Surprising Dolphins face injury-plagued Seattle

MIAMI (AP) -Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano refers to overconfidence as "drinking the Kool-Aid." His players may be sipping something stronger, because they're talking playoffs.

The Dolphins last made the postseason in 2001. They've lost 22 of their past 27 games. They're at the bottom of the AFC East with a 4-4 record.

And yet a two-game winning streak has emboldened the Dolphins to embrace the notion of playing in January.

"It has always been the goal," receiver Greg Camarillo said. "Now we need to start speaking about it more. We need to expect it. We need to reach for it."

Working in Miami's favor is a soft schedule the second half of the season, starting Sunday against injury-riddled Seattle (2-6).

Sparano has no problem with his players saying they have a shot at the playoffs.

"I want them to have those expectations," Miami's first-year coach said. "I'm not going to hide from those things. We just kind of threw ourselves into the middle of something here, and all we did right now is create an opportunity to have a real big game at home this week."

It's the start of an inviting stretch for Sparano's surprising team, with the final eight games against teams who are a combined 24-40.

The Dolphins are only a game off the pace in the AFC East. If they beat the Seahawks and win the following week against woeful Oakland, their home game Nov. 23 against New England could qualify as a showdown - a rarity in Miami in recent years.

"We feel like we're right in the conversation of winning this division," said linebacker Joey Porter, the NFL sacks leader. "If you said that at the beginning of the year, nobody would have believed it."

And if the Dolphins lose Sunday, they'll be bums again - which may provide sufficient motivation to keep them from taking Seattle lightly.

"We were 1-15 last year, so we know what it's like to be sorry," Miami linebacker Channing Crowder said. "Now that we have a little success, we want to keep it. If anybody gets overconfident after getting the hell beat out of us last year, it would be ridiculous."

While the Dolphins are coming off wins over division leaders Buffalo and Denver, the Seahawks are staggering through coach Mike Holmgren's final season. Sixteen players have missed a total of 65 games, with seven injuries at receiver alone.