The Dolphins hold deed and title to the AFC East as defending division champions.

The Jets act like they own the division, albeit with thoroughly unearned bravado.

Everybody knows the real ruler of the fiefdom. It hasn't changed. The feudal lord wears a gray hoodie. His kingdom is called Foxborough. His prince makes the ladies swoon with a dimpled smile and puts arrows through cornerbacks' hearts.

For the Dolphins, the noisy nonsense of the New York Jets is past. Miami's most hated and viscerally held rival has been vanquished not once but twice, and so now the real fun starts.

New England. The Patriots. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.

This is the opponent. This is the litmus test.

``One of those telltale games,'' as Ronnie Brown put it in Sunday's winning locker room.

This is the game, up there in five days, that defines the season for a Dolphins team that teeters between contender and pretender and could tip in either direction.

The forecast is for temperatures in the 40s, with about a 90 percent chance of one heck of a football game.

JETS STILL SMARTING

The Jets made for meaty media fun because they are a team full of cartoons, from blustery, gasbag coach Rex Ryan to pretty-boy, GQ quarterback Mark Sanchez to Fireman Ed with the tired ``J-E-T-S!'' chant.

Ryan, evidently in the buffet line for seconds when God was handing out grace, said after Miami's 30-25 victory Sunday that his losing team had ``totally outplayed'' the Dolphins. (Rex takes the ``cl'' out of ``class.'')

Winning coach Tony Sparano returned a subtle jab during his day-after news conference Monday, at one point giving the Jets credit for something and then adding, ``I'm not afraid to do that.''

The Jets complained they ``deserved'' to win after dominating Miami offensively, but why is Miami winning despite only 104 offensive yards any crazier than the Dolphins losing to the Colts despite dominating in time of possession.

Dear Sore-Loser Jets: You didn't ``deserve'' to win Sunday, because the final arbiter said you didn't. It is called a scoreboard.

In contrast to the whiny Jets left behind, Sparano and staff prepare this week for an opponent and an opposing coach who have earned their respect by accomplishment. The Patriots' swagger is borne of actions. The Jets' swagger is all empty noise, like a teacup poodle trying to bark ferociously. (The New York Pets.)

``Very well-coached team, always,'' Sparano said admiringly of the Patriots. ``Not going to make a lot of mistakes. Not going to find those kinds of things, penalties, turnovers.''

Not going to hear a lot of yapping in the preamble this week, either. No need.

The state-of-the-art Patriots had won five consecutive AFC East championships before Miami ended the streak on a tiebreaker last year -- when an injured Brady missed the season. Three Super Bowl wins this decade make the Pats division kings overriding Miami's aberrant title a year ago.

Now, Brady and New England are back in charge at 5-2. Miami, at 3-4, must win to stay close, because the Dolphins' division record (now 3-0) won't come into play as a tiebreaker if the Pats pull away in terms of overall record.

``I think we have a heck of a challenge ahead of us, but this team will be excited about it,'' Sparano said. ``We gave ourselves something to be excited about right now.''

MAKING NOISE

Beating the Jets did that, reinvigorating playoff hopes after a (temporarily) demoralizing, blown-lead loss to New Orleans.

Beating New England? That would be a far greater statement. It would inform the Patriots and the NFL that Miami, after an 0-3 start, is ready to leave the teacup poodles behind and play with the big dogs.

In a wide-open league and season, winning in Foxborough, Mass., would make a division title and even a shot at playing in a hometown Super Bowl seem plausible for Miami.

The Dolphins' four losses have been to teams with a combined 21-5 record entering Monday night's game. Miami has traded punches with the best, dominating the Colts in so many ways, leading 21-3 against the Saints.

You get the sense this is a Dolphins team close to being very good, despite its still-ordinary record.

You get the sense this is a Dolphins team close to earning respect, whether the classless Jets will give it or not.

Winning Sunday in Foxborough would leave no doubt on either point.

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