Buckle up Dolphins fans, the NFL season is a thrill ride and this Sunday’s matchup against the Jets can go any number of ways. Before writing this article I’ve listened to 3 different sports shows, one in Miami on WQAM (The Joe Rose Show) and the other 2 in New York on WFAN, catching the last segment on Boomer and Gio discussing the Jets vs Dolphins game as well as Tierney and Licata in their opening segment, also discussing the game Sunday. Joe Rose has a regular appearance by Mike Florio from ProFootballTalk, and of course, they also discussed the game. The difference of opinions is as you would expect, all over the place, and the reasoning, all over the place too. Comments like “Well, the Jets are playing good football now, and the Dolphins are reeling, so . . . “, or “I think the Dolphins will win this one but it’s going to be a very close game, especially if Tyreek Hill doesn’t play”.
The way I see it is every game is its own little part of the season, and I also think momentum is such an overrated and overused word. ”The Jets are playing really good football”. You mean the Jets that lost 13-8 the previous week to the Atlanta Falcons? One game does not give ANY indication of anything other than a one game performance in the NFL. You can’t bet on that same type of performance in a different location, against a different team, and expect similar results. That much I can guarantee you. This is a compelling game, it means a lot to the jets who have a very outside chance of still getting a playoff berth. It means a lot to the Dolphins who sorely want to win the division and find the Buffalo Bills right back in striking distance after the brutal loss to the Titans Monday night. I find it comical that all of a sudden Jets QB is the Messiah and he’s going to get it done. Every game is lightning in a bottle. Sometimes the lightning strikes, sometimes it doesn’t.
Monday Night’s loss to the Titans in my mind was one of the worst losses in recent Dolphins history. Was it worse than the Ravens 59-10 thrashing in 2019? Well, in the context of importance and the fact that we had a 2 TD lead with less than 5 minutes to go, yes, it was worse. I don’t know if Tyreek Hill is going to be able to play, or if he plays, how many snaps he can play, and whether he can be effective. The difference is we can game plan around not having him, and if there’s one thing you have to give Mike McDaniel credit for, he can game plan. WR Jaylen waddle will have to step up and take on a bigger role, and then other receivers like Cedrick Wilson, Braxton Berrios, River Cracraft, maybe even Chase Claypool if they decide to sit Tyreek altogether. I don’t feel like last week’s game defines our season, and the team shouldn’t either. We saw the graphic, teams leading by 14 points with 3 minutes to go on Monday Night Football were 767-0. It was crazy, but if you’ve ever played sports, you know crazy things can happen in any given game. So many things have to happen bad for one team and good for the other for that comeback to happen, and that’s exactly how it went. Chubb, who made a critical mental error earlier in the game and allowed the Titans the opportunity to get a TD rather can kick a FG had his arms around Titans QB Will Levis but just couldn’t bring him down. He does, and the Dolphins probably win. The screen pass to RB Tyjae Spears worked to perfection, DeAndre Hopkins getting wide open for a 36 yard strike, with both Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey in the lineup. Tua slipping down after avoiding a sack. Shit happens, and I believe in momentum very much within the scope of one game. Sometimes it’s like a freight train going down hill without brakes.
I do believe the 9-4 Dolphins are legit contenders. Forget Super Bowl talk, I don’t see any team in the AFC standing on the mountain top beating their chest saying we’re the team to beat. The closest team to doing that in my opinion is the Baltimore Ravens, a very well coached, very consistent, perennial contender. Since we play the Ravens, we have a chance to see how we measure up, but before we get there, we must take care of business this Sunday against the Jets. If I’m Mike McDaniel, I have everyone ready to play on offense, and if Tyreek Hill plays, it’s just an extra weapon. It doesn’t look like the Dolphins are going to activate RB Chris Brooks for this game, but he has still has one more week beyond this one to be activated. He would need to be activated for next week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys or he’s done for the season.
A huge hurdle the Dolphins have to clear is injuries right now. OC Connor Williams is OUT for the season, and his replacement, OC Liam Eichenberg has a calf injury. OG Robert Hunt didn’t play last week with a hamstring injury and his availability is up in the air this week. LT Terron Armstead got in a limited practice so I have a feeling he suits up, and Lester Cotton will play LG. If Eichenberg can’t go Sunday, we do have another OC on the roster, Jonotthan Harrison who last played in the NFL in 2019 for the Jets, ironically. OG Robert Jones would play RG and OT Austin Jackson at RT. My guess is Eichenberg somehow suits up, but Hunt is questionable at best. S DeShon Elliott who is suffering with a concussion and ribs injury is probably going to sit out so the dynamic duo of Holland and Elliott isn’t likely. No offense to S Brandon Jones but he’s hitting our own guys more than the other guys. CB Xavien Howard suffered a hip injury in the Titans game but he, along with Holland both got in limited practices.
My biggest points I want all of you to take away this week is not to look at least week as a defining moment for our team. There are many more moments that will happen, along with many others that have happened that ALL define this team, and the season. It’s a story not yet finished, not yet written so hang in there and remember we have a good football team, and a good coach. Speaking of Coach, Mike McDaniel has to have this team ready to play Sunday and be the better coach than Rob Saleh. Our QB Tua Tagovailoa has to play a great game and make some big plays and not slip and fall or miss a bad snap or any of those negative things. He has to be the best QB on field, period. We need AVG to be the unstoppable force on the edge, a playmaker again. Tennessee double and triple teamed Chubb last week, daring AVG to do it on his own and he was completely held in check, 4 tackles, no QB hits, no sacks, no bueno. I know we will miss Jaelan Phillips, but AVG has to be better for us to be the defense we need to be. I’m very concerned with RB De’Von Achane. Oh, he has all the talent in the world, but with such limited playing time, he has so many injuries. We need all the playmakers we can get, but this kid is not a high volume player. Mostert has been amazing, but I’m worried about him too. We know he’s hurting, he’s on the injury report every week of the season, and if Achane can’t spell him enough to keep him healthy for the playoffs, hopefully they allow either Jeff Wilson or Chris Brooks to spell him more often.
On the face of it, completely ignoring last week’s loss, we’re hobbling into this game. I think we’re the better team, but I’m not sure how much of this team is going to be available, and stay available throughout the entire game. You have to admit, the coaches have done a masterful with the offensive line, one of our favorite pin cushions. Guys have been out all season, but this is getting a little crazy. Losing Connor Williams really hurts us. Liam Eichenberg has been giving us better play at OG, but now we’re asking him to play OC, and he’s compromised with a calf injury. On defense, S DeShon Elliott being out hurts us. Xavien Howard being compromised with a hip injury hurts us. It’s not an ideal situation, but this team has to find a way. Don’t expect a double digit victory against the Jets this weekend, I’ll take a 1 point victory, because we have to win it. Once again, I don’t believe for a second that last week’s loss hurts us this week. We need to prove that by doing enough to win.
Quick Update: S DeShon Elliott and OG Robert Hunt are OUT Sunday
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
MikeE., covered my concerns. Thanks!!
Who???
Staley was stale for too long . . .
So “they” are saying Armstead is going to play this weekend. What do you guys have as the over / under on how many quarters he plays before he chafes his pussy and has to sit again?
3 min before the half
TLDR – don’t know if there are any errors. Thanks for posting it though.
Tyreek Hill will be questionable to play in the Miami Dolphins’ game Sunday against the New York Jets, head coach Mike McDaniel announced Friday.
“It’s his career. When we talk, this is what will happen… If he’s confident he can be himself and I have the support of the trainers, he will play. If it’s not, he won’t,” McDaniel told reporters, via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe.
Buffalo Bills
2023 · 7-6-0
INJURIES
DE A.J. Epenesa (rib) will not play in Sunday’s game versus the Cowboys, per head coach Sean McDermott.
S Micah Hyde (neck stinger) will not be available for Week 15, per McDermott.
South Florida going to get soaked over the next 2 days.
I just had to share this. GENIUS! LOL
LOL! Great shirt!
LOL
Good essay, Mike E.
serious and cautious, but not jumping off the ledge.
Those crossing routes too often lead Waddle
and others directly into a punishing hit
by the safety set up to clog the middle.
We need to redesign some things,
so teams can’t just line up with
a shallow DB and a LB playing back off the line,
perfectly positioned to take away those routes.
Quick outs instead of in-breaking routes might help.
Going to the RBs flaring out might help.
Man it is going to be stormy AF in Miami this weekend. It has been 30MPH winds gusting up to 50 at times. My car literally got blown out of it’s lane this morning!
I hope Achane and Mostert are ready to go and the Line can make some creases for them, or my prediction of the tailspin will continue.
Achane is limited. Toe injury
Mike E,
Good write, as always. I like your undertone of being cautious in this game… you are very correct, IMO. Our injuries have taken a serious toll on the team and it won’t be won as easily as our stomping of the stej a month ago.
I truly hate to say this, but if we lose on Sunday at home against the stej… the December collapse is all but concluded.
This is a winnable game, despite our injuries.
Mike E you made that one a thesis, and I award you a PH D for it. But I’m stuck with we are playing a team we should beat at home. Spread is like 8.5 points or something. Recent events might impact how we see our chances in the 3 games to end out the season, but not this one. If we have to worry about the Jets than we are one playoff game and out.
Um, that is what people were saying right before we played the Titans.
Before the Titans game everyone was talking about the hunt for the #1 seed. Think it different now. Was just trying to seperate the Jets game and th final 3.
I think every game in the NFL can be competitive every week. I don’t go into these games fearing what if. We’re either good enough or not. Enjoy the ride.🙂
The late, great John Madden once said that it’s a game of matchups… and he’s not wrong. See, team ‘A’ can beat almost every team on any given Sunday, but then team ‘F’ comes along. Team ‘F’ — although they statistically/W-L suck — actually has a favorable matchup against team ‘A’. It’s always a game of individual matchups, and I think that played a part in our loss to the Titans this past Monday.
That’s why we see upsets in the league, and why “any given Sunday” has become quite the quote over generations.
That stated, we know what we can do to the stej, as we imposed our will on them in their own house last month. If we cannot win this Sunday, our injuries will have caught up to us.
If we can’t beat the stej in OUR house on Sunday, the season might just be lost.
Tim, I’m trying to stay positive, man! But the fact is that we MUST WIN on Sunday!
If we don’t win this Sunday, we’ll be ‘Free Fallin” like Tom Petty!
Oh, it’s Friday night!
Rather spooky video when ya think of it… anyway…
Brandon Chubb, ya need more SELF CONTROL, Bro!!!
From one of my favorite Christmas movies. You guys might enjoy the video. 😉
Hey Stanger! I’m not super worried about Sunday, but it’s not just us vs the Jets, it’s who we may be missing. I think if both teams play their best game, we’ll come out on top
The yets have the personnel on defense to do exactly what the pathetic Titans did to us. It’s up to the coaches to figure out how to adjust and the players to execute. I have no faith this team can do anything anymore. They’ve proven they can be beaten by anybody. It’s up to them to prove they’re more than a paper tiger, and they have 4 games to do it. We’d better see some urgency from these guys over that span, but I’m not buying in anymore. Talk is cheap….and there been way too much talk. We’ll see how it unfolds.
It’s funny, but up until the Titans loss, the Dolphins proved they could beat anybody with a less than .500 record. Their losses were to the Chiefs, Eagles and the Bills. This was their first loss to a poor team, and I think this game just got away from them so quickly, it was just strange. They have to find a way, any way to beat the Jets, and then try to get healthy enough to take down the Cowboys.
What game did you watch Mike? It didn’t get away from them quickly it was never in their hands. The Titans tried to give them the win. Gave the ball inside the 10 yard line twice. Plus the pick 6. The story is not about the last three minutes. They were getting beat all day. They were inept.
I have to agree with Rock. They were out coached and outplayed the whole game just about.
Connor Williams going down was a big part of that though on the offensive side along with Tyreek’s ankle injury getting aggravated.
But we were up by two TDs with 3-4 minutes to go.
Nice find by Ryder. Someone to fill the slot with Tyreek and Waddle. May be available in the 5th unless he climbs draft boards. This is the type of WR I am trying to find since we only have Tyreek, Waddle and EZ under contract next year (for now).
Every once in a while even really good teams just lay an egg.. let’s hope it was just one of those days .. and we come out with whoever is healthy and bust em in the mouth
Everybody in MN is loving on Flores right now. I just keep saying: “Just wait.” Lol
Rock – my point was we were up 14 with 3 minutes to go. Crazy shit has to happen to lose., and crazy shit happened. I watched the entire game, we shut down the run game, struggled with DeAndre Hopkins and the short pass and screens to Tyjae Spears.
Also, no excuse for the offense getting shut out when Tyreek went out, but sometimes when you rely so much on one player, the others can’t step up when you need them when the injury occurs during the game.
Crazy weather in Fort Lauderdale today. They canceled the boat parade cause of it (which is an awesome event if you ever get the chance to see — Yachts and ships made out with fantastic x-mas lights, music, and even dance troops going down the river and then up the coast a bit). Where I live normally gets shut down for car traffic for like 6 hours while it goes down.
Unless the weather gets better gonna be nasty windy and rainy at Hard Rock for the game, which probably benefits the Yets.
Its up here now been raining all afternoon and no end in sight til tomorrow. Hasn’t been windy at all.
Tua is the healthiest guy on the team. Gotta make it happen Tua!
Ethan Bonner elevated for the game tomorrow
Flores’s defense just gave up 3 TDs in the 4th Quarter
to blow the game and then lost in overtime
to a team with Jake Browning at QB.
I think we are all concerned about the jest game
for very good reasons.
Mainly
Last week we played with an OL of
UDFA from Appalachian State- UDFA from Alabama – 2nd round LT playing Center – UDFA from Middle Tennessee – First rounder.
Our original OL of
Pro Bowler – 1st rounder – Top 3 Center in NFL – 2nd rounder – 1st rounder
would’ve beaten Tennessee.
Need a Broncos win tonight
So as of *right now*, it would seem our O-Line is going to be *relatively* solid for tomorrow. Achane will be out.
Not necessarily with Eich at center. Someone posted that every game Eich played center we lost.
Tomorrows game is such a must win for us.
If the Bills beat Dallas at home tomorrow, they will be 10-6 coming in to Miami in January, for sure. Their next 2 games after the Cowboys are the Chargers and Patriots.
We have the Cowboys and Ravens on the road before the Bills game.
We could both be 10-6 going in to the final game playing for the division.
Mondays loss looms even larger.
^ INDEED!
BB Mike,
Have ya seen this one yet? Powerful message…
Yeah. He does one like this before Christmas every year. First time seeing him go all out pop besides the love song he did to his GF Nova. lol
I really like it! No, I wouldn’t want an entire album filled with his ‘pop-side’, but it’s really good, IMO.
I thought so.
BTW, Nova shoots and directs all his video’s. She is also good with her own music. She has just been stuck under the thumb of the Def Jam label. She wouldn’t do what they wanted her to do. She just recently got her freedom and released her first single as an independent.
I knew Nova shoots and directs all of his videos, but I did NOT know she was stuck under the thumb of Def Jam! WOW! I wonder what Russell Simmons thinks about her.
If ya didn’t already know, Russell Simmons was the founder of Def Jam.
It’s a song about her teen years where she was bounced group homes then ran away and lived on the streets with other teens.
bounced around group homes
Very saddening 😦
I can see where Nova and Tom formed a bond what with their past experiences. I’m happy for them both, in the present! 🙂
And as always, thank you for sharing!
I wonder what Russell Simmons thinks about her.
—————
Not sure but from what she has said Def Jam wanted to turn her into the next Britney Spears who raps. She wasn’t having it. It’s taken 10 years to get out from under them.
DAMN! In a similar story, Hopsin was stuck under the thumb of Ruthless Records (Eazy-E founded). His mother took over after Eazy-E passed away and wouldn’t let him out of his contract for whatever reason.
After the contract expired, Hopsin became GREAT on his own label.
I like Hopsin!
Did you see Chrome with TM, Adam Calhoun and Nova. It was entertaining. It’s about how they were when they were teens and young and dumb. TBH, I think Nova kind of took it with her verse.
I LIKE IT!!! And yeah, Nova tore it up!!!
I’d like to see Claypool get more involved- I wonder if he’s having trouble picking up the play book
+100000000
Was wondering the same last week. Especially after Tyreek was having issues with the ankle. I know he dinged up his knee one game but was only on the injury report for that next game.
Damn Broncos! Bills moving up 2 playoff spots today.
That pass-pro on the Denver O-Line SUCKS!
Didn’t a lot of us agree the AFC would be a battle this year? What’s changed?🤔
What’s changed? Lol….the Dolphins are leading it’s division by 2 games, has the second seed in the conference.
If NOT for a disaster on Monday, the Dolphins could be leading the division by 3 games and have the number ONE seed in the conference with 4 games left to play.
I would say a lot has changed since Monday.
Further, I would have thought Washington, Tennessee, and New York were “locks” for winnable games. Now, we might go 1-2 for that stretch. Nothing’s changed….lol.
I’m still pissed!!!
Sorry…lol
It game day.
Whatever
Bitches!
Rock, Dude, you’re an Institution.
I can’t start Game Day without your callin’ us out!
You’re a valued tradition. Part of the Mob Mystique.
This is the best team we’ve had in 20+ years.
I know it’s not perfect,
but we’re still building out the McDaniel / Fangio roster!
LFG Dolphins!
Sigh. 😔
Not feeling it. 😑
I‘ll give it a shot.
IT’S GAME DAY BITCHES!
GO DOLPHINS!
yehhhhh Now I’m ready!
Yup definitely not feeling it.
My God we have turned into the whiniest bitches. Lighten up everyone let’s enjoy this season while it is still here
Lol….not feeling it either, but will rooting my fucking ASS off for them to win!!!
Dolphins pregame simulation Bradley Chubb takes one back for an 84 yard pick six
Be glad we’re not San Diego!
or the pasties!
Got the game in my area. Many of you also in the NE to include HERD in WV.
Nantz and Romo covering.
https://www.si.com/nfl/cardinals/news/week-15-nfl-tv-coverage-map
Not Whiny at all, I think we should handle the Jets today. Again, not expecting a big win, but close to a 10 point victory though
There is a difference between whiny and pissed.
Like Krishna, I’m still pissed.
Last week’s loss sucked. We need to move past that and take care of what’s in front of us. Lose today and you can be as pissed as you want, because we lose today, we’re really in trouble!
At least rain is out of the area
I like when they’re picking against us. Too many people been picking us to win, now we’re not expected to win, so we’ll win. Kurt Warner just said Zach Wilson is going to throw for 300 yards, 2 TD’s, – 0 INT’s against us today
So he is predicting him to do what he did last week.
All we have to do is contain 2 players, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall.
They will be dumping it to Hall a lot.
Our D had one bad quarter against the Titans and now they’re going to get lit up by Wilson?
If that happens, we really are in total collapse.
I’m way more concerned about our offense today
We need to put extra pressure on the Bills when they play the afternoon game by beating the Jets. A Texans win at the Titans will help also.
Another sucky thing is these teams who can keep the Bills from getting a WC seed all have to play each other.
I’m not whiny. I was disappointed. Frustrated with this team and how that game unfolded. But I’m still here, doing laundry. It was cold last week, I was wearing a Dolphins sweatshirt-thinking I need to burn it rather than wash it.
LETS GO DOLPHINS!!!
I’m not wearing any Dolphins gear for this game. Not a chance! First time all season besides the Fest that I wore Dolphins gear and we had one of the worst losses in recent Dolphins history!
I always wear dolphins gear. I’ve even changed shirts mid game if necessary. 😂
Mike McDaniel needs to coach his ass off today. He needs to find a way to get other guys successful if Hill can’t do what he usually does.
It’d be nice if we can get out of this game without losing anyone for the season. That is the streak we need to break.
Achane is active
https://x.com/miamidolphins/status/1736423637446426704?s=46&t=iJM4Q1l5mMck0UQRm2xJ-w
yikes
Jevon, DeShon, and X all not playing is really not good.
3/4 of our starting secondary. Now I see why some are picking Wilson to light us up.
Dammit, we’re going into this game really missing a lot of players. That being said, gotta win with what we got! No one will sympathize with us losing because we were missing X, Tyreek, Holland, Elliott and whoever else is out. This offense can’t get grounded because Tyreek is out and the secondary can’t get abused because Holland, Elliott and X are out. Guys gotta step up and get it done!!
JPP inactive. Wonder when he gets a chance to play. Anyone watching NFLN? Kurt Warner is looking an awful lot like Cesar Romero’s Joker on the TV version of Batman.
I was kind of hoping the bad weather would still be happening, I think it favoured us 🤔… we do seem to have ALL our RBs active today.. I expect that to be the focus today … i also had to ( in a 16 team fantasy league) pick up Ced Wilson to replace Olave today .. GO PHINS …
24-13🐬
All our current injuries have me FREAKING out. 4 of last 5 games at home had us all so hopeful … then a slew of injuries at key positions. Losing Williams for the season is a seriously big hit considering all the exchange issues when he doesn’t play. A healthy Holland is also critical to making this defense work. ugh. I’m not even gonna go through the list. It makes my stomach hurt.
So I just finished another play through of the season in franchise mode, and I’m heading into the playoffs with a first round bye again. 😎 but I look at my stats and I’m like oh my God lol the poor kid. De’Von Achane has 2387 yards rushing on 339 carries and 38 touchdowns for NFL records across-the-board lol.
That is what we have been missing lately IRL. Those 3-4 big 50 yard plays from different contributes to have defenses reeling
AFC Player of the Week ready to light up Ramsey and Howard….
Damn our inactives….
GO COWBOYS
I am such an emotional roller coaster to live with. Sorry guys. LOL
AHHHHHHH! We are only #3 in rushing while still being #1 in passing and now having the #9 overall D… THE SKY IS FALLING!
Shut up….LALALALALALALALALALALALA….I..CAN’T…HEAR…YOU……..LALALALALALA
🫣
I’m in the front seat of that coaster with you. lol
Anyone know if Melvin Igram is active today?
I DO NOT FEEL GOOD ABOUT THIS
I DO NOT FEEL GOOD ABOUT THIS!!!!
AHHHHHHHHH!
PROVE ME WRONG BITCHES!!!!!!
Hopefully Eich is wearing his big boy pants today going up against Williams. Also hope his calf holds up and we don’t have to see Harrison who just got on the team.
Fuck Waddle hurt
I don’t even want to watch this
That’s not good
and a fucking penalty
Football gods are really testing us
Can we have a series where we DON’T lose a fucking player?
OMG AHHHHHHHHHHHH
Jackson signs his contract and looks like he’s returning to form 😡
You’re brutal! He’s playing well, I’d rather him hold there than see Tua crushed and out for the season
He was abysmal last week especially at the end of the game. Now he starts off with a holding call
It’s all the evil barista’s fault…..
Asking for “adversity”
I predict a scoring drive for NY and a fit of rage by Rockphin
We need that defense to be strong today!!!! 💪
How you felling Ken?? What area are you in today again?
I am always nervous
go chubb
No pressure
Kohou might be the whipping boy today
Sieler 👍👍
Hehehehehehehe ok feeling a little bit better… going to get a drink now.
Same!! 😂
Now that was pressure 😀
Well, that will work
Defense!!!
OFFENSE!!
Mostert breaking records!!! WOOOOOHOOOOOO
RIDE THE ROLLERCOASTER!
Wilkins with the pressure 😎
Chubb is having a game so far. LOL
He needs to. I’m still pissed about that unnecessary penalty last week.
Seiler wants another TD