MIAMI (AP) -- This story will honor Jimmy Johnson's edict to focus this week solely on Sunday's game between his Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots.

Out of respect for the coach, any references to Miami's 23-3 loss last week at Buffalo will concern only how such a miserable performance might affect what happens Sunday.

In the wake of Johnson's edict, the Dolphins' public relations department limited questions during player interviews to the topic of New England. The restriction prompted a shouting match in the locker room between a protesting reporter and a team official, to the amusement of the players.

"`Guiding Light!"' defensive tackle Daryl Gardener shouted with glee. "This is now the No. 1 sitcom in the world!"

"Guiding Light" is not actually a sitcom, but no one was inclined to correct the 6-foot-6, 315-pound Gardener.

Otherwise, the Dolphins spoke about New England in a somber, respectful tone -- when they spoke at all. Several players declined interviews, perhaps fearing they might stray from the assigned subject.

But the game merits their undivided attention. Miami (7-2) is tied with Indianapolis for first place in the AFC East, while New England (6-3) is just one game back in the NFL's deepest division.

Like Miami, the Patriots are trying to avoid a losing streak. After being upset Monday night by the New York Jets 24-17, the Pats must play four of their next five games away from home.

"We have a tough road ahead of us," quarterback Drew Bledsoe said. "We need to bounce back and get a win to get back on track."

Ditto the Dolphins. A week ago, they were basking in a five-game winning streak and a record that equaled the best in the NFL. Then came the game Johnson doesn't want to discuss.

"We're wounded. The Patriots are wounded. It's going to be a dogfight," Dolphins linebacker Robert Jones said. "We have been humbled. We can be beaten."

That realization disturbs the head coach. Prone to wild mood swings, Johnson this week alternated only between angry and agitated. He ordered his players to talk about New England and nothing else.

"Ideally that's what you would like to do every week -- focus on your opponent," Johnson said. "The more games you win, the more distractions you have and the less focus you have. We won five in a row, and the players and the coaches fell into a trap and didn't focus as much as we should have.

"Even us talking like this right now, we're not talking about New England."

Oops. Back to the game: Miami won an earlier meeting with the Patriots 31-30 on Oct. 17. Dan Marino left with an injury in the first quarter, and Damon Huard rallied the Dolphins from a 14-0 deficit, throwing for the winning touchdown with 23 seconds left.

Marino, recovering from a pinched nerve in his neck, was so eager to rejoin practice this week that he rear-ended another vehicle on the way to work. But he's still not 100 percent, and Huard will likely start Sunday.

That means plenty of blitzing by the Patriots, who sacked Huard nine times last month.

"We hit the guy a lot," linebacker Chris Slade said. "It doesn't seem like he gets rattled too much by pressure."

The Dolphins defense will again try to keep the ball from Terry Glenn. He ranks second in the AFC with 837 yards receiving, but failed to make a catch in the earlier game against Miami.

"They didn't throw the ball to him much, and I'm sure he was pretty upset about that," cornerback Sam Madison said. "He's a guy who can really hurt you. He catches 5-yard passes and turns them into 80-yard runs."

The Dolphins want to avoid that. With a loss Sunday and games coming up against Dallas and Indianapolis, Miami would be facing a potential four-game losing streak.

There's no need for panic, according to defensive end Jason Taylor.

"We're fine," he said. "We're 7-2, and everyone is acting like the wheels are falling off."

Don't let your coach hear you say that.

NEW ENGLAND Season schedule and results

MIAMI Season schedule and results

September 12 @NY Jets W 30-28 September 19 Indianapolis W 31-28 September 26 NY Giants W 16-14 October 3 @Cleveland W 19-7 October 10 @Kansas City L 14-16 October 17 Miami L 30-31 October 24 Denver W 24-23 October 31 @Arizona W 27-3 November 15 NY Jets L 17-24 November 21 @Miami 1:00pm ET November 28 @Buffalo 1:00pm ET December 5 Dallas 8:20pm ET December 12 @Indianapolis 1:00pm ET December 19 @Philadelphia 1:00pm ET December 26 Buffalo 1:00pm ET January 2 Baltimore 1:00pm ET

September 13 @Denver W 38-21 September 19 Arizona W 19-16 October 4 Buffalo L 18-23 October 10 @Indianapolis W 34-31 October 17 @New England W 31-30 October 24 Philadelphia W 16-13 October 31 @Oakland W 16-9 November 7 Tennessee W 17-0 November 14 @Buffalo L 3-23 November 21 New England 1:00pm ET November 25 @Dallas 4:15pm ET December 5 Indianapolis 1:00pm ET December 12 @NY Jets 4:05pm ET December 19 San Diego 1:00pm ET December 27 NY Jets 9:00pm ET January 2 @Washington 4:15pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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