2024 Season – Game 12 – Dolphins @ Packers

The run must continue! The Miami Dolphins travel to Green Bay Wisconsin to play the Green Bay Packers in a late Thanksgiving matchup. The Dolphins have now won 3 games in a row, but this game will be different. Let me explain why it’s different. The first victory of the 3 game winning streak was no easy challenge. They were facing the LA Rams, who at that time were on their own 3 game win streak, and were playing well, and just got both of their excellent WR’s back in Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. That was a well earned victory. Winning in the NFL any week is a good victory because “Any Given Sunday” is an expression that is both accurate and respected. The Dolphins shut down a Rams offense from getting into the endzone that Sunday, beating the Rams 23-15. Since then, the offense has really kicked into gear, as we put 34 points on both the Las Vegas Raiders, and then last week, the New England Patriots, both home games for the Dolphins. This week’s game will likely feature temperatures between 20-25 degrees. For our Miami Dolphins, that’s a factor that has had our Dolphins stymied throughout history. That needs to change tonight!

I believe the type of football we have been playing the last few games can survive in colder climes. We’re no longer relying on a deep passing aerial attack, we’re moving the ball methodically with a short passing game using the running backs, the TE’s, and the WR’s at usually no more than 10-15 downfield. Tua will hit those passes all day long, and receivers like RB De’Von Achane and TE Jonnu Smith have turning some of those short passes into nice gains. This is something we just couldn’t do when our offense was floundering. If you took WR’s Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and bumped them off their routes and manhandled them, our offense was done. Finally, HC Mike McDaniel has found the solution. If opposing defenses are going to play the umbrella defense with two safeties high, and commit to take away the deep strikes this offense relied upon last season, the answer is to play a ball control offense mixing the run game by using running backs, WR’s on jet sweeps and even TE’s too, namely Jonnu Smith. In addition, playing a lot of 2 TE sets, especially with the absence of FB Alec Ingold, who is back now, but using the TE’s to block and also as receivers and moving the ball downfield with short gains and getting lots of first downs on the way to the endzone. This offense can play anywhere, but the big question is, can the psyche of this team survive in the cold?

LG Robert Jones, who is banged up is going to start this game tonight, but finally, in Week 13, LG Isaiah Wynn is available. Former 2nd stringer LG Lester Cotton was released, so obviously they feel Wynn can make it through the rest of the season. If Jones falters, expect to see Wynn sooner than later. On defense, we’re going to miss 3 players for this matchup, CB Kendall Fuller (concussion), ILB Anthony Walker is OUT and will be replaced by former Seattle Seahawks LB who played last week, Tyrel Dodson, and OLB Tyus Bowser is OUT and will be replaced by rookie Mo Kamara. CB Kendall Fuller will be replaced by a combo of CB’s Cam Smith and rookie UDFA Storm Duck. The Packers will be without CB Jaire Alexander, LB Edgerrin Cooper, and WR Romeo Doubs.

If you’re here, you’re a die hard fan of the Miami Dolphins and you’re painfully aware of the Dolphins woes in colder climes. There are many stats out there that can be discounted for one reason or another, but 0-11 when the temperature is below 40 degrees is hard to defend. For some clarity, QB Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t been the QB for all of those games, just 7 of them, and the stats are not pretty. These are the stats in those 7 games . . .

  • Completion rate: 135-of-243 (55.6%)
  • Passing yards: 1,687
  • Passing TDs: 8
  • INTs: 10
  • Yards/attempt: 6.9
  • Passer rating: 71.13
  • Completion rate: 1,151-of-1,666 (69.1%)
  • Passing yards: 12,911
  • Passing TDs: 87
  • INTs: 32
  • Yards/attempt: 7.7
  • Passer rating: 101.35

Above are stats for QB Tua Tagovailoa in every other game, and the difference is striking.The QB rating in particular takes a 30 point nosedive. The TD:INT ratio is significantly worse, going from a positive 55 to a negative 2. The good news is, and I believe it’s good news, is QB Tua Tagovailoa appears to have some swagger, some confidence, that he can change this. He made a statement recently that he loves killing narratives. Well, this narrative has legs, thick ones, and believe me, it would be an absolute pleasure to see Tua and the Dolphins succeed and beat a good team in Prime Time in a cold weather situation. For what it’s worth, the oddsmakers believe it’s a close call as the Packers are only 3.5 point favorites at home.

The Dolphins vs Packers are the marquis matchup this Thanksgiving, with the other games being the (4-7) Dallas Cowboys hosting the (2-9) NY Giants, and the NFL’s best (10-1) Detroit Lions hosting the (4-7) Chicago Bears. The Dolphins at 5-6 wouldn’t usually get so much respect, or deserve it, but this team is playing its best football right now, scoring 30.3 PPG during the 3 game win streak and 29 PPG over the last 5 games, which include 2 difficult losses, a 1 point last second loss to the Arizona Cardinals and a 3 point loss to our rival Buffalo Bills. Tua is back, and he’s been dealing! 11 TD’s against only 1 INT in those last 5 games, that’s just on fire. I like that Tua is confident, even if it’s just for the press. Maybe just saying it will bore into into his psyche and he’ll start believing it. We simply can’t beat the Packers unless Tua is playing well, the offense just doesn’t work.

Now a little about the defense. Our defense is not a scary one, but it’s starting to come around. It was crystal clear how much the defense missed DE Zach Sieler. He could be one of the most underrated DE’s in the NFL. He and DE Calais Campbell have been unbelievable with 4 sacks each, but their play is so much more than sacks, Both Sieler and Campbell have over 30 tackles each, Campbell leads the team with 9 tackles for loss, Sieler leads the team with 9 QB hits. Rookie OLB Chop Robinson has made an impact the last few weeks as I highlighted in the last article, and he now has 3.5 sacks, all of them coming in the last 4 games. DE Emmanuel Ogbah quietly has 3.5 sacks as well, he nnever seems to get any credit, but is always doing his job, and doing it well, a true professional. Mo Kamara will get his first real action of the season with OLB Tyus Bowser OUT. ILB Tyrel Dodson got his first start last week in place of the injured Anthony Walker and will once again start this week. He was the leading tackler on the Seattle Seahawks when he was strangely released, and the Dolphins wisely snatched him up. He quickly leapfrogged ILB’s Duke Riley and Channing Tindall. Her came up with a game sealing INT at 5:19 left in the game against the Patriots.

The Packers are top 10 in scoring on offense, 8th (26.6 PPG), and 6th in defensive scoring (20.3 PPG). The Packers have also won 6 of 7, the lone loss coming to the NFL’s best Detroit Lions 24-14. This is not an easy task for us, even a desperate team like the Dolphins who have little or no margin for error and one loss could end the playoff aspirations of this team. The Packers are in a fight of their own in the stacked NFC North, and at 8-3, are third in their own division behind the 10-1 Lions, and the 9-2 Vikings. The Packers will certainly get a Wild Card because the rest of NFC is mediocre at best, but if the Packers want to compete for a division title, they must continue to win to keep pace. Whatever happens tonight, I hope the Dolphins play their best football. If they do, I think they can hang with the Packers and potentially take them down too. Just play great, and the rest will fall into place. I wish all of you a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy!

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326 Responses to 2024 Season – Game 12 – Dolphins @ Packers

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

    Jordan Poyer knows what’s up. Soft as fuck

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

    Page turn! 💥

  3. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    Do people finally understand why I keep saying our D is not good?

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

    that’s game. Get rid of McDaniel. It’s clear that he can’t compete against the better coaches in the league. Anyone who can’t see that knows nothing about football.

  5. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Ken says:
    November 28, 2024 at 9:41 pm
    Cam Smith sucks
    ———
    Well… he’s a CB who wears #24 for our Phins and his last name is Smith. Reminds us all of one Seanathan Smith! 😉

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

    Tua had three people open on that play

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

    I know Tua gets blamed

    but are we going to pretend he didn’t miss some big throws there

    • Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

      He absolutely blew chunk on that last drive. Tua talks the talk now but hasn’t walked the walk

      • The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

        he’s got a 2nd half to prove himself

        But what we are seeing tonight is a re-occurring problem

        this isn’t the OL or the D

        he’s just missing open receivers

        don’t get me wrong – every part of this game is no good for us

        but when you are behind – you need your QB to the savage of every opportunity – and he’s missing guys

  8. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    Tua missing high a lot tonight

  9. ukfinfan's avatar ukfinfan says:

    G’night folks. Seen this movie b4 and just remembered how it ends. Back to 😴

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

    if we don’t score in the first drive of the second half, I’m turning the game off and enjoying the rest of my night.

    • The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

      when do you want your heartbreak in 2024

      a. The first drive of the 2nd half

      b. The 4rh qtr

      c late December

      d. Week 1 of the playoffs

      let’s go! Fighting for “d”…lol

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

    Ken – certainly not the offense or ST’s. You are watching the game, right? 24-3, special teams set up the first TD right away. The offense couldn’t get going and in the one drive they did they couldn’t get it in the endzone. We have to score about 30 points a game to win. 3 points is not playing well. Tua had a chance to bring us closer and he missed at least 3 throws on that drive. We need him to be as good as ir better than Love and he’s been outplayed so far

    • Ken's avatar Ken says:

      Nothing is working tonight but poor D is the #1 reason we are where we are. It put us in a deep hole and is losing valuable TOP the offense needs to get back in it. So far this game is on the D. Yes the O and ST are not helping but it is the D why we are getting crushed

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

    I love trialing by 21

    bc they have no choice but to put it on Tua’s shoulders

    and I really beleive Tua can do it

    but it’s on him

    let it sling

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

    this isn’t the Offense, the defense, or special teams

    This is Mike McDaniel

    time after time in big games, against the good teams in the NFL, his team is unprepared right out of the gate. He consistently gets out-coached against the better coaches in the league. I really don’t think he has what it takes to get this team win consistently against the better teams in this league, which of course will translate into having no playoff success if we actually beat up on the lesser teams and win a game or two against the better teams (see the last three years). If Ross has any fucking clue what his doing , which I don’t think he does, then he would fire Grier and McDaniel and the entire coaching staff at the end of the season.

  14. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    I’ve watched Tua not even throw or look at about 6 open guys. This offense blows.

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

    delay of game says everything I need to know

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

    The defense really fucked Tua up on that drive. Damn the defense!

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

    Tua is a placeholder for a franchise QB

    he’s not. Franchise QB

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

    Fuck a Duck!

  19. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    This Defense isn’t playing any better than Tua this evening.

  20. bookman11's avatar bookman11 says:

    I love the uniforms though. How can they even think about continuing in the new ones. If they overhaul one thing in the off-season it should be the uniforms.

  21. ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

    Embarrassing. I’m sick of this team. Sitting at lambeau freezing for a team that doesnt get off the bus. Yay we beat 2 horrible teams to give us hope.

    Nowhere to be seen in games that matter.

    Blow it the fuck up.

  22. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Our 11-game losing streak in 40 degrees or less spans several coaching staffs ago. Know what that means? It ain’t all on Tua. The whole team has sucked in these conditions, both Offense and Defense — AND STs — probably since Joe Philbin was picking up gum wrappers.

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

    Ken – Injuries are far from the only knock on Tua. He can’t show up against better teams. He could keep us in this game if he plays well. He hasn’t and historically, he hasn’t done it either. No more excuses.

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

    it’s not a narrative Ken, it’s a fact. I think all of us would LOVE to be proven wrong. Tua is a good QB, but that’s it. He’s nothing special .

    • Ken's avatar Ken says:

      It’s a narrative. Tua is fine. He is not having a good night but the look at the difference in our team when he is on the field as opposed to when he is not

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

    That call was total garbage

  26. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    Only 3 more to go

  27. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    ACHANE!!!!!!!

  28. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    TUA 2 WADDLE for 2!!!!!

  29. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Great… Jordyn Brooks is down now. SMH

  30. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    13 missed tackles tonight but its Tua’s fault

  31. bookman11's avatar bookman11 says:

    Storm TerDUCKen not looking good.

  32. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Tackle Wicks with your fucking purse, Miami Defense! WTF?!!!!!!!! 😡

  33. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Now Kendall Lamm is down??? GTFOH…

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

    11 points won’t win many NFL games, even teams with elite defenses

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

    These refs suck

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

    how the fuck do you take a sack on 4th down?

  37. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    Bad play calling

  38. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    Shut the fuck up it has nothing to do with weather

  39. Ken's avatar Ken says:

    I think we are up to 15 missed tackles

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

    Sieler and Chop were held on that last play

  41. ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

    This team is garbage. Top to bottom.

  42. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    Tua needs to go the way of Daniel Jones.

  43. bookman11's avatar bookman11 says:

    Harsh in here.

  44. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    This team is built to pass. Of course they pass inside the 5. It was a choice. Soft.

  45. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Liam Eichenberg SUCKS

  46. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    gotta get those garbage yards to pad your stats….make fans think you’re actually productive.

  47. ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

    Harsh because it never changes. This team is soft. Never show up when it matters. Pretenders. Every year. Same ol same ol

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

    this team is definitely soft, from top to bottom: coaching, offense, defense and special teams

    • Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

      I agree Brian. I know the players like Mike McDaniel, because he’s like a friend to them. They don’t respect or fear him though, and I think that’s a problem. This team plays a finesse offensive game, and we saw how they got manhandled tonight on defense. It’s not just cold weather, we can’t hang with physical teams that are as good as us or better

  49. Tim Knight's avatar Tim Knight says:

    This game had nothing to do about weather. The Packers kicked our ass physically and we were sloppy. They played a 5-6 shell defense and we couldn’t block them.

    Enjoy the draft discussions. 😔

    • bookman11's avatar bookman11 says:

      I have not seen a graphic that shows the teams they lost to during the streak, and if any of those teams beat Miami in the heat if they played there.

    • Tim Knight's avatar Tim Knight says:

      The beginning of the game, the defense forces a punt and we fumble at the 10 or whatever, and they score. That’s a horrible start on the road. That’s when the omen started and we all knew it.

  50. bookman11's avatar bookman11 says:

    I say we win out.

  51. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    bookman,

    That’s not what I said, but you’re free to disagree with yourself. I said a team BUILT to throw is soft. And when you’re built to throw you throw inside the 5.

  52. ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

    This team is SAWFT! I sat there and watched them afraid to run. I watched 2 of the highest paid WR do nothing. I sat and watched a typical big time Miami must have game be over before halftime…again. I’m just sick of it all.

    Keep making excuses. Nothing ever changes. Couldn’t even make it a competition.

    Blow it up!

    • bookman11's avatar bookman11 says:

      Blow it up again? Seriously? When does it end? This team has a good foundation. Build on it.

      • ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

        Coaching sucks. What was the game plan? Nothing but 5yd passes. WR not even close to being open downfeild Did they even try to impose their will and run? Nope!

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

    I bet if you looked up those cold weather games, most or all of those teams are good teams. That’s part of the problem. Those games are also in December and January. That’s also part of the problem.

  54. ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

    Bills clinch with a win now. Keep making excuses everyone. Its not even December….

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

    4/5 of the remaing teams on our schedule have losing records. I hope we come close to winning out!

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

    One final word from someone who is on the team played in the game:

    Joe Schad

    @schadjoe

    Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks says the team was soft tonight. Brooks believes the team allowed the cold to be a factor. He says they allowed elements to be a factor.

  57. ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

    Packers are not some upper echelon team we lost to. They ar good but not elite. Their WR drop a ton of balls Their QB is not accurate We just suck. Pretty simple. Lol

    I’m mad. Not gonna sugar coat it. Can’t even compete. Again. That’s the thing. It’s every time without fail they just look inferior to any decent team when the whole world is watching.

    Tell me. What is the solution? Nothing changes. There is nothing about this ride to enjoy. Yay, they will beat some bad teams maybe before the season ends. Rejoice everyone!

  58. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Randy

     says:

    November 28, 2024 at 11:18 pm

    gotta get those garbage yards to pad your stats….make fans think you’re actually productive.

    ———

    Respectfully, I don’t believe that, Randy. We were in striking distance until late in the 4th, and even then, we didn’t get “garbage yards” either. We continued to take what we were given underneath on Offense and didn’t even attempt a deep pass to “pad” stats.

    I mean, Tua’s longest pass of the day was for 30 yards to ‘Reek. His second longest pass of the day was for 16 yards, one to Jonnu and one to Waddle. I did not see ANYTHING indicating that we were padding stats for anybody… unless ya want to think Tua was padding his completion % (80% tonight).

    Tua: 37/46 (again, 80% completion), 365 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs, and a 114.2 passer rating. Yeah… it’s ALL on TUA! SMH

    Some of you would have run Dan Marino out of town.

    Ya know what the REAL problem is? Our rushing YPC. I mean, fuck, more often than not, we’re facing 2 Safeties playing deep in order to stop ‘Reek and Da’ Penguin. That stated, how is it that our rushing YPC has suffered nearly a 3 YPC drop from last season? Did Mostert and Achane forget how to run?

    NO! To channel my inner Bill Clinton, “it’s the <STRIKE>economy</STRIKE> O-Line, stupid!”.

    Our O-Line (collectively) sucks, man!

    • ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

      The stats are padded. This team did not ever impose a risk to winning.

      • mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

        I’m every bit as frustrated as you are, my guy Elephant Rider! I’d rather look for solutions and END the futility we’ve all suffered through as Phin fans for the last… 40+ years! OUCH… it really has been that long!

        I’m no happy camper right now… I’m right there with ya, Brother.

  59. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    We had a total of 39 rushing yards tonight on 14 attempts for 2.8 YPC. That’s horrific, especially knowing the Defense is playing both Safeties high.

    It’s our O-Line, stupid!

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

    I don’t see anyone here saying it’s all on Tua. Anytime some of us call him out, others jump to defense that some are saying it’s all Tua. It’s definitely partially in Tua. He played well, just not well enough to win. He missed some key passes on that drive that would have get the game within striking distance at the half. Additionally, we are throwing FAR more check downs and screens this season.

    • mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

      I think it’s more on Coach McD than anybody. JMO

      At LEAST we have PSU this year, my Nittany Brother!!!

      WE ARE!!!

      • Brian in NY's avatar Brian in NY says:

        Brian in NY

         says:

        November 28, 2024 at 10:03 pm

        this isn’t the Offense, the defense, or special teams

        This is Mike McDaniel

        time after time in big games, against the good teams in the NFL, his team is unprepared right out of the gate. He consistently gets out-coached against the better coaches in the league. I really don’t think he has what it takes to get this team win consistently against the better teams in this league, which of course will translate into having no playoff success if we actually beat up on the lesser teams and win a game or two against the better teams (see the last three years). If Ross has any fucking clue what his doing , which I don’t think he does, then he would fire Grier and McDaniel and the entire coaching staff at the end of the season. 

        Reply

    • ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

      He definitely missed some key passes out there. Was high on a few for sure. This team in general is inept against any better than average team. That simply isn’t good enough.

      It would be easier to digest if the $ wasn’t spent on the QB and the 2 WRs….You spend your cap on these guys they better produce wins. They don’t.

    • ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

      Don’t forget the Tyreek TD was a terrible tipped pass we got lucky on.

  61. Tim Knight's avatar Tim Knight says:

    Maybe we’re just not good enough this year. It happens but just like politics blame everyone because everyone else knows best. 😂

  62. ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

    From Barry Jackson. Sums it up perfectly….

    several disconcerting things, here’s what I find most disconcerting: Last year, Dolphins were 1-6 and outscored by 110 points (worst in AFC) vs. playoff teams. This year, 0-4 vs teams currently in playoff position and outscored by 58. So 1-10 and a minus 168.

  63. bookman11's avatar bookman11 says:

    My main concern is the secondary. Need to get healthy. Still say Dolphins run the table

  64. bookman11's avatar bookman11 says:

    I like the makeup of this team

  65. boulderfinfan's avatar boulderfinfan says:

    ugh I feel like that’s a game we could have won. Fuck! At least Tua wasn’t the issue this time. I’ll put that on the coach and the play calling.

  66. ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

    What happened to the team that ran over 180+ against Indy and the Cheats when Tua was out?

    Why is it that the entire team goes to shit when it matters?

    Where is the answer and what is the problem?

    • New Age's avatar New Age says:

      Poorly coached and constructed. This is a mid-tier team, and I doubt Ross wants that for the millions he invests every year.

  67. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    “You can’t catch ball with your feet!” Quote be Jason Garret.

    That’s a STs error! I wonder if Crossman coached up Washington that he “can’t catch the ball with your feet” or he said NOTHING because the player knew he muffed the punt….lol.

    The D did there job on the 1st possession of the game and STs gave GB the ball 1st and goal from 7. NOT complimentary football, imo, lol.

    0-7.

    • Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

      Crossman OBVIOUSLY didn’t coach him! Washington tried to catch the next punt at 6:30 in 2nd quarter with his “feet” again.

      Why the fuck does he have job? As a space holder???!!!

  68. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    First half, 5 yards rushing for Dolphins, over 100 for Packers. O and D failures!!!

  69. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    Penalties, self-inflicted wounds, and Tua missing wide open receivers…delay of game penalties

  70. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    jmo….if you can’t run the ball in cold weather, you’re not going to win, ever…lol

  71. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    13 missed tackles accounting for another 75 yards…wtf? Only half a game…lol

  72. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    2nd, 3rd, and 4th and goal from the 1. Failure!!!

    Soft?! Lol!

  73. Krishna's avatar Krishna says:

    5-0 sacks, Packers. OL and D issues!!!

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

    I’m not going to go so far as saying I don’t want the Dolphins to go to the playoffs, but it’s really pointless the way this team is currently constructed. We would be a road team playing in a cold weather stadium in the WC game. That’s not going to go well.

  75. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    We are #9 seed now and have to win out. Colts have the head to head on us and have, by far, the easiest schedule. Colts at Pats, at Broncos, Titans, at Giants, Jaguars.

    If we finish with the same record as the Colts, we are out. If we finish with the same record as the Broncos, we are in.

    To get in:

    Dolphins have to win out.

    Colts have to lose 1 of next 5.

    Broncos have to lose 2 of next 5.

  76. New Age's avatar New Age says:

    Well, that game was another perfect example of what we have moving forward and it’s up to Ross if that’s good enough for him. I honestly stopped watching at 17-3 and didn’t watch most of the first quarter either. I knew we’d start slow, and I was pretty sure we’d lose. This sums up this regime very well. We beat the teams we are supposed to and don’t beat the good teams.

    This means I’ll watch every game except the Texans one where we will probably lose because they have a winning record, good players, and a solid coach. SF may surprise us too and while I’ll watch it, I fear for another normal letdown. I’m not at all invested in this team anymore and it’s really just an occasional enjoyable diversion. Ross can think on that because there’s a lot of people just like me.

    Little Mike is at best an average HC, a talented OC, and someone who CANNOT get the players invested in a winning culture. He’s too laid back and honestly just doesn’t seem very driven. We won’t win a playoff game with him because his teams fold to great teams 100% of the time and a WC team always plays the great teams. I don’t think Campbell was ready when he left here but it’s obvious, we fucked that decision almost as bad as paying entitled WRs top money to fuck around every week.

    People won’t like hearing it, but we honestly need a reset unless everyone just likes watching a 10-7 team spin the wheels every year. I don’t but I’ll still watch some of the games I think we’ll win.

  77. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Brian, It might be the Chiefs or Steelers. Bills might end up with the bye. They have head to head over Chiefs and only one tough game at Lions left. Chiefs have 3-4 tough games left to include the Steelers.

    • Brian in NY's avatar Brian in NY says:

      yes, emphasizing my point of by some miracle we make the playoffs, we’ll be in a cold weather game against a team that is built much better for that, and the playoffs, than we are. Save the misery and let’s get a better draft pick.

  78. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    We have to improve in the trenches. How do they do that in 1 year with no money to spend on better than average talent?

  79. New Age's avatar New Age says:

    I’m hoping the Lions win it this year. Love Big Dan and it would be a great story. I think the Bill are the best team in the AFC this year. Their franchise and HC are definitely knocking on the top tier door, especially after looking this good with a decent player reset. I think they run the table in the AFC and I hope the Lions meet and beat them in the SB. Or Philly. Or anyone please.

  80. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    @schadjoe

    The Miami Dolphins have a 25 percent chance to make the playoff now according to The Athletic model

    They say Miami favored to go 4-1 in final 5 and finish 9-8

    That’s unlikely to be good enough

  81. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    @OmarKelly

    The 3 reasons Miami lost.

    1. Run game has vanished for 4th week.

    2. Defense missed 20 tackles.

    3. Tua was sacked 5 times and Love was pressured 3 times and no sacks.

  82. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    @schadjoe

    Miami Dolphins were ‘soft’ in loss to Green Bay, says linebacker Jordyn Brooks | Schad

    “I don’t know if the guys were too cold”

    https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/nfl/dolphins/2024/11/29/miami-dolphins-green-bay-packers-jordyn-brooks/76453043007/

  83. New Age's avatar New Age says:

    Let’s be honest. Why the hell did we pay top dollar for 2 WRs who have a little over 600 yards this season? Who NEED Tua to bring results? Who can’t bring results when game planned against? Run game has vanished but the passing game runs through Jonnu Smith. WTF!!! Jonnu has more yards than Waddle and SIX less than Tyreek. WTF are we doing?!

    Now, imagine if we had built the team trenches first like Danny Campbell did. It’s not a radical idea. Its how teams have won since the 70s. Why can’t we get talented coaches and GMs who understand the basics? Maybe that’s why we are soft as melted butter.

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

    After sleeping on it and thinking about the game I have some thoughts

    Starting with Tua. He was very good last night overall. Actually he’s been very good since coming back. But he was not so good at critical times (right before the half) and that seems like a consistent theme with him. We are going to be adding a QB this off-season one way or another just to address the backup situation. Honestly Tua is one of the better QBs in the NFL but he has some glaring flaws and sometimes I scratch my head watching him. There were much worse parts of our team last night than Tua though

    the OL was miserable – it takes me a lot to give up on some one, I never gave up on Austin Jackson and it paid off but I don’t think Eichenberg is going to follow that route and Lamm just isn’t very good. I also thought by way of comparison the officials let the Packers OL get away with a lot of holding and maybe if our OL was able to play the same way – the game would have been different. Part of the problem with OL is that MM doesn’t really want bulldozers – he wants smaller mobile OL. I’m not sure we will ever have a good OL with MM as coach

    The defense missed a lot of tackles last night. Again I think part of this was exasperated by the officiating which seemed to turn a blind eye to Zack Seiler and Calais Campbell being held. We’ve actually been a good tackling team most of the season. But as a whole – our defense at best is mediocre. We are well into the season and Weaver’s unit should be setting itself apart – and it’s not. No one makes big plays on defense. I am really annoyed that Chubb isn’t playing yet. I am also annoyed that at the start of the season David Long was a key member of our D – and now he’s not on the team. Sometimes I don’t know what’s going on in the secondary. You can’t build an elite defense if you are changing personnel in October. Not knowing what you have at the end of training camp is a big no no as far as I am concerned. That shouldn’t happen

    We probably need to spend most of our offseason getting better up front – but is that the blueprint MM wants installed? Doesn’t seem that way

    I’ve been frustrated by MM’s playcalling a lot this season. I didn’t feel that way yesterday – it seemed like we were getting manhandled instead of outcoached. My only real gripe about MM lately is his blindness to how bad Julian Hill is. Why is he even playing?

    I do not expect to see a reset for this team. I don’t really want to see a reset. But I am really skeptical that the team they built can compete with the good teams in this league

    It’s been a frustrating year. I would be surprised though if we didn’t bring it all back in 2025. I’m not sure about the design of this team but I do respect that MM believes in what he is doing.

    There are areas we can improve on this offseason and I think we can filed a winning team next season – but can we field a team that wins last night’s game? Doesn’t feel like it right now

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

    I didn’t want to emphasize it bc I thought we were manhandled last night

    but the officiating was very biased last night

    I am really concerned about the state of officiating in the NFL. It seems like a huge problem.

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

    NEW BLOG UP!!!

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