Games aren't just won from motivation, though. They're also won by talent, and there's not much of that on our offensive line right now.
We only have 1 offensive lineman rules out, Robert Hunt. The OL has been surprisingly well with 2nd stringers seeing how the Dolphins have a history of horrific offensive line play.
I tried that. I was positive we'd beat Buffalo. I was positive we'd beat the Chiefs. I was positive we'd beat the Titans. Every time I've been positive, we lost.
Yes and no. They're more talented at some positions, less in others. They don't have better coaching, though. But the NFL, besides talent, is also won on matchups, and we don't match up well to the Bills.
In certain positions, yes. Their DL unfortunately matches up very well against our OL which allows them to rush just 4 and get pressure. This means they can ask their CB’s to be aggressive at the LOS as they will still have help over the top. Until McDaniel can find a way to scheme guys open quickly we will always struggle against that current defence imho.
Well, he’s on IR so I didn’t account for him…but I suppose I should have. I was looking at the injury report and Hunt was the only one listed out.
I can’t agree with you here. Our DL matches up with any OL in the league!! Our DBs match up against any receivers in the league. The only weakness I see is the LBs matching up against elite RBa or TEs coming across the middle. Offensively, sure our OL has been historically weak, but all of our skill positions, save TE are far superior than any defenders they match up against.
So a perfect predictor thus far for whether the Dolphins win the game is whether we're leading at halftime. Every time we lead at halftime we win, every time we are losing at halftime we lose. Interesting. Have to get out in front of the Ravens early I guess. HUGE game coming up. We can clinch the division and be in the race for the #1 seed if we win. Maybe the most important game of the year given that it's a test of winning on the road against a top level team. Win against the Ravens and we'll have fully shaken off the last few decades of mediocrity.
Bills aren't a lock next week. Pats are still playing hard. Belichick would love to beat Buffalo and New York on his possible way out.
Belichick is trying to win every single game he can. Shula's record is the only thing he has left to get and he'll retire.
Can you imagine the Raiders beating the Chefs today? No need, it just happened. In a perfect world, Miami could wrap up the division and #1 seed this coming week and take an extra week of rest for all the injured to heal up. Let Buffalo in, against a rested and relatively healthy Dolphins team at home? Yeah, I'll take my chances with that.
You're right. It's not the best team that wins on gameday. It's the team that's best on gameday that wins.
Its not really hard to picture Joe Flacco playing terrible vs the Jets and losing some ugly low scoring game on a short week
Chiefs are officially melting down. Mahomes blows the game turning the ball over twice in seven seconds, screams at his o lineman, and Mr. Pfizer gets benched for carrying on like a two year old on the sidelines.
I think they are done for this year. They need a good offseason to return to form. The AFC looks like a four horse race at this point: Miami, Cleveland, Baltimore and Buffalo. All could win, all have flaws. Should be a fun few weeks.
That Chiefs loss is really important because they could have won out and challenged for the #1 seed had we beaten Baltimore but lost to Buffalo. Now that scenario is gone. All we need to do is beat the Ravens and we get the #1 seed if the Ravens lose today.
The Ravens win last night was pretty impressive. Not only does it mean we have to win next week but also the Buffalo game will be meaningful as well. We have to win both to lock up the #1 seed. And if we lose to Baltimore chances are week 18 will be for the division.
I wasn't able to see the game but looking at the stats, when you throw 5 interceptions, chances are you're going to lose. I think we have a tad bit more discipline with the ball than that.
It was ugly to watch. After last night's game I'm a lot less optimistic than I was before. I mentioned earlier this weekend that we could use this game as an opportunity to scout the Ravens ahead of our trip to Baltimore. SF runs a very similar offense and they were stopped in their tracks. The Ravens played very aggressive on defense keeping Purdy under pressure the whole game. I'm expecting a lot of short passes mixed with a heavy dose of run plays to protect Tua. Utilize your big targets Smythe and Claypool in the pass game. Time for the vending machine to show us why he's here.
Well this could actually be a blessing in disguise. Since we and San Francisco run such a similar offense, the Ravens just provided us a blueprint on their defense against our system. If Purdy was under pressure all night, that lets Tua know that he has to make quick decisions and get the ball out quick, which he already does faster than any quarterback in the league. I have a feeling this is going to be a low scoring slugfest, but whoever can win ToP is probably going to win the game. As you said, that's going to depend on a heavy dose of the running game and PATIENCE with the Dolphins. Thankfully we do have a lot of running plays that are run out of the same formation as passing plays.
It does give us a good look on how to play Baltimore...their defense is humming at the moment and it will not be an easy game.
No defense can plan on getting 3+ turnovers during a game. Purdy made a lot of bad decisions, and bounces went the Ravens way, but Tua is already used to snap decisions. Purdy was used to having time to scan the field and look at second, third reads, etc. The Ravens are a very good team, but not quite the monsters we saw last night. Keep it close, get a critical turnover late in the game and Miami can steal the win.
