Defense stoked fire in Patriots

There was rookie Ellis Hobbs, finally released from the coaches' intensive care unit after extensive burns in the exhibition season, coming up with the first two turnovers of his career, and fighting off two Dolphin attacks in the final minute.

There was reserve defensive back Hank Poteat, who was not good enough to make the team in training camp but was a desperate addition after a slew of injuries, making a tackle at the 10 with seconds left in the game.

There was Michael Stone, unemployed the first three weeks of the season, matching his career high with seven tackles for the second straight week.

There was Troy ''Double Duty" Brown, lining up at cornerback for the first time this season.

And, of course, there was Tedy Bruschi. How could you miss him? The high-flying, ought-to-be-wearing-a-cape stroke victim seemed to be all over the field.

''I'm just playing the way I know how to play," Bruschi said. ''Third game back, I keep getting better myself. That's the goal I have individually: improve from week to week."

Bruschi laughed when asked about his aerial work, which included a leap over running back Sammy Morris on a blitz on Miami's third offensive play. Think that wasn't a signal to his teammates that he was going to get after it all day?

Bruschi says he fed off his teammates' energy. Perhaps it was the other way around.

''Maybe my wife cringed when she saw that a couple of times, but I'm out there playing, I'm out there playing football," Bruschi said. ''I'm not going to hold back. It's my third game now, and I haven't had any preseason or anything like that, but it's time to go for it. It's time to play football.

''I know I'm doing well, I feel great."

Richard Seymour doesn't feel so good, but he gamely battled through a not-quite-healed injury, wearing a huge knee brace on his left leg, to contribute steady play up front. It was the first time this season the Patriots had Bruschi and Seymour together in the lineup.

Seymour had missed the previous four games with his injury.

''It was good to see him back out there, just like it was good to see Tedy back out there a couple of weeks ago," coach Bill Belichick said. ''Hopefully we can get everybody back out there."