Our 8-3 AFC East Division leaders travel to Washington this week to take on the 4-8 Washington Commanders. Yeah, still hard not to think Redskins, but it is what it is. The Commanders defense is dead last in the NFL, 32 of 32 allowing 29.2 points per game. This bodes well for our team, which is scoring 30.8 points per game.The bright spot for the Commanders is they appear to have a QB, potentially a franchise QB. Although his play has been uneven, QB Sam Howell has thrown for 3339 yards, 18 TD’s and 13 INT’s. That’s 162 more yards passing than our own Tua Tagovailoa for Howell, in his rookie season no less. Howell is also completing 66.5% of his passes, just a shade less than Tua at 69.8%. This is an opportunity for our offense to get back on track, but also a chance for our defense to continue to show that this is one of the top units in the NFL as we get closer to the playoffs.
It was a crushing blow last week when OLB Jaelan Phillips season ended after a non contact achilles injury. He was playing at a very high level, equal to the amount of hype he received before the season. Now, the forgotten man in this defense, DE/LB Emmanuel Ogbah moves very much to the forefront. Of course AVG, Andrew Van Ginkel will probably see more snaps now at OLB, Ogbah will most certainly see a lot more snaps than he has all season. The good thing is, Ogbah has fresh legs, and is completely healthy, playing nearly a 1/3 of the snaps this season (21%) compared to the usual 65-77% of the snaps in other years. Besides the pass rush, one thing that directly affects the pass rush is the pass coverage. Right now, our defense couldn’t be any better, with a healthy CB Xavien Howard on the left side and the scalding hot CB Jalen Ramsey on the right. Safeties Jevon Holland and DeShon Elliot round out this excellent secondary. Holland, of course, had the amazing “Hell Mary” 99 yard TD interception return on the last play of the first half against the NY Jets.
It seems as if we may be getting some players back on the offensive side, as RG Robert Hunt looks like he may be ready to play, although he may be on a snap count. It seems as if the entire team logged a LIMITED practice session yesterday, and it’s impossible to tell if that’s just precautionary, like injury maintenance or if that’s the best those injured players could manage. RB De’Von Achane looks like he’s going to be QUESTIONABLE unless he manages to get in a FULL practice today. The same goes for Raheem Mostert, although we’ve seen Mostert with the QUESTIONABLE designation for weeks and he still manages 20 + touches on offense. C Connor Williams returned last week and should be good to go this week as well. RG Liam Eichenberg played very well against a tough NY defensive front and if Hunt can’t go, I won’t be too concerned since Eichenberg is handling the job sufficiently. Hunt, incidentally, did suit up for the Jets game but did not play.
The Dolphins are now a 1/2 game behind the Baltimore Ravens who are 9-3 but have their BYE week this week. We’re ties with both Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Kansas City Chiefs, but we are currently the #4 seed in the AFC. We must win this week to continue to stay near the top of the conference. Nothing will help this team more than to play as many playoff games in our house as possible, considering besides the Eagles and the Cowboys who are in the NFC, we’re the only undefeated AFC team at home. Home is where we play our best football. On offense, we’re not a physical team, although we can and have run the ball well. We’re actually #2 in the NFL in rushing behind the Ravens, this despite the fact that we have nearly 100 less rushing attempts, 390 rushes for 1903 yards (4.9 YPC) for the Ravens while we have 292 rushes for 1597 yards (5.5 YPC). The Ravens are just a more physical team, they run the ball more, and their QB is a huge reason. Yes, they have a big, imposing RB in RB Gus Edwards, who has 590 yards on 141 rushes for 4.2 yards per carry. He’s a grinder, but the Ravens second leading rusher is their QB Lamar Jackson. Jackson has 574 yards rushing this season, but the Ravens alos have a weapon very similar to our own De’Von Achane, RB Keaton Mitchell. Mitchell is also a TD waiting to happen, he’s averaging 9.3 yards per carry, 29 carries for 269 yards and 2 TD’s rushing. De’Von Achane, for comparison has 39 carries for 461 yards and 5 TD’s rushing and Achane also has 2 TD’s receiving. The big question is though, do we see a healthy and productive Achane again this season or does he get shut down? In addition, we play the Ravens New Year’s Eve day in Week 17, and I believe that game will tell us an awful lot about our team going forward into the playoffs.
The Dolphins are the biggest road team favorites in the NFL this week, a hearty 9.5 point favorite. I don’t mention this because I’m a betting man, I’m not, but this is a game we should win, and absolutely need to. We need to clean up the turnovers. Our opponents have fumbled 20 times against us, 9 forced fumbles. OLB Bradley Chubb has 4 of them.We have 38 QB sacks on defense and have allowed only 18. That’s remarkable. We have the 3rd most sacks, behind the Bills (41) and the Ravens (47). On offense and sacks allowed, the Chiefs (referees) (14 sacks allowed) and the Bills (Josh Allen) (15 sacks sacks allowed) are the only teams better. We have 11 INT’s, Tua (10), and Mike White (1). We have fumbled 20 times, lost 12. We have one of the worst turnover differentials in the league at -5, we have 9 interceptions and 5 fumble recoveries for 14 takeaways, while on offense we have 11 interceptions and 9 fumbles lost for 19 turnovers. Tua and Mostert have bosh lost 3 fumbles, and I suppose we’re a bit lucky, because Tua has 10 fumbles this season. Both of these guys need to be more aware of ball security. If De’Von Achane can’t go this week, RB Jeff Wilson will share the lesser amount of carries with RB Raheem Mostert, as long as Mostert plays as expected.
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Nice to see Sanders nail that kick. We came out ready to play. Let’s get another stop here, score again, and never let this team think they belong on the same field as us.
$1M field goal…
I love that Buffalo Wild Wings commercial where the winged buffalo is at the bar and there is a roughing the passer penalty and the buffalo is like, well, … what if you trampled the QB and the were like “oh no” and went the other way and trampled the QB again?
It’s so stupid, and it makes me laugh every time, lol.
Now THAT is pressure!!!
More pressure
Too early to say, but our D line is looking like they are winning against the O line
Yes
Could be the two probowl CB’s too
I bet that last catch Waddle made is what caused that drop
AVG
THOR IS A GOD
Wow
Wow AVG!
Holy fuck, AVG thrilled to have more playing time
Woohooo!
THIS
Wow AVG
DPOY 🤷♂️
per snap? with out a doubt!
There are a lot of whistles blowing off screen
fuck that graphic
Agreed 🤬
I hate it. But only we can change it. If we do, we could be in Vegas. If we don’t………
Over before Q1 has finished 🥱
Dang. Now I’m sorry I backed out of going to this game.
X
Great, that could be season for Baker. fingers crossed
At least it’s grass.
Baker’s knee. Ugh! Friendly fire
Did I somehow get the local radio station feed for this game from foggy bottom? These announcers are fucking Commy Stans OMG
At least the refs aren’t Commy Stans
Good luck on that blitz
Lol…..what a shitty defensive call
Oh my god….come on…that was ridiculous
Tua da money man!!! 💰
Reek back on track for 2000 yds
🍻
Today
👍😎
Just tied team record for yds in a season
JUST LIKE ON MADDEN!!
2k in-coming
Hill’s ability to track the ball in flight and adjust to it is amazing
Less than 2 minutes ago the announcer was saying something about the washington defense settling down….
😂😂😂
It needed to
Any word on Baker?
Doubtful knee
Thanks
I know Shaquille Leonard is choosing between the Cowboys and Eagles, also aware he’s more of an outside backer, but I wonder if we make a late push if Baker is done
Seiler is killing it today
This defence is looking pretty plug and play 🤔👍👍
Riley is much faster than baker
AVG is everywhere
AVG is a force
Feels like Mostert is one move away every play
I want another 70 burger
Did he just say honey hole?
A few times yes 😊
Another long, run heavy, beautiful drive.
There’s our cuteness again
I don’t mind them fooling around with crazy okays up this big
Too cute
It’s okay
You are allowed to be too cute up 24-7
Right in the honey hole!
🤣
LMAO
Tua on 3rd and long is money
You can’t have a better drive than that
Pretty much a perfect drive with this lead
They keep pounding that honey hole
Way to finish in the Honey Hole
If the Commanders were a dog it would be put to sleep at HT.
Nice time for them to try a Fail Mary?
Mercy rule?
Can someone swap RR’s red flag for a white one?
lol
Brian is probably 20 celebratory beers deep right now
Well deserved. He’s getting it done for us, lol.
Did you see how Hill had to slow down to catch the 75 yard TD from Tua?
Yeah, They suck right?
Bartender gives me free beer lol
The only accepted penalty against us in the half was the offsides on the extra point.
5 for 7 on 3rd down conversions.
We only have 32 rush yards, but we had 3 or 4 big negative runs that affect that, and we were physical and effective in the run game on that last drive.
Hill – 152 receiving yds.
Tua – perfect QB rating
Is Achane dancing a bit too much?
I think more out of necessity Washington was getting decent penetration
Should be a lot of rushing attempts in the 2nd half for us. Mostert and Wilson should be busy, sprinkle in a bit of Achane too
Any thoughts on my Shaquille Leonard comment?
I missed it but if you are suggesting as replacement for Baker not a bad idea
Yes, but Leonard was rumored to be choosing tonight, either Cowboys or Eagles. We’d have to make a late push
I love the smell of a total ass whooping on a December Sunday afternoon
It is the smell of victory
Armstead with a new injury. All I can do is laugh
He always tries to gut it out and play but he just can’t stay healthy
Let him rest the rest of this game
Another 3rd down conversion
Nice move by Tua
Hella nice move by Tua, that was very impressive
He’s not a big threat to run, but he is very adept at making free rushers miss and creating extra time to throw.
The beatings will continue
5 and a half minute drive, did whatever we wanted, converted on 3rd downs, TD, game over.
No more injuries, no more injuries, no more injuries
Julians first catch he didn’t fumble
Briar patch, otherwise known as the honey hole
Dominance!!!🙂
Tua looks really sharp.
LOL @ water over the bridge
Back ups please
Not yet. We are probably gonna have a run heavy drive next time
The honey hole must be sore by now
LOL
Sam Howell was the leading nfl passer coming into this gs,e
Surprised they aren’t passing more
He is really tough to bring down
Not getting the sack shows how pressure doesn’t always end up with a positive result
And sacks don’t always end drives. It is just a measure of individual performance
Right, but on an invidual play basis, the sack is a positive while the pressure doesn’t guarantee a positive, and as we saw, can end in a TD
That is all true
Achane never did go down.
Hunt comes back and the Dolphins are the Dolphins again
Alright let’s not give up anymore points
I want sacks and ints by the D
No points. Good job
Not sure I get the FG try there. It still would have been a 3 score game
I thought the same thing
They still would have needed 3 TDs too.
son of a son of a shula says:
December 3, 2023 at 2:45 pm
I love the smell of a total ass whooping on a December Sunday afternoon
‐‐—————-
Even in Greece they understand what an ass whooping is
Didn’t they invent the ass whooping or something like that?
They certainly have a predilection counsellor 😉
Lol
LOL
The injury issues we’ve had on the oline are unreal. It’s pretty amazing how that unit has performed. Massive kudos to the coaching staff
And the offensive scheme McDaniel runs. And Tua’s ability to get rid of the ball so fast. All these parts fit together so well.
Thank you, sir, Mr. Mike Fucking McDaniel.
Just got home.
Doesn’t look like I missed much
The Chargers and Patriots playing the least inspired game in NFL history
Jets vs Falcons a close 2nd
🍻
lol, Falcons and Jest giving it their best, but just can’t catch the Chargers and Pets.
AVG again
LMAO @ Ken! That was a good one!
😃
I don’t want to hear we’re a finesse team.
Washington does not have a bad run defense
Achane getting a ton of carries
How much time are they gonna spend talking about how bad Washington sucks
Pass to score run to win.🙂
Trevor Semian in for the Jets let’s look fireworks 💥
That’s 40
Domination
Eat the clock – score the rock!
Achane scored but kudos to ……………
https://moviesayings.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/tom-hanks-cast-away.png?
Very clean game. 2 penalties for us, 3 for them
9-3
Hey I think I picked this game 45-10!
Go Dolphins!
WTG Naples!!!
13-8
Jets suck