Anthony D.
Lifelong Dolphan
Analyzing the Dolphins' home schedule - June 28th, 2006
Miami Football 365
Read the full story...
Can you believe they got us losing to the Vikes?
The general consensus among the sporting world is that if you split your road games and take care of business at home, you will have a successful team. In 2005, the Miami Dolphins nearly did so. They finished .500 on the road (4-4), and went 5-3 at home, defeating Denver, Carolina, Buffalo, Tennessee and the New York Jets . The three losses were at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs , Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots . Unfortunately for the Dolphins, they missed out on the playoffs by just one game.
Taking a quick look at the upcoming season's home schedule, the powers that be in the NFL seem to have given the Dolphins a tough but fair slate.
Week Two: Buffalo Bills - In this bitter rivalry, anything can happen. However, the Dolphins hold the edge in nearly every category. When these two teams play, however, you can usually throw the records out the window; but with this early season matchup, the Dolphins have the clear talent edge. If the Bills find a quarterback to step up and play well, this will not be an easy game for Miami. In the end, though, second-year sensation Ronnie Brown will carry his team to victory. Dolphins win 24-16.
Week Three: Tennessee Titans - Will No. 3 overall pick Vince Young be playing? Probably not, as the calm veteran, Billy Volek, looks to have the starting quarterback's job for at least the beginning of the season. Wide receivers David Givens and Drew Bennett are solid option, but overall the Titans are lacking in talent. This should be a nice game for the Dolphins' offense and defense to get on a roll. Dolphins win 20-7.
Week Seven: Green Bay Packers - Packers aging quarterback Brett Favre makes what will likely be his last trip to Dolphins Stadium. The Packers outlook in 2006 is bleak at best. Favre's return has the fan base excited and believing in the team, but that isn't enough to defeat teams that are better than his Packers. The old saying goes, "Any given Sunday." Not this Sunday, however. Dolphins steamroll their way to victory, 31-17.
Week 10: Kansas City Chiefs - An intriguing matchup, especially if current free agent Ty Law ends up signing with the Chiefs and covers Dolphins Pro Bowl receiver Chris Chambers. Another big story leading up to the game will likely be the Chiefs' exciting young running back, Larry Johnson, and the Dolphins' own stallion, the abovementioned Ronnie Brown. It will be quarterback Daunte Culpepper leading his new team to victory on the heels of an Olindo Mare game-winning field goal. Dolphins win 27-24.
Week 11: Minnesota Vikings- Culpepper faces his former employer in what should be an emotional game. The Vikings have vastly improved their defense from last year. A plethora of intriguing matchups will be found this game, including Vikings cornerbacks Antoine Winfield and Fred Smoot against Dolphins wideouts Chambers and Marty Booker. A key matchup could very well be Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams against Dolphins center Rex Hadnot or Seth McKinney. This could easily be the game of the week, and should draw a large audience from the sporting world. Will Chambers embarrass Smoot like Panthers receiver Steve Smith did last year? This may go down as one of the best games of the season. Vikings squeak by 24-23.
Week 13: Jacksonville Jaguars- How will young quarterback Byron Leftwich play without newly-retired 1,000-yard receiver Jimmy Smith, and will fragile runner Fred Taylor be injured by the time this showdown rolls around? Jags head coach Jack Del Rio has done wonders for the franchise, but his team doesn't stack up too well against the Dolphins. Then again, he coached his team to 12 victories last year before a playoff drubbing at the hands of the Patriots. Nick Saban is a terrific coach, though, and will certainly have his team ready to play. An upper-echelon defense should hold the Jaguars in check and allow Culpepper and company to lead the team to victory. Dolphins win 20-10.
Week 14: New England Patriots - With Bill Belichick against Saban, his former pupil, this should be an epic coaching matchup. This is a contest between division rivals that could very well be duking it out for the AFC East title. While the Patriots have begun to lose some of their big-name players, there is no doubt they will still be a fundamentally sound team, respected by opponents. Belichick's defense will force Culpepper into turnovers, which over the course of his career has been a problem. New England asserts why it's still the top dog in the division. Patriots win 23-10.
Week 16: New York Jets - Many see this division game as a cake walk, but don't count on it. A healthy Curtis Martin and Chad Pennington would do wonders for the rebuilding Jets. First-time head coach Eric Mangini will be schooled by Nick Saban, though, and the Dolphins win fairly easily in capping off an impressive season at home. Dolphins in a blowout, 27-6.
So, there you have it. At the present time, I foresee a 6-2 record at home, which bodes well for the team's chances to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2001. Anything less than 5-3 at home would be a disappointment for the up-and-coming Miami Dolphins . This should be a fun year to pack your rear end in a seat at Dolphin Stadium, drink a few beers, eat some peanuts, and enjoy winning football.
Miami Football 365
Read the full story...
Can you believe they got us losing to the Vikes?
The general consensus among the sporting world is that if you split your road games and take care of business at home, you will have a successful team. In 2005, the Miami Dolphins nearly did so. They finished .500 on the road (4-4), and went 5-3 at home, defeating Denver, Carolina, Buffalo, Tennessee and the New York Jets . The three losses were at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs , Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots . Unfortunately for the Dolphins, they missed out on the playoffs by just one game.
Taking a quick look at the upcoming season's home schedule, the powers that be in the NFL seem to have given the Dolphins a tough but fair slate.
Week Two: Buffalo Bills - In this bitter rivalry, anything can happen. However, the Dolphins hold the edge in nearly every category. When these two teams play, however, you can usually throw the records out the window; but with this early season matchup, the Dolphins have the clear talent edge. If the Bills find a quarterback to step up and play well, this will not be an easy game for Miami. In the end, though, second-year sensation Ronnie Brown will carry his team to victory. Dolphins win 24-16.
Week Three: Tennessee Titans - Will No. 3 overall pick Vince Young be playing? Probably not, as the calm veteran, Billy Volek, looks to have the starting quarterback's job for at least the beginning of the season. Wide receivers David Givens and Drew Bennett are solid option, but overall the Titans are lacking in talent. This should be a nice game for the Dolphins' offense and defense to get on a roll. Dolphins win 20-7.
Week Seven: Green Bay Packers - Packers aging quarterback Brett Favre makes what will likely be his last trip to Dolphins Stadium. The Packers outlook in 2006 is bleak at best. Favre's return has the fan base excited and believing in the team, but that isn't enough to defeat teams that are better than his Packers. The old saying goes, "Any given Sunday." Not this Sunday, however. Dolphins steamroll their way to victory, 31-17.
Week 10: Kansas City Chiefs - An intriguing matchup, especially if current free agent Ty Law ends up signing with the Chiefs and covers Dolphins Pro Bowl receiver Chris Chambers. Another big story leading up to the game will likely be the Chiefs' exciting young running back, Larry Johnson, and the Dolphins' own stallion, the abovementioned Ronnie Brown. It will be quarterback Daunte Culpepper leading his new team to victory on the heels of an Olindo Mare game-winning field goal. Dolphins win 27-24.
Week 11: Minnesota Vikings- Culpepper faces his former employer in what should be an emotional game. The Vikings have vastly improved their defense from last year. A plethora of intriguing matchups will be found this game, including Vikings cornerbacks Antoine Winfield and Fred Smoot against Dolphins wideouts Chambers and Marty Booker. A key matchup could very well be Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams against Dolphins center Rex Hadnot or Seth McKinney. This could easily be the game of the week, and should draw a large audience from the sporting world. Will Chambers embarrass Smoot like Panthers receiver Steve Smith did last year? This may go down as one of the best games of the season. Vikings squeak by 24-23.
Week 13: Jacksonville Jaguars- How will young quarterback Byron Leftwich play without newly-retired 1,000-yard receiver Jimmy Smith, and will fragile runner Fred Taylor be injured by the time this showdown rolls around? Jags head coach Jack Del Rio has done wonders for the franchise, but his team doesn't stack up too well against the Dolphins. Then again, he coached his team to 12 victories last year before a playoff drubbing at the hands of the Patriots. Nick Saban is a terrific coach, though, and will certainly have his team ready to play. An upper-echelon defense should hold the Jaguars in check and allow Culpepper and company to lead the team to victory. Dolphins win 20-10.
Week 14: New England Patriots - With Bill Belichick against Saban, his former pupil, this should be an epic coaching matchup. This is a contest between division rivals that could very well be duking it out for the AFC East title. While the Patriots have begun to lose some of their big-name players, there is no doubt they will still be a fundamentally sound team, respected by opponents. Belichick's defense will force Culpepper into turnovers, which over the course of his career has been a problem. New England asserts why it's still the top dog in the division. Patriots win 23-10.
Week 16: New York Jets - Many see this division game as a cake walk, but don't count on it. A healthy Curtis Martin and Chad Pennington would do wonders for the rebuilding Jets. First-time head coach Eric Mangini will be schooled by Nick Saban, though, and the Dolphins win fairly easily in capping off an impressive season at home. Dolphins in a blowout, 27-6.
So, there you have it. At the present time, I foresee a 6-2 record at home, which bodes well for the team's chances to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2001. Anything less than 5-3 at home would be a disappointment for the up-and-coming Miami Dolphins . This should be a fun year to pack your rear end in a seat at Dolphin Stadium, drink a few beers, eat some peanuts, and enjoy winning football.
