MIAMI (AP) -- Since Dan Marino can't make his 235th NFL start this week, Damon Huard will make his first.

The Miami Dolphins lose 16 years of starting experience with a switch at quarterback, and the Philadelphia Eagles hope to take advantage Sunday.

"Damon has a lot riding on his shoulders," Miami receiver Tony Martin said. "It's not going to be easy."

Marino was still bothered this week by spasms and weakness in the muscle between his neck and right shoulder. The ailment forced him out of Sunday's game at New England, and Huard rallied Miami to a 31-30 victory in the first meaningful action of his three-year career.

Friday, Huard was named the starter for Sunday's game.

"There's no replacement for Dan," receiver Oronde Gadsden said. "But Damon showed he can carry the load."

The victory moved Miami (4-1) ahead of the Patriots into first place in the AFC East. The Eagles (2-4) beat the Chicago Bears 20-16 for their second win in a row.

How pronounced is the difference between Marino and Huard?

"Sun and rain," said Eagles cornerback Troy Vincent, who spent four seasons with the Dolphins. "Dan's been there, he's a winner, he knows how to get it done. The other guy is young and hasn't seen a lot."

The Eagles hope to show him plenty. They took advantage of an inexperienced quarterback last week, totaling two interceptions and four sacks against rookie Cade McNown in his first NFL start to beat the Bears.

The Eagles lead the league with 13 interceptions and are tied for first with 17 takeaways. They like to blitz and might do so frequently Sunday, especially because blitzing defenses gave Miami trouble the past two weeks.

Huard threw for two touchdowns against New England, including the game-winner with 23 seconds left, but he also was sacked nine times, a Miami record. The sacks were partly because of Huard's desire to avoid turnovers and partly because of breakdowns in pass protection.

Injuries have forced Miami coach Jimmy Johnson to shuffle his offensive line personnel, and the inexperience of fullback Rob Konrad and running backs Cecil Collins and J.J. Johnson -- all rookies -- can make it difficult for the Dolphins to handle the blitz.

"The Eagles went after Cade McNown," Huard said, "so I expect them to come after me."

Philadelphia's defense will be shorthanded. End Hugh Douglas suffered a season-ending biceps injury last week, and Vincent is doubtful due to a groin strain. That makes the Eagles even more unpredictable, because they may replace Douglas with a fourth linebacker, second-round draft pick Barry Gardner.

"They can be very disruptive," Johnson said. "And with Douglas out, they could very well change up to a 3-4 to get Gardner in the game. We've got to be prepared not only for a 4-3, but for a 3-4."

Whatever the alignment, Philadelphia's aim will be the same -- to harass Huard with a combination of blitzes.

"It's fine when it's on paper or film and up on the screen, and you can see it and make all the right calls," said Eagles quarterback Doug Pederson, a first-year starter himself. "But when you're under pressure to make the right call, that's when it can become confusing. Defenses have tried to do that to me, and I know our defense has tried to do that to some young quarterbacks this year."

Even with Huard, Miami might have an edge at quarterback. Johnson touts him as the Dolphins' quarterback of the future, while Pederson is a stopgap solution for the Eagles.

Donovan McNabb, the second player taken in the April draft, has come off the Philadelphia bench in four games and could do so again Sunday.

"When I feel it's right, I'll put him in," coach Andy Reid said. "I do want him to continue to grow."

By the second half Sunday, McNabb and Huard might both be learning on the job.

PHILADELPHIA Season schedule and results

MIAMI Season schedule and results

September 12 Arizona L 24-25 September 19 Tampa Bay L 5-19 September 26 @Buffalo L 0-26 October 3 @NY Giants L 15-16 October 10 Dallas W 13-10 October 17 @Chicago W 20-16 October 24 @Miami 1:00pm ET October 31 NY Giants 1:00pm ET November 7 @Carolina 1:00pm ET November 14 Washington 1:00pm ET November 21 Indianapolis 1:00pm ET November 28 @Washington 1:00pm ET December 5 @Arizona 4:05pm ET December 12 @Dallas 1:00pm ET December 19 New England 1:00pm ET January 2 St. Louis 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 1:00pm ET October 31 @Oakland 4:05pm ET November 7 Tennessee 8:20pm ET November 14 @Buffalo 1:00pm ET 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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