The Dolphins play at home in the friendly confines of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, where the Dolphins are at their best. In 4 games, the Dolphins have scored 174 points good for an absurd average of 43.5 points per game. The defense has thrived here as well, allowing 74 points in 4 games for an average of 18.5 points per game. We score 11 more points per game and allow about 6.5 points per game less. We’re better at home, of this there is no doubt. I’d love to fancy our team as a team that can win anywhere, but right now, we’re a much better team at home. This just signified the importance of not only winning the division, but having a good enough conference record to have home field is as many games as possible.
The Raiders are an up and down team, but mostly they’re a team that has struggled offensively. The Raiders decided Jimmy Garoppolo was their QB, and Garropolo who we all know can’t play a full season is OUT and their rookie 2023 4th RD draft pick Aidan O’Connell has a 2-1 record in Jimmy G’s stead. In total, the Raiders have scored 17.2 points per game, or close to half of what we have scored this season. The Raiders defense has been decent, allowing only 20.5 points per game, 4.5 points less than our Dolphins defense. There are two huge difference makers for both teams entering this game though. The Raiders have finally figured out they need to lean on their best offensive weapon, RB Josh Jacobs, while the Dolphins come in about healthier than we have been all season, and more complete.
In the last 2 games for the Raiders, RB Josh Jacobs has been a workhouse, helping the team to two consecutive victories over NY teams, first the Giants, in which Jacobs had a season high 26 carries for 98 yards, and then against the Jets with a new season high 27 carries for 116 yards. For the Dolphins, we’re getting back our secondary, and possibly for the first time all season, we’ll have a healthy CB tandem of Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey. In addition, we’ll have a healthy Safety tandem of Jevon Holland and DeShon Elliott. Our pass rush has come on lately, and a healthy Jaelan Phillips and a resurgence from OLB Bradley Chubb has got this defense playing better. Andrew Van Ginkel has taken on more of a secondary role, but still a big part of the defensive rotation. This is the defense we’d hoped for, now they have to stay healthy and shut teams down. This week, objective #1 is to limit Josh Jacobs. The Raiders don’t want to put the game on QB Aidan O’Connell’s shoulders, so if we shut down Jacobs, it could be a long day for the raiders offense who don’t do well when Jacobs isn’t getting lots of carries and thriving.
This week could be the return of a big offensive weapon for the Dolphins, RB De’Von Achane. There are differing reports everywhere, but there is a good chance Achane returns from a knee injury suffered against the NY Giants October 8th. Raheem Mostert has logged 2 consecutive limited practices but almost certainly will play Sunday. Of more concern is RG Robert Hunt, who looks to miss this game with a hamstring injury. Terron Armstead who played last week will start at LT with Liam Eichenberg at LG, Connor Williams at C, Lester Cotton at RG and Austin Jackson at RT. Not ideal, and Maxx Crosby is feasting this year with 59 total tackles (35 solo), 9 sacks, 13 TFL, 15 QB hits, 1 FF and 1 FR. Austin Jackson and Lester Cotton and our TE’s are going to have keep Crosby in check and away from our QB Tua Tagovailoa, who gets rid of the ball ultra quick anyway. If we have both RB’s this week, keep in mind how they’ve thrived splitting carries. Against the Broncos, they had an amazing day, Achane with 203 yards on 18 carries and 2 TD’s, while Mostert had 82 yards on 13 carries and 3 TD’s. Achane had over 100 yards against the Bills but Mostert was stopped dead. Against the Giants, Achane exploded for 151 yards on 11 carries while Mostert had 65 yards on 10 carries. both scoring a TD each.
The defense needs to continue to make strides and become one of the leagues best units. This is the lineup we’ve waited to watch, now they have to realize their potential. It seems likely PR/KR Braxton Berrios won’t be playing which returns return duties back to Cedric Wilson. We do, however, get a boost with the return of WR River Cracraft. Cracraft and Ced Wilson will probably take slot duties if Berrios can’t go. One more concern on offense is the health of TE Durham Smythe who is dealing with an ankle injury, but did manage to get a limited practice session in on Thursday, and will most likely suit up. The Dolphins are ranked #10 against the run and have 29 sacks, good for 9th in the NFL in sacks. With the secondary healthy, and all our pass rushers healthy, I expect the sack numbers to go up and for this defense to start forcing more turnovers. Kader Kohou moving back to the slot where he really thrives, will share time with Nik Needham who is getting healthy as well. If and when rookie CB Cam Smith ever makes his presence felt remains to be seen, but even without Smith, this is the defense we want out there.
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Our short yardage play calling is atrocious
About fucking time
Did the Dolphins re-hire Tony Sporano
There you go Sanders
It’s clear MM doesn’t trust the OL in short yardage
Strange game. We don’t run on short yardage plays, and that needs to change
our oline has gotten push. I really don’t get it. ike Piggy said below, run it twice
If you are in 3rd and 1 and you know you;l go for it on 4th down – just run it ahead on two straight plays
Why was the flag picked up on that PI call? Was it because it was within a yd of the LOS, so they can contact the receiver?
Throw was behind the line contact is permitted
ahh, thanks
What is that called when the defender tackles the QB with the football?
Pressure
I think it’s a shorter word
😂
Hard not to call that block in he back….lol
Pretty visible
Yeah, let’s hurt ourselves some more with a block in the back
Maybe that why we always fair catch, because we have a fucking block in the back or a hold nearly every time.
The mistakes keep coming. There was no effing reason to block that guy in the back
That will get called 100% of the time
Let’s run this ball
Let’s go offense. One more drive and even a fg may put this game away
Offense looks shoddy
He punched him in the face
Glass RB’s. Ugh!
He literally got punched Mike.
He punched in the fucking jaw
So are you allowed to just punch a guy in the head now?that’s the second time I’ve seen that happened to us this year
ST’s suck ass
Sigh, special teams sucks. Defense is the only unit that played well today. We deserve to lose
Our kicking game sucks
Yup
His arm wasn’t fucking hit. Another thing that went against us
FUCK
not grounding?
That was absolutely grounding
Wheres the holding call
That should be overturned, but none of this has gone our way today
This one would he egregious- he in no way , shape or form had control of that .
This game is frustrating on so many levels
Yes
^
No catch
That should be overturned
D coming up big again
Ramsey is a fucking stud
Offense can win the game right now with a fg
Great job D
Time for a TD drive. Let’s getter done!
At this point just give Mostert the ball for the rest of the game
Good stop. Now let’s put this fucking game away already.
Why did they blow the whistle so early on that one? Mostert have three more yards.
Killing ourselves
fucking penalty at the worst time. Man this offense has been sloppy
Now you call a hold?
such a shitty decision and pass
Dangerous throw for no reason
Was really looking for a bowl of glue on that shot of Marc Davis
offense continues to not get it done
Bailey makes up for the last punt with a beauty
Isn’t that a horse collar tackle?
He didn’t go inside the pad
That was a punt
FUCKING MORONS, that was a fumble
Great punt by Bailey
WTF IS WRONG WITH THIS TEAM
GAME WAS FUCKING OVER RIGHT THERE
Offense was the reason we lost against Chiefs also.
Teams have us figured out. MM needs and answer
Right. I mentioned that about three weeks ago, and said that this is what happened last season as well. MM needs to figure this shit out now.
Raiders have all the momentum
I don’t think I’ve ever been this frustrated watching a Dolphins game that we’re winning by 7
our low iq players are walking all around the live ball. I am stunned at this shit
It was bizarre. No one had any idea it was a live ball
I’ve never seen anything that dumb. It was surreal, lol.
Defense just came up huge though. A couple of 1st downs and this is over
Wrap up Howard
Phillips with Finish
D came to play
Phillips having himself a game!
My guy Phillips all over the place
Other than walking around a so obviously live ball, our defense has been amazing
RIP Mrs. Carter
👍
I wonder if that pressure by Wilkins counts???????????????
At least our defense was clutch today
sigh, why did Tua hike it with 9 seconds on the play clock?
I just don’t get the dumb stuff that we can control
???
Run this next play do not pass
Time isn’t a concern
Yes it is
We gave them an extra time out
Either way the clock stops five seconds later. Situational footballl
Come on. ONE first down
Fucking stupid
Sorry ass offense
On fucking 2nd down, if Tua had hiked the ball with a second or two instead OF 9 FUCKING SECONDS, this would already be the 2 minute warning.
True and could have run on 3rd running another 40 seconds off.
Didn’t mind passing was still going to have the 2 min warning
D🤺
Lol
If you run at that 3rd down they still get the 2 minute warning
You have to try to convert that and pass
But I wouldn’t have went empty backfield. Run a play action pass there
Good call Cav. If not for Tua’s poor clock management, there would be 40 less seconds on the clock. Though, MM would have called a pass play anyway.
I was totally ok with the pass on 3rd down, we fucked it up on 2nd down
WTF
We could use a sack
DL gassed. No pressure at all.
Anyone feel deceived that none of the Gatorade bottles have Gatorade inside them?
X WTF
What just happened?
Ramsey
Ramsey makes a huge impact
Ramsey!!!!!!!!
He looked like he was holding his ribs
Hopefully that is just the wind knocked out of them. That was a pretty hard fall on the ball.
oh man, Ramsey, thank you
Ramsey should get to do the kneel down
That was a great play
Defense with a fecking herculean effort to give us the win.
We really deserved to lose this game, but our defense wouldn’t let that happen.
zero points given up in the 2nd half
Steelers lose to the Browns
Well that was a dog fight. Good to see the D carry the team for a change.
We really deserved to lose this game, but our defense wouldn’t let that happen.
———-
Our offense deserved to lose this game
STs too. A missed FG, bad punt in an important spot, and multiple penalties on returns.
I really hope we replace our kicker and ST coordinator next year.
Probably the least satisfying win I’ve ever experienced, but the important thing is we got the win.
This team needs to get a lot better
^^
Hope we’re being conservative with Achane. This offense needs another threat
Especially in the run game
Exactly!
We’re in trouble at RB if Mostert gets injured
Thank God we got the win. We need to clean some things up immediately.
THAT is a superstar.
Chargers lose also. Fuck the SOV!
😂
The D🤺 is the better unit, which is amazing. I think the offense can get back on track, but next week is the Jets who will be tough to get right against
Now, Jets take out Allen. Then I don’t care who wins.