The much-maligned Miami Dolphins have taken much criticism for a lack of toughness, intensity and heart, but the defense has continued to play hard all season and appears to have a renewed relentlessness since the team's Week 8 bye.
The Dolphins lost four straight before their week off but came out of the bye and beat an undefeated Chicago Bears team on the road, creating six turnovers and establishing a ground game that gained 161 yards against the top defense in the NFL. The defense has played a very balanced scheme that yielded impressive results in each of the last two games: 313 total yards (103 rushing, 210 passing) against the Bears and 281 (80 rushing, 201 passing) in a win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Thomas
Taylor
With the exception of 22-year-old outside linebacker
Channing Crowder the defensive front seven averages 32 years of age, but those veterans have stepped up their play over the last two weeks.
Tim Bowens,
Kevin Carter and
Jason Taylor all recorded sacks against the Bears and Taylor also returned an interception for a touchdown, while
Vonnie Holliday,
Keith Traylor and
Zach Thomas all sacked Chiefs quarterback
Damon Huard. The Dolphins also recovered a fumble and managed 14 pass deflections against Kansas City.
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