But the seven-time Pro Bowler was back at left tackle after missing just one game. The initial prognosis called for Pace to miss two to four weeks. With just six games remaining when he suffered the injury Nov. 16 against San Francisco, missing the rest of the season wasn't out of the question.

"For the past couple years, I've been injured," Pace said. "This wasn't a season-ending injury, but I just wanted to play, man. You have a greater love for the game once you've sat out for a while. And I think that's where I'm at right now in my career."

Not only did Pace play, he shut down Dolphins outside linebacker Joey Porter, who entered the week as the NFL's sack leader (14?). Even though the Dolphins escaped with a 16-12 victory, Porter's streak of at least one-half sack in nine consecutive games ended.

"I thought Orlando did a great job on him," coach Jim Haslett said. "It just shows you what kind of competitor he is. He's a tough guy, he wants to come out there and play."

Referring to several banged-up Rams who played against the Dolphins, Haslett added, "I told those guys I appreciated it under the circumstances, with our record, guys trying to come back that fast (from injuries) and getting on the field. I know he's a little sore. But I thought he had a good outing."

All told, Porter and Pace went head to head on 26 plays Sunday in the Edward Jones Dome. On eight running plays in which he was blocked by Pace, Porter managed only one assisted tackle.

On 18 passing plays against Porter, Pace had help four times and went one-on-one 14 times. The sum of all those plays? One quarterback pressure by Porter, which came on second down during the Rams' first trip into the red zone. With no one open, Bulger threw the ball away.

The only quarterback hit allowed Sunday by Pace came on the fifth play of the game, when Dolphins defensive end Vonnie Holliday split a double-team block by Pace and tight end Joe Klopfenstein. Bulger still got the pass away for a 16-yard gain by Steven Jackson.

"In my grading system, (Pace) and Jacob Bell had the second-highest grade for the game of the offensive linemen," offensive line coach Steve Loney said. "He gave up the hit on the quarterback ... and from that point on, he was pretty clean. I think he played well, certainly well enough for us to win."

Pace said it took awhile to get used to playing with a brace on the knee, but once he did so, he felt fine. In terms of painkiller, Pace said he took "no shots or nothing like that."

With Porter getting nothing done on Pace's side, the Dolphins switched him to the other side for much of the second half, especially late in the game.

"You'd have to ask them what their thinking was," Loney said. "But if you've got a guy that's versatile, you try to find out where he can start getting some heat and he wasn't getting heat from (Pace's) side. Maybe you move him to the other side. ... Alex (Barron) did a good job on him as well."

Pace was somewhat amused when asked about his job on Porter.

"I still can play, believe it or not," he said. "For an old man. You guys are ready to put me in (the ground)."

For anyone ready to kick Pace to the curb, his performance against Miami showed he still has something to offer at age 33.

"He does," Haslett said. "He's still efficient. He's a good athlete. He can still cover 'em up. He's big and powerful. ... Obviously everybody's skills erode a little bit, but the guy still brings a lot to the table."

With three years left on Pace's current contract after this season and a cap count of $9 million next season, the Rams must decide if Pace fits into their plans for 2009 or beyond. Because of injuries, he has played in only 19 of 44 games since the end of the 2005 season - including 10 of 12 this season.

Pace has been penalized only twice this season, a team low for the offensive line starters. He has allowed only two sacks, which is tied for the team low.

Ram-blings

The Rams released linebacker Kelly Poppinga from the practice squad and added wide receiver Joel Filani, formerly of Texas Tech, to his spot.