It was an awkward high-five, the type of energetic hand slap that came with all the right intentions even if it lacked proper execution.

So after failing to connect hands on their first attempt, Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington backed up a few steps, plowed forward for a second try and landed a crisp, handshake with linebacker Joey Porter to celebrate a touchdown pass.

Hey, nobody said this whole winning thing wouldn't take practice. But stunningly and suddenly, as indicated from a 17-10 victory Sunday at Dolphin Stadium against the Chargers, the Dolphins seem poised to figure it out.

''I mean, for us, we're just learning how to win,'' coach Tony Sparano said. ``We're a young team learning how to win right now.''

Not a bad lesson plan so far, Coach.

Remember when the lowly, miserable Dolphins watched from home last year as the Patriots and Chargers played for the AFC championship? Less than a year later, Miami has already beaten both teams back-to-back.

And they did it Sunday with the type of physical, disciplined football that is quickly becoming the identity of this team, an identity that has been preached by a new coach (Sparano), new general manager (Jeff Ireland) and new vice president of football operations (Bill Parcells).

''We want that respect,'' safety Yeremiah Bell said. ``After last year, we don't have much. How do you get it? You go out and you take it.''

The Dolphins defense, anchored by the play of linebacker Matt Roth and Bell, did just that.

Even as the offense continued to click, even as Pennington's efficiency in the base offense continued to assist Ronnie Brown's proficiency in the Wildcat package, it was the defense that began defining the attitude and identity of this team.

Just like Sparano has said: Tough. Smart. Disciplined.

PENNINGTON EFFICIENT

That's not to belittle Pennington (he completed 22 of 29 passes for 228 yards) or Brown (he rushed 24 times for 125 yards). Instead, the production of the defense, which held San Diego to 202 total yards, appears to be emerging as an equally legitimate force.

The best example? When the Chargers capitalized on Miami's only major mistake of the game -- kick returner Davone Bess fumbled a kickoff -- the Dolphins defense was pinned into a corner in a situation it didn't create.

A HUGE STOP

But when San Diego pushed the possession to the 1-yard line, Miami's defensive front came up with a critical stop by stuffing running back LaDainian Tomlinson on a fourth-down run. The play maintained the Dolphins' 17-10 fourth-quarter lead.

''That situation right there, it was perfect,'' linebacker Akin Ayodele said. ``It feeds our ego, and it sends a statement out there. We're starting to learn how to win, and we're starting to believe we can win.

``Your mind-set can really determine the outcome of a game.''

That's the mentality Sparano said his team has been working toward creating since training camp. The coach said scenarios during practice -- when something has gone wrong the way it did Sunday when Bess fumbled the kickoff -- led to a critical lesson heading into Sunday's game.

'We often talked about at some point, you have to say, `Not today. It's not going to happen today,' '' Sparano said. ``I thought, in that situation, it was really a defining moment in the game.''

There were other defining aspects, too. The Dolphins didn't gain Sunday's win simply based off one goal-line stop. Instead, they more appropriately maintained something they already had earned.

The consistency and discipline on both sides of the ball played as much of a role in Miami's success as anything else. The Dolphins committed just one penalty (tight end Anthony Fasano had a false start) and gave up just one turnover (Bess' fumble).

BACK IN THE PICTURE

With Sunday's win, Miami made a major leap toward NFL legitimacy, while also bursting back into contention in the AFC East. But more importantly than anything in the standings, the Dolphins also did something else with the win.

They earned back another small dose of respect.

''People do not respect us,'' Holliday said. ``It's sad, but it's true. They think they can come in, enjoy South Florida, get some good weather, maybe a nice dinner and a win. But we need to show them that it's not happening.''

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