Aqua4Ever04
Active Roster
For your treat, I thought I'd celebrate my 5000th post here at the wonderful Finheaven with a commentary piece. I've been slacking lately on my commentaries so I figured it was time to give the members a nice article to read.
It'll take 9. (4 down 5 to go)
It's never happend in the history of the NFL. No team has ever closed a season with 9 straight wins to advance to the playoffs after starting 2-6 or worse. The only team to ever make the playoffs after starting 2-6 was the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals who reeled off 6 straight wins to close the season 8-6 (there were only 14 games to a season in that time.) It was a cinderella story that didn't have a fairy tale ending. The Bengals would proceed to be shut out in the first game of the playoffs 17-0 to the then Baltimore Colts. So the question remains, can it be done? Let me just say this, if there is a team that could do, it's this Miami Dolphins team. They field a defense that has dominated opposing offense, created turnovers, and even scored points of their own. The key to a big run is always on the defensive side of the ball, and this Miami D might be the best there is in the NFL. Jason Taylor is having a career year (which is saying a lot with the career JT has posted,) Zach Thomas leads the league in tackles again, and the secondary seems to have a new found energy with new starter Yerimiah Bell. The two things that may be standing in Miami's way are the devistating injury to Ronnie Brown, and the big mistakes that Joey Harrington has made in just about every game this season. Should Brown return quickly, and Harrington continue to play like he did in his homecomming game at Detroit, the Dolphins are on their way.
On Tap
Due up next in the Miami Dolphins road to history is the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jacksonville comes into the game a litte banged up on defense and at the QB position. Donovin Daruis recently joined Mike Peterson and Reggie Hayward on the IR as the defense continues to desimate. However, the two big guns on the Jaguars defense still remain. Rasheen Mathis is tied for the league lead in interceptions with 6, and Marcus Stroud plugs holes for one of the leagues top run stopping units. On offense, the Jags have been forced to rely on backup QB David Garrard for the second straight year. The experianced backup has done a superb job in filling in and is forcing Jacksonville to make a decision on Byron Leftwhich next season.
The Dolphins come into the game without their biggest offensive weapon Ronnie Brown. The Dolphins will try to fill the void Brown leaves with Sammy Morris, Travis Minor and recently promoted Patrick Cobbs. I believe these guys can do an adequate job filling in for Ronnie in what was suppose to be a pass heavy week any how. The Dolphins were already likely to rely on the Harrington and the passing game prior to the injury and now, they must really step up. Chris Chambers needs to become involved in the offense much more than he has in this 2006 season. Look for Chambers to finally get the wheels spinning this week. If the Dolphins can win the turn over battle, and avoid the big mistake, they should improve to 6-6.
Revenge, 3 shots back to back to back
Every Dolphins' fan hates all 3 of them. The 3 teams that every supporter of the aqua and orange despise. The Dolphins play host to the New England Patriots and New York Jets, with a roadie sandwhiched in between the two at the Ralph vs. the Buffalo Bills. These AFC East games are always a battle despite the record and it doesn't help that the division has really tightend up this year.
First up would be the hated Patriots. Tom Brady has been inconsistant this season but when he's hot, he's unbeatable. The Dolphins have always given Brady fits at Dolphin Stadium forcing 8 interceptions in his 4 games at what was previously known as Pro Player Stadium. The Dolphins would love nothing more than to avenge an early season lose to the Patriots where a questionable pass interference call sent Nick Saban off the deep end. Even New England coach Bill Belichick admits that the Dolphins always give the Pats problems, so we are likely in for another great AFC East war.
It's going to be cold, brisk and maybe even snowing. The Dolphins have always struggled in cold weather games and a visit to the Ralph in Decemeber always scares Fins fans. The Buffalo Bills are riding high off a recent win of the Jacksonville Jaguars and quarterback J.P Losman is red hot. Lee Evans is having his best year as a pro and Willis McGahee is playing well despite a rib injury. The Bills run defense remains extremely suspect and it'll be imparitive that Ronnie Brown returns for that game. Ricky Williams ran rampid in the snow in Buffalo 3 years ago, and I fully expect Ronnie to do the same on Decemeber 17th.
Finally, the guys in green. It's going to be Christmas, and all Dolphins' fans will have one gift in mind, a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Should the Dolphins win the 3 games prior to this one, this game would likely be for a playoff spot. It'll be Monday night and the Dolphins will look to erase the memory of the last two Monday night meetings between these two. (A 41-10 blow out in 2004 and the Monday Night Miracle at the Meadowlands in 2000.) The New York Jets may be the biggest suprise in the NFL thus far and they were able to barely escape with a win earlier in the year vs. the Dolphins. Harrington led the Dolphins to a 4th quarter comeback where Olindo Mare missed a potential game tying field goal that would've sent the game into overtime. The Dolphins will need to have one thing on their mind, stopping Laverneous Coles. He is the only one on that offense that can beat the Dolphins and if they can stop him, they should be able to win the battle for the 6 seed.
To rest them, or not to rest them...
In week 17 the Dolphins will head to the RCA Dome to take on the explosive Indianapolis Colts. By that time, it is thought that the Colts will have their playoff seeding and homefield all wrapped up, which would result in resting their starters. I too believe that will be the case, so we all know what the Dolphins would need to do to win. DON'T BEAT YOURSELVES! As long as Miami can avoid that, they will be in the playoffs.
Next would come all the tie breaking scenarios, but that is for another article. :wink: Would the Dolphins be able to survive in the playoffs? That remains unknown much like all of my speculation in this thread. Keep in mind that each game preview is in assumption that the Dolphins won the previous game. It would be a feat that was tammed unherd of. But if the Miami Dolphins can get into the playoffs, it would be an even that was never forgotten.
I would like to thank all of you that took the time to read this. Any comments or criticism would be appreciated as I value the opinion of my readers. Thanks guys and GO FINS! :dolphins:
It'll take 9. (4 down 5 to go)
It's never happend in the history of the NFL. No team has ever closed a season with 9 straight wins to advance to the playoffs after starting 2-6 or worse. The only team to ever make the playoffs after starting 2-6 was the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals who reeled off 6 straight wins to close the season 8-6 (there were only 14 games to a season in that time.) It was a cinderella story that didn't have a fairy tale ending. The Bengals would proceed to be shut out in the first game of the playoffs 17-0 to the then Baltimore Colts. So the question remains, can it be done? Let me just say this, if there is a team that could do, it's this Miami Dolphins team. They field a defense that has dominated opposing offense, created turnovers, and even scored points of their own. The key to a big run is always on the defensive side of the ball, and this Miami D might be the best there is in the NFL. Jason Taylor is having a career year (which is saying a lot with the career JT has posted,) Zach Thomas leads the league in tackles again, and the secondary seems to have a new found energy with new starter Yerimiah Bell. The two things that may be standing in Miami's way are the devistating injury to Ronnie Brown, and the big mistakes that Joey Harrington has made in just about every game this season. Should Brown return quickly, and Harrington continue to play like he did in his homecomming game at Detroit, the Dolphins are on their way.
On Tap
Due up next in the Miami Dolphins road to history is the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jacksonville comes into the game a litte banged up on defense and at the QB position. Donovin Daruis recently joined Mike Peterson and Reggie Hayward on the IR as the defense continues to desimate. However, the two big guns on the Jaguars defense still remain. Rasheen Mathis is tied for the league lead in interceptions with 6, and Marcus Stroud plugs holes for one of the leagues top run stopping units. On offense, the Jags have been forced to rely on backup QB David Garrard for the second straight year. The experianced backup has done a superb job in filling in and is forcing Jacksonville to make a decision on Byron Leftwhich next season.
The Dolphins come into the game without their biggest offensive weapon Ronnie Brown. The Dolphins will try to fill the void Brown leaves with Sammy Morris, Travis Minor and recently promoted Patrick Cobbs. I believe these guys can do an adequate job filling in for Ronnie in what was suppose to be a pass heavy week any how. The Dolphins were already likely to rely on the Harrington and the passing game prior to the injury and now, they must really step up. Chris Chambers needs to become involved in the offense much more than he has in this 2006 season. Look for Chambers to finally get the wheels spinning this week. If the Dolphins can win the turn over battle, and avoid the big mistake, they should improve to 6-6.
Revenge, 3 shots back to back to back
Every Dolphins' fan hates all 3 of them. The 3 teams that every supporter of the aqua and orange despise. The Dolphins play host to the New England Patriots and New York Jets, with a roadie sandwhiched in between the two at the Ralph vs. the Buffalo Bills. These AFC East games are always a battle despite the record and it doesn't help that the division has really tightend up this year.
First up would be the hated Patriots. Tom Brady has been inconsistant this season but when he's hot, he's unbeatable. The Dolphins have always given Brady fits at Dolphin Stadium forcing 8 interceptions in his 4 games at what was previously known as Pro Player Stadium. The Dolphins would love nothing more than to avenge an early season lose to the Patriots where a questionable pass interference call sent Nick Saban off the deep end. Even New England coach Bill Belichick admits that the Dolphins always give the Pats problems, so we are likely in for another great AFC East war.
It's going to be cold, brisk and maybe even snowing. The Dolphins have always struggled in cold weather games and a visit to the Ralph in Decemeber always scares Fins fans. The Buffalo Bills are riding high off a recent win of the Jacksonville Jaguars and quarterback J.P Losman is red hot. Lee Evans is having his best year as a pro and Willis McGahee is playing well despite a rib injury. The Bills run defense remains extremely suspect and it'll be imparitive that Ronnie Brown returns for that game. Ricky Williams ran rampid in the snow in Buffalo 3 years ago, and I fully expect Ronnie to do the same on Decemeber 17th.
Finally, the guys in green. It's going to be Christmas, and all Dolphins' fans will have one gift in mind, a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Should the Dolphins win the 3 games prior to this one, this game would likely be for a playoff spot. It'll be Monday night and the Dolphins will look to erase the memory of the last two Monday night meetings between these two. (A 41-10 blow out in 2004 and the Monday Night Miracle at the Meadowlands in 2000.) The New York Jets may be the biggest suprise in the NFL thus far and they were able to barely escape with a win earlier in the year vs. the Dolphins. Harrington led the Dolphins to a 4th quarter comeback where Olindo Mare missed a potential game tying field goal that would've sent the game into overtime. The Dolphins will need to have one thing on their mind, stopping Laverneous Coles. He is the only one on that offense that can beat the Dolphins and if they can stop him, they should be able to win the battle for the 6 seed.
To rest them, or not to rest them...
In week 17 the Dolphins will head to the RCA Dome to take on the explosive Indianapolis Colts. By that time, it is thought that the Colts will have their playoff seeding and homefield all wrapped up, which would result in resting their starters. I too believe that will be the case, so we all know what the Dolphins would need to do to win. DON'T BEAT YOURSELVES! As long as Miami can avoid that, they will be in the playoffs.
Next would come all the tie breaking scenarios, but that is for another article. :wink: Would the Dolphins be able to survive in the playoffs? That remains unknown much like all of my speculation in this thread. Keep in mind that each game preview is in assumption that the Dolphins won the previous game. It would be a feat that was tammed unherd of. But if the Miami Dolphins can get into the playoffs, it would be an even that was never forgotten.
I would like to thank all of you that took the time to read this. Any comments or criticism would be appreciated as I value the opinion of my readers. Thanks guys and GO FINS! :dolphins:
