CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With Ronnie Brown sidelined for the season, the Dolphins turned to their aging running back. And Ricky Williams showed he’s still got it.
Williams, 32, rushed for 119 yards and scored three touchdowns, and the Dolphins beat the Panthers 24-17 on Thursday night for their fourth victory in six games to get into the AFC playoff picture.
A day after learning Brown is lost for the season to a foot injury, the Dolphins (5-5) continued their surge after an 0-3 start behind Williams. The 2002 NFL rushing champion had a receiving and rushing touchdown in the same game for the first time in his career that included a couple of lost seasons.
“Coach always talks about finishing,” Williams said. “Sometimes in this league, in a physical game, it’s difficult to finish. I think in the past we’ve prided ourselves on finishing games, and we did a good job tonight.”
DeAngelo Williams rushed for 122 yards for the Panthers (4-6), but Jake Delhomme had his streak of three games without an interception snapped. His desperation pass into the end zone was knocked down as time expired.
“Guys are fighting their tail off,” Delhomme said. “We are just not getting it done.”
