As soon as Sunday's game ended, Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss sought out Dolphins cornerback Vontae Davis so he could deliver a few final words to a rookie who had just spent four gritty quarters defending him.

``I'm heading out of this league soon,'' the veteran told Davis. ``And you're coming into it. You're going to be a good player. Just keep working.''

In a way, it was the ultimate compliment -- a testament to the effort and toughness displayed by Miami's first-round pick during a 27-17 loss Sunday.

But it also was a symbolic reminder -- one that holds firm for Miami's entire squad -- of the current order of rank in the AFC East: The Dolphins are clawing their way toward respectability. The Patriots already are there.

During yet another game when the Dolphins revealed why they are such a threatening underdog, they also showed why they're also one of the most heartbreaking teams in the NFL.

``We want to be a good team, and this was a chance toward being a good team,'' running back Ricky Williams said. ``And we didn't do it. We didn't do it.''

Close? Yes, Miami was close again. Successful? No, Miami was not successful. Again. Just as Davis' performance mirrored Miami's admirable effort, Moss' six catches for 147 yards and a touchdown mirrored the superiority of his own squad.

``Close in this game just doesn't get it,'' Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. ``That's why these guys have a lot of banners out there right now. They figure out a way to win those close games. From our end, we understand where we are right now.

``We're a good football team. We're really close to being a really good football team. But we've got to get it to turn.''

Several times Sunday, there were scenarios when it seemed Miami might get it to go that way. The first half even looked at times like a diluted version of last year's game in the same stadium, when the Dolphins unveiled the Wildcat offense for the first time.

Miami used rookie quarterback Pat White more than ever, installing a package of plays similar to the spread offense from the collegiate ranks. It worked ideally twice in the second quarter: Once when White gained 33 yards and again when he option-pitched to running back Ricky Williams, who went 15 yards around the right side for a touchdown.

A NEW WRINKLE

``I thought, for a while there we were one step ahead in those situations,'' Sparano said. ``It caused them to have to make some adjustments. I thought the Pat White package caused them some problems.''

The base offense, as a whole, was effective enough to keep the Patriots on edge for a bulk of the game. Despite a 16-10 deficit at halftime, Miami worked itself back into a one-point lead after it drove 66 yards on 16 plays during an impressively creative drive that featured a mix of spread, Wildcat and base offense.

Quarterback Chad Henne, who finished 19 of 34 for 219 yards, completed all five of his passes on that touchdown drive, which culminated with Ronnie Brown's 1-yard TD pass to Joey Haynos.

Those were the kinds of grinding efforts that allowed the Dolphins to again win the time-of-possession battle. That's also the type of success that caused Miami to remain a real contender in this game -- not just a pesky underdog.

``We put ourselves in certain situations, but we've got to figure out a way to come out on top,'' wide receiver Davone Bess said. ``They played how we thought they would. We just didn't execute the plays like we should have. We had more than enough opportunities to win a ballgame. In situations like this, we've got to finish.''

When the Dolphins review this game to figure out what went wrong, it likely will reveal nothing more than the obvious: There was not enough of a pass rush on defense (linebackers Joey Porter and Jason Taylor didn't have any sacks) and there were too many dropped passes on offense (four). `BEST RECEIVER'

And Moss, despite Davis' best effort, was just too threatening in one-on-one coverage as he provided the Patriots with enough big-play burst to make the most of New England's time on offense.

``That is the best receiver,'' Davis said. ``It's something to learn from.''

During the Patriots' first deep pass attempt, Davis aggressively attacked Moss in coverage and came down with an acrobatic interception. It was the beginning of what would be an admirable fight.

But two quarters later, when Moss stiff-armed Davis on his way to a 71-yard touchdown, it might have provided the better big picture of where this rivalry currently stands.

Sure, the Dolphins remain the commendable underdogs, a team that looked gritty and determined during their fifth loss of the season. But the Patriots, in their sixth win, stand clearly as the team to beat in the AFC East.

As Henne's fourth-down pass with 2:50 left went through the fingertips of wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. near midfield of Gillette Stadium, sealing defeat, it was yet another moment of complete deflation that resulted in one sobering message for the Dolphins:

Not this time. Not yet.

``Close doesn't get it,'' wide receiver Greg Camarillo said. ``Close to the Colts. Close to New Orleans. Close to the Patriots. But those are losses. Close to the playoffs doesn't count, either.

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