Exactly. No excuses. Championship teams overcome adversity when necessary, and the Dolphins need to finally demonstrate they can do this when it counts. The prize is big too: 2nd seed with a good chance to get to the AFC championship. Even better: we might knock Buffalo out of the playoffs if Ravens lose to Pittsburgh (not out of the question given that the Ravens have the #1 seed secured and may rest key players), Jags beat Tennessee (very likely) and Indy or Houston wins (one has to win, can't be a tie).
We're not a championship team, so I'm not sure what some of you are expecting. We can't just dump the roster because we lose to the surging Bills who are better on both sides of the ball than we are. We can get rid of players that don't fit anymore and try and find upgrades in the offseason, but expecting a Super Bowl or even another win this season is aiming way too high. We've made the playoffs and I think that is where everything should restart for us. There are a few types of teams that end up in the postseason. There are those that overachieved like last seasons Giants and this years Detroit Lions. There are those that win a crappy division and get in like the Buccaneers this year. There are the types that go on a heater and hit the postseason on a major hot streak like Buffalo is doing right now. There are teams that have just been consistently dominant for most of the season like Baltimore and San Fran, and then there are teams that were dominant and winning, but are now limping into the postseason like the Eagles and our Dolphins. The odds are not in our favor at this point due to our declining health and injuries we've sustained. If the goal was to be healthy and playing our best football in December, then we failed to meet it. The Titan loss proves to be huge at this point for us and it now makes the Buffalo game on Sunday night...A must win. We beat Buffalo, then we win our division and play a home game against the Colts or Jacksonville. We lose to Buffalo and we're going to Arrowhead to get smashed by the Chiefs.
It's unlikely we win the SB (it's unlikely for all teams actually), but there have been championship teams that limped into the playoffs. Statistically we are closest right now to the Brees-led Saints in 2009. They were #1 in points scored and #23 in points allowed. We're #1 in points scored and #21 in points allowed. They lost their last 3 games (2 of the last 3 Brees started) and ended their season poorly. Unlike us, they had a 1st round bye so they were in much better shape, but still, limping into the playoffs doesn't mean you can't win the SB. And if the Giants in 2007 can win the SB, losing 2 of their last 3 regular season games, playing all playoff games away from home and beating the 18-0 Patriots in the SB, then you don't assume we're out of it until we actually lose in the playoffs.
I don't see us beating Buffalo. I sure hope so. I'd love nothing more than to beat the Bills and win the division. It would be HUGE for this program. But without Chubb and Phillips... I don't see how we can get it done. Especially if X is out too, and our OL still isn't close to healthy. We'll need Waddle too. We're a good team, but not good enough yet. The margins are always too thin. Everythings got to be perfect still it seems. We've got a chance, yes, but gotta get healty and find a way to contain and pressure Allen being as shorthanded as we are.
Ive seen it. Ive seen it end with a nice Tua 4th q drive and josh allens game sealing int for his 100th career turnover. The memes all offseason. Ive seen it. And i want it for us. Manifesting.
I've thought all along we would beat Buffalo at home in the final game but after last week I'm not so sure. Losing Chubb and X on defence is a massive blow and we may have crossed the point of too many injuries to succeed. I know some here just think injuries are an excuse but our starting units this weekend coming are more similar to a 3rd pre-season game line up rather than a 1st game of the season line up. It looks like we will have a minimum of 8 starters out of 22 out, possibly more. At some point you just have to acknowledge the level of injuries, especially when you are missing the whole of the interior OL and your 2 best pass rushers. The only way the defence doesn't get shredded is if they somehow, magically, get pressure with their front 4 only. If not, Fangio's defence falls to bits. The one thing Fangio has shown all season is his inability or his refusal to adjust his schemes for injuries. He will happily leave Kohou on an island against Diggs again then complain he doesn't have the players to run his scheme. The Bills haven't lost a single OL all season, they still have their starting 5 and it shows as it's one of the best in the league. Allen is hardly getting touched this season unless he decides to run. The Bills also just got DaQuan Jones back, so the interior of the Miami line is about to get their **** shoved in yet again. Expect lots of screens this game again as it will be the only way to keep Tua upright. I'm not optimistic about this weekend, offence might need to score 40 to have a chance.
They have to get someone. It's gonna be Van Ginkel and Ogbah with basically nobody behind them. JPP seems most logical since he was here already. Suh was in for a visit a couple weeks ago. Frank Clark is still out there, there was interest in him earlier in the year.
Isn’t Melvin Ingram on the roster somewhere? Not saying he’s any kind of a solution, just that he’s in the building.
I always have faith we will win. Not sure how it happens on Sunday with so many out and potentially out. Could the Dolphins take a pass and focus on a playoff game two weeks from now? While I don't think that happens, it is a strategy that could get them healthier for Wildcard weekend. Run the ball, run the ball, run the ball with some play action and short passing to help move the chains. We can win if we have success doing that.
I'm OK with short passing, but please no receiver stopped waiting for the ball ones, or no behind the line of scrimmage 3-4 yards one.
I‘ll say they‘ll rebound from last week but it won’t be enough. For Buffalo this is probably going to be a must win game to reach the playoffs, we’re injury riddled big time, Joe Robby is going to be taken over by Jills fans and it’s a prime time game, so I put our chances about 5-10% to win this game. Edit: Oh and the NFL would probably like Tyreek back at Arrowhead for ratings…
If we get Mostert, Hunt and Waddle back we can control the game with the offense. We just can't have a defensive repeat of the first meeting with guys missing tackles, taking poor angles, not rallying to the ball. Win ugly, just win.
The good news there is that all 5 (!) OL on the report were full participants at practice. The bad news is Mostert and Waddle were not.
He was in the latest Hard Knocks episode and it was pretty darn funny. McDaniel flexed on him and Ingram flinched, which tickled McDaniel and he had to tell everybody. So he's in the building anyway.
I’m pretty sure that LJ isn’t playing against the Steelers. If that’s true, I’m assuming a lot of their starters won’t be playing. Technically we can’t knock them out or prevent them from the playoffs because if either the Ravens or Titans win they’re in the playoffs regardless of if we win or lose.
If the Bills win, they win the AFC East and the number 2 seed. Miami then becomes the number 6 seed and travel to Kansas City. If the Steelers win against the Ravens and… If the Jaguars win against the Titans and… If the Texans and Colts don’t end in a tie and… If the Dolphins win against the Bills… BUFFALO IS ELIMINATED FROM THE PLAYOFFS!!!! C’mon Pittsburgh!!! C’mon Jacksonville!!! FINS EFFING UP!!!!!
