But that was when field goal kicker, Dan Carpenter scored the game-winning field goal to give the Dolphins a 25-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs have been having a poor season, with only one victory. Had Miami lost the game, it would have been a devastating blow.

Perhaps the Dolphins got themselves caught in the typical “trap game,” taking the Buccaneers for granted, as they look toward Thursday night’s game against the Carolina Panthers, who defeated a very good Atlanta team on Sunday. The Dolphins were very listless, except for the last minute drive led by quarterback Chad Henne.

In fact, it was the last two minutes of the game that was worth the price of admission for those who attended. Within the first of those minutes when Miami seemed certain of victory it seemed that Henne was bent on giving the Bucs their second victory, when he was intercepted at the Dolphins 26-yard line, and the Bucs went on to score a touchdown to take a 23-22 lead.

But, the goal scored by the Bucs, finally gave the Dolphins a wake-up call, and at last the team found its guts. Henne seemed determined to get redemption for his costly error in the previous drive and led an impressive 77-yard drive that resulted in Carpenter’s winning 25-yard field goal.

In the drive, wide receiver Davone Bess also impressed, catching two of Henne’s passes; one for 25 yards and the other for 16 yards. At the 64 seconds remaining for the game to end it looked like Miami would run out of time to score, but Henne spiked the ball to stop the clock with 23 seconds left. On the ensuing play, he handed the ball off to running back Ricky Williams, who made a splendid 27-yard dash to set up the winning field goal.

Those final seconds made the Dolphins seem a team to reckon with. The question is: why did they wait until 64 seconds were left in the game to show their worth?

But despite the team’s general poor performance, some players showed their worth. Williams rushed for 102 yards on 20 carries, his first 100-yard game of the season, and rookie tight-end, Kory Sperry, who was called up to start because of an injury to starting tight-end Anthony Fesano, caught 3 passes and scored a touchdown.

With only three days to prepare, the Dolphins face the improved Carolina Panthers on Thursday night on the road in Carolina. It can only be hoped that the last minute wake-up call against Tampa Bay, spurs the Dolphins to play a much better game against the Panthers.

Unfortunately, running back Ronnie Brown suffered an ankle injury in Sunday’s game. If he can’t start on Thursday night, this will put a dent into the Wildcat game Miami loves so well, and place most the running duties on Ricky Williams.

However, it is the defense that gives the most concern. They must be more effective at rushing the quarterback. Tampa Bay’s quarterback Josh Freeman completed 147 passing yards on Sunday; granted that line backer Joey Porter was benched.  The pass rush must improve against Carolina, for the ‘Fins to win.

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