NFL: Dolphins searching for right ingredients

"Positive attitude plus effort equals performance," it reads.

It's a lesson the Dolphins (5-4) have seemingly forgotten over the last two weeks.

They've given little of the first two ingredients, making the final result nearly impossible.

Yet the Dolphins feel they're still in control of their destiny, even after a disheartening 31-7 loss at Tennessee a week ago.

Today they'll look to get better against the injury-riddled Baltimore Ravens (5-4) at Pro Player Stadium.

Though the teams have the same record, the Ravens are in first place in the mediocre AFC North while the Dolphins are two games behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East and can ill afford to continue struggling at home. The Dolphins are just 1-3 at "The Pro" this season.

"We're not as bad as everybody makes us out to be," said defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. "We see good things. We're not lacking confidence, especially on this side of the ball."

They'll need that confidence to stop Ravens running back Jamal Lewis, who leads the league in rushing with 1,156 yards in nine games. Lewis is on pace to become the fifth back in league history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in one season.

"He's tearing it up," said Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor of Lewis. "Last year I thought maybe he was a step slow, but this year he's averaging five-plus yards per carry. He's the best one we've played so far."

AT A GLANCE

Ravens (5-4) at Dolphins (5-4) When: Today, 1 p.m. Where: Pro Player Stadium Radio: Sports Radio 770-AM (WWCN) Television: CBS (live) Key matchup: Dolphins' defense against Ravens running back Jamal Lewis. The NFL's leading rusher has had his way with opposing defenses this season. He's on pace to become the fifth back in league history to top 2,000 yards. With a quarterback (Anthony Wright) making hi first start in two years, the Ravens will try to keep things as simple as possible. If the Dolphins can stop Lewis and force Wright to throw, they can pin their ears back and take their shots. Of note: The Dolphins lead the regular season series with the Ravens 3-0, though the Ravens won a 2001 AFC first-round playoff game 20-3 at Pro Player....The Dolphins are 26th in the league in pass offense while the Ravens are fourth in the league in pass defense...Baltimore tight end Todd Heap leads all NFL tight ends in receptions with 35 while Dolphins tight end Randy McMichael is fourth with 32....The Dolphins are tied with Tampa Bay for second in the league in points allowed with 141.

Wright was pressed into service after starter Kyle Boller suffered a season-ending ankle injury in a loss to St. Louis last week and backup Chris Redman was ineffective in relief.

"He's an athlete," said Miami head coach Dave Wannstedt. "It's been tough a little bit because we don't have a lot of film on him."

Brian Griese will make his fourth straight start at quarterback for the Dolphins, as Jay Fiedler continues to recover from a right knee injury that has taken longer to heal than initially hoped.

"I think Jay and I both are disappointed," Wannstedt said. "But Brian will be fine."

Whoever is under center will have to find a way to move the ball against the league's second- ranked defense, led by perennial All-Pro middle linebacker and University of Miami alum Ray Lewis.

"Lewis does a great job of getting guys in positions to make plays," Griese said. "They've got a lot of team speed . They're play ing a little more solid football than (in 2000, when the Ravens won the Super Bowl). They take a lot of small risks and try to make the big plays."

It's big plays -- and little ones, too -- the Dolphins have been lacking recently. Running back Ricky Williams has only 73 yards total in the last two games. Getting Williams going will go a long way toward giving Griese time to throw.

A win would also take some of the heat off of Wannstedt, who met with team owner Wayne Huzienga during the week. The two both said the talks were "positive" but if the Dolphins continue to flounder, the next time they talk might mean bad news, not good news.

"I'm frustrated, we're all frustrated," Griese said.

Added Taylor: "I don't know if our backs are against the wall, but if we reach back we can feel it there."