The Dolphins looked like they answered the call against the Bengals. The defense played a very good game, really limiting the Bengals offense. The Dolphins shut out the Bengals in the 1st half, leading at the half 14-0. Talk about a tale of 2 halves, Ryan Tannehill completed 12 of 18 attempts for 114 yards and 1 TD, in the familiar short passing offense. All was well for the Dolphins, even through the 3rd quarter, although I thought they were a couple of plays that gave the indication that the wheels were ready to come off the tracks. The first was the ST’s hit by Martell Spaight, which at the time when the flag went up, I nearly lost my mind. It was a completely legal, legit hit, and I thought they flagged it for a late hit out of bounds, but it turned out, after the hit, Spaight was jawing at the Bengals returner Alex Erickson, and was flagged for a 15 YD unsportsmanlike conduct. That was #1. That moved the starting field position from the Bengals 14 yard line to the 29, big difference, especially after the Bengals struggled for 3 QTR’s.
Number 2 was just a few plays later, the Bengals were at midfield, and Dalton threw a short pass to TE CJ Uzomah, and Uzomah had to go up for the ball, and Dolphins safety T.J. McDonald came from behind and hit Uzomah a few milliseconds after the ball went through his hands. It wasn’t a vicious hit, McDonald contacted Uzomah with his hands first to his back, but he was leaping into the player, and then he eventually knocked the player to the turf, but not in a dirty way at all. That was called for the 2nd unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for 15 yards, and in my mind, that’s where the unraveling started.
The Bengals went on to score a TD on that drive, 30 yards of Dolphins penalties, which ended with Dalton hitting RB Joe Mixon for an 18 yard TD to start the 4th quarter. Then the real scary stuff happened. Grant returns the kickoff to the 19 yard line, and Gore on 1st down is stuffed after a 2 yard gain. 2nd and 12, Tannehill is sacked by DT Geno Atkins for a loss of 8, the ball now at the 13 yard line. Tunsil was injured at this point, and he was replaced by swingman Sam Young. Tannehill found Drake in a short pass over the middle, and Drake picked up the 1st down gaining 18 yards. At the 31 yard line, Kalen Ballage got his first carry of the game for 2 yards, and then IT happened. With Sam Young struggling to block anyone really, and the Bengals sensing the weakness there, they overloaded the right side, and sure enough there was immediate pressure on Tannehill as soon as he took the shotgun snap, and he attempted to roll right, and there was additional pressure from that side as well, and Tannehill inexplicably while attempting the throw the ball away, threw it low and it hit the helmet of RG Jesse Davis, and caromed into the waiting hands of DE Michael Johnson who returned the INT for a TD, which tied the game at 17-17. No excuse, that was a terrible play by Tannehill, who could have thrown it to the sideline out of bounds.
I’m not going to bother giving the blow by blow any further, I can sum it up with Sam Young couldn’t block anyone, The Bengals had all the momentum, and we don’t have a QB that can rise above everything and bring us back. Ryan Tannehill is not the problem, but I now believe he is not the answer. We’re not an explosive offense, we can’t put 40 points on a team, and the way the NFL has evolved, I think you have to. Too many things have to be aligned just right in order for Tannehill to succeed, and I think we’ve tried and continue to do just that, but in this league, the QB has to have that confidence, that killer instinct that I think Ryan Tannehill doesn’t have. He’s not a terrible QB, he’s just not the type of player that can lift his team, and I’m certain this will be his last season as the Dolphins QB.
This week can be extremely ugly, facing the #1 defense in the NFL, very likely without our starting LT Laremy Tunsil. The Bears are allowing the 2nd fewest points per game, 16.3, which is pretty close to what we score per game at 19.8, good for 28th out of 32 teams in the NFL. Sounds like a recipe for disaster. The Bears incidentally, are scoring 27.8 PPG, but that’s a little skewed due to the 48 points they hung on TB before their BYE week. Rookie QB Mitch Trubisky threw 6 TD’s in that game, but the 3-1 Bears don’t really score like that consistently, and they don’t have to with that defense. The Bears probably send fruit baskets and flowers to Jon Gruden weekly for trading Khalil Mack to their team.
This is a game we have no business winning, and yet for some reason, I have a feeling we hang around in this game, and possibly even win it, just because it makes no sense. No prediction this week, who cares anyway. It’s bizarre to look at the NFL standings, and see the Miami Dolphins there at 3-2, 1st place AFC East. I think about Jakeem Grant and how much more important he becomes each week, and then conversely, I think about Devante Parker and how close people are to saying “Who?” when you say his name. Are 1st RD Dolphins WR’s cursed? Yatil Green anyone? I think about the defense, and realize that this is probably the last year for Cam Wake, and I get the feeling he doesn’t have that storybook ending here. Shame, he deserves it, but I think maybe father time has finally reined the big boy in. I think about the young players we have on defense that are coming on, Jerome Baker, Minkah who started out great, Raekwon who needed to shake off some rust after being out last year, Xavien Howard, who is a top 10 CB, Vincent Taylor who keeps on getting better and Davon Godchaux too. Add in good ole Bobby McCain too. I guess what I’m saying is, draft a QB in the 1st RD next year, there are some really good young pieces to build around. Next year, always next year. I know, I know, we’re 3-2, probably soon to be 3-3, but we will win the Fest game, because . . .
Finsmob Unleashed 
Tim Knight says:
October 13, 2018 at 9:00 pm
Of course. We’d all love superior depth. But even with Larsen and Swanson we were okay. Once Tunsil went down the flood gates opened. How deep can you be?…
—————
How deep can a D-Line be, I ask? Factor D-Lines getting constantly rotated to keep them fresh (ie: OUR D-Line), vs every O-Line who feature the same 5 guys on every Offensive snap: who is going to wear down first?
Please don’t take this as an argument… rather, how will teams combat these rotating D-Lines? It’s a trend, and O-Lines are too thin (as a whole) across the league to keep up with as much. I say the teams that have the best O-Line depth will be the most likely to combat rotating/fresh D-Lines.
And when it comes to us, buddy… we KNOW we’re going to have 2-3 starters going down, EVERY YEAR! It SUCKS, man! I say… what can we do to get ahead of the curve? I’m a fan of innovation… let’s do this!
12 teams have a winning record at this time. We’re one of them.
Chill y’all
Son you gonna drive me drinking!
Let’s go Dolphins,
Looks like Big Cock Brock, or B.O. for short, is getting the start today. Fins UP!!
Yeah I heard on the radio that Tannehill seems more doubtful than questionable.
Sounds like an earned benching to me. You can’t out right cut Young and nothing happens to Tannehill.
If Tannehill isn’t playing I don’t think Osweiller is going to be better. I’m hoping for the best with either one but I have a feeling I’m going to be walking away and finding something to clean this afternoon.
In my opinion we were going to need our defense and STs to lead us to a win in this one either way.
yeah, like Tannehill playing qb makes all the difference in the world.
Don’t think she said anything like that.
You’ve not been around to see what I’ve said about him the past couple weeks so don’t assume I was saying he would be better.
While some of us will be watching the game today, REAL fans will be watching Ryan Tannehill’s 2016 highlights.
Go team!!!
Charles Harris is out with a leg injury. Wake is still out with a knee injury. Branch is active.
If everything can go wrong – that would be cool…
LOL
They are just trying to get everyone healthy for the FEST game!
We might score 12 instead of 13 with Osweileer instead of Tannehill
It was reported Tannehill hurt his shoulder in the NE game.
I’m just going to leave this here!
Self pity???
It’s just football dude
Take it easy
People don’t want to give up their sundays to watch their team lose – it’s pretty simply
What is the pregame anger about?
Great song Rob.. hope we ride Hot Brock Lincoln to a win today .. just what we all want a Full blown QB Controversy …
I will always root for whoever is playing for us. But I’m silly like that. 😉
me too although Cutler did put that to quite the test last year..
and no doubt the second strip from behind last week did it no good at all… i figured that was when it got hurt..
I fully expect Osweiler to light it up today and start a QB controversy.
I hope he does and we win the game. 🙂
QB controversy on this blog? Don’t be silly
I am sorry Lou but “Big Cock Brock” I think is the gayest thing that has ever been posted on this blog. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
LOL, I just left that one alone.
I don’t know?
Tim’s Dancers are hard to beat????
(well maybe not) 😉
We get featured on Fox 911 call. Pathetic.
Go Fins!
Go Phins!!! …Even though it feels like half the team is hurt.
I hope BO doesn’t stink today
I get it, that’s funny
This looks like a ten beer game.
And i don’t even drink beer much,
but if i start on whiskey with a roster like this, i might hurt myself.
Watching the game today with my Lions fan buddy…..at least we will be cheering for the same team today….no so much at the Fest.
Go Phins!!!!
DeVante Parker is playing today. Woo hoo!!!
Half the team is out but hey Devante is back
Trying to showcase for trade?
Here we go again.
Not a good deep ball
Grrr wilson
That was a good throw bad effort by Wilson
Not good hands
first really bad drop i have seen from wilson
That deep ball throw wasn’t bad it looks like to me still did run his route right. He should have been more towards the center of the field. Brock threw to a spot like he us supposed to
Well, I would prefer Brock if we want to be in the hunt for Herbert this spring. This defense could end up being special which would be nice for a new QB trying to learn the ropes. This QB class is no where near as good as last years’s though. Let’s see Brock make some plays though.
Osweiler kinda held onto that deep throw funny like it got stuck in his hand, maybe he thought if he threw it where he was supposed to, that it would get picked so he just threw it away into space
Don’t we lead the league in INTs? Almost had one there.
Got lucky Trubisky missed Miller
bad throw by Tubitsky
3 and out. good field position
2nd beer open
Grant continues to grow.
He is 5’9” yet?
Real nice drive by Osweiler
Amendola looked got on that route.
good^^^
Yep
We might be looking at a qb controversy
Well done!
Boom nice drive
I’m liking me some Oswy today. Makes a RZ TD look easy for once.
O’Leary has been a very nice addition.
dang Nick O that was a good catch.
Nice drive from the Fins, offense looks better since they started Osweiler versus overrated and overpaid RT.
nicely drawn play
by Gase on the TD
TE and running game?? Who is this team ?
McTyer makes good tackles.
Nice drive for a 1st Q TD. The Bears helped us out with the penalty on the play to Amendola, but still, nice to see.
Was that a middle linebacker?
Nice speed by Raekwon to run down Trubisky.
Jones!
Great play by Jones
Reshaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad
I thought that was a generous spot actually.
Me too, quite generous
Loving this game. Team looks ready to rumble!
WTF bears thinking, they should have punted and tried to pin us deep. This is like a turnover
Thought it was bad decision to go for it. Should have punted and made our backup QB and backup OL go a long field
I owe David a beer 🍺
HoF Frank Gore
Gore gore gore
Bad play bad pass
Threw that behind him
I like this woodard kid.
Who Woodard that?
dang it
It’s hard to get movement against Vince Taylor.
That was weird
Mcyter sucks
most penalties on us of any team in the league
We get penalties at the worst times
Team consistently plays dumb
woodard concussion off our own guy
kiko
Even watching this team screw up 3rd downs so long offense the qb sneak to gains yard looks like amazing play calling…
Who would have thought you can do that?
Wow Taylor
Big man move fast
Taylor with a sack!! Ahhh flashbacks
Taylor was motoring!
Points, go get points
Mack hurt his ankle.
I love the way Gore runs
Just pick a hole and move forward
Gore for four
Give me some more
More penalties negating 1st down grrr
Would be a good tome for a TUrnover
Same old problems on 3rd downs
I jut think it’s predictable
That was a great throw
good tackle on the punt.
shiiiiiiit
Fumble!!
Def ballin !!!
Nice Nick
Nicklaus kin again
Nick O’Leary is outplaying Gesicki
Let’s get gesickininvolved
TJ and Kiko on defense
How come the pile falls backward when Gore hits it?
If Osweiler keeps this up, can’t see Tannehill getting back on the field
Hallelujah