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Williams has 3 TDs as Dolphins top Panthers 24-17 By MIKE CRANSTON AP Sports Writer

Published: Friday, November 20, 2009 at 2:14 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 20, 2009 at 2:14 a.m.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Turns out Ronnie Brown's season-ending foot injury didn't spell doom for the Miami Dolphins and their unique offense.

Ageless Ricky Williams did just fine in his place.

The 32-year-old Williams rushed for 119 yards and scored three touchdowns, and the Dolphins beat the Carolina Panthers 24-17 on Thursday night to put themselves into the AFC playoff mix after a miserable start.

"Ricky ran like he was 25," Miami linebacker Joey Porter said.

A day after learning Brown is finished for the year, 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 a career that included a couple of lost seasons.

"He's not 32, I don't care what he says," Dolphins receiver Brian Hartline said. "He definitely doesn't look 32 out there and when he's out there he definitely has a lot of gas left in his wheels."

Williams, the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner, continued his resurgence after a brief retirement and a drug-related suspension. The time off might be helping him now when many running backs decline after they turn 30.

"Ricky is a hard running, big tailback," Panthers defensive tackle Damione Lewis said. "He broke some tackles, and that's him."

DeAngelo Williams rushed for 122 yards for the Panthers (4-6), but Jake Delhomme had his streak of three games without an interception snapped. Then, his desperation pass into the end zone was knocked down as time expired.

"Guys are fighting their tail off," Delhomme said. "We are just not getting it done. ... We are not winning the close ones right now."

The Dolphins were facing uncertainty with their wildcat offense when Brown was placed on injured reserve Wednesday. They 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 it 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.

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 Williams bounced to the outside and shook off Sherrod Martin at the Carolina 5 on a 46-yard touchdown run on the ensuing possession.

"We struggled at bit during the game, but the defense kept it close to give us an opportunity and give us time to get it together," Williams said.

After Williams' long run, the Panthers got 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 the clock ran out.

Benched from Sunday's win over Tampa Bay, Porter served as a captain for the coin toss, then sacked Delhomme twice. Struggling without left tackle Jordan Gross (broken ankle), the Panthers converted only three of 13 third downs.

The Dolphins had their own offensive line troubles. Center Jake Grove left in the third quarter with an ankle injury and was replaced by Joe Berger. Nate Garner moved to center when Berger went down early in the fourth quarter. Henne bobbled Garner's second snap, but he recovered.

Berger returned on the next series and was injured again, but Henne made it look seamless. He completed 17 of 29 passes for 172 yards.

DeAngelo Williams' 50-yard run early in the third quarter seemed to give Carolina life, but the drive ended when Nathan Jones picked off Delhomme's pass intended for Smith at the Miami 4.

Smith caught seven passes for 87 yards despite getting into a minor car accident on the way to the game.

Delhomme, who had thrown 13 interceptions in his first six games, had gone turnover-free this month. But he was just 19 of 42 for 247 yards, and Carolina fell to 0-4 against the Dolphins. It was a crushing loss for the Panthers, who had also begun eyeing the playoffs after their own 0-3 start.

"There's still a lot of football left," coach John Fox said. "We're still no way in any stretch out of it."

Only the Dolphins are in better shape thanks to their old running back.

"He just has knowledge of the game," receiver Ted Ginn Jr. said. "He's been here for a long time and he knows what he's doing."

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