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 
Wow We dodged a bullet with missed FG, we get one more chance at redemption
FG range now 😎
Come on Rookie
Lets Go Colonel
Another failed third and one? SMH
yikes nothing like eating up the clock without taking another chance
Only 3 seconds left, kick the FG for the W!
4-2 baby
https://twitter.com/theflyingpig44/status/1051572212715655168?s=21
Woohoo
Great game
wow that was an awesome game.
I honestly think if Tannehill had been playing today we wouldnt even have been in OT. We would have lost.
Whew!
Go Dolphins!
4-2
Fest Time!!!!
Lmao, we did everything we could to give the game away, and still get the W because bears are inept as well.
Ah well, we got an ugly W, counts as 1
didn’t eat enough veggies though
Bears are NOT inept.
They were 3-1 and had the #1 defense in the league and we hung a 31 burger on them.
And still in 1st place
I’ll be back later. This was one of those games you just enjoy and throw everything else out. Fuck yeah!!!!! 4-2 baby!!!! Great team win on so many levels. 🙂
Osweiler looks really in command of this offense. He looks more comfortable back there. He is probably not as accurate as Tanny and he probably isnt going to do as much with his legs as Tanny but there are some things he does better as well.
Fun game to watch. Cool.
Hey look up the page and see where i predicted Parkey would miss the game winner.
sorry such a jerk but i’ve had a lot of beer and stresssss.
Lol
You jerk!!!
Hot damn! That was one of the most exciting Dolphins games in a long time
The OD streak is alive!!
Hope they go with Osweiler next week. Best chance for a Fest win.
How does Gase even think about sitting Osweiler for Tannehill? When was the last time Tannehill put up 31, let alone against the Bears?
Most of the scores were to players who made big Players
The qb is a nonfactor
I would actually rather have Tannehill
Wow…. I kind of agree.
Totally agree. Osweiler did what he was supposed to as a backup but it is not like he was awesome. He did not throw the ball downfield at all
Mike Sando, ESPN.com
@SandoESPN
Kenyan Drake is paying for Jason Sanders’ dinner tonight. @MiamiDolphins
2m
It better be good food dammit, lmao. jK
I’m thinkin red kale and quinoa with an elderberry vinaigrette right?
riiiiiiight
My new basement is undefeated 👍😎
Tannehill just makes life tough on his OL. I’m not a big fan of Osweiler, but he manages the pocket like a pro. Slide a yard this way or that and get the ball out on time.
I doubt we win this game with Ryan. I had this feeling all week it was 2016 all over again, regular season against Pitt.
I’m pissed off at this farce that is the NFL, so I’m not following the Fins like I did in the past, but i did watch some of the OT.
Fuck you Bears we got justice, you steal our kicker for $5M, he misses and our rookie doesn’t.
Even after Drake fumbled I just felt we’d still win.
If Tannehill actually sees the field
And uses the middle of it
His ability to use his legs is an upgrade over osweiler
Neither is very good
I think Osweiler with a week of first team reps would be a better choice next week.
Piggy – I don’t know man, I could see it taking the air out of the sails a bit. Osweiler wasn’t unbelievable, but I felt like the offense had less of a noose around it’s neck today. Did you see it that way? If not, then I guess I see why you want Tannehill. I always feel like the offense is so careful with Tannehill. I don’t know, I saw something different today.
I do t think they give it shit about the Qb and just try to hit home runs on every okay
*play
We contained Mack, he was my only worry today .. great job by Oline today
Yeah, it was like Mack wasn’t even there
Bookman – Who do you agree with, with Piggy, or what I said?
Lol. When Tannehill gets 2 TDs on what were basically handoffs we have to give him credit but when Osweiler gets the ball in playmakers hands on actual throws that get points….he gets none. Tannehill would have been sacked 3 or 4 times today. If Tannehill had the stats Osweiler did today, we’d be listening to how great he was all week.
****
Osweiler isn the answer but neither is Tannehill.
Agree with this 110% – I think the team is less walking on eggshells with Osweiler.
Not that Randy but Tannehill does throw the ball down the field. Osweiler was horrible going down the field. The only deep ball he completed was a lucky bounce to Stills
Tannehill sucks so there is that
Piggy – I don’t agree with that completely. I think the QB influences the game more than you think, and I always feel like Tannehill is ultra conservative.
We don’t have good QB options but Osweiler is the better bad option.
Pretty much. Give Osweiler another game, see what he does. It’s not like we don’t know what we have in Tannehill, right?
Fun game. Good win. Time to move on. Did I say it snowed here today? Make way for me in Florida!
Come on down brother!
Been snowing and melting here just about daily since October 1st. It sucks
Dolphins won, the Herd won. A good weekend.
We assume laundry is done ?
Laundry, dishwasher, power washed the siding, washed the car, and the dog. lol
Go Chiefs!!
It was about 46 degrees this morning here. Brrrrrrr. LOL
34 here
Well I guess that answers one question!
Which Kicker you want!!!!
At least for today. 🙂
Gase on Khalil Mack’s 2 tackles: “We had about four guys blocking him.”
AHHHHHHHHH!
I new there was a reason I didn’t read the post’s and watch today!
SMH
manitobafinfan says:
October 14, 2018 at 4:59 pm (Edit)
We assume laundry is done ?
Lol, not finished. I’m doing some other things, cooking etc.
Well hust keep the Mojo goibg whatever ut takes 👍
I’m tired. I’m not a young person anymore. This team needs to get its act together and let me get some rest on Sunday! 😂
Only KC has a better record than ours in the whole AFC.
Let’s hope that holds through tonight.
Only the Rams and Saints have a better record than ours in the NFC.
We have the 4th best record in all of the NFL.
That’s crazy when you think about the last two weeks. Just goes to show what getting off to a good start can do.
Huge win today to get back on track! I voted for today’s game for the fest. Just sayin’…
Hey !! Nice ta see you on board… look forward to the Fest to see ya in person
You as well Toba!
Can’t wait for the Fest!
To The Fest .. Dilly Dilly
Dilly Dilly
Hey Bri! Good to see ya man! Next week should be a good game as well. Hopefully
Yes! Hopefully we can get a few players healthy and back on the field!
Only KC has a better record than ours in the whole AFC.
Let’s hope that holds through tonight.
Meaning I hope they beat the patsies* 40-10.
Gore got 6.7 ypc
Drake got 4.4 ypc and he atoned for his fumble later.
(a little bit)
We looked like a normal functioning NFL offense today. It was very refreshing.
Hey Brian good to see you
Thanks Son. Looking forward to seeing you this weekend!
You too man
These next few days are going to go by so slow. I’m ready to roll now.
Wilson caught 6 for 155 or 26 ypc and 2 TDs.
He was a live wire today
The Jags look either slow or confused or both.
Beasley is eating them up.
They’re getting spanked
Stills only caught 1 but it was for 35 and then he caught that magical 2-pt conversion.
The Jags grew to depend on Fournette to carry them and don’t know how to win without him.
The Bears got ZERO sacks.
They had 18 coming in to the game.
They were first until they played us.
We are still first in INTs w/ 10.
Dallas, SF, and TB have only 1.
NE has only 6 after their loss tonight.
Jamiyus Pittman got his first NFL tackle today.
What a way to start off my Birthday Week celebration!!!!
Hell yeah.
UCF
Notre Dame
DOLPHINS
🐖💨💥
Happy Birthday.BBM
What a frick’n game, but it was another heat one. Real hot and muggy. Warned my buddy visiting from farther north would wear you down and on the ride home he is out like a light. And that’s 3-0 at home…. all heat games.
The OD streak is alive!!!
Saw OD and his lovely wife today……. and man should Ross put him on the payroll.
He’d never take a job from Ross, lol
Glad you guys got to see this game it was really good. It’s always nice having some of our own in the stands.
You guys can’t even enjoy a crazy win like this without hating on a player. Wow! One game and a new day has dawned. Okay… we’ll see how that works. LOL
Just enjoy the win that most us of thought would not happen and surely not the way it happened. The game plan on offense and the OL/blocking was excellent. The Bears defense never got a chance to tee off. But how this game panned out was so crazy all you could do was ride the rollercoaster. I thought we lost the game 4 times and we won it 3 times. LOL
But we won the game at the end. Wasn’t it so crazy that you don’t even know how to evaluate this game? LOL
Instead of bashing Tannehill which has become a really fucked up thing to me, how about enjoying that Osweiler showed we can win with him. Go team!!!
That’s why I stayed away from the board for the game today!
What both of you said.
Thanks, Naples! Birthday is Thursday but going to celebrate all week.
Watched the replay of the game winning kick he nailed that ball. Would have been good from 65 yards.
I hope our game is one of the ones they replay, I want to watch it again. Our defense is good, they got beat a few times but they played really well. Good day for Miami.
Over 500 yards on offense today, WOW!
I know there was overtime but still.
I have no clue as to how that could have possibly happened. Hmm, what was different today?
We listened to ORob and gave it to Gore on 1st down.
(just BB)
Naples — “Frank Gore rushed for 101 yards.” ORob should be in heaven.
That’s true very true. That’s the best Defense in the league and we ran on them. Oh right, we have a great o-line!
Wait
Bears fans travel strong. Based on the cheers was hard to tell which one was the home team today. And they stand the whole time more or less. Thinking how they try to stay warm at Soldier Field.
I know one thing. We didn’t see Shaank twelve times today and we had drives that we got FG’s out of, points.
Zeke Elliot’s haircut ranks with Luck’s neckbeard as questionable fashion choices.
not that I am an icon of hairstyles
I haven’t seen it yet. I’m looking for Telvin to knock his helmet off.
Who bashed Tannehill? Calling a spade a spade ain’t bashing. It’s called critical observation. Now, if you wanna talk about bashing players, just read the blog comments about basically any player that leaves the team. That’s some serious bashing! 😎
***
Loved the game! Fun to watch.
👍
Osweiler is Cutler 2.0, if he starts next week you’ll see 3 picks and 0 tds and well get spanked.
His 1 game ceiling is higher than Ryan’s, but his average game is much worse.
steve — how’d you like the game? One of the best ones I have seen in a while.
His history says you are right. But I’m willing to gamble on it for the short term. Our offense functioned today. We put up points, ran and held the ball. He knows this offense pretty well.
Stanger today was an instant classic for sure
The Ravens have 11 sacks today against Tenn
Glad I played their D in my FFL
I’ll take the guy who finds a way to run our offense to where it picks up over 500 yards against the top D in the league. We looked like an NFL offense today instead of Trick Nation. What kind of trick plays will get us the win this week? What, actual runs and forward passes that are past 10 yards? is that even an option? Almost 50% on 3rd down? Actual RZ scoring? Am I dreaming or did we finally find a QB, even if he is terrible? 31 points? Did we combine two games in one?
Game was fantastic today and one reason is because Tannehill was cheerleading. Gase still makes terrible calls but at least we moved the ball.
What a GREAT game!!! WOW!!!
Last one can remember that was that good to watch ended with a tackle by Wake for a safety.
I’d have to agree with ya on that, Stanger.
I see we never gave up on the run today, even when we were down most of the 2nd half. That’s one of the reasons we won.
yep
I do believe our team is making progress. I know we blew the Cincy game, but that was just weird.
We are still playing tons of very young players at important positions, and they are learning.
McTyer made a couple rookie mistakes, but he tackles well.
Davis whiffed on that block on that TD where Drake fumbled.
I would really like to know what happened on that one play where that guy was wide open for the late TD.
I played that back, and I can’t figure out what we thought we were doing on that defense.
So here’s my question: why don’t we give Tannehill as much run support as we gave Osweiller today?
Osweiler*
We do but Tannehill’s shitty passes squander to many drives. It’s why we put up points today instead of punting 10 times.
Nah, man. We do not give Tannehill run support like what we gave Osweiler today.
I won’t disagree with ya on Tanny squandering drives, but then that’s all the more reason to defer to the running game, no?
I think we run off the pass. All the big plays are made in the pass game it’s when we can stay on the field and sustain drives that we can then get to the run game. I dunno but we looked different today and in a good way.
I don’t hate Tannehill or try to bash him. I did say he was stupid a week or two ago and I should have been nicer about that. From all reports he’s a nice guy. I just think an NFL team needs a better quarterback than one who probably wouldn’t be playing in the league if Texas A&M had had a better option at QB midway through his junior season. He had been switched to WR for a reason, he couldn’t win the starting QB job. He’s had years to ‘get there’ and he is better some games I admit, but I don’t think good enough to be a starter in the NFL.
I also don’t think Osweiler is the answer but we seemed to play better today. Also not a Gase fan, said that before. I’m glad we won and if we continue maybe I’ll change my mind and admit I was wrong. If saying all this makes me a basher then I guess that’s what I am. I just want to win games and not feel like we were lucky.
He continued, “but I’m nervous as hell about one of them”
No doubt!
I actually think there is some good chemistry on this team.
I think we play with a lot of heart.
I think everybody hits hard and tries hard and tries to help each other and the team.
I think they care.
I think they care about football, about being their best, and about the Miami Dolphins.
Drake was devastated about his fumble. He came back in and tried his damnedest to make amends .
Since we won, i can feel like that is a “good” experience for Drake going forward.
I seriously doubt you will ever see him fumble again in a critical situation.
I agree… it DOES seem as though the ‘team chemistry’ experiment is WORKING.
son of a son of a shula says:
October 14, 2018 at 7:57 pm
I think we run off the pass. All the big plays are made in the pass game it’s when we can stay on the field and sustain drives that we can then get to the run game. I dunno but we looked different today and in a good way.
————
I absolutely agree. But still, we don’t run like this when Tannehill is under Center. So I must wonder… does Gase have blind trust in Tanny to call pass, pass, pass all day… or does Tanny audible to a pass every time he can?
Or… was it a matter of Osweiler getting the start at the last second, and Gase wanted to protect him by calling more runs today?
You’re assuming we can dial up the run whenever we want too and I’m trying to say we get to the run aka sustaining drives by making plays passing. He was getting us out of third down.
Welp… 8 for 17 (which isn’t great) IS MUCH better than what Tanny’s been doing. You make a good point, here. If we can’t sustain drives, we can’t score… and we actually scored well above our season average today (not counting overtime).
Good call, Bro! The stats back up your eyes.
I agree Naples. I love our Defense, Jones is All Pro the way he’s playing. We’re getting better play at Linebacker than we have in quite a while.
Home cooking is good for these guys, want next week too.
And Kiko is having one heck of a year as well.
Yes hell yeah he is
We are 4-0 in games that we have attempted a pass to Grant.
We are undefeated when Gore runs for 100+.
We are undefeated at Home…….and hoping that keeps going next Sunday.
lol undefeated when Amendola gets suplexed
That was brutal….. was thinking ejection.
1-0 when Golden Bear blood scores
Gp Mahomes.
Go Mahomes.
I don’t like Michele Tafoya. Never have.
We are 3-0 when I make a game prediction on this blog.
Note: when I think we’re going to lose, I don’t make a prediction… I was WRONG today!!! 🙂
wow Jordan Lucas is starting for KC.
Interesting!
yay stopped ’em on 4th and 3.
I feel that tonight’s game is going to be GOOD. Two very established HCs who are known as system HCs.
I don’t want to take anything away from young Mahomes, but just look at what Andy Reid has done over the years with QBs in his system. We swallowed one them (AJ Feeley) for a 2nd round pick.
SAW YOUNG STANGER TODAY and it was just GREAT!! The whole GAME EXPERIENCE WAS GREAT!! Mr. Stanley is right: ROSS SHOULD hire me as a goodwill ambassador/IDEAS guy. But he’d probably try to hire me at half what I’m making NOW!!!
—————–
ONLY TWO NEGATIVES TODAY! –1) Mrs. OD was devastated by the heat, and we had to leave when the score was 21-10 Bears late in the 3rd. GOT HER to our air conditioned car and she was fine—but I confess I was scared but she did VERY WELL on the ride home and is celebrating this GREAT VICTORY NOW!! 2) WHAT THE FUCK was GARSE DOING when he pulled GORE and inserted DRAKE who FUMBLED when it was 3rd and goal in OT from about the half yard line??–If GORE need a break (which I DOUBT), perhaps a time out was in order. Give the ball to GORE was the only choice that made sense—2 chances for him to get a half yard was a SURE THING!!!
—————-
ANYWAY, Miami overcame extreme adversity TO WIN THIS GAME, THUS PRESERVING MY 6-GAME WINNING STREAK IN GAMES I’ve PHYSICALLY ATTENDED! THE O-LINE WAS TERRIFIC!! oSWEILER WAS PHENOMENAL–HIS BEST GAME EVER AS A PRO!–AND OUR DEFENSE MADE BIG PLAYS WHEN THEY ABSOLUTELY HAD TO!! –To say this was an “instant classic” was an understatement! It absolutely belongs in my Top 5 Dolphin games ever played since the Fins left the Orange Bowl.
—————
NOW, THE FEST GAME!!! And I’m warning Lions’ fans, “I’LL BE BA-A-A-CK!!!!”
————–
ONE LAST HIGHLIGHT! My brother-In-Law, Jim, got to this game when a friend got him a free ticket late last night. I promised Jim “Miami will win this game just because you’ll be there! –I KNOW he had the time of his life!!!
————
PHELON, my boy, you STILL have a good chance to win our bet!! GO-O-O Fins!
PS: My wife reminded me that SHE picked the Fins to win this game!!–I deserved that!
😀
I also picked Miami to win by 3, but I never thought we would get 31 points.
stangerx says:
October 14, 2018 at 7:05 pm
steve — how’d you like the game? One of the best ones I have seen in a while.
I didnt watch it, only OT, we’ve been getting screwed on calls every week (didnt watch Cin game, but that’s what I gathered from the comments here), and the first play I saw was a bad block in the back call on Amendola.
stopped ’em on 4th and 3 again.
Or 3rd this time
KC is definitely for REAL this year… no fluke undefeated record.
OH BOY…
*that feeling ya get when ya think ya just jinxed a team*
Their D sucks, it’s either sack or nothing.
No holding there on the TD
OD – Hope Mrs. OD continues to feel better. That 50 bucks you’re going to owe me will buy a couple beers for the mob.
NOT A PROBLEM!! –THAT SAID, I do not expect Osweiler to repeat today’s performance anytime soon. But with Wake coming back, we may not need 31 points to win next week!