With all the flux in the lineup on the offensive side of the ball necessitated by injuries, COVID-19 etc, the one stalwart, reliable guy all season long has been #11, DeVante Parker. A look at Parker’s catch percentage of 65.8% might not be that impressive unless you watch the games. If you’ve been watching, Parker isn’t getting those easy throws, in fact it seems as if nearly every throw his way is a contested catch. I listen to WQAM as much as I can and NFL radio as well, and of course try to read everything Dolphins that I can. There’s a lot of talk about Tua Tagovailoa needing to learn how to throw to targets that aren’t wide open, as they usually were at Alabama. I believe it, because in some ways it’s counterintuitive. I think there’s a level of trust that a QB has to have in order to make those kind of throws and I believe that’s something that Tua will learn, and one that I also believe may take some time to develop. It’s a skill he hasn’t honed yet, so be patient, but it sure is nice to have to DeVante Parker here as a Miami Dolphin, because he makes those plays seem routine.
This week, the Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals come to town, in tow with a couple of former Miami Dolphins assistant coaches. Zac Taylor is the Head Coach, along with DC Lou Anarumo. As you know, the Bengals lost their promising rookie starting QB Joe Burrow to a knee injury and now have either last week’s starter Brandon Allen or Ryan Finley to choose from. Allen had an uneven start and apparently was lucky to escape with only one INT as he was consistently throwing into crowds. Either way, whomever starts at QB for Cincy has a tough task against our Miami Dolphins defense. Man, it just feels great to be able to say that and mean it!
As far as our Miami Dolphins offense, it’s still unclear as to who will be in the backfield. Myles Gaskin is designated to return from IR but it’s not a guarantee that he’s able to go Sunday. His former Huskie teammate Salvon Ahmed is also not a lock to play with a sore shoulder and last week’s primary ballcarrier DeAndre Washington has a sore hamstring. This could potentially lead to a Matt Breida and Patrick Laird backfield, but I have a feeling Gaskin or Ahmed will be playing and likely getting most of the action, it depends on how each one of them responds during practice, and maybe we even see both. The other big question looming is whether Tua Tagovailoa’s thumb injury is significant enough to keep him out another game which would have our wily veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick getting another cherished start. Fitz may really like Tua but don’t think for a second that he’s not relishing every opportunity he gets to start.
Depending on who starts for the Bengals, either Allen or Finley, they will likely have Giovanni Bernard as their starting RB along with a nice trio of WR’s including former pro bowler A.J. Green, very impressive rookie Tee Higgins and team leading WR Tyler Boyd, with 72 receptions and 723 yards. Higgins is the TD leader with 5 TD receptions. This is a different offense without QB Joe Burrows and RB Joe Mixon. Bernard will share carries with former Dolphins RB Samaje Perine. On defense, Jesse Bates III is having a nice season at safety with 3 INT’s and 13 passes defensed. Pretty impressive, as he also is 2nd on the team in tackles with 75. SS Vonn Bell leads the team with 85 tackles and if we know one thing, it’s never a good sign when your safeties lead the team in tackles. DE Carlos Dunlap was traded to the Seahawks at the trade deadline and basically leaves a toothless defense behind in Cincy. DE Carl Lawson (not to be confused with M’s fave Manny Lawson) leads the Bengals with 4.5 sacks.
Well, this is the easiest game on our schedule for the rest of the season with the Chiefs, Patriots, Raiders and Bills remaining after this week. That doesn’t mean we look past our opponent this week, I know Brian Flores won’t be doing that. This is a must win for us to stay competitive for both the division crown and/or the Wild Card. Neither avenue will be easy but wins mean everything and we better get one this week. At the moment, Cleveland is the top WC team at 8-3, followed by us and Indy but the Ravens lurk just one game behind us at 6-5 along with the LV Raiders and the South division may change hands so both Indy and Tennessee are in competition for a WC spot. Right now we stand as the 6 seed above Indy but this is very fluid and can change weekly. I say we take care of our own business and win at least 10 games and we should be in the playoffs.
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Nothing to overturn on
STEJ TD 24-18 pending pat
24-19 pending
2 Pt no good
Pass interference called retry
QB sneak time.
Yeah I dunno
Bowden has such great balance. Gotta wrap him up if you want to take him down.
I am loving the use of Bowden and Gisecki today
24-21 raiders
Imagine what this O could do with a good running game .
Right on Cue
I have a feeling we aren’t done drafting OL with high picks as well (1st and 2nd rd)
Tua handed the ball poorly to Gaskin. Oh my.
Cost us a TD lol
Yep.
Gaskin!
Tua Blowavaloa
0-7 on 3rd down!
19-7 Miami
like count’n pennys
Funny thing is they add up just the same.
What will we do when we are in a shootout next week?
ALL RIGHT MIAMI! FG!!!
we’re sure kick’n the shit out of this 2 win team!
literally
STEJ TD they lead 27-24 pending pat
JETS TAKE THE LEAD!!!
Dl looking pissed this half
D is starting to feast
That was not nice
Deja vu on the punt to Grant, hit by Thomas, fumble picked up by Iggy.
Iggy is a PR by default this half
Now that’s a TEam
Parker threw three punches
honestly, though… why isn’t Grant calling fair catch when there is coverage right on top of him.
Maybe a penalty by coming on the field but I like it
that was my first instinctual thought too.
Flores all the way across the field. !! 👍👍👍
80 should be ejected. Flores is the man. Fuck that!
Flores lead them
But Grant should be fair catching
He’s getting 15 yds on both returns 😊
I would be pretty upset if Thomas isn’t penalized in this or ejected
at least Tua has some nice stats this week
25/37 278 yrds 1td
Parker and Hollins ejected
TEs the rest of the way…
Parker and Hollins protecting their friend in the WR room.
Parker got a coach lol
They teach not to hit a returner early in pee wee. Thomas should have been tossed the first time if Howard was tossed earlier.
We need to find a way to go down the field for a TD then let the Defense knock the snot out the Cincy offense.
Wow replay the down !!!!
Asking for teouble
I want Grant to break this
Will Grant be out there for the kick?? lol
yup
A fair catch lol
And Thomas is still in game ?🤔
Unbelievable that Thomas was allowed back out there.
Incredible
Grant has shown today that pound for pound, inch for inch, he’s a pretty tough dude.
4-3 , 1:49 left Jets 28-14 raiders at 9
Incomplete raiders have 2 to left
Jets may have won!
Fucking BOOM
snot knocked out … 😎
D is huge TD Phins
0-8 on 3rd down
-10 yds Cincy Offence in 2nd half
Yes MINUS 10 yds
Ogbah with the strip sack
Did I hear that right
Negative yards in the half?
Jets punted. 35 secs left
that could get called back
Under review
Boo no TD
Okay so only -5 yards
THaTS bullshit
houston loses
-8 yds
More negativity now
Seiler
LOL Jets find a way to lose
Jets so bad
A Raiders loss would really have given us some playoff cushion.
Deshaun Watson fumble on the 2 yd line. wow.
Ruggs TD
Test
Phone would not let me post raiders Td.
Denial I guess
Jets lose
I think Lawson swallowed Allen
Absolutely no doubt Cincy takes Penei Sewell in the draft. geez.
Our scoring D may be #1 after this week
Some one tell James Lofton that it’s not 2013 and AJ Green doesn’t have a catch
Lions over Bears helps our pick from Houston.
Denver loses QBs to Covid
Cincy loses QBs to their own OL
D line smells blood
Damn
We need a RB
etienne
NeedHAM seals it
we needham
That was a really strange game.
8-4 can we get to 10 wins?
Hells yeah
KC, NE, @LV,@Buff
tough road to hoe!
Td pats
That was a crazy game! I haven’t seen a kick returner get blown up twice in the same game, in fact I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen a returner hit like that period. I’ve seen when your own teammate gets shoved into the returner but you never see just wide open shots like Grant took. I could see why the Dolphins were all fired up!
KC next week, I can’t help but think Fitz gives us the best chance to win
Oh shush!!! lol
I think I lost IQ points reading this place during the game!
Lol
We are here to serve
we’re still #2 in scoring D 24 points behind the stealers
Our defense, at full strength, I feel good about against Pats, LV, and Bills … so the question is whether our offense will be good enough against those same 3 teams.
As far as Chiefs, it’s a “nothing to lose, everything to gain” game.
well, the second half was way better than the first half. Thank God I started laundry and drinking.
Homeraide?
Yes well done Rock
I think my fantasy scored all its points last week
Van Noy looks well mended: 8 solo tackles, 3 sacks (5 TFL)
He just needed an internal massage
Otherwise known as the ‘The Thumbs Up”
I dont want anyone to think im negative but we may be without Parker & Hollins next week. I feel a suspension coming on
Who would think you are negative? 😆
Pats PR TD
Fuck Pets up 14-0
With a possibility of Parker and Hollins getting suspended next week, wouldn’t be surprised to see Ford resigned.
Gotta go through COVID protocol.
Woof, how goes it sir ?
I think flores actions on the illegal hit was not smart. It caused other players who are vital respond. I think its easy to say they wont be playing next week
I don’t think any suspensions are warranted unless they were not on the field for the play …if they came off our bench to Cincy side and then threw punches maybe
I think fines but not suspensions. Woof 🐕🥃🥃
Parker was punching a player off their bench
No one is getting suspended. When was the last time a player who was ejected then suspended? They may get fines but that’s it.
I like the fact that the defense started the bench clearing to defend Grant. Miami is a team.
I was happy to see it too actually
Ken – I’m okay with you having scored all your points last week.
I missed it but am assuming NE cut Ford ?
Yes
No reason not to resign him unless he holds it against us
I see NE and LV as should win games.
Announcers weren’t as they made it seem like we were playing all teams with better records than us.
With a losing record right now the Oats are considered more likely to make the playoffs. I mean WTFF.
This game was so bat shit crazy in so many ways I don’t even want to critique it. We got the W to get to 8-4 before we have to play the best team. Clean it up guys and go play your “A” game next week.
8-4 for the first time since 2002. 🙂