This is what the season has come down to, Week 15, Brian Flores’s Dolphins at 8-5 fighting for a playoff spot against Bill Belichick’s Patriots. Earlier this year, the Patriots embarrassed the Dolphins 21-11 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Cam Newton and the RPO time and time again fooled the Dolphins defenders to the tune of 15 carries for 75 yards and 2 TD’s by the NE QB. Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was abysmal that day completing 23 passes of 30 attempts, except 3 of those completions were to NE defenders. We just looked unprepared and overmatched by Bill Belichick’s gameplan and Cam Newton’s execution of it. We guessed wrong so many times on that RPO and it was one of the more frustrating things to watch. Brian Flores will have to design a better gameplan this time.
So many things have changed since then. Ryan Fitzpatrick is no longer our starting QB, it’s now rookie Tua Tagovailoa. Neither Jordan Howard (Released) or Myles Gaskin (COVID-19 list) are playing this Sunday. RB DeAndre Washington will get the start and returning to the backfield is Matt Breida. Salvon Ahmed is a longshot to play as well. WR DeVante Parker is limited with a hamstring injury but will likely play, but Preston Williams who played Week 1 is still out. TE Mike Gesicki is also likely out with a dislocated shoulder. Patriots WR Julian Edelman is on IR/R which means he’s eligible to play should the Patriots decide to activate him but this is his first week of practice and he’s been out since October 31st when he elected to have surgery on his knee. He is unlikely to play.
Cam Newton is tenuously holding on to the starting job in NE as he has struggled in his last 3 games throwing for only 272 yards with 1 TD against 3 INT’s and that includes the 45-0 walloping of the LA Chargers. He did rush for 2 TD’s against the woeful Chargers. If I know Brian Flores, Cam Newton won’t be running all over us Sunday. We’ll be on him like white on rice. The Patriots are on the outside looking in as far as the playoffs concerned, even if they win out 9-7 is not going to be good enough to get in in the fiercely competitive AFC. There are 4 division winners and 3 wild card berths. The Chiefs are the AFC West Champs at 12-1. The Colts and Titans are tied at 9-4 in the AFC South and the Steelers (11-2) are holding a 2 game edge on the Browns (9-4) who are now surging and looking to grab the AFC North division crown. Our Dolphins currently have the #7 seed at 8-5. 10 wins is the only chance the Dolphins will be in the playoffs, so in essence, our last 3 games are essentially playoff games. First one is at home against a very familiar opponent.
There are always ebbs and flows in the long 16 game season, and despite the loss last week, I think our team is performing very well. The injuries are adding up, and I’d really love to have Kyle Van Noy back this week along with good Ole Bobby McCain. I’d love to have thumper Elandon Roberts back at LB too, he was missed last week. I wouldn’t mind having Ereck Flowers back either but only if he’s ready, I think Mt. Kindley has done well in his stead. It’s possible that Isaiah Ford could suit up for us this week, depending on how Jakeem Grant is doing with his hamstring injury. Lynn Bowden kind of exploded last week getting lots of action. Bowden was targeted 9 times and caught 7 passes for 82 yards. He also rushed once and the previous week against Cincy, Bowden caught 4 for 41 yards. Safe to say he’s part of the offense now.
As the pictures above portray, this game is the Mentor against his former Student. I don’t have to explain to all of you that Bill Belichick has always been a great coach and a master of making adjustments before the game, during the game and after the game. People will say look at him w/o Brady but Belichick created Brady. He tailored the offense to work with Tom Brady’s strengths and mask his weaknesses. In my opinion, only people who don’t really understand the game look at Tom Brady with his 30 TD’s and 11 INT’s and think that Brady was the reason for the Patriots success. The Buccaneers are just loaded with talent, there is no comparing the Bucs roster with the Patriots roster. RB Ronald Jones has come of age having his best season. WR’s Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown along with TE’s Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate. The Patriots, besides having an inept passer at QB (Newton), the Patriots WR’s are Jakobi Myers, N’Keal Harry, Damiere Byrd along with RB’s Damien Harris and James White. The Bucs also have loads more talent on defense with LB’s Lavonte David and Devin White, DE’s Shaq Barrett and JPP and DT Ndamukong Suh. Folks, it’s not even close. I’m loathe to agree with Belichick himself when he said they sold out to win previous years and have left the cupboard somewhat bare this season. I’d say he speaks true.
My point in the last paragraph is we are basically trying to knock off Bill Belichick’s team, and although they might be outmanned, they have the football mind to keep them in this one. We have a disciple of that football mind, and if there was ever a time for the student to teach the teacher something, this is it. We need a strong gameplan from Brian Flores. We can’t allow Cam Newton and the RPO or whatever they employ to beat us. We have to be the better team Sunday. The NFL season is a game of attrition, no one knows who will be available at the end of the season and if we make it far enough that we’re in the playoffs, maybe we get Preston Williams back, Gaskin with fresh legs, maybe we get TE Mike Gesicki back as well. We MUST win this game, and then we move on to the next playoff game against the Las Vegas Raiders in their new house. Win this one, I like our chances against Da Raiders.
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
drives like that for 9 mins will show value in 4th qtr in a fatigued NE defense.
Loved that and agree.
I hate their offense
Van noy oy
D is getting. Lose to a big play
If he would have left it X had it
Ravens TD
They call the hold on our DB but not the blatant one on OG ah that prevented the sack
That time doesn’t even count for one of my predicted going for it. He will actually go for it twice more this game. Dick
Tua is 7 of 8…….
His 8 was also complete
???
Newton trimming is nails?
Holy melt-down Miami!
Need a turnover in the worst way
1st down sacks are the worst
Ahmed did a shit job on pass pro
Yes , yes he was bad
Ravens 19-0
Harry looked HUGE. Impaired to NeedHAM lol
Or compared
This is a very frustrating game to watch
Cam is so bad and we manage to make him look better
X with a fumble recovery Td lol
Correction, he still looks bad. LMAO!
X gonna take it from ya
Our Defense always says Naaahhhhhh we wanna score too!
This is not gonna be a Td .. ofbah leg touches ball as he stepped out before X controlled it
I want to on side kick it here. LOL
X = DOPY
Fuck, that really sucked
Oh well
Ok, let see a four minute offense that ends in a TD before the half and then us getting the ball first in the 3rd and never look back.
I cried a little
of course it goes forward in the same direction as the ball carrier…. its call physics. That ‘fumble forward’ rule has been abused so much.
This announcer must have jerky for knees
Bess !!
Tanny sacked for safety.. 21-9 titans
Let’s go Offense
Nicely done
Fuck
Perfect by Laird (and Tua)
We’d a reboot on offence , and focus on D
But it doesn’t matter
🙁
Texans within 4 14-10 at half
Shitty half of football all around. We need to be better! Too reminiscent of same old Dolphins at crunch time. Ugh!!!
Can’t complain about the D.
What a shitty half. Hopefully can only go up from here.
Least can’t score less points.
Funny how NFL rules work. Forward fumble rule was brought in cause guys would bat the ball forward out of bounds. We got the flip side of that.
I think we can win it
Just need to finish drives
But I expected low scoring
We can hold this team out of the end zone
And we can score a couple of TDs in the 2nd half
Let’s go Dolphins
I hate to say “i told you so”
But i will
Tua sucks
No, Rob, your opinion sucks!!
OK. DEEP BREATHS EVERYONE.
Pats are minus one of their top defensive backs. And our running game has NOT sucked.
IF we score on the opening drive of the 3rd quarter the entire complexion of the game will change.
ONE THING we’ve GOT to do a better job of is PASS BLOCKING.
AND when Tua makes a good throw we’ve GOT TO CATCH IT!!
PS: I JUST LOVED Perry moving over center and converting the short yardage play just before halftime. I’ve NEVER seen that exact play executed before!!!
GOOOO FINS!!
Just keep running
Tua would be great if we could handcuff him so he could only hand the ball off
Are you rooting for him to play well today?
Always if hes in aqua & orange
Glad to hear it. Still talking playoffs after all.
Woot woot!
Wilkins is our pro bowl FB
X forces the fumble
SOMEBODY STOP ME!!
I am gonna buy a Dolphins D Jersey.
Unless he gives up 6 td to Stefon Diggs, that’s the DPOY!!!!!
I am proud of the way our guys have held together and not unraveled when they were geeking earlier
Holy Shit I’ve not seen a kicker throw a ball that far.
Feilds had a cannon.
NICE
I AM GETTING A #2
for both plays
Wow
I did t like that call but who am I to oink that
Im having a #2
WTF you would think they have learned to report already
I didn’t know you had to report on a fake punt
Seems odd
Damn coaches should drill EVERYONE to report as a eligible receiver EVERYONE LOL
Matt haack for qb
Seems we need a special teams zoom conference on when to report on gadget plays.
That’s 2 successful 4th d conversions negated by same penalty….wtf.
Where was the grounding call on first down
Have we missed 2 fgs? One 52 and a second?
Geez, loueez.
Deiter is a 2019 3rd round pick. Seems about time he plays.
Meant that for below.
Lions keeping it close 24-18 titans
I’ve been busy today. Just now turning game on. Starting laundry! 🤣
Arghhhhhhh
No more injuries
Falcons and Cowboys both trying to help us move up to #5 in draft lol
👍👍
Houston not rolling over
division games are a bitch.
man oh man. Oline injuries accumulating. Hope Kindley is ok. His poor legs already tired carrying all that weight.
When I heard the name Deiter I felt better
Let’s see how he does
Waiting for dryer to finish up. This is strategic laundering.
We are a very strange eclectic bunch
Lol…at least we have one thing in common.
wow. 3rd and 8 first down RUNNING
The handcuff theory is working
We have 181 yards in the ground today
We have 181 yards rushing in 3 quarters. That’s impressive.
6 ypc avg.!!
🍻
Deiter is a 2019 3rd round pick. Seems about time he plays.
Texans tie it uo
That was dangerous
TUA TD
thank God! the way the ball was being carried terrified me.
OK there is Tua’s rushing TD
He does need to put that load o bread away
Hook and lateral for Tua points
NICE
glad we didn’t get called on the hold by Hollins
great minds, and all that. Same with Piggy up thread
Hollins getting some technique allowance on the edge block there. lol Could have been a hold if NE had a chance to make the playoffs. 🙂
The Tua point conversion
LOL
Almost like Flores is doing trick plays to show his old boss what he can do.
gladly buy you one next time we see each other. Projecting the love at ya!
Flo is pulling some shit out against the evil Emperor
Time for a Dolphins TD! Let’s go Tua
Patriots defense must be tired
RUN ON THEM!!
Love this smash em in the mouth run it down their throats game plan
I guess we are smashmouth now
239 yds RUSHING