Week 16 of the 2020 NFL Season. 2020 has been a really trying year for all of us, some more than others of course. Some have lost friends or relatives to COVID-19, others struggle to keep their businesses and/or households intact due to COVID-19 restrictions. I feel for all of you. One thing we can all say has been a blessing is the rise of our favorite football team, the Miami Dolphins. We won’t win the division this year, the Buffalo Bills have already clinched that. At 9-5, we are right in the thick of it though and currently hold the #7 seed in the AFC. Our team’s development has been a shining light, and that light still burns bright as we head to Sin City, Las Vegas Nevada to play the 7-7 Raiders. The Raiders have built a beautiful new stadium there and nothing would be better for us to take one more big step towards our first playoff berth since 2016, when Ryan Tannehill was our QB and then tore up his knee in Game 13, and Matt Moore faced the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs and ended our season on a sour note. Not coincidentally, that was the last year the Miami Dolphins had a 1,000 yard rusher, Jay Ajayi.
This is an exciting time for our fanbase our franchise. It’s so different than 2016. In 2016 I never felt like we really belonged with the other playoff teams, and no offense to Ryan Tannehill, but even if we had his services against the Steelers, I’m not sure we would have fared much better. We weren’t nearly as well rounded as we are now. It’s amazing the transformation we’ve gone through in such a short time. I truly feel like no team wants to face the 2020 Miami Dolphins while I think in 2016, they were licking their lips to face us in the playoffs. We have made major strides on the defensive side and now are the #1 defense in points allowed at 254 which is a stingy 18.4 PPG. In 2020 in the NFL, that’s really saying something. I was listening to WQAM and I wish I could find the record to confirm what I think I heard yesterday. I believe they said since Brian Flores took over as Head Coach, the Miami Dolphins are 20-6 against the spread. That’s unbelievable.
So here we sit at 9-5, heading to Las Vegas to play the Raiders in their beautiful new home. It’s looking very much like Derek Carr will be starting, but with our defense, I’m sure there must be a side bet as to whether he finishes. Carr has been practicing and is on track to play, but Marcus Mariota will no doubt be ready to play. A QB with an injured groin for the Dolphins defense is like throwing chum in the water to a sea of sharks. The Dolphins have so many players questionable for this game it’s absurd, but the big ones to me are the availability of DeVante Parker, Mike Gesicki. We already know that Myles Gaskin will likely settle in as the lead RB, but will probably share the workload at least this week, more evenly with Salvon Ahmed who eclipsed 1oo yards last week against the Patriots, and to a lesser extent Matt Breida who is now healthy as well. I won’t be surprised if we have a running game against the Raiders but it will depend on how their defense fares. We might need more Tua than I expect. The other players I’ll be watching for is whether LG Ereck Flowers is able to suit up, right now it looks like rookie Solomon Kindley will miss this one. If Flowers can’t go, this will once again thrust Michael Deiter to start at LG with veteran Jesse Davis filling in at RG. Both players played well last week against the Patriots. Also, it’s unclear as to whether WR/PR/KR Jakeem Grant will be able to play. While he’s been uneven as a receiver, he’s provided plenty of pop in the return game. Out of the 12 players the Dolphins have listed on the injury report, only 2 had full participation, CB Xavien Howard and S Kavon Frazier. G Solomon Kindley and S Clayton Fejedelem both did not participate.
While the Raiders at 7-7 have a very uncertain path to playoffs, unlikely even, the Dolphins with wins on Saturday against the Raiders and then against Buffalo will guarantee them a spot in the playoffs. If that were to occur, it’s likely the Dolphins would have to play the AFC East champion Bills back to back weeks. Let’s take this one week at a time though, shall we? Let’s take care of business this week first and then we can thirst for a chance to make the playoffs a real possibility. I hope all of you here at FMU have a wonderful holiday season and a very Merry Christmas to all of you and our readers who don’t post here (If there are any)
GO DOLPHINS!!!!
Merry Christmas!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
https://link-to.app/MIlnuzYK
Sorry don’t click on this.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/dolphinswire.usatoday.com/2020/12/25/five-bold-predictions-for-the-miami-dolphins-in-week-16/amp/
Thought this interesting.
From below the link you posted : Dolphins playoff rooting guide for Week 16
By Kyle Crabbs | 9:10 am
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The Miami Dolphins cannot clinch a berth in the AFC playoffs this weekend, but Miami certainly can see their playoff positioning improved with outcomes across the league. It starts, first and foremost, with a win tonight against the Las Vegas Raiders. But there’s a lot more at stake — and here’s everything you need to know about Week 16 and the impacts on the Dolphins’ playoff chances for the end of the season.
Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders
As previously mentioned, a lot of Miami’s playoff hopes ride on finding a win tonight versus the Raiders. With a win, Miami’s playoff odds (according to FiveThirtyEight) jump from the 28% they’re currently given to 46% before factoring in any other outcomes this weekend or next weekend — which would be a “win and in” scenario for the Dolphins when they visit the 2020 AFC East division champion Buffalo Bills.
With a loss to the Raiders, Miami’s playoff odds dip to just 7%.
New York Giants at Baltimore Ravens
The impact on the Dolphins is negligible, because Miami already has the leverage on Baltimore based on current records in the AFC. With Baltimore playing an NFC opponent this weekend, only a small number of percentage points ride on this contest. If the Dolphins win and the Ravens lose, their playoff odds are boosted from 46% to 48%. A Ravens win with a Dolphins win has no impact on Miami’s postseason chances.
Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers
This contest is another “low leverage” game for the Dolphins. Both teams currently sit in front of the Dolphins in the playoff order — and a Colts win only drops the Dolphins’ playoff odds to 42% under the circumstances that we see a Miami win tonight against the Raiders. A Steelers win does next to nothing for Miami as well — only extending Miami’s playoff odds from 46% with a win to 50%.
Cleveland Browns at New York Jets
Here is your “high leverage” game for the Dolphins this weekend, Dolphins fans. And before there’s too much gloom and doom regarding Miami needing a Jets upset to help secure a playoff berth, remember that the Jets just upset the Rams this past weekend for their first win. Add in the Jets narrowly losing to the Patriots and Raiders over the past month and New York has at the very least been competitive more often than not.
If the Jets score an upset and it is paired with a Dolphins win, Miami’s playoff odds shoot to 68% — thanks to the Browns having a date with Pittsburgh in Week 17 that gives Miami hope of a playoff berth even if they finish tied at 10-6 with Cleveland at the end of the line.
Week 17 implications
The Dolphins’ best chances for a win in Week 17 come, of course, with the Buffalo Bills sitting their starters to rest for the postseason. In order for that to happen, we’ll likely need to see the Bills clinch the No. 2 seed in the AFC ahead of their contest with Miami. That scenario plays out with several Week 16 outcomes — but thankfully for Miami they’re all fairly straight forward.
Bills defeat Patriots
Colts defeat Steelers
Packers defeat Titans
Chiefs defeat Falcons
This group of four outcomes paired with a Miami win technically drops Miami’s playoff odds — but that doesn’t account for Buffalo having no upward or downward mobility in the conference standings and almost assuredly sitting key starters against the Dolphins next week. This outcome plus a Browns upset would leave Miami at 64% playoff odds before accounting for Buffalo’s personnel decisions.
Should have broke it up to make more readable, sorry
It was lot to digest…lol.
Win out and Dolphins are in. KISS.
Thank you to whoever edited 👍😊
I think Toba broke the blog
Common occurrence… I post , blog goes silent …😊. Merry XMas Ken
Merry Christmas up in the great white north
This streaming of the Cardinals game on Amazon blows. The video quality sucks
Mine is fine actually… lofton and his partner are poor quality though ..
Run the ball today and set up down field throws with play action
Oh, so RPO !!!!
LOL
Lmao…
We appear to have our Full compliment of RB’s today , so I would GUESS we would lean on the run game.. so coach Flo will likely go 3 wide, and 2 TE , empty backfield 🤷🏻
As long as we win
👍👍
🍻
I do like beer!
Gisecki ruled healthy to play
Cards choking
Parker inactive
Like last week.
We have TEs this week but no WRs again
About to make my first margarita
Hopefully you’ll be drinking to celebrate and not to forget why you watched this game
Hoping the extra week for Gesicki to heal will pay off.
Me too. I think we’re gonna need him
Okay getting close to game time. Go Phins!!!!
Already had the first Captain and Diet Dew. Drinking from a new Dolphins glass.
Glass?
Yeah, sorry, not the mug, but truth be told I haven’t used the mug for a game this year
As long as you bring it to the next fest
That is assured
You guys are so far behind. Lmao.
So if Jakeem Grant is indeed playing tonight Tua really has to avoid those sucky throws to him that always hit him in the hands.
Towns WR room has COVID implications , Landry is out , so far all I’ve seen.. Go Jets 🤮
Browns
In addition to Landry, fellow wide receivers Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and KhaDarel Hodge were deemed high-risk close contacts and are unable to play Week 16. With just one WR (Marvin Hall) remaining on the active roster, Cleveland elevated Ja’Marcus Bradley and Derrick Willies from the practice squad.
I think I saw somewhere that both starting OT’s for Indy are out this weekend vs Steelers.
Things are lookin up for us 🤷♂️
I saw that also
pheloniusphish says:
December 26, 2020 at 10:13 am
ORob, there’s no discussing/debating with you. Others have tried. You take a contrarian position just to take it…
—————
Seriously, Phelon? YOU — of all people — talking about taking contrarian positions? LMAO! Only when it fits YOUR agenda, bro.
Though I disagree with ORob on Tua, he has been 100% correct in the past regarding our QBs since 2007.
I wouldn’t be so quick to cancel ORob.
Lol….
GO PHINS!!!
HELL YEAH!!!
Merry XMas MF
Merry Christmas to you too, my guy Manitoba! Hope everything has been well with you and your family, sir!
No complaints, just hoping to travel in 2021
Oh, I hope so too. I’m not going to comment on COVID-19 in a personal opinion, I just hope everything returns to normalcy very, very soon.
Derek Carr has an active groin tonight. I expect in depth info but that’s exceeding expectations
I’m sure Mrs Carr is excited
LOL
LOL
let’s go miami!
HELL YEAH!!!
What a LOOOONG day waiting for this game to start. lol
Mike, the announcer said it was our second year of a rebuild. Lol
Shit disturber😊
Ice start 👍👍
Nice
Lets go Tua!
atta boy 👍
nice 3 and out to start this game off!
Not so nice by Grant .. hope that’s his only oops today
He had a year to throw on that first pass attempt
Only Grant was open lol
Dont get me wrong , I DO like Grant .. but he has moved in The Show Me State last few weeks
He’s got some issues that shake my confidence in him
But he’s always on the verge of breaking one too
he had bowden open
I can’t get Bess out of mind whenever Bowden on field.
i cant get tannehill out of my mind when you know whos on the field!
Raiders look like they have come to play. Their offense looks really good
offense, what a concept!
Womp Womp
Tua should have made that stop.
he’s got enough on his plate, 145 yards
I thought we lost twice on ST’s so far. Not sure why Grant wasn’t able to field that punt and then the missed tackles on the Renfro return
it would appear if we beat the raiders tonight Tua will have to do it, seems the raiders feel that way as well
That poorly executed screen makes me sad bc it was the perfect call
gaskin!
Grant sucks ass
poorly thrown ball
Not even remotely close to a bad throw … A for effort though
Give me a break
jbb
Easy first down for grant with a clean catch
1st dn
Grant is just a terrible WR
Bess !!
Hit grant in the hands again! Will he never learn?
Tua has to stop making things tough for Grant by hitting him right in the hands
Right?
Hate that play call
hockmed is struggling
RPO
You are learning
Have a feeling this is going to be a track meet type game. FGs suck
That FG was so uneventful I was still waiting for it
Seriously, at the commercial break I was thinking “I hope we make the FG”
Same! lol
I really hope we get Harris this next draft. We really need an elite RB prospect. Two years of average OL and poor RB skills. Time to upgrade.
Waller is unreal. I thought Rowe was gonna get the pick
How do you stop that play if they execute it like that?
Van Ginkle cradles Carr to sleep 💤
Need to either score. TD or flip the field here
i would settle for a completion
Van Ginkel made it look like that tackle was on skates
I never understand holding on short range punts. How often has anyone not called fair catch?
They keep getting good pressure on 3rd down and it’s driving me crazy
scary!
where’s fitzpatrick!
He’s on the bench talking in Tuas ear whenever he comes off he s fine
wow 36 yards! he’s lighting it up, on pace for 80 yards!
Rip is killing it
👍👍
Our DL looks like shit tonight.
I feel like there is a bunch of change of direction stuff up front and it’s hurting us
Stuff this!
Like a pork sausage!!
Really!?!?!
It’s the holidays
You can’t even say “like a turkey”?!?
Don’t like turkey sausage.. and TFR I said nothing about eating the Links
That wasn’t just a hold on that run, it was a tackle!!!
Is Van Noy playing? (Sarcasm)
Pocket pool
I don’t noytice him
big play for early in the game coming up here
I wish they would call grounding on Throw aways like that
Time for along TD drive, take momentum back
A looooooong
i wish they would put fitzpatrick in.
Can he play WR ??
On the replay, it was much closer to being a catch than I thought
i know that defender almost caught it
Got through DB , hit Gisieki’s hands. Tough catch though
Very hard catch
But it was close
damn grant!
Wooohoooo!!!!
Nice !!
Nobody lined up wrong????
Lol
Run play , no one needed to report LOL. Even coach learns on the fly
Alright guy who’s name I can’t spell! Nice play
They call him FUDGE
Or did you mean Jones 😊
Fejedelum Off Raiders!
Lol, Fejedelum you, Gruden!!
I really don’t care for Chan Gailey
WTF with the play call
It was horrible. 1 Wr and I think it was Ford?
It’s “What the Fejedelum?”
Ahmed just ran smack into our pulling guard
The worst indictment of our defense is how good it’s made the Raiders D look.
offense
Our ST guy should be the OC, he seems to have more creativity.
where’s fitzpatrick!
Where’s Home?
Mine is Winnipeg
Lol
No place like it
K It’s X Time
I didn’t think the run on 3rd was so bad
The execution was trash
I don’t like these refs tonight
I wanted a long drive with 7 points, not 3
Close enough
There’s no way Rowe will be able to handle Waller this game.
He’s pretty fast for a bigger guy
i just hope we keep them out of the end zone
Yep FG would be acceptable, we are good with 1/2 time adjustments
A sack could end the half
They are moving the ball on us
But our defense has been good in the red zone
Shank it
Go iggy
Or not
We’re gonna need another great 2nd half like we had against NE
Down exact same as against the Pats…… 7 points.
Our offensive performance is not as bad as Warner’s jacket
Thank you! Did he really put that on, look in the mirror and say Yes! This is the look!