HERALD: Miami Dolphins' only way to relevance is to win games in the AFC East | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

HERALD: Miami Dolphins' only way to relevance is to win games in the AFC East

Perfect72

Perfect72

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[FONT=&quot]If you're thinking this season is already over for the Miami Dolphins because they are 2-4 and in third place in the AFC East then stop reading now.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]This post is not for you.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Nothing to see here.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Move along.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Well, you've made it to the fifth paragraph so obviously you think there is still at least faint hope the Dolphins can make some noise the remainder of 2016 following last week's upset victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cool. I'm with you.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]And that hope has a chance to blossom into full blown optimism if the Dolphins can beat the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Consider that the Dolphins have found a new energy and enthusiasm since their Pittsburgh victory. It was a meaningful victory because not only were players rewarded for their hard work but because coaches believe they saw the team turn a corner on this season.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]What I mean by that is coaches have gotten more comfortable with their players. Players are getting more comfortable with their assignments. The Dolphins see significant progress happening and last week's game, they believe, was the first strand of evidence of that fact. So no one within the organization believes this is the same team that headed into the game against Tennessee. This is a different team, they believe.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Do I believe that? I'd like more proof because, well, this isn't the first time people in the organization share this feeling with me. And I've seen it mean nothing in the past. So let's see.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]But also, let's be open to the possibility a victory over Buffalo is not impossible. LeSean McCoy, Buffalo's most explosive offensive weapon, is reportedly not playing, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson. The team's second-most explosive offensive weapon Sammy Watkins, who last season was something of a Dolphin killer, also is not playing. So there's that.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The game is in South Florida. And it's still hot down here. And the Bills are not a hot weather team. So there's that.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The Miami offensive line is healthy and about to play its second game together. Last week's showing was an epiphany of sorts for that unit. That's how eye-opening it was. The Dolphins believe that unit is the foundation for future success. So there's that.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The Bills are on a roll, no doubt. They've won four consecutive games. But, with respect, the Bills aren't to be confused with a proven ball club. The Bills are on a longer playoff drought than the Dolphins. They fired their offensive coordinator after the second game of the season and that seemed to work for them the past month, but is that going to last?[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]And last I checked, Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor is a good game-manager type. But he's not Tom Brady.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]So all those things must be considered. And, yes, the fact the Dolphins will be without their most impactful defensive player in Reshad Jones is a problem for Miami. No doubt. Michael Thomas is a fine backup and a smart player. But Jones was starting and earned a Pro Bowl berth last season for a reason. So that hurts the Dolphins.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Now, having said all that, the Dolphins have a chance to become relevant on Sunday. If they win, it will be their first victory against an AFC East rival this season. Last season the Dolphins didn't win a game in the AFC East until the regular-season finale against New England.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Miami was 1-5 in the division last year.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]If the Dolphins, who already lost to the Patriots this year, can even their division record to 1-1 and we're not done with October yet, that suggests progress and other things. Among the other things it suggests is the Dolphins will have just beaten what was considered an AFC Super Bowl contender (Pittsburgh) and the AFC East's second-best team (Buffalo) in consecutive games.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The Dolphins would then head to the bye on a positive note with a 3-4 record and come back with a home game against the reeling New York Jets before heading off to California for two games.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]It is possible, if the Dolphins are right about having turned that fateful corner, this team heads to California with a 4-4 record and two wins within the division.[/FONT]


More at LINK: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/
 
Wouldn't it be GREAT to hear all the NFL Pre-Game show hosts talking in DECEMBER about how the Dolphins are so hot and "Nobody wants to play the Dolphins right now" instead of the usual opponents attitude of "Hey we get to get out of the cold in December & go to Miami, kick the crap out of the Dolphins, catch some sun, do a little shopping & have some fun. Dude you bringin' the family down?"

Hopefully, this is a turning point for the Dolphins that everyone is expecting under Gase and that the team is starting to "Get it" now.

Hey, I can dream...:idk:
 
This game (regardless of injuries for both teams) will tell us what kind of team we have. Lose and season is essentially over with respect to playoffs. Win and we're 1 game behind buffalo, riding high into a bye week, setting ourselves up for a meeting with Geno and the Jets...most critical game in past 2 seasons


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This game is everything. There's obviously a tremendous difference between 2-5 and 3--4 going into the bye. 3 - 4 gives us life and something to root for going forward. 2 - 5 is death.
 
I admit, I didn't watch the steelers game(first game missed in years). And not for any good reason. I assumed we would get massacred and did not want to go through the punishment. But y'all can be damn sure I'll be watching every second of this Bills Dolphins game. I'm not confident in our chances, but I love surprises! Lez go get em!


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This is so true. If Miami can't compete in the division that's a huge problem.

On paper, I'm not sure the Dolphins are physical enough yet to matchup well in the AFC East. I still think Adam Gase needs to bring his type of players in. That said, the team could improve on 1-5 from last year.

As to Buffalo, I think this is a game where Miami needs a fast start. Rex Ryan will stick with the running game and not sure what the Dolphins plan is to stop it. Get a lead, get the crowd behind the team and let's see where it goes.

The Jets are obviously beatable after looking like a potential playoff team off a 10-6 season a year ago.
 
Yeah, but according to Chris Berman, nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills, lol!
 
Our only way to relevance rests in the hands of RT
 
Tureo said:
Our only way to relevance rests in the hands of RT
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I call BullShix on that. The whole team needs to come out head hunting and hitting hard to win this game. The Bills are going to try to intimidate us. I think a big reason why we beat Pittsburgh, was the attitude we brought to the game. It will show early on if they are asleep or if the team came to make a statement. By the way, the need to bring that same attitude to every game to be relevant. It's not just about Tannehill. I have no doubt, he will do his job if everyone else does theirs.
 
njFinsForever said:
I admit, I didn't watch the steelers game(first game missed in years). And not for any good reason. I assumed we would get massacred and did not want to go through the punishment. But y'all can be damn sure I'll be watching every second of this Bills Dolphins game. I'm not confident in our chances, but I love surprises! Lez go get em!
Click to expand...

When I was much younger I took these games way to serious. I'm very lucky and my family is much happier now that win or lose, I'm still the same husband and father I was before the game.
I have broken things, threw things, tore down things and suffered internally for days until the next game hoping for a win. That win would give me hope and when they lost another game, it was back to the same childish behavior.
Age and the realization the Dolphins are not going to win every week is the driving force to change.

I hope, for your sake this is not you? Its no way to live and the people that care about you the most, are the ones that really suffer.
At least when I was nutty about Dolphin games, we were a ****ing great team. Great enough to bet on every single game of the year and always come out on top.
Good luck and watch the games.
 
Yes, to be relevant the Dolphins have to win more than one game/year in the division. That is pretty much a given.

It has just become so commonplace for this team to have a "turn the corner" game where we destroy someone, and then they settle right in and look like a team that doesn't care about showing up for the rest of the season. Last year we crushed Tennessee and Houston, and then proceeded to lose 7 of our next 9. Two years ago it was the Oakland and San Diego games. We were back. And then we lost 5 of the next 8. Three years ago we beat Pittsburgh and NE near the end of the season and just had to win one more game. We were looking good, a clear favorite to make the playoffs. Then we lost the final two games of the season. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I don't want the Steelers to be our only big win of the year. I want us to beat someone/anyone in the AFC East. I hope things are changing. I want us to be relevant.
 
DrMultimedia said:
Yes, to be relevant the Dolphins have to win more than one game/year in the division. That is pretty much a given.

It has just become so commonplace for this team to have a "turn the corner" game where we destroy someone, and then they settle right in and look like a team that doesn't care about showing up for the rest of the season. Last year we crushed Tennessee and Houston, and then proceeded to lose 7 of our next 9. Two years ago it was the Oakland and San Diego games. We were back. And then we lost 5 of the next 8. Three years ago we beat Pittsburgh and NE near the end of the season and just had to win one more game. We were looking good, a clear favorite to make the playoffs. Then we lost the final two games of the season. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I don't want the Steelers to be our only big win of the year. I want us to beat someone/anyone in the AFC East. I hope things are changing. I want us to be relevant.
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Agreed, but I'll be somewhat relieved if they just look competent against AFC-E. I'm REAL tired of embarrassments.
 
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