We’re getting down to the nitty gritties. Week 14, huge Sunday Night Football matchup against the AFC West LA Chargers. Tua vs Herbert. The Dolphins took a step back last week, while their opponent this week also took one on the chin, losing to the LV Raiders 27-20, and seriously damaging their playoff chances. Realistically, this is a must win for both teams, every game is important now with 5 games to go. This is the reality of the NFL. Every game is a big game, and this stretch of 5 games is the time when you make your push to be a high seed or slide down in the standings and either back into the playoffs or create a scenario where you end up with a string of road games in the playoffs as the 2nd or 3rd wildcard. I think we’re better than that, so hopefully the team plays like it.
Time to purge the bitter taste of last week’s loss to the Niners. Let me preface this by saying I love Tua Tagovailoa, I’m happy he’s my QB, and I have always been a staunch supporter and defender of him. Despite that, he played pretty poorly last week, and played a big part in why we lost. There are many other reasons, but to state it as simply as possible, if he played like he’s played all season long, we win this game easily. To be fair, Tua has set a high bar of performance, so when I say he played poorly, that’s in comparison to what he’s done all season. If you look at stats alone, they tell some of the story, with the 2 INT’s jumping off the page. It was so much more than that though. He missed on so many throws, throws that he’s placed on the money, or close to it all season, but this past Sunday, they were either underthrown, overthrown, thrown behind, or thrown short. It’s clear he wasn’t comfortable out there, he didn’t have his best protection with LT Terron Armstead out. On the other hand, a lot of these throws were not under duress, he was just off. This season, Tua has been near 70% completion in the majority of the games, and he was below 50% for a decent part of this game. He finished just above, 18 for 33 for 295 yards, 2 TD’s, and 2 INT’s. I so wanted Tua to come out and have a statement game, that I’m ready to play in the big games, and the disappointment of him not measuring up is palpable.
The fact that this is a team game, which it clearly is, means that Tua was not the sole reason why we lost. Inexplicably, we ran the ball 8 times. Oddly enough, it was Raheem Mostert who was OUT with an injury the previous week that got 7 of the carries, and our supposed lead rusher, newly acquired Jeff Wilson Jr. saw only one carry. It’s puzzling because it was obvious Tua was off, and not comfortable, throwing at odd angles and not throwing that calm, catchable ball thrown with anticipation and excellent placement, so why give up on the run game? We’ll never know, but it was a strange gameplan, one which led to a very lopsided TOP, 40:34 for the Niners, 19:26 for the Dolphins. Recipe for disaster to have the opposing team have the ball for twice as long as you do, unless of course it’s the Dolphins vs Colts with Peyton Manning at QB on MNF. Our special teams have been lacking all season, and that’s kickoff coverage, punt return coverage, and FG’s as well. We’ve been poor at all of the above. Jason Sanders is at 81% on FG’s, and an absolutely unacceptable 91.4% on extra points. P Thomas Morstead has been fine, he hardly punts anyway with MM wheelbarrowing his balls on the field and going for huge 4th down conversions. If you watch all the games, you understand my angst, we never get the return man down for a loss, and most times we’re allowing big returns. That needs to get fixed.
The defense was up and down. I can give the defense a little pass, only because the ultra talented CMC is so difficult to stop, and I’m sure LB Duke Riley would prefer to never again have to cover CMC on 3rd down, 4th down, or any down. I mean were playing against a 2022 7th RD pick, QB Brock Purdy, and although we harassed him occasionally, he stepped up and made some big throws, which is another reason in my mind that Tua failed us. Purdy seemed more confident and fired up than our own QB.That was tough to swallow. It didn’t hurt Purdy that we had to try and cover CMC and failed miserably almost every time, he’s so good. The Niners are not bereft of talent beyond CMC, Deebo Samuel hurt us, Brandon Aiyuk did as well, but CMC did the most damage, rushing for 66 yards, and catching 10 balls for 80 yards and a TD, and torturing us as he converted what seemed like every big 3rd or 4th down. One of the biggest stand out stats : 3rd Down conversions – MIA 0-7, SF 8-19. We were unable to convert one stinking third down. Pathetic! That’s on everyone, including MM. Add in 4th down conversions, the Dolphins were a total of 1-9 on 3rd and 4th combined.
This week we play a desperate Los Angeles Chargers team in their house, well, sort of their house, they share the stadium with the original owners, the LA Rams. at 6-6, a loss would surely have them out of the playoff picture. Our Dolphins, not as much, although as I mentioned before, this is the time when the contenders stand up and make their push, and the pretenders slip away. In other words, this game is big for us too. We’re 3-3 on the road this season, the Chargers are 2-3 at home. Let me say this, Austin Ekeler is an awful lot like CMC, he is amazing in the passing game, and will torture us just like CMC if we don’t get help and/or pressure on Justin Herbert and maybe slide some help to whomever is covering Ekeler, most likely Duke Riley. Ekeler is the leading receiver in receptions, followed by WR Josh Palmer, who is having a nice season. Mike Williams has missed 4 games, and was inactive the last two, but logged a limited practice Wednesday, and full practice yesterday which leads me to believe he’ll be available Sunday night. For the Dolphins, LT Terron Armstead got in a limited practice yesterday. Chargers All Pro Safety Derwin James is QUESTIONABLE with a quad injury, and has not practiced this week. For the Chargers, the always steady WR Keenan Allen and WR DeAndre Carter are the other receivers we have to deal with. I stress once again, RB Austin Ekeler is the guy that worries me most. He’s tough to bring down, always fights hard for extra yards, is one of the strongest backs pound for pound, he never goes down easily , and he is a nightmare to cover. I hope Josh Boyer and MM are up to the task this week, and more than anything, I hope we see the Tua we all know and love.
#stangerstrong
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Oh shit, is it 3-0 Jets?
👍
17-0 now
Thought I’d try some fake news too
White down 😃
Allen never looks in peril of injury when he gets sacked. On the other hand, I hold my breath every time Tua gets hit. Anyone else? Some announcer brought up the fact that Tua gets bent into weird positions sometimes during sacks that you think he might need to be surgically removed from the field
It’s just because Allen is the size of an DE but he just as vulnerable
100% agree, feel the same way. My asshole puckers every time Tua gets sacked. lol
On 4th and 6 NYG Safety, playing ME football, tries to intercept a pass, instead of knocking it down leading to a TD by D Smith
X did the same thing last week, but got the pick loosing 15+ yards of field position
Ouch!!!!!
White is back. Not how he came back so quick
Sat two plays tough kid
Only sat one game I CRY FOUL
Hate to see Bills pass rush playing this well.
Damn go Houston!
^ They can afford to win one now. They have a 2 game lead toward getting the 1st overall pick.
I hated when we played wide 9.
Very vulnerable to the run
I’d rather Buffalo win, only way I see us winning the division is to win out
With these tough games remaining, think we need jets to lose today
My thinking also. Plus, with both Ravens and Bengals leading in their games.
I am never sad to see the Jets lose. I am never sad to see the Bills lose. I just want to see more injuries
^
^
Need a weather report from Toba in a couple hours. Looks like rain in the LA area on the radar. The Sierra’s are getting hammered with feet of snow.
In the covered stadium😁
My dad lives in So Cal he said 2-4 inches rain
Jags take the lead on Titans right before the half.
Rut Row
Was raining earlier , cleared up now , but Yes as Steve said it is a covered stadium , unless it’s coming/blowing sideways in through the open end zones
57 F
Oh, forgot it’s covered
Man, who wouldn’t want to be there right now?
https://www.tahoebeachretreat.com/ski-cam
I’d either be in a hot tub on the back deck drinking beer or next to a fire pit outside drinking a beer hoping I just get burried.
Dang, first half all defense. Second half all offense.
Dawkins hobbling 😃
Who he play for?
The 76’rs and the Rockets
OL on Buffalo
Mike White is much better and tougher than Zack Wilson.
Not even close
Folded up again!
Seriously!
White down again 😃
Swan?
White down a second time. I hate Milano.
Let’s hope he gets injured next
^
Lol, I said the same thing about milano after that hit.
White to locker room so it is confirmed 3-0 Jets to Bills injuries. Jets with a possible 4 if OG Fant doesn’t come back.
Anyone for Bills I missed, I hope?
I don’t think Flacco wishes he was out there.
He weak armed that 2nd to last throw
Jags up 3 TD’s on Titan’s now in TN. They have been playing well lately.
Jets QBs are getting killed.
Damn, Mike White running back from locker room. Tough guy!
I’m for duking it out for the top seed in the conference. Pulling for the stej and Brownies.
And the Stealers*.
And maybe Russell Wilson comes back to life later against the Chefs*.
Come on Jets. At least keep the Bills D on the field for a while.
OK, I was feeling ill rooting for the Jets so now I am rooting against them and it feels better. We take care of business today and then go up there next Sat night and win we will be well ahead of everyone in the Division and be looking good for Miami playoffs.
Trubisky with 3 INT’s so far. Not looking good for Steelers. Time winding down there.
Lions up 2 TD’s on Vikings. Way to go coach Campbell!
LOVE IT!!!
Deshaun Watson blows. Browns are an embarrassment
Dude, throw the ball away
We’d better protect Tua better than this next week
^
Steelers within 2 points
Nice to see a fuck up by the Bills. Don’t see them often enough.
Not sure that safety really helps them. They still need two scores and they would have had better field position
Gives them momentum though
Game
Ravens win. Sucks
Welp, nothing has gone right for us so far today. Time to handle our own bidness.
The answer to our prayers!
Thanks! I will check it out. I have a Tannehill white throw back I can get changed out.
BBM, I had a ski pass at Heavenly Valley (South Lake Tahoe) for 4 years mud 90s, UT looked like that ski cam often, thus time of year
One year we had 9′ of snow Christmas week
Crazy how fast it comes down up there. I went to ski at Kirkwood in 99′. We went to bed just before midnight and it was partly cloudy. Got up 7 hours later and there was a fresh foot of snow on the ground and still coming down. I came to realize then 2″ inches and hour was just a common snow event up there.
Yeah, Kirkwood gets more snow than the other ski areas up there, locals favorite
Gonna be no help from Broncos today
Wilson already been sacked 3 times in first 17 minutes.
He looks Purdy bad today
But he grew up a Marino fan, big Fins fan
Starting to light it up, in a game manager kinda way
BBM,
Did you see your boy Jameson Williams today?
I did, caught a 41 yard TD pass
Td
They call it any way they want, to me it’s no td
Pretty clear toe tap after reestablishing control.
Bills beating the Jets is not a bad thing for us. No bad outcome for us no matter who won that game
Enjoying watching Buccaneers struggle. Purdy looks pretty good
He’s looking really good. Extending plays, making throws.
Lmao
LOL
First snow of the season here in NJ.
Samuel hurt
Looks like a knee or ankle
Carted off
He’s crying, probably season ending
Ugly sight with Deebo being carted off
That sucks for Deebo.
I want the niners to go down, but seeing Deebos emotion reminds you they are people
Yeah they train so hard all offseason and then one play can end their season.
I just want Brady to go down
Yep, bummer to see
Brady misfired 4th and 1 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I guess as long as it’s not a head injury.
LOL
The niners get every fucking call
49ers rolling.
SF dropping the hammer on the Bucs
Maybe we did the niners a favor by knocking jimmy g out
He may well make Jimmy G a FA this offseason
^
Purdy looks purdy
Brady keeps crying.
Uh oh…lmao
Nice throw Brady. LOL
Brady picked
SB7, didn’t get to see Jameson Williams TD until I watched the highlights. Not only was it his first NFL reception but his first NFL TD after coming back from his ACL surgery.
I am very happy for him.
Blowout!!!
The rout is on
Dismantled!
Regarding the Brady picture above getting choked by the LB. I bet if they did the mural thing on the elevator door like the Dolphins do, that would be the pic on their elevator the next day. lol
😃
The 49ers or Bucs? LOL
lol 9er’s of course
Lol…ooph
Right now:
Brady’s QBR is 36.5
Purdy’s QBR is 150.4
When does Brady have himself pulled from the game?
A beat up SF team is destroying the Bucs
Brady missing throws all game
He looks like Tua 😉
Another underthrown ball
I guess Brady will get the last laugh after the game because, at 6-7, they will still be leading their division.
Omg. This is so great! 😂
Uh oh
Lmao
Greenlaw is freaking awesome
Niners LBs are ridiculous
Time to get Purdy’s back up some experience
I think they need to investigate the game balls they use in SF. First Tua and now Brady? Hmmmm
I think each team brings their own
oh, lol
Omg Fox switches to the Carolina game
Here too
Not here.
How did Brady’s QBR go up from 36.5 to 39 after that last series. lol
He made him work for the int
I am literally counting the minutes down to our game, lol
Like 99 beers on the wall? LOL
Lol, feels like it
Russell Wilson headed for concussion protocol
Or so I believe
WTF? I was enjoying watching Brady lose in such an epic fashion and they switch. I feel cheated.
Totally agree
TD Broncos they are battling
3 ints for Mahomes today
And they will probably win
Hey Mike the Mets are signing Kodai Senga! 🙂
Go Broncos!!!
See what you mean Kong, tickets tack hold on TB
Every single call, it seems like
The McC td too
1 hour 9 minutes
Lol, broncos were down 27-0 last I looked. That ended up being the game I should have watched. These other games suck
Dolphins inactives
QB Teddy Bridgewater
RB Myles Gaskin
CB Noah Igbinoghene
WR Erik Ezukanma
TE Hunter Long
WR River Cracraft
Armstead playing
Looks good for Armstead.
Yup, we got exactly ZERO help today… we’re On Our Own (Time to Take Control)…
Jets losing could help down the road.
Cardinals have lost 2 in a row. They are due for another win hopefully tomorrow at home vs Pats.
All whites today again
My favorite.
They have Waddle warming up on punt returns with Holland , Mostert and Ced
Still looks like he has a hiccup in his giddy up
This is a MUST-WIN game for us this evening, no matter how one breaks it down.
We entered this week as the #6 seed in the AFC. Losing this evening would be disastrous.
Lose tonight and we are still #6. Wouldn’t be the end of the world.