There were those moments when it couldn't have looked better. Moments when the Dolphins' captivating start to their season seemed destined to roll on with even more intrigue until Sunday's game turned sour.

There were those moments in this 29-28 loss to Houston when it seemed seamless; like the instance when Miami refused to let its trendy Wildcat offense slide into a mode of predictability without adding yet another new wrinkle.

There were those moments, sure. However, there were those other moments -- the ones that sharply humbled Miami's newfound confidence Sunday for at least another week.

''This was pretty frustrating for a lot of reasons,'' defensive end Vonnie Holliday said. ``When you're a team like we are, and you're trying to take the next step toward changing a culture, this loss hurts even more. For us, it's just an opportunity squandered.''

UP AND DOWN

In an up-and-down game that saw five lead changes in the second half, the Dolphins couldn't maintain long enough as Houston constructed an unlikely game-winning drive in the final two minutes for the Texans' first win of the season.

Sure, there were late occasions when the Dolphins' fate seemed decisively in their favor. How else could you explain a play in which quarterback Chad Pennington threw a interception, only to have Texans cornerback Eugene Wilson fumble it back for a new set of downs with three minutes left to play?

But much like the rest of the game, every positive was followed by one too many negatives. The Texans' final drive of the game -- with Houston trailing 28-23 -- could not have proved it more.

''It was a roller coaster of emotions, it really was,'' said Pennington, who completed 19 of 25 passes for 284 yards. ``We make a play, then they make another play. It was just up and down. That last series was just like the game.''

On at least two occasions (and arguably three) the Dolphins seemed to have the game won as Houston kept alive the desperate drive.

First, linebacker Joey Porter said he thought he forced Texans quarterback Matt Schaub to fumble (it was ruled an incomplete pass). Then, cornerback Andre' Goodman thought he had an interception (it was reviewed and overturned as an incomplete pass as well).

And finally, on fourth-and-10, when victory seemed a play away, Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson pulled down a 23-yard completion that would later lead to a game-winning touchdown run by Schaub.

Johnson's big-play ability -- which accounted for 10 catches and 178 yards -- would ultimately cripple the Dolphins' hopes of a third consecutive win.

''Too many big plays,'' coach Tony Sparano said. ``[Johnson] is a hell of a player. I've been watching the same thing for years playing against him, and he did a hell of a job [Sunday].''

UNEVEN WILDCAT

The wackiness of Sunday's game wasn't easily defined. Take, for example, Miami's offense. Even as the Dolphins put together two stunning touchdowns in the first half (both by running back Patrick Cobbs for a combined 133 yards), the team also only converted two of their 10 third-down plays all game.

At times, the success of the Wildcat seemed again mesmerizing.

In the first quarter, running back Ronnie Brown handed the ball to Ricky Williams, who seamlessly flipped it to Pennington, who then threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to an Cobbs.

At other times, the Wildcat seemed only mediocre. Of the five other times it was used, the team gained no more than 4 yards each play. So while the package still has life to it, the added wrinkles could be necessary to keep it working.

That, in some symbolic sense, could be the overall lesson from Sunday's loss. As the Dolphins continue their turnaround, they inevitably will face games in which they struggle as much as they succeed.

But Sparano was still encouraged by one major aspect of the game: At least, they were in it until the end.

''We gave ourselves a chance to win the game at he end,'' Sparano said. ``Are we frustrated? Sure. You're supposed to be frustrated at the end of that, but we'll be fine. We have what it takes to win.''

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