To paraphrase the legendary musical pioneer, John Lennon, you may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only ‘Phins fan who is one.

Those dreams were sparked in me and many other Miami Dolphins fans the moment Reggie Wayne caught that one-yard touchdown pass from Peyton Manning this past Sunday night to cap an incredible roller-coaster-ride of a game, as the Indianapolis Colts stunned the New England Patriots and the world with their shocking come-from-behind 35-34 victory.

With just more than two minutes to go in the game and the Patriots clinging to a six-point lead and facing a 4th-and-2 at their own 28-yard line, New England’s bellicose head coach, Bill Belichick, committed what may have been the dumbest coaching mistake over the past century, thereby assuring Manning had a chance to beat them and giving the Dolphins and their fans the tiniest sliver of hope this season isn’t over.

Deciding to go for it, rather than punt the ball away and force Manning to drive the length of the field to beat him, Belichick watched as quarterback Tom Brady’s pass was initially juggled by running back Kevin Faulk on the 30-yard line as he was driven to the ground close to the 29-yard mark.

The Patriots and their fans, almost to a man, have whiningly complained that the video evidence clearly shows Faulk had possession of the ball at the 30, and should have been afforded the forward progress. Had it gone that way, the Pats would have had a first down and ensured themselves a victory over their nemesis, a one-game deficit in the standings to the Colts, and the tie-breaker for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs if Indianapolis should falter a game during the season.

Whatever they were watching in those video replays, it certainly wasn’t Faulk gaining possession of the ball before he lost yardage. Regardless of that, though, the decision by the Patriots head coach was still one of the biggest blunders I’ve ever seen in my life, and I am extremely grateful he made it.

The Miami Dolphins started the season 0-3 this year, losing one of those games to those self-same Colts in similar fashion, as they watched Manning come-from-behind to beat them with just such a heart-breaking touchdown pass; despite the fact the Colts had only controlled the ball in that game less than 15 minutes.

The team they’ll be facing this Thursday night, the Carolina Panthers, also started out the season 0-3.

Like the Dolphins, the Panthers have won four of their last six games to improve their record to 4-5. Unlike Miami, who even with their latest 25-23 victory over the woeful Tampa Bay Buccaneers still trail the Patriots by two games, the Panthers 28-19 win over Atlanta this past Sunday put them just one game behind the Falcons in their own division.

Yet, even though the Dolphins are two games behind the Patriots, are Miami fans not allowed to dream? Aren’t we allowed to posit the notion that our beloved ‘Phins just might pull off another miracle this year and somehow become the first team since the 1998 Detroit Lions to make the playoffs after beginning the year winless in their first three starts?

Carl Sandburg once said, “Nothing happens unless first we dream.”

I’m taking Sandburg’s advice and dreaming.

I’m dreaming that, despite the loss of Ronnie Brown indefinitely, Ricky Williams still has enough in his tank to lead the Miami rushing attack and put up huge numbers against a very good Panthers defense.

I’m dreaming that Henne, being pushed by the fact Chad Pennington is beginning to feel frisky, will live up to the promise and hope he instilled in ‘Phins fans with that spectacular win over the Jets that Monday that seems so long ago now.

I’m dreaming that the return of Joey Porter will spark a defense to play as great as they’re capable, shutting down a Carolina offense that includes a resurgent Jake Delhomme and two of the most prolific receivers in the game, Muhsin Muhammad and Steve Smith.

I’m dreaming that Miami will be able to find a way to stuff the run against the third-leading rushing attack in the NFL (156.6 yards per game) and force DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to seek advice from the psychic network as to why they’re unable to run wild anymore.

Most of all, I’m dreaming that Miami can somehow, despite all of the obstacles in their way, come up with a victory this Thursday and get to .500.

My dreams also include thinking about the remote possibility that Miami might be able to catch the Patriots this year and still win the division, but those dreams will have to wait for a while. They’re dependent on so many things, including the Jets finding a way to hand those vaunted Patriots a loss this Sunday, I can’t even begin to contemplate them all.

In regard to that, though, I will close with this:

George Bernard Shaw once said (and it was falsely attributed to Robert F. Kennedy because he used the passage in a speech he gave), “Some men see things as they are and say, ‘Why?’ I dream of things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’”

Will the Dolphins win this Thursday and find a way to overtake the New England Patriots for the division title? Why not?

My Prediction? The Miami Dolphins turn the tables on the food chain and snack on some Carolina Panthers. Miami 24 Carolina 13.