So, remember before the season when we said that if that if we were 4-4 after the first 8 weeks we would be in good position? We've already faced Favre, Sanchez, Brady and Rodgers and we're 2-2 for it. We have to face Big Ben Sunday in Miami before going on the road to play against Palmer and the Bengals and subsequently Flacco and the Ravens. We need to win 1 of the next 3 to be 4-4. With 5 home games on the back half of the schedule against Tennessee, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo and Detroit, and road games against the Raiders, Jets and Patriots, we can sneak out 6 wins in the back half of this schedule if not more. So everyone, keep your head up. It's a long season and there is still a lot to be seen from every team. But we're in a strong position going forward.
Can't wait to hear the voices of reality come in here and bash this thread. :Scooby Doo squiggly line scene change: Phew, thought this was Finheaven for a minute...
I'm the kinda guy who sees these things early. I'm not sure what to make of this thread. I usually get bashed for my baseless conjecture but it's usually because everyone is a loser. I'll keep my opinion close to my chest for now...
Your second half of the schedule is great. You guys got it good and if you stay healthy that sets you up for a run at the playoffs.
I agree coming out 4-4 would not be bad at all based on the schedule. I think we will make a strong run in the 2nd half of the season maybe put together a nice little win streak.
Great post. I think a lot of people were caught up in the 2-0 hype and let their expectations get out of control. In retrospect, 2-2 was a realistic goal, 3-2 is a good spot for us considering we've played 4 playoff teams. If we can get to 4-4 that's fine considering our schedule. 5-3 would be great and it'd set us up to win the division if we can settle some scores in Foxboro & the Meadowlands.
The phins have a better chance then my team to go far. Sunday night against Minny will get ugly fast Im afraid. I can see the Vikings blowing us out.
I was one of the ones saying if we opened 4-4, we have a good shot at the playoffs. That thinking was that we'd win our 2 home games against the Patriots and Jets though... Winning at Minnesota and Green Bay was great, but we put ourselves in a rough spot if things come down to tie breakers. We may need 11-12 wins now to make the playoffs. The AFC East and whole AFC is looking pretty tuff this year...
The problem is that people expected more division wins in that potential 4-4 record. In all likelihood, we’re probably going to sweep the NFC North this year, but that doesn’t mean very much if we turn around and go 2-4 in the AFC East this year.
This is my plan as I eagerly wait for January to go to Gillette in the much anticipated blizzard that is New England.
3-2 might be a good spot, because at least we won three games. Why would any team 3-2 think that going 1-2 in the next two games is good or even acceptable? Screw that noise. You guys are like battered women. You have been so kicked around by the Fins that you will justify anything to believe in them. 4-2 is all that is acceptable after this week. They lose this game, and I hope Mr Ross fires his arse just for losing, what will it be, 6 straight home games? We need to beat Pittsburgh, then we need to win the week after that, and the week after that. Unless of course, we are perfectly fine to be just an average team that "doesnt suck". To me, thats not the standard. But I see from your post, and all the people who seem to agree with it that my standard and you guys standards are way, way different.
Your wait is over...I just saw this thread...and obviously, the "Voice of Reality" vehemently disagreeing that going 1-2 EVER is fine and dandy...esp when we have already lost two home games.
Really? The Vikes were fortunate to defeat the Cowboys, I think GB short circuits that "favre magic" from last season. As for 3-2..great spot, TBH we have to win this Sunday or next Sunday, 4-2 gives the Dolphins a hint of breathing room, 3-3 is good not great. The Steelers game is what I'd call a foundation game, we've lost to the Pats and Jets, who are a combined 10-2, sooner or later, we have to beat elite teams or at least hold our own, a win vs the Steelers or Ravens would be huge on several different levels.
Padre I hate to say this but that team is stacked. They beat the crap out of the Saints in the NFC title game everywhere but the scoreboard. Trust me I am more then happy they lost that game but when you turn the ball over 8 times and still have a chance to win in regulation at the end then you know your the better team. Thank god for Tracy Porter of the Saints lol.
Check your calendar..that was 2009... Vikes are just not as explosive in any phase of the game this year, GB gets Matthews and Pickett back do not be surprised if they beat the Vikes.
You need a puppy: Though I do see what you are driving at, why are we on edge if the Dolphins are a supposedly good team? Why shouldn't we expect to be 5-1 or 6-0? I will say, we have beaten everyone we are supposed to beat, but lost to teams we really needed to beat, for me the one real rehabilitating factor is Sparano Teams tend to start slowly and finish strongly. In that light 3-2 is darn good, but we really do have to show Ground Sparano can beat the Big Boy teams this year and right now, mopping up lesser teams later in the year really will not accomplish very much. That means the Steelers, Ravens, Jets, Pats, maybe the Bengals, we have to defeat most of them, THEN we can say the Dolphins have arrived.
I dont know man. They are just way too explosive and they own us for whatever reason. Rodgers is 1-11 in close games and if its close Vikes got it for sure. The next game we win is November 7th against Dallas.
Eh, that is why they play the games, I wouldn't be to concerned if you get guys back healthy, the Vikes are doing a poor job protecting Favre and the Cowboys had a bunch of hits on him, this is a 41 yr old dude off of a Tractor in MS and he has been beaten to bits so far this season.
I hope your right man but Im still trying to get over the sting of last sundays loss. You supporting us next week?
alrite, i am as optimistic as any fin fan in the world, but if we are 4-4 after the 8 games, i wouldnt say we are in really good shape. as a matter of fact id say we are more in bad shape. if we are 4-4 after 8 games, that would mean we would have either lost to the ravens/steelers, ravens/bengals, steelers/bengals , and if we do that, that means that aside from just the 1 loss in the standings, we would also lose any tiebreaker to those teams come later in the year if it comes down to it for a wild-card, so essentially its 2 losses. also, 4-4 overall is just decent at best. this year it will likely take 11 wins to get into the playoffs, and at 4-4 after 8, we would need to run the table to basically get in IMO. the way i put it is as follows. next 3 games. 0-3=3-5= ****ed= must win out for any chance at playoffs 1-2= 4-4= pretty bad shape= we would need to win out or go 7-1 in final 8 games for any shot at playoffs 2-1= 5-3= good shape= we can realistically finish with 11 wins and maybe even 12, but wouldn't need to win out. 3-0=6-2= incredible shape- not only will we have won out, but we would hold tiebreakers later in the year over pitt, cinn, and balt if it comes down to wild-card. we would be in amazing shape, and even if we did lose to both the jets and pats later in the year, we would still have a real solid shot at 12-4, and would prob finish no worse than 11-5 even if we were to get upset along the road once. bottom line, i just don't think being 4-4 after 8 will cut it this year bc the AFC is so strong, and the jets and pats seem to keep winning.
If we can somehow pull off winning 2 out of the next 3 then i think we can be in alright shape. Regardless, theres a reason why all 16 games are played. Should be an interesting rest of the season.
I'll be the biggest Packers fan when they play the Jets and Patriots. Those games are crucial to help us gain some ground back in the AFC East.
I would not say that at all. Besides two tough games against the Steelers and Ravens and the Bengals will be tough at home to end the first half, we have to play: Titans: Tough physical team, won't be easy Bears: Tough team Lions: Say what you will, but they are getting better Bills: We could not beat them last year and had a rough game already this year Browns: Okay, they are the Browns Jets: You can argue best team in the league right now Pats: You can argue they are better without Moss Raiders: Okay, they are the Raiders. Now I'm from the school of thought that you take one game at a time. To many years in a row I have seen the fins come into a game they should have no problem winning and lose. So the only thing on my radar is the Steelers. If we want to be the best, we have to beat the best.
The Titans looked really good against the Jags, they just dominated them, to my mind even if the Bengals fell off this year, the Titans stepped forwards. So the way I see it, beating the Pack has been blunted a bit by how well the Titans are rolling right now, and they have some luck on their side as Vince Young's knee should have been torn up trying to recover his own fumble and he was just fine. That is when a team is going good.
I have two dogs and I miss them dearly. I cant wait to get home...only 50 more days.... I think we are in agreement. We get the opportunity to get on the road to elite status this Sunday. Thats exciting to me. We either have the team, the players, the coaches to make the move up or we dont. If we have them, great. Lets make the move. If we dont have what we need, lets figure it out and get it soon.
While I expected 2-2 out of our first four, I had pictured 2-1 in the Div. Losing both home games resulted in the same 2-2, but would have traded the MIN W for one vs Jets or Pats. Agree, 2 out of these 4 is huge too. Now that we surprised GB, would think CIN is the 2nd...so the question is can we grab this one vs Pitt or the steal one from BAL? That would be huge..and I am not saying CIN is slamdunk, but the 2nd needs to come from one of those 3, those are the facts. The 3rd set of 4, and the final set of 4, (especially the final one vs. NE) will be all playoff push W's. Final week vs NE will clearly set up for make or break playoff run I wager (will be quite similar to 2008 traveling to Jets).
I basically agree except that I'm not sure what record it will take to get in the playoffs. I think there is so much parity in the AFC this year that we may end up with an 8-8 or 9-7 team getting in. I don't see any team that is unstoppable so I question the assumption that the teams that have the best records over the first 6 games will necessarily be the ones with the best record at the end. I don't see it as unthinkable that any AFC team can struggle through a 2 or 3 game losing streak just like the Dolphins went through. The three teams with just one loss are the Jets, Steelers and Pats. I see the Steelers as the best of the three but I can't say I'd be shocked if any of those teams went on a losing streak. I actually see the Jets and Pats as very vulnerable. They both just squeaked by their last opponents and while that can be lauded as "finding a way to win" it also shows that they have weaknesses just like Miami and every other team with playoff aspirations in the AFC.
I don't. I think it will be a close game and when it is close you ALWAYS have the chance tha 4 will throw you a bingo at the best/worst time ...
i mean, look anything can happen in the season, its early, but the way it seems now, 8 wins deff wont cut it, and 9 wins is very unlikely to do it. even 10 wins isnt a lock. the only 8 win team that can get in is the afc west division winner. we will need imo 11 wins or better, especially since we already lost to the jets and pats already so tiebreakers r going to be hard.
I think 10 wins not only battles for final AFC Wild Card spot....but come that last game, I would not be surprised that 10 wins takes the AFCE. No team in AFC East has cakewalk schedule, sure Jets 5 wins gives them the edge, but wouldnt surprise me to only see 5 more wins for them.