Let's face it, most of the critics were right.

[phinmanniac]

I'm very proud of my team this season, but let's face it, we were no match for Baltimore even with the home field advantage. I watched tape of the Ravens from the last few regular season game and knew they were going to be a hell of a challenge.

I believe our record of 11 wins is a bit bloated. Don't get me wrong we earned the division title and nobody can take that away. There were a lot of games that could have gone either way this season -- this time fortunately we had the advantage of a veteran, smart quarterback managing our games. We owe a lot to Pennington for bringing back respect to Dolphins football.

Next season's schedule is going to be a REAL test -- we need to re-evaluate everything this off-season as it will be very easy to regress and fall back into that losing mentality. A lot of tough personnel decisions will have to be made.

In my mind we are at the point which is the hardest to break for any franchise - mediocrity. There are about 6 teams who have and the others are all sitting outside like us trying to break through. We should be happy that we're closer than most -- however we're not quite there yet.

 

[CorduroyG]

I'm very proud of my team this season, but let's face it, we were no match for Baltimore even with the home field advantage. I watched tape of the Ravens from the last few regular season game and knew they were going to be a hell of a challenge.

I believe our record of 11 wins is a bit bloated. Don't get me wrong we earned the division title and nobody can take that away. There were a lot of games that could have gone either way this season -- this time fortunately we had the advantage of a veteran, smart quarterback managing our games. We owe a lot to Pennington for bringing back respect to Dolphins football.

Next season's schedule is going to be a REAL test -- we need to re-evaluate everything this off-season as it will be very easy to regress and fall back into that losing mentality. A lot of tough personnel decisions will have to be made. .

You think Parcells and Sparano will allow this team to regress and fall back into that losing mentality? Im 100% positive that wont happen. This team doesnt need a complete overhaul, that happened after last season. We certainly need improvements, but I think we're back as far as being a perennial playoff team like we were in the Marino days. We'll get some prime time games next year, we'll be back in the spotlight, and I fully expect to be back in the playoffs, with a better chance to go far. Schedule will be much tougher, but so will we.

 

[Miamifin23]

I can agree with the comment about our 11 wins maybe being a little overated. Yes we played the 2 most pathetic divisions in the AFC and NFC West, but we still did win the games and we didn't have any control over which divisions we play in a given year. I think the team did a great job compared to that 1-15 group a year before. Schedule will get tougher, but I do expect our team to also be much better.

 

[DarkRaven]

I'm very proud of my team this season, but let's face it, we were no match for Baltimore even with the home field advantage. I watched tape of the Ravens from the last few regular season game and knew they were going to be a hell of a challenge.

I believe our record of 11 wins is a bit bloated. Don't get me wrong we earned the division title and nobody can take that away. There were a lot of games that could have gone either way this season -- this time fortunately we had the advantage of a veteran, smart quarterback managing our games. We owe a lot to Pennington for bringing back respect to Dolphins football.

Next season's schedule is going to be a REAL test -- we need to re-evaluate everything this off-season as it will be very easy to regress and fall back into that losing mentality. A lot of tough personnel decisions will have to be made.

In my mind we are at the point which is the hardest to break for any franchise - mediocrity. There are about 6 teams who have and the others are all sitting outside like us trying to break through. We should be happy that we're closer than most -- however we're not quite there yet.

Well, I think the Dolphins defensively played a solid game. They wasn't giving Flacco much of anything. I think Chad is a good QB but sometimes he forces the ball into coverage and you just can't do that with any team. Overall, I was a little worried about the Dolphins because the Ravens aren't that familar with them. But like I said before in a previous thread, you guys are very close to a Super Bowl appearance within the next year or so.

 

[67Stang]

This game was a lot closer than the score, we didn't get dominated. Penny made some bad throws, even so we were one bobbled reverse from being down 20-16 with momentum and like 7 minutes left. We beat ourselves today.

 

[hugoguzman]

I'm very proud of my team this season, but let's face it, we were no match for Baltimore even with the home field advantage. I watched tape of the Ravens from the last few regular season game and knew they were going to be a hell of a challenge.

I believe our record of 11 wins is a bit bloated.

If you say so.

What I saw was a team that was down by just 11 and driving in Baltimore territory (prior to the reverse debacle that effectively ended the game).

And all this despite an uncharacteristic 5-turnover performance. I don't really think that we were outmatched. Rather, I think that we were out-executed.

Some facts to back up this assertion:
-Dolphins won time of possession battle
-Net yardage was more or less even (286 for Baltimore, 276 for Miami)
-Flacco was threw for under 150 yards and completed just 9 of 23 attempts

The game really came down to some key possessions:
-Dolphins settling for a field goal instead of touchdown despite getting two tries from the one-yard line
-Ravens getting a field goal at the end of the half
-Two key Dolphin drives in the second half, which where thwarted by miscues (Reed's second INT on an ill-advised throw when Miami was deep in Ravens territory, and the aforementioned reverse debacle)

Miami deserved to lose on Sunday, and they definitely have room for improvement, but I don't think that they were outmatched.