"Whether you were impressed by the Dolphins' performance on offense Sunday, there was no mistaking the success of at least one player: left tackle Jake Long.

Matched up against three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen, Long was about as impressive as he has been in a Dolphins uniform -- which is saying a lot. The former No. 1 overall pick consistently and effectively controlled Allen, particularly in the first half.

``I knew it would be a battle all game, just from watching film on him,'' Long said. ``He plays to the whistle, and he's very relentless. I knew I had to match that or go beyond that. We had some good battles in there, and it was fun. It was fun battling him.''

On the game's first drive, after Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Brian Hartline, Long and Allen remained tangled for several seconds after the play ended.

The massive pair began clawing at each other, a rare sight to see from someone typically as calm as Long."