* We'll probably be first place on Scott Van Pelt's weekly Bad Beat segment. The under bettors got hosed again via the moronic lateral play. Van Pelt has been harping on that lateral play all season, that it only works to screw underdog bettors and under bettors. Very recent trend. I've bet hundreds and hundreds of unders over the decades and don't think I ever lost one that way. Nor won an over that way. It was never even a consideration until the past year or two. Previously some guy would get the ball and barrel into traffic and give himself up to end the game. Nowadays they try the lateral stuff but obviously never practice it and have no clue what to do.
* Also a brutal beat for anyone who teased the Dolphins up. Tampa Bay closed -1.5 to -2 point favorite so a teaser would have given you Dolphins at +7.5 to +9, depending on how many points you used on the teaser
* The Dolphins really got screwed on the offensive interference penalty and especially the non-safety call, which is one of the most inept decisions I've ever seen. Unfathomable. It seems like the league office is more stubborn and error prone making the calls from a central location than the referees were on the field. Normally I scoff at claims the Dolphins got the worst of the officiating but today it was an undeniable factor. Tampa Bay had some bad calls also but they were not pivotal. The energy level completely changes if that safety is called with potential for a subsequent touchdown placing Miami in the lead.
* We only lose close games without Jay Ajayi. The Seahawks opener last season, the Raider game and now this one are the only real qualifiers in the Gase era.
* I have no idea why more teams don't pick on Reshad Jones. During Tampa Bay's final drive today I was hoping they would do anything except go after Jones, because that was likely to succeed. Sure enough, Jones gave up the decisive pass play to set up the field goal.
* The field was in great shape and that made it a much more visually entertaining game, no matter what was going on out there. That previous sod must have been 0-16 sod. Hard to believe that company stays in business, let alone draws customers
* As I posted a few days ago, too bad we didn't play Buffalo this week. That would have been gift scheduling. One of the worst coaching decisions in recent memory, although it made for an easy wager. Nothing like picking on terrorized rookie quarterbacks. Nothing in Gase's head coaching career has been the dunce equivalent of what Sean McDermott pulled this week
* College teams have wised up and are now accepting the 25 yard line almost every time when a kickoff drops a yard or two deep in the end zone. We aren't smart enough to follow suit because Rizzi isn't smart enough
* Today our motion and play variety was markedly different than at any point all season. It was a desperate game so Gase used the rolls and wrinkles. Looked good but the caliber of opponent made it look better than it really is. Tampa Bay also played its cornerbacks at the ideal depth for most of our junk to unfold as intended
* Parker will forever be a frustrating player. He can make a handful of big plays per game but it's mostly random and you can't count on him in big situations. He is heavy legged, doesn't get separation and is not an instinctive leaper or player. Basically nothing has changed from when I watched him from the stands in a Miami/Louisville bowl game years ago. His stats were great but play to play it was incredibly boring to watch him. Nothing going on. Still a keeper
* Too bad that Scott Van Pelt Bad Beat segment on ESPN wasn't a staple during my heyday in Las Vegas. We were always aware of the bizarre spread or total deciding plays in obscure games across the country but it felt like a specialized interest and nobody else was paying attention. Now it's awesome those plays are receiving the spotlight they deserve, and in an appropriate tone. Anybody who tries to make money that way senses that yeah you can complain...but not really
