Editor's note: Brian Edwards is locked and loaded with winners Thursday, including this pay-if-it-wins-only selection for the Panthers and 'Fins!

After losing its first three games, Carolina (4-5 straight up, 4-5 against the spread) has won four of its last six to climb back into contention in the NFC wild-card race. The Panthers garnered a crucial NFC South win last week by taking out the Falcons by a 28-19 count. They took the cash as one-point home underdogs.

The 47 combined points jumped ‘over’ the 43 ½-point total thanks to Jonathan Stewart’s 45-yard touchdown scamper with just 2:07 left. It was Stewart’s second TD run of the day. He and DeAngelo Williams combined for 174 yards on the ground via 30 rushing attempts.

Jake Delhomme completed 15-of-24 passes for 195 yards and a pair of touchdowns without being intercepted. Although Delhomme still has an abysmal 7/13 touchdown-interception ratio for the season, he hasn’t been picked off in three consecutive games. The result has been a 3-0 ATS run and a pair of outright wins over likely playoff teams in Arizona and Atlanta.

Steve Smith was the recipient of both scoring strikes from Delhomme last week. However, the perennial All-Pro WR sustained bruised ribs on the second TD grab. Nevertheless, Smith is “probable” on the injury report.

Advertisement

Miami (4-5 SU, 4-5 ATS) is also in striking distance in the AFC wild-card hunt, although it is two games back of the co-leaders, Pittsburgh and San Diego. On the flip side, Carolina is just one game back of the four teams (Falcons, Eagles, Giants and Packers) tied for the two NFC spots.

The Dolphins nearly suffered what would have been a colossal collapse at home last week against Tampa Bay. But thanks to Dan Carpenter’s game-winning field goal from 25 yards out with 10 ticks remaining, quarterback Chad Henne was taken off the hook for a horrible interception that had set the Bucs up with a go-ahead score just moments before Carpenter’s heroics.

Tony Sparano’s team won a 25-23 decision over the Bucs, who easily cashed tickets as 10-point road underdogs. Ricky Williams ran for 102 yards on 20 carries, including a long run that set up Carpenter’s game-winning boot. Ronnie Brown had 82 rushing yards and a TD on just 12 carries, but he left the game with an ankle injury that will keep him in street clothes Thursday in Charlotte.

Henne completed 17-of-31 passes for 175 yards and one TD, a five-yard connection to Kory Sperry late in the second quarter. His lone pick, however, was nearly a lethal one. With Miami at its own 25 with a 22-16 advantage at the 1:52 mark, Henne was intercepted on a third-and-seven play.

Four plays later, Cadillac Williams bullied his way into the end zone to give Tampa Bay the lead. But Henne would make amends with a pair of nice throws to move the ‘Fins into Bucs’ territory, and then Williams ripped off a 27-yard run to set up the winning kick.

With Brown out, Williams will get the starting nod for the first time since late last season. For the season, Williams has been as potent as any back-up RB in the league. He has 105 carries for 558 rushing yards and six touchdowns. The former Heisman Trophy winner at Texas is averaging 5.3 yards per carry.

After starting LB Joey Porter missed last week’s win over the Bucs, the veteran is expected to be in the lineup this week. There has been some confusion about whether Porter was out due to knee and/or hamstring injuries or if he was benched. Porter, who has just 10 tackles, two assists and 2 ½ sacks in 2009, declined to discuss the matter with the media on Tuesday.

Miami TE Anthony Fasano (hip) and DB Gibril Wilson (hamstring) are listed as “questionable.” As for Carolina, it is extremely healthy for this time of year with the exception of RB Brad Hoover, who is “out.”

With a strong running game led by Williams and Stewart, John Fox’s team could be poised for a strong second-half push if Delhomme can continue to play like he has in recent weeks. The Panthers won convincingly at Arizona by a 34-21 score three weeks ago and then led at New Orleans for much of the game before losing 30-20 as 12 ½-point road underdogs.

For the season, Williams has 860 rushing yards and seven TDs for an average of 5.1 YPC. Stewart averages 4.8 YPC and has found paydirt six times on the ground. Smith has a team-high 38 catches for 512 yards and three TDs.

Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Carolina as a three-point favorite with a total of 44 ½. As of early Wednesday afternoon, most betting shops were resistant to coming off the key number of three, instead forcing bettors to lay double juice (a minus-120 price) to back the Panthers. That makes wagers on the Dolphins plus three for even-money. The ‘Fins are plus-155 to win outright (risk $100 to win $155).

Carolina owns a 2-2 SU record and 1-3 ATS mark at home this season. The Panthers are 0-2 ATS as single-digit home ‘chalk.’ Miami is 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS on the road.

The ‘over’ is 6-3 overall for the ‘Fins, but they have seen the ‘under’ cash at a 3-1 clip in their road assignments. With that said, the ‘over’ is 5-1 in Miami’s last six games (regardless of venue). Meanwhile, Carolina has watched the ‘over’ go 5-4 overall, 2-2 in its home games.

The NFL Network will have the telecast at 8:20 p.m. Eastern.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--The ‘under’ is 14-6 in Carolina’s last 20 home games.

--Henne has a 5/4 TD-INT ratio for the season.

--As we move into late November, Cleveland has scored six points or less in six of its nine games. For the season, the Browns have just five offensive touchdowns, while the New Orleans defense has scored six TDs. I don’t know if the historical stats prove it out, but I’m without a doubt ready to call the Browns’ offense the worst I’ve ever seen in NFL history.

--I have to give props to St. Louis RB Steven Jackson, who is running hard and with authority every week despite playing on an atrocious team. Jackson is fourth in the NFL in rushing yards (915) and is averaging 4.8 YPC. He has toted the rock at least 16 times in each game.

--The Bengals have been incredible as underdogs this year, compiling a 6-0 record both SU and ATS in such spots. On the other hand, they are an abysmal 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS when favored. Cincy is a 9 ½-point road ‘chalk’ Sunday at Oakland.