Ricky Williams is 32 and far from done. And even without Ronnie Brown, the once written-off Miami Dolphins are back in the playoff picture.

Williams rushed for 119 yards and scored three touchdowns, and the Dolphins beat the Carolina Panthers, 24-17, last night in Charlotte, N.C., for their fourth win in six games.

A day after learning Brown is lost for the season, 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 includes 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."

It was enough to beat the Panthers (4-6) when Jake Delhomme's desperation pass into the end zone was knocked down as time expired.

DeAngelo Williams rushed for 122 yards, but Delhomme saw his streak of three games without an interception snapped, then couldn't lead a late comeback bid.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano hinted his team might abandon the wildcat without Brown, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday because of a foot injury. And Miami didn't use the formation until the second quarter. It coincided with the Dolphins' first touchdown drive — Chad Henne's 14-yard touchdown pass to Williams, who wrestled away from linebacker Na'il Diggs.

Miami took a 14-3 halftime lead when Williams took the direct snap at the 1 and got to the end zone ahead of speedy linebacker Jon Beason.

The Panthers got within 17-14 on Steve Smith's leaping 27-yard touchdown catch and DeAngelo Williams' 2-point conversion run with 5:18 left. But Ricky Williams bounced to the outside and shook off Sherrod Martin at the Carolina 5 on a 46-yard touchdown run on the ensuing possession.

Williams also caught two passes for 19 yards and a touchdown.

Still, the Dolphins had to hold off the Panthers. After Williams' long run, the Panthers kicked a field goal. They then forced a punt, and Delhomme found Gary Barnidge on passes of 29 and 17 yards. But from the Miami 26, Delhomme's lob into the end zone was knocked down by Tyrone Culver as time ran out.

ELSEWHERE

Broncos: Chris Simms, who hasn't started a game since Sept. 24, 2006, will likely start at quarterback against San Diego on Sunday in place of Kyle Orton, who sprained his left ankle last week. Coach Josh McDaniels said Orton was feeling better, but Simms took most of the snaps with the first team yesterday.

Jaguars: Jacksonville linebacker Justin Durant missed his second straight practice because of a concussion and has not been cleared to play. Durant says he suffered a "mild concussion" in the third quarter of last week's 24-22 win at the New York Jets, but didn't tell anybody and kept playing.

Rams: St. Louis defensive end C.J. Ah You has a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in Wednesday's practice and will be placed on injured reserve, ending his season.

Redskins: Washington running back Clinton Portis will miss his second straight game as he recovers from a concussion. Portis has not been able to practice since he was injured in a helmet-to-helmet hit against Atlanta.

Saints: Reggie Bush has missed two practices this week as New Orleans tries to rest its running back's left knee. Coach Sean Payton says Bush has had some swelling in the knee and is getting some rest, but would not say what Bush's chances of playing are this Sunday in Tampa Bay.

Vikings: Minnesota signed coach Brad Childress to a contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. ESPN.com reported the extension would keep Childress in Minnesota through the 2013 season. Childress is in the fourth year of a five-year, $10 million deal.