Nov. 22, 1999 3:08 AM AP

MIAMI (AP) New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe took responsibility for the five interceptions, the four sacks and the Patriots' second loss in as many weeks.

Now he has the task of getting New England back in the division race.

And it won't be easy.

The Patriots lost significant ground in the AFC East with their 27-17 loss to Miami on Sunday.

Bledsoe was intercepted five times for the second time in his career, and the Dolphins (8-2) turned the turnovers into 13 points as they retained a share of the division lead with Indianapolis. New England (6-4) is two games back, but essentially even more because it lost both meetings with Miami.

"When the ball's in my hands, it's my responsibility to take care of it," said Bledsoe, who completed 15 of 34 passes for 201 yards. "And when I turn it over five times we've got no chance. That's simply the story of this game.

"Our hopes of winning the division become somewhat of a long shot. We probably have to have to win out to get in (the playoffs) the way things are stacked up now. So we need to start winning and winning immediately."

For the first 17 minutes against Miami, New England held the Dolphins without a first down and had a 10-3 lead.

Miami tied the game in the second quarter on Damon Huard's first of two touchdown passes to Oronde Gadsden.

Then the Dolphins' defense did the rest.

In the second half, the defense sacked Bledsoe twice, intercepted four of Bledsoe's passes - stopping two late New England threats and setting up three scores for a Miami offense that gained just 229 yards.

Trailing 24-10, Bledsoe hit Shawn Jefferson with a 68-yard touchdown pass to get the Patriots back in the game.

But Miami defensive end Jason Taylor got his first career interception, Bledsoe's fourth of the game, to set up Olindo Mare's 23-yard field goal that secured the win with about three minutes to play.

"This was an enormous opportunity for us to get back (in the division race) in one game, but we didn't get it done today," Patriots coach Pete Carroll said. "We're not going in the right direction right now and we're running out of time."

The Dolphins appeared to be back on track after a 23-3 loss at Buffalo in which they managed just 101 total yards and lost rookie running back Cecil Collins with a broken leg.

Coach Jimmy Johnson ripped his team following the loss.

"Being a Dolphin wasn't the best job this week," Taylor said. "Coach was upset and he had a right to be. But he made us focus."

It seemingly worked.

J.J. Johnson gained 106 yards on 31 carries and Huard went 18-of-30 for 131 yards before leaving the game with a broken nose in the third quarter.

Huard, starting in place of Dan Marino for the fifth consecutive game, could return to his backup role this week.

Jimmy Johnson said he expected Marino to return to practice today and could be ready for Thursday's Thanksgiving Day game against Dallas. Marino had a pinched nerve in his neck.

"Dan is going to jump back in," Johnson said. "I talked to him (Saturday) and said, `Let's just plan on getting right back into practice ... and make a decision on Thursday." Notes: With his 19-yard field goal in the first quarter, Mare tied Garo Yepremian's team record for consecutive regular-season games with a field goal at 20. ... Bledsoe's 68-yard pass to Jefferson in the third quarter was New England's longest of the season. ... Bledsoe's five interceptions tied his career high. Pittsburgh also picked him off five times in 1993, Bledsoe's rookie season.