The big bad Patriots come into town this week, ranked in the top 5 by many sources, and top 3 by some. The Patriots have improved on defense each week, and at 9-3, they have a comfortable lead in the AFC East. On the other hand, the Dolphins are still alive for a wildcard berth in the playoffs as we are the #7 seed in the AFC at the moment. Time for some payback fellas! The Patriots demolished the Dolphins up in Foxborough, now it’s our turn to take one at home.
We were a different team last time we played the Patriots. We had all of our small, speedy receivers like Albert Wilson, Jakeem Grant and Danny Amendola. This time, Wilson and Grant are both on I/R, and Amendola who was inactive against the Bills is still nursing a knee injury, so the Patriots will be seeing a different Miami offense. It’s time for the young dog (Gase) to teach the old dog (Belichick) a lesson. Belichick easily neutralized or smaller receivers lining up in the nickel and dime formations and not allowing them any space on screens and short passes, and we had no answer. I’d like to see Gase find answers this week. The Patriots had the ball for just over 36 minutes, but managed 449 yards of offense. RB Sony Michel carried 25 times for 112 yards and Brady spread the ball around to numerous receivers.
The Dolphins need to hold on to the ball in this game. TE A.J. Derby was put on I/R (join the club!), but we still have 3 TE’s, and I think it’s time to use them. We haven’t featured many 3 TE sets, and we surely haven’t featured Mike Gesicki. Let’s get O’Leary and Smythe out there as extra blockers and run the ball down their throats. Who knows, if we run the ball well, maybe Gesicki or Smythe or O’Leary sneak out for a big reception. We don’t have to open this way either, just have a few wrinkles the Patriots haven’t seen, in other words, don’t be so conventional. We know the Patriots will likely out execute most teams, but if you give something they don’t expect, maybe you get results.
This past week against the Bills, I saw some things I really liked. First of all, it may have been my favorite game this season because it looked to me like Gase took the training wheels off of QB Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill rewarded his HC with one of his best games and the win. If Amendola can’t go, we’re likely to see Stills, Parker, Butler, Carroo and Isaiah Ford at WR. That’s a lot more size than the last time we faced them. The Patriots do have 2 “big” CB’s in McCourty and Gilmore, both 6 feet. I think this is a game where we need to out-physical the Patriots and and also outsmart them. Not an easy task with the Evil Emperor stalking the Patriots sidelines, a veteran of many intergalactic takeovers. We have 3 running backs, I hope we use them all. Run Gore with 2 or 3 TE’s and impose our will. Tire them out some and put Drake in to break one or beat a LB in coverage. Let Ballage get some carries, and please, please find a way to pick up a 3rd and short. I think the big issue there is we really have no reliable interior OL to get some room, and that definitely is a hindrance. Heck, get Asiata in there for one of those plays, he’ll be fresh and all he has to do is get some push. Put him in as a FB, create a small package of plays for him, make it happen!
The stats don’t give us much of a chance, the Patriots are scoring nearly 28 PPG, allowing only 21.6 PPG. We’re scoring only 20.3 PPG, and allowing 25 PPG. So what, all that goes in the trash when the teams hit the field. O’Leary must be thrilled he got a 1 YR extension, but that kid plays hard, and everyone else on this team needs to do the same. Tannehill played tough last week, he got hit on what seemed like every other throw, and yet he played very well, one of his best. Build on that. Let Tannehill continue to throw the ball downfield, and try and exploit certain matchups. Don’t be complacent, and please don’t go in there and be cautious and revert back to that lame bubble screen offense, I swear I might blow a gasket if we do. The Patriots need to keep pace for home field, they currently trail the Chiefs who are 10-2, and are tied with the Texans at 9-3. They need this game, but I’d like to show them we need it more. Go get ’em Dolphins! Statement game!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Soooo I’m finally signed back in here. It’s so weird, I’ve never had issues like this and now it happens all the time.
I missed all of last week’s game. Does that mean I can’t watch this Sunday? It was my daughter’s bday, I drove 5 hours round trip to take her a birthday cake and her presents. Took her out to lunch visited for a bit and then had to head home. Her first birthday away. 😢
That’s awesome, Herd. It’s life.
So our Phins are 6-6 and the 7th seed playing the Pats at home and 4-1 in our last 5. Win this trend and game, and we are very much in the playoff hunt. Lose and it’s likely a total back in job, or no playoffs.
Would love to see a classic game and we win. The Pats usually blow us out in NE and we win a close game or solidly.
Keys to the game:
Defense – stop the run, rush the passer, force some turnovers.
Offense – establish a decent running game, take deep shots in the passing game off of it.
Special Teams – play even, or make that one big play.
I’m hoping for a win, despite what my brain is telling me.
I always get jazzed up during the kickoff because anything can happen. LOL
If Tannehill is ever going to grow a set of balls he needs to do it Sunday. He HAS to win this game for us. The time is now, he HAS to step up.
… and that’s all I have to say about that.
NE….are they beatable? Absolutely! Will we beat them? Doubtful. Will I watch the game and hope? Of course.
I try to forget the last games and look forward. The only thing I see different is that we’ve scored on the first possession of the game. Then, we do what we always do….not much. I just don’t see the leadership needed at the most important position of the game. 24 and 21 points is just not good enough.
Sent too soon before edits but …. nuff said
Krishna — your opening stanza is exactly how I feel about Sunday. What else we gonna do? And yeah it is gonna take more than low 20s to beat them…… but then points can come in different ways.
Jake Brendel out this week, and Travis Swanson questionable. What if Swanson gets hurt?
Oh yeah, we have Wesley Johnson
Talk about managing your overall football experience. Even if should, am not playing Goff in the Toba league cause my playoff opponent in the other has him going. Leaves me unconflicted to root for a Goff INT.
I’m in an awful dogfight for the last playoff spot in my league. It’s so disappointing. I was never worse than 4th, which was what I was coming into last week, I had been either 1st, 2nd or 3rd all season long. Now after a loss last week, no Kareem Hunt and a small showing from Tyreek Hill and Michael Thomas, I’m in 7th. There’s still a chance, I need to win, my buddy has to win too, but I have t win by more than 35 points more than him, for total points. It’s crazy, and pretty unlikely, but you never know.
BTW – I have those kind of conflicts pretty often, I’m in 3 different leagues. so it’s bound to happen
Sounds like a real close league. But shiot happens in FF. Am going into my playoff match down my top two draft picks (Bell and AJ Green) and just lost J Conner who was real nice replacing Bell. 4 of my 5 WR/RBs are guys I didn’t draft….. who the heck is Jeff Wilson Jr.? 🙂
I know a lot of you are high on him, but not a guy I want after reading this.
“West Virginia quarterback Will Grier will not play in the team’s bowl game, opting instead to focus on NFL draft prep. Grier is the first healthy high-profile quarterback to skip a bowl game to prepare for the NFL.”
It’s all about the money.
How many games has the guy played? It is just one more and he’s leaving his teammates out to dry in the bowl game.
Not saying I agree with his decision.
Anyone here offended by this?
How DARE you!!! 😆
LMAO!!!
LMMFAO!!!
😆
😆
😆
Look at the spit flying out of his mouth at the end!!! This guy is GRAND!!! 😆 I’ve got laughing tears in my eyes!!!!!!!!!! 😆
CB Jalen Davis has been promoted to the 53 man roster.
YAY!!! That’s my dude!!! 😀
More Vic is ticked off. LMAO!!!
LOVE THIS GUY!!!
😆
“Ticked Off Vic” somewhat reminds me of Gilbert Gottfried… only Vic comes totally unhinged! LOL
Here’s something Gottfried did a few months ago, just messing around with the NFL…
LOL
I’m surprised that Army actually threw the ball on their first drive! Great rivalry, great game for our servicemen, and for the pride of our country. Best of luck to both teams.
LMAO @ Vic – I feel like me and him would get along great
On this date 38 years ago. 😦
Lol Vic is awesome and spot on. We live in such a twisted fucked up world lol
^COUNTRY
Wow the Bills released Kelvin Benjamin after he just played us and the Chiefs signed him. Not such a bad thing.
Yeah Mr. Roarke/ Khan was trying to get lucky. But same time…. we have movies where girls get beat up or even killed. No Cosby about this at least.
Yeah this is the only song about trying to get lucky or scoring. Might as well ban most songs then. LOL
^
The one thing that makes us feel better is most people think all of this is ridiculous. We’re letting whiny little voices wind us all up. But what’s great has been the reaction and rebuttal. We all make fun of it and have a great laugh. LOL
Tim,
You state that most people think all of this is ridiculous. Guess what… you’re only counting us who are in an aging demographic (dunno… 40+ years old, or something like that). Sadly, the children are being taught the very things we’re laughing about, here.
I don’t mean to be a downer on our laughter, but it’s really only funny to us older folks who have lived in the real world. Stanger had asked me many years ago why I was so down on Common Core… now y’all should know: the children are being BRAIN-WASHED into the very things we’re laughing about.
THAT’S REAL
That stated, PLEASE keep bringing the humor!!! 😀
Not true. I know many of my family and friends’ kids who have no care about it. It’s silly.
No doubt it’s an attempt to eliminate traditional American values, but it also is not the majority. It’s a faction yelling louder than everyone and we all react. I have not engaged one person in a week during this nonsense that has said I agree.
Bro, you cannot quantify your “Not true” statement by simply mentioning your family and friends’ kids as your resources. I’m talking on a nationwide level, national studies, the fallout of the matter (States vs Common Core… and winning), and the clear results. The youth are truly falling in line with these silly things being taught to them.
Aside from that, I concur with you 100%!!!
First time seeing Vic….that’s hilarious and sadly true.
Vic is a bit much. Did you watch the candy cane rant? Sorta thinking he is a Jets fan.
CLASSIC!!!
M13, across the country via all communications and FB etc. there is no support for the silly nonsense. It’s an extreme element. The same way I don’t personally know a White Supremacist, Neo-Nazi or Skinhead. Everything is a Soap Opera.
Go Phins!!!!
I absolutely disagree with ya that there is no support for the silly nonsense… and I say that to you with much respect, Brother. Much is being invented in order to $ell ‘news’.
I absolutely agree with ya that there should be NO support for the silly nonsense: #FakeNews has existed for a very long time, and we all know it in our heart of hearts. And I don’t even say that as a partisan, rather as a bi-partisan.
Small minority. Trump won the presidency because of that. People are tired of trivial nonsense. I know so many traditional Democrats that can’t deal with it anymore that they’re walking away. Common sense is prevailing. It’s not 100 to nothing, but a majority of people are tired of it. Most of us know who Trump is – a brash, egotistical asshole. But he won for a reason. We’re going to get more of this because of all of it.
IT’S GAME DAY BITCHES!!
GO DOLPHINS!
DESTROY THE PATS
I guess Fitz will be our #1 CB. Will see a bunch of Armstrong and Davis. Hope they step up to the challenge. With that, I don’t see the Pats attacking them the whole game but maybe testing them early. I think they will stay with what works against us and that is going to Gronk and dump offs to RB’s. The key for us this game is we have to have a pass rush. If not, we are toast without “X”.
Whether we’re really in the playoff hunt or not, let’s fuck up the damn Patriots today! I mean put a real hurtin’ on them. That would feel good
George Paton to Miami would mean Ross is ready to blow the WHOLE thing up and not just a part of the team. If he ends up there, as some think he may, it would mean Ross has finally gotten tired of all the losing and the excuses and went out and got himself a guy who can make the decisions this team needs to start winning again.
Seems might mean the end of the Tannenbaum, but why would a new GM mean blow everything up? You watching the game today?
not on in my area
Too bad. Remember when moved into a building that had Direct TV and could get NFL Ticket. Saved me a lot of money in tabs at sports bars. Even if missed meeting the Phins fans who would wonder in….. hard not to end up with them since you’d be at the same TVs. 🙂
because a new GM would only want the job if he’s being given the opportunity to build the team the way he wants to. Paton wouldn’t take the job otherwise. Neither would anyone else. but, he’s ready to leave Minnesota and the team interviewed him last time and the thought is Miami is going to be the place he lands.
It’s okay. Not in the mood to see the slaughter anyway. And I’m not wasting 3 hrs of a Sunday on this team as long as that dipshit is throwing the ball
Difference btwn getting control and deciding to blow it up though. What if he decides “hey this a team can work with some adjustments….including a new QB”?
If Ross would be considering bringing in a new GM, especially someone like Paton, it means he’s giving full control of the team to him. Any person worth it would never agree to come in if they weren’t being given the opportunity to build the team the way they want to because they want to live or die by THEIR decisions; not someone else’s. No GM who is worth anything is going to say “okay, I’ll take the job and leave all the other parts intact”. Not going to happen. If a guy is willing to say that he’s a lame duck.
Far as I know Paton might have been at the last Fest and I didn’t catch….. clearly you know much more about him. Was just thinking he might decide not to go full blow up. I wouldn’t, but then don’t have nearly the football smarts you do.
He was actually with the team with Spielman and followed him to Minnesota. He would be a great addition to the team.
Not gonna be much heat advantage today. Pretty overcast and a bit rainy. And sorta cool — like high 70’s now. Doubt the Pats bench will be baking.
So, what quarter does Belichick get to pull his starters today?
I think it’s gonna be tough today with all the issues along the OL. But, I would like to see some innovation from our OC in how he attacks the Pats. If we just see more of the same crap, I’ll be disappointed. I don’t think we can just line up and beat them toe-to-toe. We will probably need some trickeration. It would be nice to see Gase come up with something.
I expect a pass from Ballage out of the Wildcat. Seems they have been practicing for it little by little all season.
Defensing the wildcat is a known weakness of bellicheat’s.
Might as well go for it Randy. When the dude is 100 pounds heavier than you and built like the Arnold….. might as well go for the groin shot. 🙂
Go Phins!
Game day!
Beat the Pats. I don’t care if we make the playoffs. I just want to beat the Pats
stanger,
I don’t know about the groin shot, but I would like to see a karate chop to the throat.
Chop to the throat is probably a penalty. Blow to the groin probably not
Amendola is playing. And am sure is a game he is real up for.
So I fell short of winning my division in FF. My friend and I played last game of the year for it and he beat me finishing 10-3 and I 9-3-1. The consequences of that is I now play the lowest seed in the playoffs and lowest winning pct. we’ve ever had at .385, and my two defenses Bears and Ravens play the top two offenses in the Rams and Chiefs. I’m going with the Bears but I also have Gurley going against the Bears DEF. Aaron Rodgers and Julio Jones really hurt me last week so I need big games from them. I do not want to lose to the worst seed of all time.
GO PHINS!!!
HELL YEAH!!!
No Xman today. Bummer
It’s that time again. Go Phins!!!
Not a good start for the defense.
Typical Pats — we got this under control. Wish could say did not respect that.
Man, we have really gotten some breaks on kicks this season
Held them to 6! Lol
I hope McMillen can really improve going into next year. If he hit the gap right on that 3rd and goal he gets the stop but he whiffed to the left and ended up watching the FB lunge just over the goal line.
Nice run by Gore!
And just like that.
WHO IS THIS DOLPHINS OFFENSE?
Wow who is that offense. Best drive of the year. Impressive.
Nice drive
Nice blocks by James and O’Leary
What is wrong with our Offense today?!! They aren’t playing dead!!
Stills didn’t have to pass that one to himself.
Man, I will take Bob Greise stats from Tannyhill if we keep scoring.
Now a little defense
Baker
Nice stop
Go Kiko!
Kiko baby!
Keep it going now offense. No let up.
Now, if we were for real we would drive down the field and score again…..
Is O Rob calling plays today ??
Been a lot of Gore and not on the board….. could be. 🙂
Faack
Nice hold on the NE DT
I saw that. They always develop new ways to cheat.
Well that turned to shit fast
JOHN DENNEY MUST GO
😉
Well that was a buzz kill.
see …
bellicheat figures nothing to lose as it’s a punt with more than five yards to go so may as well cheat and if you get a flag no biggie, and if you get a blocked punt, it could win the game.
That’s why i can never support bellicheat for a great coach unless you count winning at all costs including cheating nonstop.
BOOM 💥
Nice run woooooo
So sweet for us and him
Drake 2.0
Ha
Wow
Camera man took himself out
Well Now!
take that cheaters
Wow!!!!
what a wussy little call against branch
MR.15 yards?
Still no pass rush
McTyer burned again
Aikens is just not a first string DB.
They are holding Wake every play.
Oh wait.
They have been traditionally allowed to do that.
so
n/m
Dilly dilly
Chuck it down the field woohoo
So far this is a really fun game if you like offense
The offense is emBoldened today
I see what ya did there
huh,
huh,
who is this Gase guy? anyone know?
Tannehill is out of his mind today too
Who are you ??
SHHHHHHHHH
SHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
DAMN IT!
SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! f OMG OMG OMG
helluva throw by Tannehill.
Bolden just screwed up. If he ever runs the Wildcat on tape that he is a lefty.
Who said we don’t use a FB!!!!!!!
Yeah baby!!! Bolden is balling!!! Nice to see us having a former Pat giving them the business. LOL
For a change!
Now can we play some defense?
Apparently not 🙁
We’re a very different offense when we block well.
Sanders has been killing it on the Kick offs
We suck pn 3rd down defense
Fuck
Too Easy!
It’s a fun scoring game but can we play some defense?
Keep matching them, all we can do
Does this new guy, what’s his name? Gase? Does he know how to call a four minute drill?
Wish Howard was out there.