Dolphins...21 Seahawks...19

MIAMI — Their lead in jeopardy, the Miami Dolphins preserved it by batting down a two-point conversion pass with less than three minutes left.

Next, instant replay saved them from a potentially costly fumble. Then they needed one final defensive stand, which ended at midfield with an incomplete pass on fourth down.

Winning’s not easy -- as the Dolphins know all too well. They withstood a frantic rally by injury-riddled Seattle to win, 21-19, and climb above .500 for the first time since the end of the 2005 season.

Miami scored one long touchdown against the Seahawks (2-7) on a flea-flicker and another with a new play from its Wildcat formation. But their biggest surprise is a 5-4 record. After going 1-15 last season, Miami has won three games in a row and is only one game out of first place in the tight AFC East.

Quoteworthy: “At the beginning of the season, no one probably expected it. But we knew we had something special here.” -- Ricky Williams, Dolphins running back