Can the New Orleans Saints stay UNDEFEATED

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-0) at MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-3)

Kickoff: 3:15 p.m. at Land Shark Stadium

Coaches: Saints Sean Payton (30-23 in four seasons, all with Saints);  Dolphins Tony Sparano (13-8 in two seasons, both with Miami)

Radio: 870-AM,  105.3-FM and 830-AM (Spanish broadcast)

KEEP AN EYE ON:

Jeremy Shockey

Eliot Kamenitz/The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey matches up favorably against Miami Dolphins safety Gibril Wilson on Sunday at Land Shark Stadium.The Saints' tight end is probably even more pumped up about this matchup than he was for last week's reunion with the New York Giants. Miami's defense has been absolutely torched by some of the top tight ends in the league. Tony Gonzalez caught five passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. Dallas Clark went off for 183 yards and a touchdown on seven catches in Week 2. And Antonio Gates caught five balls for 64 yards in Week 3.

New Dolphins safety Gibril Wilson has particularly struggled in those matchups,  though the entire secondary has been inconsistent. It's hard to imagine they'll be able to match up against all of the Saints' weapons,  and Shockey could be among the biggest beneficiaries.

Plus,  the former University of Miami star will feel right at home in Miami,  where he spends most of his time in the offseason.

Chad Henne

Miami's second-year quarterback was thrown into the fire when veteran starter Chad Pennington suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 3. But that doesn't mean he wasn't ready for the promotion.

Henne's big arm provides an added threat to the Dolphins' offense,  and Miami is 2-0 with the 6-foot-3,  230-pounder under center. He has completed 44 of 67 passes (65.7 percent) for 448 yards,  three touchdowns and an interception. Plus he's had a bye week to get his bearings before this matchup against the swarming Saints defense.

"He's a very strong-armed quarterback,  and he has matured each week, " said Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams,  who said he was impressed when he saw Henne in the Superdome in the preseason finale. "Has the game slowed down completely for him yet? No. But there has been a marked difference from the time he got thrown in. Each game he's gotten better."

Henne hasn't been asked to do too much yet for the Dolphins,  who lead the NFL in rushing and make heavy use of the Wildcat formation. The Saints would like to force him into more of a central role today. 

GAME PLAN

The best way for the Saints to tame the Wildcat is to do what they've done all season  --  put points on the board.

The Dolphins present a difficult matchup for New Orleans' defense,  with the No. 1 rushing offense in the NFL (177 yards per game),  led by the 1-2 punch of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. But they'll still have to abandon their slow-but-steady attack if they get down by a couple of touchdowns.

Just ask the power-running New York Giants,  who became one-dimensional last week after the Saints jumped to leads of 14-0,  20-3 and 41-17.

For the Dolphins,  this matchup is similar to their Week 2 game against Indianapolis. In that game,  Miami kept the Colts' offense off the field by controlling the clock for more than 45 minutes. But the Colts still managed to come from behind for a 27-23 victory.

The Saints would like to avoid that kind of tight battle,  but no matter how this game plays out,  they clearly have the ability to put points on the board in a hurry. And the Dolphins will have a hard time matching them,  especially if New Orleans continues to avoid game-changing turnovers.  

KEY MATCHUP

Saints WR Marques Colston vs. Dolphins CB Sean Smith

Colston has re-emerged this season as the Saints' most dangerous offensive weapon and Drew Brees' favorite target. Last week he caught all eight passes thrown his way for 166 yards and a touchdown.

At 6-4,  225 pounds with great range and great hands,  Colston is one of the most difficult matchups in the league. But the Dolphins can at least match his size with the rookie Smith (6-3,  214 pounds).

Smith has shown some promise so far  --  including a spectacular interception against Saints backup Mark Brunell in that preseason game  --  but he's also shown inconsistency. He probably won't shadow Colston on every play,  but it will be interesting to watch these two power forwards going up for rebounds when they do get matched up. 

BY THE NUMBERS

Miami holds a 6-3 lead in the all-time series,  with their most recent meeting coming in Tiger Stadium after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Dolphins won that game 21-6. Before that,  they previously met in Miami in 1998,  with the Dolphins winning 30-10. . . . The Saints are looking to start 6-0 for the second time in franchise history. In 1991,  they started 7-0 en route to an 11-5 record and division title. . . . Saints Coach Sean Payton has the highest winning percentage in franchise history (.566),  ahead of Jim Mora (93-74,  .557). . . . Since Payton arrived,  the Saints also have the best record among NFC South teams. They're 30-23,  followed by Carolina (29-24),  Atlanta (26-27) and Tampa Bay (22-32).

FROM THE COACH'S MOUTH

"I think in South Florida,  every afternoon the weatherman says at some point there is a chance of showers. I think more than anything,  though,  it's really the temperature,  hydrating and being ready for the heat." - Payton on today's weather forecast in Miami,  which calls for temperatures in the mid-80s and that ever-present chance of rain.

By: Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune