In a corner of the visiting locker room at Gillette Stadium, Dolphins running back Ricky Williams was cooling down just minutes after a 38-13 upset over the Patriots. It didn't take long before the most obvious question of the day got its first response.

''What is that play called?'' a reporter said, not needing to elaborate anymore than that.

''It's called the Wildcat,'' Williams said.

Two months later, nobody in the NFL needs to ask that question again. These days, it would be easier to find someone who didn't know a game could end in a tie than it would to find someone who hadn't heard of the Wildcat.

Bring it up to the Patriots, and it doesn't exactly garner good memories.

''We were kind of embarrassed at home,'' defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said. ``This moment has finally come.''

The moment he's talking about? A chance for revenge. A chance to go up against the Dolphins team that got four touchdowns through the use of direct snaps to running back Ronnie Brown in their initial meeting against the Patriots on Sept. 21.

And there is no reason to think Miami won't bring out the Wildcat again.

''We may have a few things in the mix,'' Brown said Wednesday. ``I can't give them away yet, though. It's too early.''

Brown was being playful when he made that comment -- but there is a great deal of legitimacy to the sentiment. Even though you might recognize the Wildcat when Brown lines up behind center, it doesn't mean you know what could happen next.

Against the Patriots, the Dolphins went into the game with four Wildcat plays installed that they were capable of running, one of which was a passing play designed for Brown to hit tight end Anthony Fasano.

Since then, the Wildcat has become much more complex. The team has used it 59 times this season, gaining an average of 7.1 yards a play for a total of 420 yards and eight touchdowns.

During that time, more than eight other wrinkles have been utilized in games.

''Right now, we've probably run 12 to 15 other plays [in games],'' coach Tony Sparano said.

Players and coaches say there are even more plays that have yet to show up on Sundays.

OTHERS TRYING IT

So will the Patriots be able to stop it this time around? No doubt, they will have a plan in place. But coach Bill Belichick downplayed any notion that New England would devote any extra time trying to plan for what Miami might have up its sleeve.

''You might take into account something you think they'll do if you have some evidence of it, but I don't think you want to just be throwing up plays, taking a stab in the dark about what they could be dreaming up,'' Belichick said. ``I don't think that is really a good utilization of time.''

It's not as if the Patriots have forgotten about the Wildcat since they last played the Dolphins.

Since then, the Bills, 49ers and Jets have tried to utilize their version of the Wildcat against the Patriots.

Although certainly not nearly as successful as the Dolphins', the plays gained those teams a few extra yards. Frank Gore gained 7 yards and a first down for the 49ers, Fred Jackson got 4 yards and a first down for the Bills, Marshawn Lynch gained 6 yards on his attempt for the Bills and Brad Smith gained 17 yards for the Jets.

Those are the only four times other teams have tried the package. And although the production wasn't staggering, it also showed that New England still hasn't found the ideal answer.

''We have to make sure that we can get all of that stuff under control,'' Wilfork said. ``After that game, we've seen other teams that did the same thing.

``It won't surprise me if [the Dolphins] come out with that again. Why not? They were successful once doing it.

``They'll see if we figured it out and test it.''

Expecting anything else would be shortsighted.

UP TO EXECUTION

So will the Patriots be able to tame the Wildcat this time around?

One key factor could be the health of defensive end Ty Warren, who missed last week's game against the Jets because of a groin injury.

Warren, who is a key component to New England's run defense, wasn't listed on Wednesday's injury report -- a good sign for the Patriots.

But even if the element of surprise is diminished, the Dolphins will see if they can work their magic again.

That just means one thing: The execution of the Wildcat will be as critical as the shock of it.

''They're going to be prepared for our Wildcat and everything we do,'' wide receiver Greg Camarillo said. ``It's just going to come down to execution.

``Whatever team executes the best, whatever team puts together a full game, that's going to be who wins.''

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