Dolphins, Jets stalk vulnerable Patriots

[mnphinfan]

Here is a great article from ESPN regarding the Fins and their playoff drive, as well as the possible faulter by the Patsies.

http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/7689/dolphins-jets-stalk-vulnerable-patriots

"Hope's a powerful emotion, and we have it," Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said after his team beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 14-10. "The other side of that is no hope and nothing to play for.

"You give this team some light, and our antennas go up," Dolphins nickel back Nate Jones said. "We fight our butts off to achieve a goal. We're in December. We're over .500.

"This team is really building something. We can kind of see we have a chance here to do something big. I love the look in all the guys' eyes when we go out to practice and come out for the game."

[/quote

"If nobody expected anything out of us, then it wouldn't be worth playing," Dolphins left guard Justin Smiley said. "I'm thankful we have a resilient team, a team that fights.

"In the past we haven't done such a good job of finishing the fourth quarter. It looks like we're finally coming into our own. We need a sack at the end of the game? The defense is going to go get it.

"That's just amazing. It's just knowing your teammates and knowing the fight. It's pretty awesome to be a part of."

With this season's strengh of schedule, injuries, and 0-3 start I am more than happy to see the Fins still in the thick of the playoff hunt. I think this time of year more than any other is when we really see the benefits of our FO philosophy and coaching staff. We just seem to keep fighting no matter what. Hopefully we can return to the playoffs for a second straight year.

 

[coalesce]

It's laughable how quickly the media is shoveling dirt on the Patriots. Wasn't it just a couple of months ago how the "experts" were touting Tom Brady's return as a return to glory for the Patriots? Funny how the worm turns...

Michael

 

[Yamilo]

One thing I knew since the beginning of this season is that we have some good backups on this team. This was evident in the pre-season games where once the opposing teams took out their starters we owned them with our back-ups right away.

 

[Orlando Fan]

It's laughable how quickly the media is shoveling dirt on the Patriots. Wasn't it just a couple of months ago how the "experts" were touting Tom Brady's return as a return to glory for the Patriots? Funny how the worm turns...

Michael

Agreed , the Media heads will turn on you in a min. I'm not convinced the Pat's are dead yet. I think they have a 50/50 shot of holding on to the div. They don't have that many tough games left to play.

 

[Mr_Freezetag]

Agreed , the Media heads will turn on you in a min. I'm not convinced the Pat's are dead yet. I think they have a 50/50 shot of holding on to the div. They don't have that many tough games left to play.

Agreed. I think despite their issues can easily win at least 2 out of the 3 games left and possibly winning out. I like the Dolphins chances to have a strong finish but I'm not really going to concern myself with where the team will be at in 3 weeks, more so the challenges of the next game.

2 questions I should know but I'm too lazy to find.

1. If we tie with NE do they get the AFC East title?

2. If we tie BAL for the WC who wins that tiebreaker?

Thanks

Freeze

 

[GRYPHONK]

Agreed. I think despite their issues can easily win at least 2 out of the 3 games left and possibly winning out. I like the Dolphins chances to have a strong finish but I'm not really going to concern myself with where the team will be at in 3 weeks, more so the challenges of the next game.

2 questions I should know but I'm too lazy to find.

1. If we tie with NE do they get the AFC East title?

2. If we tie BAL for the WC who wins that tiebreaker?

Thanks

Freeze

Miami would hold the tie breaker against NE.

Balt is tricky. Right now Balt holds the tie breaker due to SOV. But looking at the games left Miami's SOV should go up and Bat'sdown if they both win out. So I dunno what their final SOV'S would be

 

[PassRush]

I wonder if a scenario exists where the Fins could take the division and play the Pats in the first round. I have to run that by the playoff simulator, but its an interesting thought, the Fins-Pats: Round 3

 

[PassRush]

Just did it: We win out and either Oakland or KC beats Denver. Not likely, but we can hope.

 

[JAcK o D1AmonDs]

The Pats are slowly dying out as a dynasty.
Look at the Past 3 dynasties and what they did in the next decade

3.) Cowboys haven't won a playoff game in what 10 years? Also they blow in DEC
2.) 49ers, had the 1 Superbowl in the 90's but got stomped by the Cowboys most of the time and didn't really do much during the 90's
1.) Steelers of the 70's what happened to them after until Cowher you didnt here much about them in the 1980's except losing to Miami in 84 AFC Championship game.

The pats at the turn of the decade are no longer going to be the Pats of old. With Miami, yes the NYJ getting new young talent and new coaching regime's its slowly going bad for NE starting with this year. IMHO at least.



Nice Article find btw enjoyed it.