A lot of valid points. I'm not 100% comfortable with everything but it's a good team. I agree that arguing over who we've beat is silly. We blew out Denver, and they beat the Bills who blew us out. The Dolphins didn't have great execution against KC or Philly on O. There were 2 or 3 PLAYS in each of those game that could have won it for us. We still need to be a more physical team. We must start fast as well. This is the right time of year to bring it all together and I think they can. Tua needs to clean up the negative plays and get the fire in his gut stoked. The D needs to continue the growth and continue to get better. AVG and Chubb are beast! JR is beast! Wilk is beast!
For me, the #1 goal of any season is to get into the playoffs healthy with a little bit of momentum behind you. We've had numerous Fins teams in recent years that closed the season on fire and possibly could have made some serious post-season noise...but they were 8-8 and it was too little, too late. Other times we've had a winning record and our QB or other key players out were in the wildcard rounds. These easy game matter...more than the tough games...because you are who your record says you are until the playoffs start. Then everything goes out the window and every team is exactly the same; they'll win three to four games or they won't. I can understand why some would say that this isn't a SB team. But the regular season only matters for placement in the post-season. Miami has done everything right this year with wins, handling injuries, and building momentum. Other potential playoff teams are not as healthy and that's going to play a huge factor.
What do you think is missing or is it just the it's hard to believe the Dolphins could really win a Super Bowl after all these years?
For me, it’s definitely the „it’s really hard to believe the Dolphins could win a Super Bowl after all these years“. As a Dolphins fan you haven’t been spoiled the last decades. But somehow this year feels different, if we’re staying healthy, I think we really got a shot this year.
I agree. I don't see the holes on the team this year. Offensive line could be perfect, sure, but this one has been really good. Running game has been good. Defense is coming around. Everyone stays healthy anything could happen. Hoping coach quits calling backwards plays and trusts his OL and team on 3rd and shorts.
Yes, I feel very comfortable about this team. Only thing that makes me feel less comfortable is the injury to JP. He was really starting to explode into his potential and losing him is a big blow. There are zero teams in the NFL that are obviously better than the Dolphins. The Dolphins are capable of beating the Eagles and the Chiefs and the Bills. They are not good enough to play sloppy and beat the, but if they play their game, they can win. Dominate teams with zero holes are rare and those teams still lose Superbowls and playoffs. If you can't be excited about the possibilities of this 8-3 season, I don't know what to tell you. Dolphins have arguably the top offense in the league and as pointed out, since week 5 a top 5 defense that got even better when Ramsey returned. They still have to go out and play the games, but they have a legit chance of a Super Bowl this year.
Baltimore actually concerns me more then the Chiefs or the Bills on our path to the Super Bowl, their D is legit and that Kyle Hamilton dude is something else. That game in Baltimore will be a huge test!
We're second tier compared to the elite teams, namely Philly, KC and possibly 49ers. As long as we have home playoff games I'm confident this team can win. However, it's a real uphill battle trying to beat KC in KC, so winning the AFC championship or the SB would require some real luck. But it's doable. Teams with far lower odds have done it. Vegas has us at +850 now, which is 5th best in the league. HUGE change from previous years. There's no question this isn't the "same old Dolphins", and we're VERY likely to win the division. So if someone is going to argue we're no different than teams of the last 20 years (and we've heard that argument many times) I think they're blind to what's going on. So almost there, but not quite. Need some luck (well-timed luck always beats skill!).
It's the offensive line in my opinion. We got our asses kicked in the trenches in every loss. The other thing is that all three of those games were opportunities to make a statement. Sure, we hung 70 on Denver, but that means nothing now. Beating Dallas, Baltimore, and Buffalo will definitely change my mind, but as of right now we look like a one and done playoff team. Don't get me wrong. It's a step in the right direction. I don't want to sound like it's not good enough, but unless a major injury goes down, we'll all be watching the Chiefs and Eagles again.
If both the Eagles and Chiefs lose in their first round of the playoffs, I would be surprised. Neither of them looks "elite."
It’s the most talented team I’ve ever seen in dolphins colors so I’m as comfortable as I’ve ever been. Have to remember both sides of the ball are still mastering systems. But I expect a 1-3 seed and at least a playoff win.
There's a big piece of cynic still stuck in my head. Not winning a playoff game and only participating in maybe three for the last quarter century has done it to me. I'm 42, with a little luck, my life expectancy is somewhere around 77. I'd love to be wrong about THIS team now. The best possible outcome is obviously us winning the whole thing. However, I would get a major jumpstart on my heart if we somehow took this thing beyond a mere playoff birth. With that said, beating a overachieving (but still crappy) team like Pittsburgh or Cleveland only to get blown out in the next round by Kansas City in the following round ain't gonna get it. The Giants won a playoff game last year but not even Giants fans remember that at this point. I don't want us to be lumped in with those type of playoff teams. No, an exciting, intense playoff run would really wake me up though. Winning is all that matters, but how we lose, of we're valiant in defeat, that matters too. If we make the playoffs only to get beat by wild card Buffalo I'm going to throw my TV through the window. If we barely beat the Browns and their third string quarterback 10-7 and then get destroyed in Baltimore 51-13 I'm going to explode with anger. This has to be a playoff "run." One thing a fellow Dolphin fan said to me at the Carolina Panthers stadium in the midst of a colossal thrashing we were taking (back when we had Cutler) was absolutely unforgettable, but so absolutely true. "This team can't even lose the right way!" I'll never, ever forget that conversation we had in that depression setting surrounded by laughing Carolina Panther fans. "We can't even lose the right way." So true about this team and I would love to see that change.
Working out Reuben Foster? Didn't we kick Patrick Willis' tires about a year ago? Or was that also Reuben Foster?
While I hope he's okay (I hate it when anybody gets hurt, even A-a-Ron), that might be the most significant event of the season. Even if he misses a game or two.
Players have a feeling of how badly they're hurt. Jaelen Phillips knew the extent of his injury before he hit the ground. When they react like Lawrence did, it's not something that he can rub dirt on and get back in there.
He was putting pressure on his foot in that look from the hallway. I don't think it's his ankle that's hurt.
It just keeps getting better for Miami. The tumblers have fallen into place and now all we need to do is turn the key for the #1 seed.
Great game, happy for the backup QB for Cinci. We're now 100% in control of the #1 seed with 5 games to play. That Baltimore match-up suddenly became the game of the year for us.
This team is making me uncomfortable with the rest of the league. It’s boring now. Why do other teams even punt, why not just get 30 yards every third down?
The only thing that makes me uncomfortable about this team are the injuries on the OL and how we hold up against the elite DL's because of it. Every game we have lost the interior of the OL got it *** kicked. If Connor and Hunt stay healthy and Liam (can't believe I'm writing this) continues to improve at the rate he has then I think this team can beat anyone in the league. This is the most complete team we have had in my lifetime. The defence is now a legit top 10, maybe even top 5 defence and the offence is either 1 or 2, we haven't had that in my time following the Dolphins. We aren't just beating the teams we are supposed to beat, we are giving them an *** whooping. We are covering the spread at a ridiculous rate, even when we commit multiple turnovers. If we stay healthy, I'll honestly be disappointed if we don't make it to the Superbowl, I think we are that good.
I'm comfortable with the team but, I'm not totally comfortable with McD's play calling. The razzle dazzle plays are not working against decent defenses, we're losing yards. Why does the offense not employ any "hurry up" packages to catch the defense on their heels? They're going to have to come up with some new wrinkles for the final tough stretch.
Some of his play calling has be screaming at the TV. I dislike the backwards play calling when we are so great at attacking forward.
Usually we're at a point for "just win" meaning the final playoff spot...and we'd be thrilled for that. It's crazy how extreme our expectations have changed in one season.
We seem to be okay with running reverses but our screen passes are so poorly designed, one defender usually is all it takes to blow them up 5 yards behind the line. It seems like it takes the ball longer to go 10 yards across the field than it takes to go 20 yards downfield and the blocker(s) are seldom in place to make the screen work.
You must be able to play Defense in this league. Up until the last couple weeks the defense wasn't up to speed enough with Fangio's system, and everyone should have realized that would be the case. Many say it was Ramsey finally getting on the field and I'm sure his coverage ability helps our pass rush get home, but I really believe they are just more comfortable now and understand what they are supposed to be doing. And I think they are just going to get better still. Now if that is the case, we have more than enough offense to play with anyone. So I am bullish on our prospects this year barring more injuries.
Losing both Phillips and Baker a week apart can significantly impact our defensive chemistry. If for no other reason than depleting our LB depth. Even replacing them with JPP or Reuben Foster would just affect the bottom of the group. I hope it doesn't but it's hard to think that it won't impact the overall production in the short term.
This was a good breakdown on the defence this week. The coverage on the backend was fantastic all day, they are definitely getting the scheme. For how bad the Commanders are, they still had a decent passing attack which we completely nullified.
As harsh as it sounds but if there was one defensive starter that had to go down I'd have chosen Baker. There is a drop off from him to Duke but I don't think it's as bad as any other defensive position. Hoping he can still come back in time for the playoffs though.
