NFL: Williams leads Dolphins over Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ricky Williams is 32 and far from done. And even without Ronnie Brown, the once written-off Miami Dolphins are back in the playoff picture.

Williams rushed for 119 yards and scored three touchdowns, and the Dolphins beat the Carolina Panthers 24-17 on Thursday night for their fourth win in six games.

A day after learning Brown is lost for the season, the Dolphins (5-5) continued their surge after an 0-3 start behind Williams. The 2002 NFL rushing champion had a receiving and rushing touchdown in the same game for the first time in his career that includes a couple of lost seasons.

"Coach always talks about finishing," Williams said. "Sometimes in this league, in a physical game, it's difficult to finish. I think in the past we've prided ourselves on finishing games, and we did a good job tonight."

It was enough to beat the Panthers (4-6) when Jake Delhomme's desperation pass into the end zone was knocked down as time expired.

DeAngelo Williams rushed for 122 yards, but Delhomme had his streak of three games without an interception snapped, then couldn't lead a late comeback bid.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano hinted his team might abandon the wildcat without Brown, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday because of a foot injury. And Miami didn't use the formation until the second quarter. It coincided with the Dolphins' first touchdown drive — Chad Henne's 14-yard touchdown pass to Williams, who wrestled away from linebacker Na'il Diggs.

Miami took a 14-3 halftime lead when Williams took the direct snap at the 1 and got to the end zone ahead of speedy linebacker Jon Beason.

"Our offense really clicked," Dolphins left tackle Jake Long said. "Ricky ran great."

The Panthers got within 17-14 on Steve Smith's leaping 27-yard touchdown catch and DeAngelo Williams' 2-point conversion run with 5:18 left. But Ricky Williams bounced to the outside and shook off Sherrod Martin at the Carolina 5 on a 46-yard touchdown run on the ensuing possession.

Williams also caught two passes for 19 yards and a touchdown. Chad Henne overcame losing his center and his backup and committed no turnovers.

Still, the Dolphins had to hold off the Panthers. After Williams' long run, the Panthers kicked a field goal. They then forced a punt, and Delhomme found Gary Barnidge on passes of 29 and 17 yards. But from the Miami 26, Delhomme's lob into the end zone was knocked down by Tyrone Culver as time ran out.

"We battled. It just wasn't good enough," Delhomme said.

Early on, Carolina's offense stalled under the weight of its makeshift offensive line — and the return of Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter from exile.