QUARTERBACK | A

Chad Pennington continues to manage the game well and continues to write a new standard for Miami quarterback ratings, delivering his third consecutive game above 100 in that category. Yes, Pennington threw an interception, but it didn't hurt, and that 53-yard pass to Patrick Cobbs was a thing of beauty.

RUNNING BACK | B+

The Ronnie Brown express wasn't derailed, but it was definitely delayed, although running mate Ricky Williams picked up some of the slack by averaging 4.2 yards per carry. Cobbs didn't run once, but he is, after all a running back and he did, score two long touchdowns to push the overall grade higher.

RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS | D

David Martin, Anthony Fasano and Greg Camarillo are not the problem. Ted Ginn Jr., Derek Hagan, and Ernest Wilford are. Hagan and Wilford aren't good enough to get on the field, which is why they were inactive, and Ginn produced as if he was inactive.

OFFENSIVE LINE | B+

here was fine blocking on Cobbs' screen pass. The sack that Mario Williams registered came against a tight end not a lineman, and the Dolphins continued to average 4 yards per rush. So this group could have played better, but the reason the Dolphins lost isn't found here.

DEFENSIVE LINE | D

Ahman Green and Steve Slaton did to the front what LaDainian Tomlinson and Co. could not -- average a combined 4 yards per carry. This unit could have offered the hero of the game had Randy Starks tackled Matt Schaub on his improbable winning TD. But it didn't happen and the pressure of Schaub from this group was nonexistent.

LINEBACKERS | B-

Joey Porter dominated Houston's left tackle with a sack and five quarterback hurries while Channing Crowder led the team with 13 combined tackles and also had two passes defensed. But there were struggles with tight end Owen Daniels and no one made a game-saving play at the end.

SECONDARY | F

Sometimes they were draped over the receivers, but didn't make the play. Sometimes there were blown coverages so they could not make the play. Sometimes they dropped an interception or let the interception skip to them. The bottom line is no one in the secondary made a game-saving play.

SPECIAL TEAMS | F

These guys are a problem. Last week there was that fumbled kickoff, this week there was the 70-yard punt return TD. And never do Miami's special teams offer something, well, special. Isn't it clear Ginn's speed might be suitable on kick returns sometime?

COACHING | C-

Tony Sparano and his staff added that flea flicker tweak to the Wildcat package that resulted in a TD. But the clock management at the end was questionable, and Houston's Gary Kubiak clearly got the better of his counterpart by calling that QB draw out of a passing formation to win the game.

OVERALL | C-

Just as the Dolphins weren't supposed to beat New England and San Diego, they were supposed to beat a previously winless Houston. But the Dolphins couldn't convert on third downs, couldn't get off the field on defense and were not able to take the next step in their progression toward being mediocre.

Join the discussion

Note: If this is your first time using our NEW commenting system, you will have to LOG OUT and then LOG BACK IN.

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.CommentBody@

@Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@