Friday Sports Buzz 9/24: Dolphins hoping for better home field advantage | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Friday Sports Buzz 9/24: Dolphins hoping for better home field advantage

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Since Seattle’s CenturyLink Field --- which NFL.com rates as the NFL’s best home-field advantage --- opened in 2002, the Seahawks have gone 8-0 at home three times and 7-1 three times.

You know how many times the Dolphins have won more than five home games in those 13 seasons? Just once (2002).

What's more, Miami had a winning record at home just three of the past 12 seasons, which is dismal. The Dolphins’ 37-43 record at home over the past decade is seventh-worst, ranking ahead of only Tampa and Washington (35 wins each), Cleveland and Detroit (34) and Oakland and St. Louis (27).

Perhaps Sunday’s home opener against Buffalo in a reconfigured Sun Life Stadium --- with 2300 seats now much closer to the field --- will mark the return of a home-field edge, something that hasn’t been the same since the Dolphins bolted the Orange Bowl in 1987.

Miami was a remarkable 110-38-3 (73 winning percentage) in 21 years in the OB. They’re 130-93-0 in 28 years at Sun Life (58 winning percentage).

Though Miami’s home record largely stems from their inability to construct good enough teams, there’s more to it. Consider:

### The Dolphins have been just as good or better (record-wise) on the road as at home four of the past eight seasons, suggesting --- among other things --- the lack of an appreciable home-field advantage.

### In three seasons under Joe Philbin, the Dolphins are just 12-7 as a home favorite, according to Paramount Sports oddsmaker Lee Sterling. And Philbin is just 8-11 against the spread as a home favorite.

“Even coaches who finish near .500, like he has in his head-coaching career, usually fare much better at home. I would say his performance so far [in that regard] has been subpar,” Sterling said.

The Dolphins are three-point favorite against Buffalo.

### For the past three seasons, the Dolphins were good enough to beat the Jets on the road but couldn’t at home. And there’s no excuse for Arizona, Tennessee and Jacksonville having better home records than Miami over the past decade.

The Dolphins’ season tickets have plunged from 61,121 in 2006 to 40,192 in 2012, but rose to 47,500 this season before sales were cut off, which allowed more individual tickets could be sold, with capacity dropping from 76,018 to 65,326.

Dolphins players are hoping the reconfigurations will help. “I hope so,” Mike Pouncey said. “I hope our fans bother [the opposing team] just like [opposing fans] bother us on the road. At times, the stadium is loud when we're playing well.”

### Lamar Miller has taken some accountability for his 2.9 per carry average (23 for 67). But a review of the tape confirms that the offensive line simply isn't creating enough holes. Miller is running hard; he has broken five tackles. Among players who have broken more tackles, only the Patriots' Dion Lewis has fewer carries than Miller.

Miller was among those limited in practice today, along with Dion Sims, Jordan Cameron, Reshad Jones and Mike Pouncey. Earl Mitchell (back) and Branden Albert (hamstring) couldn't practice.

### One encouraging sign of increased Dolphins interest: Sunday’s Dolphins-Jaguars game was viewed in 25.9 percent of Miami-Dade/Broward homes with TV sets --- highest for a Dolphins game in at least several years. Last season's high: 22.0 against Denver.
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http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/
 
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Have a 6:30 flight out of Newark tomorrow night. Giddyup.
 
:lol: at that last note. Might not be as many folks tuned in this week.
 
You're a jinx! Don't watch the game on Sunday. Find something to do.
 
Mike13 said:
I am over this past Sunday's loss. I want this team to kick some ass on Sunday, this is a must ****ing win.
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Must win yep or it will be butt ugly in Dolphin land
 
section 325, row 2, seats 12-14


and guys, every dolphins game i've ever been to, on the road or at home......we've won.

:dolphins::dolphins::dolphins:
 
Maybe if the team gave the fans something to cheer about it would be louder. Why is it on the fans to make noise for an uninspired, not so much improving football team?

Build a winning product and Sun Life would be as loud and effective as the Orange Bowl.
 
Hayden Fox said:
Maybe if the team gave the fans something to cheer about it would be louder. Why is it on the fans to make noise for an uninspired, not so much improving football team?

Build a winning product and Sun Life would be as loud and effective as the Orange Bowl.
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man I agree w u
 
Hayden Fox said:
Maybe if the team gave the fans something to cheer about it would be louder. Why is it on the fans to make noise for an uninspired, not so much improving football team?

Build a winning product and Sun Life would be as loud and effective as the Orange Bowl.
Click to expand...

Maybe because going to a live event and cheering is fun...
 
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