Finsmob Unleashed

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!!!