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Dolphins hit full stride to keep up

Miami keeps pace with New England thanks to Ricky Williams.

©Associated Press
December 11, 2002

MIAMI -- Ricky Williams untucked his jersey, removed his cleats, slipped on a baseball cap and left the field smiling as hundreds of fans cheered and chanted his name.

He felt like he was back in college.

He looked like it, too.

Williams topped 200 yards for the second straight week, gaining 216 yards and scoring twice as the Dolphins beat the Chicago Bears 27-9 late Monday. He became the third running back to reach 200 yards in consecutive games, and the first since Earl Campbell in 1980. He ran for a team-record 228 yards last week against Buffalo.

"He's been phenomenal," Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor said. "He's a completely different back than he was in New Orleans. He's carrying us. He pounds them and we sit there and watch. It's nice, except when he breaks that long one and the defense has to go back on the field."

That has happened a lot lately.

Williams had a 63-yard touchdown run Monday, breaking his career long of 55 yards set the previous week. Both came on the same play, a counter in which he starts left then cuts back right behind two pulling blockers.

Williams asked offensive coordinator Norv Turner to run the play this season, but Turner waited until last week to unveil it. The counter was Williams' favorite play in college at Texas, where he ran for 2,124 yards as a senior and won the Heisman Trophy.

"It's a confidence thing," said Williams, who attributes his breakaway speed to losing more than 20 pounds before the season. "In college, I knew once a game I would have a long run. Now I'm proactive going after the big run."

Williams carried 31 times, gained the most yards ever against the Bears and overtook Kansas City's Priest Holmes for the league rushing lead with 1,500 yards. The previous highest rushing total against Chicago was 206 by Campbell in 1980.

"He's hard to tackle, and he made us look bad," Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher said. "He's at full speed when he gets the ball. He makes two moves while he's still in the backfield. He hits the crease, and he's gone."

With Jay Fiedler throwing for a touchdown in his return from a broken right thumb, Miami tied New England atop the AFC East and moved one game ahead of the New York Jets. The Dolphins host Oakland in a conference showdown Sunday.

Injury-riddled Chicago lost for the 10th time in 11 games since a 2-0 start. The Dolphins outgained Chicago 436-195, helping Dave Wannstedt get his first win over the team that fired him after the 1998 season.

Bears coach Dick Jauron started sore-armed Jim Miller at quarterback, tried Henry Burris in spot relief and turned to Chris Chandler in the second half, but none could get Chicago into the end zone until the final minute.

And injuries continued to mount. Miller departed on a cart midway through the third quarter with a sprained left knee, and guard Chris Villarrial sat out the second half with back spasms.

Fiedler went 15-for-29 for 196 yards in his first start since being hurt Oct. 13, and Miami improved to 6-1 with him as the starter.

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