THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DAVIE - The Miami Dolphins have started winning because they've stopped beating themselves.
Penalties, turnovers, dropped passes, missed tackles and blown coverages are down. Morale is up. And Miami is on the rise in the AFC, thanks to consecutive upset victories over New England and San Diego.
"It feels good," linebacker Matt Roth said Monday. "We feel like we belong. We're just going to try to keep it rolling."
Still erasing the memory of last year's 1-15 catastrophe, the Dolphins (2-2) remain underdogs. That will be the case even Sunday at winless Houston (0-4), with the Texans 3-point favorites.
But the Dolphins' first back-to-back victories since November 2006 - against the teams who met in the AFC championship game in January - make it clear the rebuilding project is on course under Bill Parcells and new coach Tony Sparano.
"I hope the players feel more confident and are starting to figure out there's a method to our madness," Sparano said. "That's a good thing."
First-time NFL head coach Sparano and his staff have curbed the self-destructive tendencies of last season. The Dolphins' two turnovers - one lost fumble and one interception - is the lowest total in the AFC. Miami ranks third in the NFL with only 16 penalties, and last year's epidemic of dropped passes has been cured.
A revamped defense is becoming more sound, too. Breakdowns in the secondary were a problem in losses to the New York Jets and Arizona, but in the two wins the Dolphins' defense dominated, allowing only 215 and 202 yards.
"Don't beat yourself. It makes a huge difference," defensive end Vonnie Holliday said. "It's only two games, but that's why we have had the success we've had early on."
Conditioning is also at the foundation of the transformation. Playing in Miami's subtropical heat, the Dolphins were the fresher team at the end of Sunday's 17-10 win over the Chargers, keeping the ball for the final 5:55.
