2024 Season – Game 9 – Dolphins @ Rams MNF

The Miami Dolphins haven’t given us a whole lot to celebrate, but today’s article is a milestone, and something we should all be proud of. This article will be #1000, and that’s a pretty significant mark. That takes years my friends, and we have all been together for quite a number of years. So let me thank of all you who still come here to share our misery, or happiness together. My hope is we have a lot more happiness than misery for the rest of this season, but the Dolphins draw a difficult matchup in the Los Angeles Rams, in their house on the primest of prime time games, Monday Night Football. The Rams are on a 3 game win streak, while our Dolphins are going the opposite way, 3 straight losses. The good news is, despite the 3 losses, in the last 2 games, our offense has played their best football of the season, and you have to think if they can continue playing as well on offense, the wins will happen.

QB Tua Tagovailoa played nearly flawlessly last week against our division rival Buffalo Bills. Tua completed 25 of 28 pass attempts for 231 yards and 2 TD’s and zero INT’s. This marks the very first time that QB Tua Tagovailoa played well against the Bills. He played well enough to win, that’s for sure. You can blame Mike McDaniel for leaving too much time on the clock, 1 minute and 38 seconds to be exact. Obviously scoring was paramount, but knowing how well Bills QB Josh Allen plays with the game on the line, it would have been better to leave him little or no time to generate a comeback drive. Our defense hasn’t been great this season, but we were also missing key players all over the defense, namely DT Zach Sieler, S Jevon Holland, CB Kader Kohou and CB Storm Duck. We did force a 61 yard FG attempt by beleaguered PK Tyler Bass, who earlier in the game missed an extra point attempt, but of course, we’re the 21st century Miami Dolphins, and of course the 61 yarder was GOOD!

Let’s face it, we’re 2-6, but there’s still the slimmest chance to remain relevant and make a playoff push. It MUST start here, this Monday night in Los Angeles. We’re 31st in offensive scoring but the last 2 games with Tua at the helm, we’ve scored 27 PPG, and lost both. We miss Zach Sieler, and we miss Jevon Holland as well. I don’t think we get Holland back, but Sieler is probably going to make his return. How about DE/OLB Emmanuel Ogbah playing with a torn biceps muscle? You have to give this guy some serious respect. The defense has also made a significant change, and so far the change seems to be the right one. The Dolphins have replaced ILB David Long with backup ILB Anthony Walker. Long was being targeted far too much in the passing game, and so far, Walker has been up to the task and has been better than Long. Recent OLB pickup Tyus Bowser has also seen a lot of playing time with Emmanuel Ogbah doing more work on the DL with Sieler OUT. Despite our recent defensive woes, our defense has been better than the Rams defense. Dolphins have allowed 23.4 PPG good for 17th while the Rams have allowed 24.3 PPG which is 22nd. Getting Sieler and Kohou back will help, although Cam Smith looked like he at least belonged on the field, and his coverage on that ill fated illegal hit to the helmet by S Jordan Poyer was tight, he had the receiver played perfectly until Poyer came in with the helmet to helmet hit which was such a huge penalty.

Right now it’s one game at a time. Go to LA, get the “W”, and you’re 3-6, but come home to face the Las Vegas Raiders next Sunday, and then the following week, the New England Patriots, once again, at home. This truly is a must win situation for our Dolphins. I’m not going to look for statistics, but I wouldn’t expect to find an NFL team that made the playoffs that started out the season 2-7. The situation is desire, and there really is no room for error. We had the Cardinals game, leading by 9 points in the 4th quarter, and let that one slip away, the missed snap of course loomed very large in that game. Last week we score the go ahead TD against the Bills only to lose on a long 61 yard FG. We just can’t afford to make costly mistakes, our margin of error is GONE! The Rams WR corps in now healthy, which means our defense will have its hands full. Both star WR’s, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are healthy, although Puka Nacua is playing through a knee injury. Their RB Kyren Williams has been having an excellent season, rushing for over 600 yards with 8 rushing TD’s, and 116 yards receiving with 2 TD’s.

I think the run game has really been the key to our offensive success the last 2 games. Our O-line has been opening up huge holes and our backs have been making the most of that. Of course, having a competent QB run the offense makes all the world of difference, and Tua has played extremely well. His patience has been exceptional, he hasn’t gotten frustrated and tried to take what wasn’t there, he’s not forcing the ball to Hill or Waddle. The RB’s have become a much bigger part of the passing game, with Achane leading the Dolphins in receptions with 37 for 302 yards. TE Jonnu Smith has also been used in the pass game as an outlet. I commend QB Tua Tagovailoa for his resolve, I’m sure his two star WR’s Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle must be in his ear constantly begging for the ball, but he has resisted throwing into heavy coverage. There are 2 rookie defensive players on the Rams that have played excellent football, 1st RD pick (19th overall) OLB Jared Verse who has 3.5 sacks, and his Florida State teammate, DT Braden Fiske, who was the 2nd RD pick (39th overall) for the Rams, has 3 sacks. These guys were thrilled to be drafted by the same team, and are a dangerous pair. The Rams have 21 sacks overall, while our Dolphins have only 10. DE’s Calais Campbell and Emmanuel Ogbah lead the Dolphins in sacks with 2 a piece.

We’ve been saying it for a couple of weeks now, we have to win, but this time it’s not just a warning. A loss this Monday Night and there is a very good chance some heads are going to roll. Our playoff chances will be over with, and I don’t know how patient Dolphins Owner Steve Ross is going to be. He opened his checkbook and paid for whatever Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel asked him to pay for, and 2-8 doesn’t cut it. Even if somehow we were to win enough games to be either 7-10 or 8-9, winning with the pressure off because the playoffs are unattainable should be unacceptable to this owner. Like it or not, there was Super Bowl talk around this team, because of the success we had last season, the fact that Tua stayed healthy the entire season. Steve Ross OK’s paying Tua, and WR’s Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and then CB Jalen Ramsey and even RB Raheem Mostert. We then signed a boatload of players to 1 year contracts to fill up the roster. This is supposed to be a Super Bowl run, and instead we’ve had an injured QB, and then a roster and a Head Coach that seemed totally unprepared to play without the starting QB. A completely non competitive team all around, and if we are to lose on Monday Night Football, both GM Chris Grier and HC Mike MCdaniel might want to take some pictures when we get back to FLA next week, because they could potentially be some of their last days there.

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631 Responses to 2024 Season – Game 9 – Dolphins @ Rams MNF

  1. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    bailbondmike says:
    November 11, 2024 at 2:54 pm

    …I am really high on ILB Jay Higgins from Iowa. I think he is clearly the best cover ILB coming out in the 2025 draft.
    —————
    I saw a tweet from somebody this past week… think it was PFF College. They posted Higgins’ stats and grades for this season: my jaw almost dropped! I have yet to see a single play of his, but I’m really looking forward to viewing his tape.

    Thought to myself, ‘ya know… we sure could use a LB like that!’.

  2. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Page-turn repost…

    pieguyevan

     says:

    November 11, 2024 at 7:11 pm

    Thanks MF! Been a big fan of your positivity here over the years brother! Look forward to joining in the conversations a little more now!

    ————

    Thank you, kind sir! I hope you have a great time in Miami, Bro!

  3. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Pieguy – Really happy to have another poster, and pretty cool that you’re a pizza guy to boot. Looking forward to seeing you on here and let yourself be heard! Vent if you must, or pour out gushing enthusiasm, either is welcome.

  4. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    🐬 vs 🐏

    🌞 31-24 🐬

    🐷 35-10 🐬

  5. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Before you pick your score, know Tua is 4-7 in prime time games . . .

  6. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    I’m actually expecting a good game from our squad. I think we take a really close one. 1-3 point victory tonight

  7. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    Why is Tua dressed like he is playing in Alaska?

  8. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    Time to f shit up! Season turnaround here we come! It starts tonight.

  9. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    Nice drive

  10. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    TD!!! Malik!!!

  11. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    MALIK!!! TD!!!

  12. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    weird to see a defense that doesn’t assault our WRs off the LOS

  13. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    The Cracraft effect

  14. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Where has this been all season?!!

    GREAT drive!!!

  15. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Seiler is back

  16. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    Beast

    92

  17. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    That was also a very nice escape and throw to Waddle by Tua on that 3rd and long

  18. pieguyevan's avatar pieguyevan says:

    SIELER’S BACK!!!

  19. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    SIELER!!!

  20. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    🛑

  21. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    question is will we be able to overcome something stupid, like a Tua fumbled snap for a safety, a Duke Riley personal foul on STs after a decent return, a false start…

    Will they stay disciplined

  22. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    wtf is going on on those first two plays

  23. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Tua looks like 💩

  24. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    That possession was as bad as the first one was good

  25. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    that’s more like what we’re used to

  26. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    yep we keep playing like it’s the first day of camp

  27. Brian in NY's avatar Brian in NY says:

    Siran Neal was a ST’s ace until he met Danny Crossman

  28. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    I also don’t understand why Jonnu Smith and Hill are racially running to the same spot on those routes

  29. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    our players must be spending too much time on South Beach

  30. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    Another ST mistake

  31. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Piggy slinging racial accusations. LOL

  32. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    pork chop

  33. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    Chop

  34. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    his name is PORK CHOP

    do not deny the oink!

  35. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Is Chop finally getting it?

  36. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    we should just throw it all night

  37. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    nice play Mostert

  38. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    we are just losing yards on these outside runs

  39. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    Wright’s first poor run of the year

  40. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    it’s generous to call that pass “batted”

  41. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    pretty sure Chop was help there

    he looked like cam wake for a second

  42. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    Rams are hard to beat at home, because they always seem to get those head scratching calls by refs

    You just saw a non call obvious holding or Cjop would have 2

  43. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    6💥

  44. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    Good hands by Walket

  45. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    McDaniel is changing out the backs too often, with the exception of Achane. Guys need to get in a rhythm

  46. Brian in NY's avatar Brian in NY says:

    Pork Chop has played well the last three weeks

  47. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    employ backfield on 3rd and 2 is not my favorite

    and the 🐧 drop drives me crazy

  48. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Waddle???

  49. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    looked like a Detroit fist pump

  50. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    it “got on him”

    happens

  51. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Yeah, Waddle needs to work on his hands. Way too many dropsies this season for him.

  52. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    STs trying hard to F it up, should’ve been facemask

  53. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Campbell for defensive mvp

  54. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    That’s what Cambell Soup is mmm mm good

  55. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Can NOT say enough greatness about Calais Campbell!!!

  56. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Julian Hill for bullfighter of the year

  57. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    When our D plays this good and our O doesn’t take advantage of it the D eventually fall apart

  58. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    throwing on his back foot for no reason

  59. Brian in NY's avatar Brian in NY says:

    Tua has made a few good throws tonight, but he’s looked like shit on a lot of other throws.

  60. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    WTF Tua

  61. Brian in NY's avatar Brian in NY says:

    Tua needs to get the fuck out of the way there

  62. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    🤚

  63. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    we got better field position from the fumble than of Tua would have completed the pass

  64. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    That fumble is the type of play the Rams usually get a BS reversal on, maybe it’s our night

  65. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    defense showing tonight

    on both teams

  66. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    OL getting destroyed

  67. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    We’re missing Ingold

  68. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Eichenberg SUCKS.

  69. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    McDaniel is calling another horrible game

  70. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    holy fuck how many turnovers backtobacktoback

  71. Brian in NY's avatar Brian in NY says:

    Tua looks lost out there today

  72. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Tua has been absolutely careless with the ball

  73. Brian in NY's avatar Brian in NY says:

    verse ripped that out of someone’s hands

  74. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Man, Tua went from good to awful in this one

  75. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    I TOLD Y’ALL(!) that our O-Line isn’t built for pass-pro. If Tua can’t get rid of it within 2.5 seconds due to excellent coverage, he’s fucked.

  76. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    3rd and long, pressure right in the middle

    secure the ball Tua – take a sack

    he’s playing so stupid

  77. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Like I said. Defense is showing tonight

  78. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    we can’t win this game, unless the D gives up zero TDs

  79. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Mike McDanile is also calling a horrible game (again)

    I don’t know why he is sol reluctant to throw on first down

    we lose so many yards on those outside runs I feel like he’s always asking Tua to dig him out of a hole

  80. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    hey look at that – a RB in the backfield on 3rd and 4

  81. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    Good hold D

  82. son of a son of a shula's avatar son of a son of a shula says:

    Let’s give Mostert a few carries and settle down. Nice long scoring drive. 💪

  83. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    offense tanked a good chance to go ahead by 2 scores early

    let’s see if McDaniel learns his lesson

    throw on first down on the first drive

    please don’t do an outside run – and lose 5 yards

  84. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Bri – Tua had a really nice escape and made a nice throw to Waddle on that 1st drive. Since then he’s out of sync

  85. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    We need a deep ball at some point against a suspect secondary

  86. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    Tua may have been concussed when he took that knee to the head for trying to make a tackle head first on his interception. Brilliant.

  87. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    hill should not have gone so far outside

  88. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    NICE run up the middle

  89. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    I don’t care if your name is Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, etc…

    If one only has 2.5 seconds to find an open receiver and your O-Line can’t pass-block, you’re fucked.

    This ‘speed-bump’ O-Line pass-pro idealogy isn’t going to work… especially when our receivers face man-to-man bump coverage.

  90. Brian in NY's avatar Brian in NY says:

    I forgot Mcvay was only 30 when he got the HC gig. That’s insane

  91. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    That loss of 15 is bozo world

    he’s got to let that go

  92. Brian in NY's avatar Brian in NY says:

    Tua has his head up his ass today

  93. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Throw the ball away. WTF

  94. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    OMG the ghost of Adam Gase

  95. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Tua is trying to do way too much

    way too much

  96. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    How many screens today?

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