This is a big game for both teams tomorrow night as they each sit at 4-5 on the year.  The Dolphins will be without Ronnie Brown which could force them to throw the ball a bit more than usual.  Still, they will try to ride Ricky Williams against a Panthers’ D that is allowing 128.1 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry.  The Dolphins will likely have to throw the ball a few times on first down to make the Panthers pay for cheating the safeties up towards the line of scrimmage.  That would mean that Ted Ginn and Brian Hartline will have to step up and that is a iffy proposition.  But, Chad Henne has a strong enough arm to get the ball deep if he has time to throw the ball.  That means that the Dolphins will have to keep DE Julius Peppers (who is playing with a broken hand) out of the backfield which is easier said than done.

The Panthers will likely pound the ball with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart against a Dolphins’ D that is only allowing 97.6 yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry so something will have to give in this game.  The Panthers could also come out throwing the ball before they run it to try to get the Dolphins out of their comfort zone offensively getting them to play from behind.  To do that though the Panthers will need to keep Jason Taylor, Cameron Wake and Charlie Anderson away from Jake Delhomme.  Because if Delhomme has time to throw the ball he will likely beat the rookie CBs of the Dolphins with Steve Smith and Mushin Muhammad.  Delhomme has been better about protecting the football and look for that to continue tomorrow night against a Fins’ D with 8 interceptions that is allowing 239.4 yards passing per game.

PREDICTION:  PANTHERS 27, DOLPHINS 20