My take on the 2006 season (based on the schedule) is:
They say in the NFL that you play the 16 game season like it is 4 games per quarter, and there are 4 quarters to a season. Miami has their BYE week position almost perfectly set up as a HALFTIME. It comes after the 7th game. So I am looking at the season in 4 quarters.
1st Quarter
Miami has 2 home games and 2 away games. Only 1 game is a division rival, and that is the Bills coming to Miami. That should be a win for Miami. There is no reason why Miami shouldn't end this quarter of the season at 3 - 1. They need to be at that record because the last game of this quarter starts a three game road trip.
2nd Quarter
I have a feeling this quarter will test Miami's ability to stay focused. 3 of the 4 games are away games AND they have a BYE squeezed in there. 2 of the 4 teams are playoff caliber teams. 2 of the 4 teams are also division rivals. Both division games are away in this quarter. Miami has to try and win those games, so they force the division teams to beat them at home late in the season. This quarter will either make or break the season. They need to be at least at 5 - 3 after this quarter. And that is the minimum.
3rd Quarter
This quarter has the most home games. 3 of the 4 are at home. The only away game is against the Lions on Thanksgiving. No divisional rivals, and arguably no playoff caliber teams. Miami should be on a roll after the BYE week, and win all 4 of these games. They should be at 9 - 3 at this point, and in first place in the division.
4th Quarter
Miami needs another strong finish like 2005. They get their make-up games against the Pats and Jets. If they didn't beat them away back in October, they will have to win these games or miss the playoffs again. The end of their season has two tough games. The Bills game will be tough because of the horrible weather Buffalo gets in December. Hopefully, it will just be snow and not one of those God-awful freezing, windy days. The final game of the season will be at Indy. Miami should have played well enough throughout the season that this game does not determine their playoff chances. This game should not matter. Miami needs to finish 11 - 5 to win the division or 10 - 6 to make the playoffs as a wild card.
I really think Miami's season will fall short again, if they lose to the Pats in October. The Dolphins have to play from ahead in 2006. They have to win the games they are supposed to win, and step up early to put them in a good place late in the season. "Too little - Too late" has been the theme in Miami for years now. If Miami comes out strong in the first half of the season, they will definitely make the playoffs in 2006.
GO FINS!!! :df81:
They say in the NFL that you play the 16 game season like it is 4 games per quarter, and there are 4 quarters to a season. Miami has their BYE week position almost perfectly set up as a HALFTIME. It comes after the 7th game. So I am looking at the season in 4 quarters.
1st Quarter
Miami has 2 home games and 2 away games. Only 1 game is a division rival, and that is the Bills coming to Miami. That should be a win for Miami. There is no reason why Miami shouldn't end this quarter of the season at 3 - 1. They need to be at that record because the last game of this quarter starts a three game road trip.
2nd Quarter
I have a feeling this quarter will test Miami's ability to stay focused. 3 of the 4 games are away games AND they have a BYE squeezed in there. 2 of the 4 teams are playoff caliber teams. 2 of the 4 teams are also division rivals. Both division games are away in this quarter. Miami has to try and win those games, so they force the division teams to beat them at home late in the season. This quarter will either make or break the season. They need to be at least at 5 - 3 after this quarter. And that is the minimum.
3rd Quarter
This quarter has the most home games. 3 of the 4 are at home. The only away game is against the Lions on Thanksgiving. No divisional rivals, and arguably no playoff caliber teams. Miami should be on a roll after the BYE week, and win all 4 of these games. They should be at 9 - 3 at this point, and in first place in the division.
4th Quarter
Miami needs another strong finish like 2005. They get their make-up games against the Pats and Jets. If they didn't beat them away back in October, they will have to win these games or miss the playoffs again. The end of their season has two tough games. The Bills game will be tough because of the horrible weather Buffalo gets in December. Hopefully, it will just be snow and not one of those God-awful freezing, windy days. The final game of the season will be at Indy. Miami should have played well enough throughout the season that this game does not determine their playoff chances. This game should not matter. Miami needs to finish 11 - 5 to win the division or 10 - 6 to make the playoffs as a wild card.
I really think Miami's season will fall short again, if they lose to the Pats in October. The Dolphins have to play from ahead in 2006. They have to win the games they are supposed to win, and step up early to put them in a good place late in the season. "Too little - Too late" has been the theme in Miami for years now. If Miami comes out strong in the first half of the season, they will definitely make the playoffs in 2006.
GO FINS!!! :df81:
