Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel said it perfectly. This game is 1/17 of this NFL season. If we lose, we can’t beat the good teams. If we win, we’re going to the Super Bowl. None of it matters. Look, to us Dolphins fans, we crave a win like this, need it. We hate the chatter, from NFL fans, pundits, commentators, everywhere it can be heard. The Dolphins aren’t a legit contender because they can’t beat anyone who is a contender. So far, to be fair, they’re right. We haven’t defeated a winning team this season. We beat the Chargers (3-4) in a shootout Week 1, we beat the Patriots (2-6) twice, we scorched the Broncos (3-5), we lost to the Bills (5-3), beat the the NY Giants (2-6), defeated the Carolina Panthers (1-6), and finally, lost to the Philadelphia Eagles (7-1). The teams we’ve beaten are a collective 11-27, and the teams we’ve lost to are 12-4. I think we all feel like it’s time for us to show up big against a team that is true contender, and this week, nothing better than facing the current Super Bowl Champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.

Last week, Mike McDaniel played it conservatively. He activated C Connor Williams, but chose to rest him and start C Liam Eichenberg, who by the way, played his best game. He continued to rest LT Terron Armstead, and perhaps his wisest move, activated DB Jalen Ramsey and gave him limited snaps of game action so he can dip his toe in the water and get a feel for game action after being out the entire season. This week, it seems as if Terron Armstead will be back at LT, Connor Williams will be back at C, G Lester Cotton will be playing LG, while G Robert Hunt has vowed he’s playing Sunday, he’s never missed a game. RT Austin Jackson, who gets very little press, has been a constant at RT, and has played admirably. DB Xavien Howard was also rested last week, and it appears as if he will suit up. There has been a lot of talk that Jalen Ramsey will be charged with defending Chief’s TE Travis Kelce. That’s a difficult matchup, but Kelce is unquestionably Mahomes’ favorite target, and a key to their offense. If Ramsey can limit Kelce’s production, Rashee Rice is the next weapon the Chiefs use, hauling in 30 of 39 targets for 361 yards and 3 TD’s. Kelce has 54 receptions for 583 yards and 4 TD’s. Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney are the other receivers, besides of course the 2 RB’s, Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

Our defense is on the upturn, no doubt about that. We’re getting guys healthy, guys like Jaelan Phillips, and of course, the huge addition of Jalen Ramsey. Bradley Chubb is getting hot, and with Phillips healthy, and Andrew Van Ginkel also in the mix, that’s 3 guys, including the ever present Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler that need to be accounted for. Chubb quietly leads the Dolphins 5 sacks, and is tied with AVG for most TFL with 7. Christian Wilkins has 11 QB hits followed by 10 by AVG. Chubb is right behind with 9. Chubb usually gets the bad chatter, but perhaps that isn’t entirely fair. We also missed S Jevon Holland who didn’t clear concussion protocol but will be back this week, and my fave Nik Needham, who played a minimal amount of snaps last Sunday, might see a larger role against KC this Sunday. If Ramsey is charged with covering Kelce all day, that leaves either Eli Apple or Kader Kohou on the opposite side of Xavien Howard, who by all accounts will be playing Sunday. Raheem Mostert is still dealing with an ankle injury, but is most likely going to play. Jeff Wilson Jr. is back and saw some carries last week , 5 to be exact. He’ll probably #2 on the depth chart behind Mostert until rookie De’Von Achane returns from IR, scheduled for Week 11.

This game is a huge matchup for the NFL, a true marquis game in front of the whole world in Germany, the 2nd game that will be played there. Last year, The Seattle Seahawks faced off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Munich, but this will be the first game played in Frankfurt. The Chiefs are mild favorites as they the “home” team, at -1.5. That’s showing a lot of respect for the Dolphins, although I know some here think we should be favored. This is a good test for this team, there should be a playoff type atmosphere in this game, the NFL fans in Frankfurt Germany are stoked to get NFL action back, their last taste of American Football since the Frankfurt Galaxy played in the NFL Europe league which ended its run in 2005. I’d love for the Dolphins to make a statement, that we are relevant, we can beat a contender. It doesn’t mean that we will be going to the Super Bowl, but it doesn’t hurt our chances of it either!

GO DOLPHINS!!!!