Dec. 25--DAVIE -- After enjoying one of the healthiest seasons in years, the Dolphins may end up playing for the AFC East title Sunday without two of their defensive leaders.
Linebacker Channing Crowder, who has a career-high 105 tackles, missed his first game of the season last week with a stiff left knee. On Wednesday, he was doing rehabilitation work on the sideline. He was joined by cornerback Will Allen, who aggravated a groin injury in Sunday's 38-31 victory over the Chiefs.
Allen, who has missed one game in the last five seasons, remains optimistic.
"There's not many things that keeps me out of any games," said Allen, who has three interceptions, 14 pass breakups and 50 tackles. " That's just the way I like to think. But I'm all right."
Just in case, cornerback Jason Allen has been practicing in the base defense with Nate Jones sticking to his more customary nickel slot. Jones has three sacks and an interception in the last two games.
"Anytime an opportunity comes like this you have to be excited about it," said Jason Allen, who played in the nickel package for five games before breaking his hand in the loss to the Patriots. "[The hand] was a setback, but at the same time I have to be prepared to play every week."
Coach Tony Sparano, who said both players were "day-to-day," added that he would have no problem with throwing newly acquired inside linebacker Derek Smith into the game if Crowder can't go.
"He did a tremendous job of understanding the package [today] and he stuck his nose in there pretty good," Sparano said.
Needling Parcells
The Dolphins have committed a league-low 12 turnovers and are on pace to break the NFL record of 14 by the Super Bowl-winning Giants of 1990 under coach Bill Parcells.
"Being the prankster I am I went to [Parcells] and said, 'Did you see this stat that we're on line here to have the least amount of turnovers in the history?'" joked offensive coordinator Dan Henning. "'Yeah. I know,' he said. "'It's still not going to count because we did it in 19 games. We went to the Super Bowl.' You think he's not competitive?"
The Giants did have one more turnover in the postseason.
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