Something's fishy

Dolphins' quarterbacks too generous for their own good

Should Dave Wannstedt consider this Dolphins fan as starting quarterback? Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

Dolphins fans are not used to losing. Two Super Bowl titles, five AFC championships, 12 division banners and 21 playoff seasons are a cause for celebration. Beginning with its three consecutive Super Bowl teams in the early 1970s, Miami quickly became associated with winners, posting 67 victories in 84 games between 1970-75.

Miami went 17-0 in 1972 and became the benchmark for single-season success. What a difference 32 years makes. ... The Dolphins are 0-4 and are looking at a top-five draft position for the first time since the 1970 merger. In fact, Miami has had only three top-10 picks since 1970: Troy Vincent (No. 7) in 1992, Richmond Webb (9) in '90 and Sammie Smith (9) in '89.

But Sunday's 17-9 loss to the Jets brought back bad memories for Fish fans. The last time Miami had three interceptions returned for touchdowns in the first four weeks of a season was 1968, when Ken Houston of the Oilers (66 yards on Sep. 14), Willie Brown of the Raiders (27 yards on Sept. 21) and Jim Lynch of the Chiefs (22 yards on Sept. 28) turned the trick. The Dolphins lost all three of those games and went on to post a 5-8-1 record.

Donnie Abraham's 66-yard INT return for a TD on Sunday -- the 11th by a Jets player against the Dolphins -- was the third such score Miami has given up this season, adding to the accomplishments of the Titans' Lamont Thompson (37 yards on Sept. 11) and the Bengals' Brian Simmons (50 yards on Sept. 19). As you might guess, New York's 11 INT-return TDs against the Dolphins are its most against any team.

Jay Fiedler and A.J. Feeley have combined to go 78-of-143 for 771 yards with two TDs and nine picks. Dolphins QBs have had more INTs returned for TDs than they have scoring passes to their own teammates!

Where is Don Strock when you really need him?

Game of the Day

New England 31, Buffalo 17: The Patriots' 18-game winning streak spans two seasons -- and in the age of free agency that is an eternity; try turning a team around within as many games -- but the fact remains: New England hasn't been beaten since Sept. 28, 2003, when Washington posted a 20-17 victory.

If only the Pats could enjoy the streak. ... A lot was made leading up to Sunday's game at Buffalo about how New England was playing down the streak, showing nonchalance toward the record. How many times did you hear a sound bite of a Pats player or coach asking in mock indifference, "What streak?"

Everyone knows about the streak, and to fake a lack of knowledge that history is at hand is ignorant. We get that the sport is played "one game at a time," and that each player is "only here to do a job and help the team win," but you guys don't have to talk down to the fans who have a genuine interest. It smacks of aloofness.

Hot Routes

Cardinals RB Emmitt Smith is the first player to gain more than 100 yards past the age of 35 since K.C.'s Marcus Allen on Dec. 3, 1995, against Cleveland. ... New Orleans' Mel Mitchell blocked one punt and recovered another for a TD -- the first time the Saints had turned a blocked punt into a TD in 27 years. ... Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson eclipsed Paul Lowe as the Chargers' all-time leading rusher, posting 147 yards to push his career total to 4,979 yards in just 52 games. ... The Jets are 3-0 for the third time in franchise history. ...

Subbing for the injured Rex Grossman, Bears QB Jonathan Quinn started his fourth game in a seven-year NFL career. ... When Buffalo's Rian Lindell booted a 33-yard FG to cap the Bills' opening drive Sunday, it was the first time the Patriots had allowed a first-quarter score this season. ... Bills RB Travis Henry has now led Buffalo in rushing in 43 of 47 career games. ... With four sacks on Sunday, the Eagles now have an NFL-best 17. ... Texans QB David Carr has thrown for 200-plus yards in a career-best four consecutive games. ... Pittsburgh is a league-best 29-11 in October since 1994. ...

Steelers RB Jerome Bettis' season stats: 18 carries, 22 yards, five TDs. ... 'Zona QB Josh McCown has completed at least 60 percent of his pass attempts in five of his past six starts. ... The Jets have outscored opponents 35-7 in the first quarter. ... Under Mike Shanahan, Denver is 62-15 when allowing 20 points or fewer. ... The Packers have lost six of their last 12 home games after going 22-3 in their first 25 under Mike Sherman. ... Giants QB Kurt Warner's streak was ended at 127 passes without an interception, six short of his all-time best. ...

Cleveland is now 33-9-1 against Washington after beating the Skins in Cleveland for the first time since 1969. ... The Redskins' O-line did not give up a sack after yielding nine in the previous two games. ... Philadelphia has scored 11 TDs -- all either by Donovan McNabb passes (9) or runs (2). ... Since Drew Bledsoe joined the team, Buffalo is 14-21. ... Colts QB Peyton Manning leads the league with 11 TD passes. ... Atlanta is now 13-2 against Carolina and is 4-0 for only the second time (1986). ... He Said It: "We're a complete 360-degree turn from last year," QB Michael Vick says of the 4-0 Falcons. Um, isn't 360 degrees right back where you started? The Falcons were 1-3 after four games in 2003.

Play of the Day

Good call by the Green Bay team doctors to bench Brett Favre after his head injury -- even though it came after a gutsy fourth-and-5 TD pass to Javon Walker. The scoring pass marked Favre's 29th consecutive game with a TD toss, eclipsing Dave Krieg for third place behind Dan Marino (30) and Johnny Unitas (47).

Knocked to the ground by the Giants' William Joseph, Favre was woozy after the hit and gave way to backup Doug Pederson for two plays before returning to add to the Legend of All Things Brett. It wasn't quite Willis Reed in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals, but it was a down that will be replayed five years after Favre's retirement -- when SportsCentury: Brett Favre is part of Bayou Weekend leading up to the Hall of Fame ceremonies.

Stars of the Day

Tom Brady, Patriots: 17-of-30 for 298 yards and 2 TDs -- Brady remains the fly in the ointment for those who argue big-armed QBs are the cornerstones for building a franchise. He's 37-12 as a starter and has 18 games with a 100.0-plus passer rating, so what more could you ask of the guy? Ryan Leaf, he ain't.

Emmitt Smith, Cardinals: 21 carries for 127 yards and 1 TD; 1-of-1 passing for 21 yards and 1 TD; one catch for 18 yards -- Showing that even at 35 he still has something left in the tank, Emmitt tied Walter Payton (77) for the most 100-yard rushing games in league history -- and he's now only 419 TD passes behind Dan Marino.

Andre Johnson, Texans -- six catches for 115 yards and 1 TD -- Don't look now, but the second-year receiver is rounding into form: He increased his yardage for the fourth consecutive game. More importantly, Houston (2-2) -- which forced turnovers on four consecutive Raiders possessions Sunday -- is only one game behind the AFC-leading Colts and Jaguars.

Jason Elam, Broncos -- 3 of 3 on FGs, 1 of 1 on PATs for 10 points -- Proving once again the importance of special teams, Elam was Denver's offense Sunday at Tampa Bay. The Broncos scored one TD, but the game came down to a 23-yard field goal with 9:07 to play and Elam came shining through for the 16-13 victory.

MNF Sneak Peek

Kansas City and Baltimore feature ground attacks that Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf would be proud to call his own. Former Raven and all-time leading Chiefs rusher Priest Holmes fuels the Kansas City offense, while reigning Offensive Player of the Year and former Holmes understudy Jamal Lewis is the go-go juice for the Ravens.

The Chiefs are 5-1 on Monday nights with a 100-yard rusher, and Holmes has reached that mark in three of his past four games, including the playoffs.

Baltimore is 3-0 all-time on Monday night, and like Kansas City, the Ravens return 21 of 22 starters from last season. Baltimore has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in nine games -- tied with Detroit for the league's longest active streak.

MNF Did You Know: Kansas City T Willie Roaf and his grandfather have helped save an important Civil War battlefield, Virginia's Fort Collier. On Sept. 16, 1864, Fort Collier was the scene of the largest single cavalry charge in U.S. history -- 6,000 mounted Union federals.

Roaf's grandfather, William W. Layton, is a noted historian, speaker and author. Through him, Roaf became interested in preserving the historical site, and has contributed to its restoration.

Nearly $500,000 has been raised to purchase and preserve the 10 acres of land on which Fort Collier sits.

B. Duane Cross is a senior producer for SI.com.