Five months ago, during the doldrums of the NFL offseason, Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder had something to say.

He was tired of the indirect disrespect. He was tired of the assumption, as essentially declared by Jets coach Rex Ryan, that Miami's unlikely division title last season was nothing more than a lucky aberration from the usual Patriots dominance in the AFC East.

``The Jets didn't even win the division, and now they're all talking about how [the AFC East] goes through New England,'' Crowder said in June. ``That's what gets me bothered. I don't care about the other stuff, but don't say the division goes through New England.

``It goes through Miami.''

There's a strong chance you already have grown quite familiar with Crowder's sentiment -- just as most NFL fans are also familiar with the storm of trash talk that ensued within the division as a result of it.

Now, all this time later, Miami finally will have the chance to back it up. At 1 p.m. Sunday, the Dolphins can remind the league -- despite a widespread belief that the Patriots remain the East's most dominant team -- that they are indeed the reigning champions.

``We've got to win this game,'' linebacker Akin Ayodele said. ``The Patriots dominated this division for years, so we need to show that we're capable of now doing the same.''

STAKING CLAIMS

From the standpoint of the past and the present, it isn't hard to see why some still view the Patriots as kings. They have won six of the past eight division titles. And more recently, they have outscored opponents 94-7 in the past two games.

So, yes, New England is still a force. No doubt.

The Dolphins, though, have a sound argument of their own: Since claiming the AFC East title last season, Miami has yet to lose a game within the division. The team has defeated the Bills once and the Jets twice.

The only task left to accomplish before quieting all three divisional opponents? Well, that's simple: Beat the Patriots.

``They're a good team,'' tight end Anthony Fasano said. ``And they have reason to talk. As far as our division stands, we're the reigning division champs. Now, we have to go out and play like it.''

In general, it's not difficult to see why the Dolphins grow somewhat tired of hearing how their division title doesn't mean that much. Since coach Tony Sparano took over in South Florida, Miami has yet to lose a division game on the road.

Then again, there's another sobering aspect of the upcoming game: The last time the Dolphins lost in the AFC East, the Patriots hung more than 500 yards of total offense on them in Land Shark Stadium -- and that was without quarterback Tom Brady.

Amid all the talk about owning the division, Sparano has been the one taking the more humble, realistic approach.

``Best of my knowledge, the last time we played they had 537 yards against us,'' Sparano said. ``We are the ones that have a lot of yards to make up.''

So once the talk settles regarding the Dolphins owning the division until proven otherwise, there are still plenty of reasons why Sunday's game is hugely important. The Dolphins are 3-4. The Patriots are 5-2.

MOTIVATING FACTORS

That means putting themselves back into the playoff hunt heading into the second half of the season is going to require a major performance Sunday.

``It's huge,'' receiver Greg Camarillo said. ``It's huge in every aspect that you look at it. It's huge to get to 4-4. It's huge to win a division game. It's huge to play the Patriots. It's huge to play at Foxborough [Mass.].

``Every aspect of this game should be motivation for everyone on this team.''

Five months after Crowder declared for the first time that he and his teammates believe the AFC East still runs through Miami, the Dolphins have done plenty to show how much the division matters to them.

So if they can come out with a win Sunday, they would be able to stand firm in everything they have said to this point. And after that? Well, then it would be time to focus on another task: Winning all of their other games, too.

``One of our season goals is always to win the division,'' Camarillo said. ``Maybe we should make that a little more specific outside the division as well.''

INJURY UPDATES

A day after listing starters Crowder (shoulder) and nose tackle Jason Ferguson (elbow) as doubtful for Sunday, the team listed both players as out. Backup Paul Soliai will start for Ferguson, and Reggie Torbor will replace Crowder. They will try to fill the void especially in the run defense, which relies heavily on the two starters.

The team also made another decision on defense, signing linebacker J.D. Folsom from the practice squad and waiving linebacker William Kershaw.

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