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 
The apple penalty was a penalty, that one wasn’t
lol, uh ok, see I guess
Huh, ok
Better
Shut up Romo
If he wasn’t outside the pocket it would be grounding
Where has Berrios been in the passing game?
Not yet
I can’t remember the last game he caught a ball.
Now let’s run
We need a true punt returner. At least Berrios is reliable and goes north/south.
It was bullshit, they saw I said it was bullshit, then picked up the flag. 🤣
Lol, that is how I feel.
Keep up the good work Mike E
Ok offense, the goal here is to change field position. Get a couple of first downs and take some time off the clock.
Damn Browns and Texans losing.
Didn’t realize Keenum was starting for Texans
Is Chris Brooks active or Darryton Evans?
Evan’s I think
Evans
You can’t throw that flag there either
Huge penalty! Now we can think about scoring
lol…3 1/2 minutes left they should have already been thinking score
IMO scoring this drive was secondary. The first order of importance was to change field position. Achieved that, now thinking about scoring
Just imagine if we still had Wynn, Williams and Hunt playing in the middle. OL has been decimated. We expected what we’ve gotten from Armstead but not the rest.
Knock on wood but the line has been okay
Keep empowering these thoughts guys 👍👍
There he is!
Come on Tua don’t start that BS
There was Berrios
Oh boy, that was a scary throw
Seems like Tua has been throwing some high balls the last couple games
Third and seven here I FUCKING RUN
I put Waddle, Chosen, Achane and Mostert on the field together and run with Achane.
FOR
A
TOUCHDOWN
Now run this clock all the way down and finish it off in the endzone
or a slant to Waddle, that’s will work too.
Why the heck don’t they have Sauce shadowing Waddle? Not that I’m complaining
Give it to Mostert again
20 TDs for Mostert
That’s terrible. I laughed out loud.
Make that blue tent a permanent structure.
Love it
2nd half I want to see backup running backs
Pats giving Chiefs a fight
Ok defense, nothing cheap here. Finish this off strong.
3 Totals yards of offense for Jets
The Jersey Ape is in
I put on the Ramsey jersey I didn’t want to buy, but Mike E psyked me into getting in stead of the one I wanted……
Me and my cabal sent 3o strippers in Jet’s gear to the hotel last night….
I’m tired of hearing about the Jets OL issues
So do we but no excuses
Really
A near perfect 1st half.
Way to go, Dolphins!!
Wow Chubb
They may have to divide that sack into thirds. lol
I look at Aaron Rodgers and 3 words come to mind, in different order each time.
Smug – Arrogant – Douchebag
4 total offensive yards for the jests in the first half
After that last series, the Jets have 4 total yards of offense in the first half.
Beer to Piggy.
4 yards in 27 plays
Our team came to play today. They’ve been great in every phase of the game
Let us not stop being vigilant. 24-0 is not an insurmountable goal against this team.
That TD to Waddle was a thing of beauty. In stride on the dead run
Yes it was
Hell, I owe you BOTH beers. Expensive ones… at the game.
I love that shot of Tua right after the bomb to Waddle where he looks right at the camera and points, superheroish, and then with his hands mimes keep talking
HEY at the old folks on the halftime show saying the shit we say! Good on them!
Let’s get a 3 and out to start off the half and never let these guys think they can get back in it for a second!
Does dehydration = getting the piss knocked out of you?
And crying in the showers at the half
lol
That play may have been so predictable, Chubb got there before the pass
Beautiful
Thats his best run back of the year
Excellent return for a change by Berrios
Starters will be sitting after the next TD
They better keep this up, that’s all I’ve got to say……..
LOL 😂🤣😂🤣😂❤️😒
for the eighth time at home? LET’S DO IT!
It’s PTSD not a concussion LOL
🤣
Just punt
LOL
Or go for it
That’s my 🐧
Hey, give credit to Eich for toughing it out today
100%
Mostert time
I noticed Lamm at RT . Hope Jackson is ok
That wasn’t pretty
I’m fine seeing the backup RB’s now
Reek over there in MM’s ear “run the ball”
No PI ?
Dont know how romo is defending that no call
If you impede the receiver’s ability it’s PI. It wasn’t that high over his head
He could have gotten deeper in the EZ where it was thrown if he hadn’t been tangled up.
Our patchwork oline has had a heck of a game against a good Jest D line. It helps the Jest have a couple of in-game injuries, but still.
Our team came out ready to play today. We had a lot going against us heading into this one, and we have been lights out.
Just finish strong this time
Omg. They are switching to another game. Hopefully can see it on the ticket. 🙄
Wow, that’s crazy! This game is on my local station so they can’t get off it
It was for me too and they still shifted and because it was the local broadcast I can’t get it on the ticket
I hope a lot of the fans that were at the MNF meltdown are at this game and enjoying it
They just shifted coverage here in CT I can’t get the game any more
Here too. Fuck them. I pay $300 for the NFL ticket and I can’t even watch our team
They switched it on Sunday ticket ?? That’s just WRONG
I had to switch to the ticket vs the local broadcast. 🙄
Not 100% sure, but I don’t think that was possible when DirecTV had it
So it showed up on your ticket after they switched? I was wondering if that would happen.
I have it on Ticket, not local, so I didn’t have to worry about that, but I was curious if you’d have the option on ticket
Beautiful!!
For a second I thought we were gonna do it again
All I want for Christmas is a shutout
Ok, now let’s get out of this game with no injuries
Bri – Herd was able to change to the local broadcast, see if you can do that
It is on local in WV
per the coverage map
The OL has been barely okay, IMO.
We only have 39 yards rushing on 18 attempts.
Thank you MM for not abandoning the run.
I think they’ve done a great job.
Relatively
Damn Browns still losing to Bears at home
Texans still down to Titans
bailbondmike says:
December 17, 2023 at 3:13 pm
It is on local in WV
It was. Until they switched to a more competitive game. 🙄
Which is really not that competitive
Damn, still got it down here on the panhandle
Using all 4 downs to milk the clock
Nice! Run up the gut on 4th for a 1st. Got us to the 4th quarter. Jest falling like flies. Dolphins staying healthy.
Fingers crossed!
What a concept…run up the middle on short yardage
Who da thunk it
I can watch on the ticket again. I couldn’t at first.
I was watching on the local broadcast- just switched to ST. Fingers crossed
I feel our rushing numbers are a bit skewed because we’ve had quite a few outside runs for big negatives. We’ve had some good timely runs today and the oline has mostly given Tua time. Couldn’t ask for more from 4 backups and a starter.
Back on ! Thanks Herd and Mike E!
Well, going to miss 4th quarter. Have to drive 25 min to next county.
I think we are safe to win. 😉
That’s awesome it showed up on the ticket. I’m almost positive it didn’t work that way on DirecTV.
We’ve actually been running up the gut on short yardage for a couple of games now. And it’s been working.
Imagine that
We certainly called for it enough, lol.
Yeah – I noticed too
Maybe McDaniel hurt all of our squealing
Any word on why Lamm is in there?
I’ve been sipping eggnog all game. I’m supposed to go to my mom’s for dinner later, not sure I’m going to be able to get there and I literally only have to walk across the street.
Does anyone wants another Aaron Rogers update
What’s it’s like to be shutout while watching from the sideline
Groundbreaking stuff!
I am back
Game ball to that man