Likewise, Morris' role at running back will be in question now that Laurence Maroney has kept his hot streak going for the past six weeks. Maroney has scored a touchdown in each of his last games and is getting progressively better with more playing time.

Also keep an eye on the cornerback situation. The Patriots benched Jonathan Wilhite midway through Monday's blowout and used Darius Butler in his place. Butler might get an opportunity to start, though it depends on what happens in practice this week, in addition to the matchups presented by Miami.

PLAYER NOTES

--WR Randy Moss finished Monday's game with 67 receiving yards and now needs only 8 yards to join Jerry Rice as the only players in NFL history with 10 seasons of 1,000 yards receiving.

--WR Sam Aiken set new career highs with seven catches for 90 yards Monday. Aiken's previous best was four catches in 2005 and 66 yards in October in London.

--CB Darius Butler may be a game-day insertion into the starting lineup in place of Jonathan Wilhite, who was benched during Monday's game. Butler is only a rookie, but he's played a prominent role in the secondary throughout the season.

--RB Fred Taylor was the only Patriot not at practice during Wednesday's media availability; however, that might not mean much since it was only a walkthrough.

--DT Ron Brace was inactive again this past week, but his presence at practice this week might be an indication that he's ready to return to the lineup. Brace plays a small but important role.

GAME PLAN: The Patriots could just as easily photocopy the game plan from their first meeting with the Dolphins and use it effectively this weekend, because it's unlikely Miami won't change much from previous weeks.

The Dolphins still run the Wildcat offense, and teams still have trouble adjusting, so expect to see Miami go for the jugular early and often when given the opportunity. The key for the Patriots is recognition. They need to spot patterns in Miami's personnel formations, which is easier said than done.

Offensively, the Patriots need to be more in sync than they were last week. They didn't have much of a chance given the fact their defense allowed five touchdown passes, but Tom Brady looked out of rhythm at times. The Patriots don't seem to do as well in adverse situations on the road. Is crowd noise a factor? That's highly unlikely, but whatever is ailing them at the moment needs to be corrected Sunday.

While passing the ball is still their best means of moving the chains, don't be surprised if the Patriots lean on their running game. Sammy Morris is back in the lineup and Laurence Maroney has played fairly well despite his fumbling issues.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Dolphins DE Kendall Langford vs. Patriots RT Nick Kaczur. The Patriots have had some protection issues on the right side of the line, so Kaczur could be on a short leash if Langford gets off to a fast start. Look for Sebastian Vollmer to possibly move to the right side and bookend Matt Light, who returned to his customary spot at left tackle last week.

Dolphins C Jake Grove vs. Patriots NT Vince Wilfork. This needs to be a retribution game for Wilfork, who struggled at times in Monday's loss to the Saints. Wilfork can't afford to be bullied around like he was last week. He should have the edge in this matchup.

Dolphins TE Anthony Fasano vs. Patriots S Brandon Meriweather. Fasano has had some big games against the Patriots in the past and is particularly dangerous in the red zone, an area in which the Patriots struggled defensively in New Orleans. Meriweather needs to be more physical in this game than he was last week.

INJURY IMPACT: The Patriots are much healthier than they've been in recent weeks, though they could use Sebastian Vollmer's services as either a starter on the offensive line or a backup. Sammy Morris' return has helped the running back situation, as has Laurence Maroney's recent production. One area where the Patriots can't afford any injuries is in the secondary, where poor play and other health concerns have left them a bit thin.