"I don't like using the word 'surprised' because there are not many things that we do that we don't believe we can do all the way," Sparano said the day after the Dolphins beat Buffalo 16-3 in Toronto and tied for the division lead. "Once we started to assemble this team and I seen the pieces come together, I was pretty pleased. But you never know how it's going to turn out."

So far it's turning out better than even the most optimistic projections for the Dolphins.

The victory against Buffalo put the Dolphins (8-5, 3-2 AFC East) in a tie for the division lead with the Jets (8-5, 3-1) and Patriots (8-5, 3-2). The Dolphins would earn a playoff berth by beating San Francisco (5-8) on Sunday at Dolphin Stadium and winning at Kansas City and the Jets in the final two weeks.

The Dolphins were in a similar position going into Sunday's game, and Sparano said he was pleased the team didn't get caught looking ahead.

"This week showed me that they really can focus on the now," Sparano said.

"We're not eating the cheese," Dolphins nose tackle Jason Ferguson, a team captain, said after the game Sunday. "It's good to stay humble. It's worked for us so far and that's what we're going to do, take a workman like approach to every week."

There wasn't much indication the Dolphins would get to this point after they followed the 1-15 season with an 0-2 start this year. They were competitive in losing the season opener to the Jets but then collapsed during a 31-10 loss at Arizona.

"I always keep bringing up to our team that Arizona game because, to me, that game really made us all start have to start looking in the mirror," Sparano said.

A 38-13 victory at New England the next week, with the Wildcat formation playing a major role, was the first sign the Dolphins were capable. They won at San Diego in their next game but then blew a late lead at Houston and were dominated at home by Baltimore.

Since then, the Dolphins have won 6 of 7, the Patriots and Jets stumbled and the Dolphins control their playoff destiny.

"There is a belief in that locker room, and I have seen it start to happen in different periods throughout the course of the season," Sparano said. "So, [am I] surprised? I think right now [players] are going into games pretty confident.

"They believe they know how to win and how to lose in this league and if they give themselves a chance to win, their resiliency comes out."

Staff Writer Omar Kelly contributed to this report.

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