unselfish approach has not only kept the Dolphins relatively healthy, but every unit complements another. There's widespread confidence that the defense, for example, will pick up the slack when the offense falters.

Veteran defensive linemen Vonnie Holliday and Jason Ferguson were joking this week about how little they've actually played this season compared to past years. Both share snaps with younger linemen Randy Starks and Phillip Merling.

Ferguson estimates there have been games this season he's played 15 snaps and didn't feel like he was much of a contributor. But in hindsight, Ferguson can't argue with the approach. He said his 34-year-old body feels fresh heading into the postseason.

Some veterans initially balked at being asked to do less or to play a different role than they'd been accustomed.

"Two games into the season we're losing and it was really hard to buy into," Holliday said. "Hats off to the coaching staff because I talked to them about it and they broke it down to me. Their message is always the same. It doesn't waver. 'We are here to win, and we're going to put you guys in the best situation possible to do that.' That's what they've done.

"I had to respect it and learn to play this way, and it paid off for everybody."

Sparano admits part of the challenge of getting players to buy into a team-first mentality was the fact there were so many new faces, including him and his staff.

"Sometimes these guys are sitting in their locker room and the guy sitting next to them wasn't there two days ago," Sparano said, referring to the 45 roster moves the Dolphins have made since September. "Slowly but surely, these guys have become a team. They know that when we're bringing players in and out of here it's to better the team."

Omar Kelly can be reached at okelly@SunSentinel.com

Pro Bowl coming

The NFL announced its 2010 all-star game will be at Dolphin Stadium, one week before the venue hosts Super Bowl XLIV. Page 7

INFORMATIONAL BOX:

Game within the game

A look at the key matchups for Sunday's Dolphins-Ravens game Dolphins must exploit SS Yeremiah Bell vs. TE Todd Heap

This is the first time in Heap's eight-year career the Pro Bowl tight end has contributed fewer than 57 receptions in a 16-game season. But he's still averaging 11.5 yards a catch, and has scored three touchdowns. Heap has caught three or more passes in only six games. Bell, who leads the Dolphins with a career-high 120 tackles, usually draws the tight end assignment on passing plays. He'll need to hold his ground against Heap on outside runs and will likely be called on to blitz rookie quarterback Joe Flacco. Matchup that's concerning ILB Ray Lewis vs. RB Ronnie Brown

The Ravens declawed the Wildcat by blitzing it, limiting the gimmicky run-based formation to 4 yards on five carries in the Oct. 19 loss. Lewis' ability to diagnose the plays had a lot to do with Baltimore's effectiveness against the Wildcat, and stopping the run in general. The former Hurricane has contributed 117 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles this season. Brown, who rushed for 27 yards on 13 carries against Baltimore the last time, has averaged 59 rushing yards over the past seven games, and has only scored one rushing touchdown during that stretch.

- Omar Kelly