(Sports Network) - The Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders, who will meet Sunday at Dolphin Stadium in a Week 11 tussle, both entered the 2008 season looking to rise from the NFL abyss.

One has done just that, while the other seems to have found a new sub-floor beneath rock-bottom.

Miami has been one of the great stories in the league this season, as a team that was a league-worst and franchise-worst 1-15 in 2007 has become a surprise contender in its first year under head coach Tony Sparano.

The Dolphins moved to 5-4, including 5-2 in their past seven games, with last week's 21-19 outlasting of the pesky Seattle Seahawks.

The victory kept the Fins within a game of first-place co-occupants the Patriots and Jets in the crowded AFC East, and preserved Miami's golden opportunity to become a major player in the division and postseason races.

On Sunday, the Dolphins will play their second in a string of three home games, with the final contest in that run coming against the Patriots next Sunday. Miami's 2-1 division record puts them in a prime position to make a run at the East title, but defeating the heavy underdog Raiders on Sunday will have to be the first step in that process.

As opposed to Miami, Oakland comes into its Week 11 matchup without much in the way of hope.

The Raiders fell to 2-7 with last Sunday's 17-6 home loss to the Raiders, and are now 1-4 since Tom Cable took over as interim head coach following the firing of Lane Kiffin.

The Silver and Black have scored just 35 points in their five games under Cable, and now rank last in the league in scoring offense (12.6 points per game), passing offense (139.2 yards per game), completion percentage (48.0), touchdowns scored (9), rushing touchdowns scored (3), third-down percentage (22.4), and are tied for last in the league in passing touchdowns (6).

Oakland has not scored a first-quarter touchdown all season, has not scored a first-quarter touchdown on the road since visiting Miami last Sept. 30th, and could be without both of its top two quarterbacks - JaMarcus Russell (knee) and Andrew Walter (ankle) - both of whom are regarded as questionable for Sunday.

If neither player can go, Marques Tuiasosopo would start just the third game of his eight-year NFL career, and first since the 2005 season.

SERIES HISTORY

The Raiders hold a 16-11-1 advantage in their regular season series with the Dolphins, including a 35-17 road victory when the teams met in Week 4 of last season. Prior to that contest, Miami had won six straight in the series, including a 33-21 road win in the previous matchup, in 2005. The Raiders last lost in Miami in 2002.

In addition to their regular season advantage, the Raiders own a 3-1 lead in the postseason series between the two. Oakland defeated Miami in AFC Divisional Playoff contests held in 1970, 1974, and 2000, and the Dolphins downed the Raiders for the AFC Championship in 1973.

The Raiders' Cable and Dolphins' Sparano will be meeting each other, as well as their counterpart's respective team, for the first time as head coaches.

WHEN THE RAIDERS HAVE THE BALL

No matter who plays quarterback, job number one for the Oakland offense will be generating its first touchdown drive in the month of November. The Raiders have gone nine straight quarters without a TD, and the uncertain quarterback situation doesn't predict success for the attack. Oakland might be best-served by running the football, a method of travel that will be made easier if rookie phenom Darren McFadden (341 rushing yards, 1 TD, 10 receptions) is able to return to the lineup. McFadden has missed the last three games with turf toe, and is regarded as questionable for Sunday. If he can't go, Justin Fargas (383 rushing yards) and Michael Bush (240 rushing yards, 1 TD, 18 receptions) will continue carrying the load. Fargas rushed for a team-best 89 yards on 22 attempts in the Panthers loss, and Bush generated 73 yards on 13 total touches. In the passing game, tight end Zach Miller (25 receptions, 1 TD) and wideout Javon Walker (15 receptions, 1 TD) have been the closest thing the team has had to consistent pass-catchers. Miller had three grabs totaling 42 yards last week. The Raider line has allowed 27 sacks through the first nine games, and tackles Kwame Harris and Cornell Green could both be benched this week.

The Oakland passing game theoretically has a chance to get well against a Miami defense that ranks 25th in the league against aerial attacks (234.4 yards per game), but that development will be contingent on the Raiders blocking NFL sack leader Joey Porter (33 tackles, 12 sacks). Porter, who is on pace for 21 sacks this season, has at least half-a-sack in each of his last seven games. On the back end, cornerbacks Will Allen (31 tackles, 2 INT) and Andre' Goodman (25 tackles, 1 INT) have not been consistent playmakers, but safeties Yeremiah Bell (71 tackles) and Renaldo Hill (40 tackles) have been dependable all-around defenders. The Dolphins enter Week 11 ranked ninth in the league against the run (93.7), with nose tackle Jason Ferguson (8 tackles) and inside linebackers Channing Crowder (68 tackles) and Akin Ayodele (39 tackles, 1 INT) providing a steady up-the-middle presence.

WHEN THE DOLPHINS HAVE THE BALL

The offensive star in Miami's win over the Seahawks last week was prodigal son Ricky Williams (388 rushing yards, 3 TD, 15 receptions) who carried 12 times for a season-high 105 yards, including a dazzling 51-yard touchdown run in the win. Williams, who reached triple-digits for the first time since 2005, also established a new personal single-game best for yards per carry at 8.8. With Ronnie Brown (504 rushing yards, 9 TD, 19 receptions) having been held to 168 yards on 57 carries (3.0 per rush) over his past four games, Williams could see more opportunities this week. Seeking a bit of a bounce-back after a so-so game last week is Dolphins QB Chad Pennington (2200 passing yards, 8 TD, 5 INT). Pennington spread 22 completions to nine different targets, but he also allowed the Seahawks to creep back into the game with a second-quarter pick- six, and his 209 passing yards were Pennington's fewest since Week 2. Top wideouts Greg Camarillo (47 receptions, 1 TD) and Ted Ginn, Jr. (34 receptions, 1 TD) had four catches each against the Hawks, with Ginn also tallying his first touchdown grab of the year in the triumph. The Miami o-line has been solid for most of the year, allowing a modest 16 sacks on the season.

The continued struggles of the Oakland offense overshadowed the work of a defense that played one of its top games of the year in Week 10. The Raiders forced Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme into a miserable 7-of-27 passing day with four interceptions, though the Silver and Black had no answer for Panthers rusher DeAngelo Williams (19 rushes, 140 yards). Safety Rashad Baker accounted for two of the picks, his first two of the year, and top cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (22 tackles, 1 INT) and linebacker Sam Williams (9 tackles, 1 INT) had one each. Tackles Gerard Warren (22 tackles, 4 sacks) and Tommy Kelly (32 tackles, 2 sacks) struggled against the run, as usual, but both had sacks of Delhomme. Linebackers Kirk Morrison (78 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) and Thomas Howard (58 tackles, 1 sack) join strong safety Gibril Wilson (76 tackles, 1 INT) as the club's most effective tacklers and run-stoppers. The Raiders are 29th in the league against the run (158 yards per game) as Week 11 commences.

FANTASY FOCUS

With the possible exception of kicker Sebastian Janikowski and the tight end Miller, there isn't a member of the Raiders you should even consider starting here. Fargas and McFadden aren't bad backs, but they won't do anything against a solid Miami front seven.

Pennington has been a reliable fantasy starter, though the way the Oakland defense played against Carolina's Jake Delhomme last week should give you some pause. Camarillo, Ginn, and tight ends Anthony Fasano and David Martin have all had their moments, but none have been very consistent from a fantasy standpoint. The same goes for running backs Williams and Brown. The best starts for Miami on Sunday could be kicker Dan Carpenter and a defense that isn't going to let the Raiders get much going offensively.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Miami got a bit of a scare from the Seahawks last week, and that narrow result should have reminded Sparano and company how difficult it can be to win in the NFL from week to week, even when seemingly inferior opponents come to town. The Dolphins figure to be focused in an effort to play a more complete game this week, and are likely to get plenty of help from a Raiders team that is tanking in a major way. Oakland may win again in 2008, but the notion of them beating a quality opponent like the Dolphins on the road seems like a long shot at this point.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Dolphins 23, Raiders 10