If we look at the road games, some were close going into the 4th quarter. Often we pressed and had meltdowns trying to close out the game. This is no reason or excuse, but simply more a function of desperation trying to win hurting one's statistics. Taken a game at a time, everyone agrees, the heck with the statistics--just try to win the dang game! But 13 or so games into the season, people kinda lose sight of that, and start looking at those aggregate statistics. Sure, throwing a Hail Mary is going to hurt a QB's statistics. He is likely to get intercepted and will at least get an incomplete pass most of the time. But with 2 second left in the game, down by 5, it's still a good decision.
Statistics are very relevant metrics to help understand performance. But football is all about situational play. It is a poor statistical play to take a knee to end a game, or to stay in-bounds to keep the clock running rather than a RB gaining an extra yard. But situationally, these may be good plays. I'm a big fan of statistics, but they rarely tell the complete story. Holistically, watching the games tells the most. My thoughts having watched Tannehill and the Dolphins on the road is this--We have only found our groove in spurts. We often find ourselves chasing the game late, pressing, and that leads to poor play. It's not that we can't play well on the road, but we seem less consistent.
If we want to make the playoffs, that consistency--both on offense and defense working together and playing complimentary football--needs to surface. If we win out and go 10-6, I firmly believe we will be in the playoffs. If we win 2 of 3, we have a shot, but it is a slim one, IMHO. Anything less than 2 wins and we're done for sure. So, this Minnesota game is a "must-win game."
