MIAMI (AP) -- Thanks to a 1-2 rookie punch, the Miami Dolphins' ground game is starting to make an impact.

With Cecil "The Diesel" Collins and J.J. Johnson sharing the carries, the Dolphins have become the run-oriented, ball-control team coach Jimmy Johnson long envisioned. The transformation coincides with an injury that has forced Dan Marino to miss most of the past three games.

"Since Marino has been out, they've been pounding the ball," Tennessee Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse said. "They've got two young running backs who have been getting the job done."

Miami's new offensive approach will be tested Sunday night against Tennessee. The Titans, Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars share the best record in the AFC at 6-1.

"You get more excited when you think, `We need the home-field advantage in the playoffs,"' Miami quarterback Damon Huard said. "This game could be very important that way."

Marino, sidelined by a pinched nerve in his neck, hopes to rejoin the lineup next week at Buffalo. Huard has gone 3-0, partly because of what happens when he hands off.

In the first four games of the season, the Dolphins averaged 82 yards rushing per game and 2.8 per carry. In the past three games, they've averaged 137 and 3.6.

"We have two very hard-nosed runners -- guys who can break tackles and carry guys for a yard or two and also do things in the open field," Huard said.

Collins, the starter, rushed for 97 yards two weeks ago against Philadelphia. Johnson, whose development was delayed by a strained hamstring during the preseason, ran for 86 yards last week at Oakland.

"Either one of us can go in and do the job," Collins said. "I'm so happy, the coaching staff is so happy, everybody is happy the running game is going good right now."

While Miami's ground game is on the rise, the Titans have slipped this season to 25th in the NFL in rushing after ranking ninth last year. Eddie George has only one 100-yard game, and his per-carry average of 3.5 yards is the worst of his four-year career.

"You can't pinpoint why," quarterback Steve McNair said. "It's just a lot of little things. If you're not running the ball well, you have to be able to pass. We're getting Eddie involved in a lot of situations in the passing game."

George has four touchdown receptions, and the Dolphins are well aware of the threat he poses swinging out of the backfield.

"He's a big guy," linebacker Derrick Rodgers said. "You see those little defensive backs, and he's 240 pounds, and he just drags them along."

Passing might be Tennessee's best hope against the Dolphins, who rank second in the NFL in run defense and have yet to allow a TD rushing. McNair, playing for the first time since recovering from back surgery, threw for two touchdowns Sunday to help Tennessee hand the St. Louis Rams their first defeat of the season, 24-21.

Now the Titans face a defense that hasn't allowed a touchdown in 10 quarters. Miami stopped the top-ranked offense in the AFC last week, beating Oakland 16-9.

"Even though we're playing well right now, we know it can all crash on you in a second," Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas said.

The improved ground attack has made the defense better. The Dolphins lead the NFL with an 8{-minute advantage per game in time of possession. They nursed a lead at Oakland by keeping the ball for more than 12 minutes in the fourth quarter.

Raiders owner Al Davis is among those impressed by Miami's running attack.

"I was talking to him before the game and he was laughing about it," Jimmy Johnson said. "He said, `I don't think the people down there in South Florida understand what running the football means and what it does for your team, because it's been so long since they've seen a team that ran the ball."'

TENNESSEE Season schedule and results

MIAMI Season schedule and results

September 12 Cincinnati W 36-35 September 19 Cleveland W 26-9 September 26 @Jacksonville W 20-19 October 3 @San Francisco L 22-24 October 10 Baltimore W 14-11 October 17 @New Orleans W 24-21 October 31 St. Louis W 24-21 November 7 @Miami 8:20pm ET November 14 @Cincinnati 1:00pm ET November 21 Pittsburgh 1:00pm ET November 28 @Cleveland 1:00pm ET December 5 @Baltimore 1:00pm ET December 9 Oakland 8:20pm ET December 19 Atlanta 1:00pm ET December 26 Jacksonville 1:00pm ET January 2 @Pittsburgh 4:15pm 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 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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