CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Turns out Ronnie Brown's season-ending foot injury didn't spell doom for the Miami Dolphins and their unique offense.

Ageless Ricky Williams did just fine in his place.

The 32-year-old Williams rushed for 119 yards and scored three touchdowns, and the Dolphins beat the Carolina Panthers 24-17 on Thursday night to put themselves into the AFC playoff mix after a miserable start.

“Ricky ran like he was 25,” Miami LB Joey Porter said.

A day after learning Brown is finished for the year, 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.

“He's not 32, I don't care what he says,” Dolphins receiver Brian Hartline said. “He definitely doesn't look 32 out there and when he's out there he definitely has a lot of gas left in his wheels.”

Williams, the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner, continued his resurgence after a brief retirement and a drug-related suspension. The time off might be helping him now when many running backs decline after they turn 30.

“Ricky is a hard-running, big tailback,” Panthers defensive tackle Damione Lewis said. “He broke some tackles, and that's him.”

DeAngelo Williams rushed for 122 yards for the Panthers (4-6), but Jake Delhomme had his streak of three games without an interception snapped. Then, his desperation pass into the end zone was knocked down as time expired.

“Guys are fighting their tail off,” Delhomme said. “We are just not getting it done. ... We are not winning the close ones right now.”

The Dolphins were facing uncertainty with their wildcat offense when Brown was placed on injured reserve Wednesday. They 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 it 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.