The Patriots head south to Pro Player Stadium as the Dolphins are in position to sweep this always-entertaining AFC East rivalry for the first time since 1994.

Five weeks ago at Foxboro (Week 6), New England jumped out to a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter as rookie LB Andy Katzenmoyer (47 yards) and CB Ty Law (27 yards) returned interceptions for touchdowns. But Dolphins QB Damon Huard (replacing an injured Dan Marino early in the contest) overcame nine sacks by the Patriots' defense and led Miami to eight scores (including 6 field goals by PK Olindo Mare), running for 54 yards and throwing for 240 yards and two touchdowns (1 INT), including a 5-yard TD pass to FB Stanley Pritchett with :23 remaining as Jimmy Johnson's club came all the way back for a 31-30 triumph.

While Miami owns a 40-28 victory in the overall standings (including playoffs) and are 15-7 in their last 22 encounters with the Patriots dating back to 1989, New England has prevailed in six of the last nine overall meetings dating back to the teams' second meeting in 1995 despite this year's earlier loss.

As for the Pats' last trip south to Pro Player Stadium (Week 8 of '98), neither New England nor Miami found the end zone and it was Dolphins PK Olindo Mare who proved to be the game's hero, booting a 25-yard field goal with :49 to play to even the score at 9-9, then connecting on a 43-yard field goal 4:36 into overtime to give Jimmy Johnson's club a 12-9 victory.

The Patriots are just 2-8 in their last 10 visits to Miami dating back to 1989.

Worth noting is that each of the last five regular-season meetings between these teams (dating back to 1997) have been decided by three points or less.

Numbers: Including playoffs (1-0), Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe is 7-7 as a starter vs. Miami, throwing for 3,673 yards, 19 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. The Patriots have committed five turnovers in six wins, nine turnovers in three losses in '99. They have allowed three or more sacks in three straight games. The Patriots have not recovered an opponent's fumble in four straight games.

Since 1996 (including playoffs), under head coach Jimmy Johnson, the Dolphins are 35-5 when they run the ball 25 or more times, 0-20 when they fail to run the ball at least 25 times. In 13 home games dating back to '98 (including playoffs), they have allowed just 151 points, 3,103 yards of total offense (238.7 YPG) and just eight offensive touchdowns. PK Olindo Mare has kicked 27 field goals in nine games in '99. The NFL record for field goals in a season is 37, set by Carolina's John Kasay in 1996. Including playoffs, the Dolphins have allowed 239 points in 18 wins, 247 points in nine losses dating back to '98. Since 1996 (including playoffs), under head coach Jimmy Johnson, the Dolphins have totaled 109 sacks and 89 takeaways in 35 wins but just 33 QB traps and 32 takeaways in 25 losses. They have been limited to 17 or fewer points in four straight games. The Dolphins have allowed three or more sacks in three straight games.

Things to look for: There's no question the Patriots still have feelings about Bill Parcells as they came up flat Monday night at home against Team Tuna. Now they must hit the road and face a frustrated bunch of 'Fins, who were manhandled in Orchard Park last week. But New England's inconsistent defense couldn't stop Dolphins' QB Damon Huard when they needed to most in this year's first meeting.

Etc.: Including playoffs, the Patriots are 20-7 in their last 27 games vs. divisional competition (1-0 in playoffs) dating back to Week 8 of 1996, 4 of those losses to the Jets. Since 1996 (including playoffs), under head coach Jimmy Johnson, the Dolphins are 17-13 vs. AFC East foes.