Merged 3x:Before we get...\We need to slow things down\this week will show us...

[phinfan2003]

Merged 2x: We need to slow things down\this week will show us...

In the past, there have been times where our team was in a good position to put some distance between us and the rest of the division w/ a win only to lose. This week's game is one of those games that will allow us to put some space between us and the rest of the division. I'm not saying that this game will win us the division but when you look at the state of our division, a win in buffalo could really be big for our chances to win the division. We are 0-1 in the division so this is a big game for us just because we can't go down 0-2 in the division. If we can win this week, there's a good chance that we'll have a 1.5 game edge over the rest of the division (provided the Pats lose their tough game vs. the Falcons). This game will say a lot about how different our team really is. Will we go to Buffalo and win a divisional game in a hostile environment vs. a team that is struggling or will we leave there dissapointed and just fall back into the middle of the pack in the AFC east? We must step up this weekend!

 

[tcdrover]

This is true.

In the past the team has handled positive press even worst than they handle the negative press.

Strange to say, but I'm not so sure I like seeing Saban smiling so often. I liked him more when he was ornery all the time...:evil:

I still don't understand why they care so much what the press has to say.

The players must know that the press & tv sportscasters don't have a clue...:fire:

 

[DolphinzD]

In the past, there have been times where our team was in a good position to put some distance between us and the rest of the division w/ a win only to lose.

Probably one of the best examples of this was 2003. Miami was 4-1, and New England was, I think, 4-2. Anyway, we all remember what happened, as Mare missed two short field goals off the dirt, either which could have won the game. That game will always be remembered as the crossroads for both teams. It was near the beginning of New England's 15-game winning streak that culminated with the Super Bowl win over Carolina. Of course, last year they went 17-2 and won it all again. Over that same timeframe, the Dolphins went 6-5 in 2003 and 4-12 in 2004, and of course, no play-offs. I really want to see the Dolphins put the smack down and seize control, at least temporarily, of the division. Should the Patriots lose to Atlanta (a good possibilty), and the Jets lose to Tampa (also a good possibilty), the division would look like this:

Miami 3-1
New England 2-3
Buffalo 1-4
N.Y. Jets 1-4

How sweet would it be for the standings to look like that, with Ricky coming back?

 

[HULKFish]

Probably one of the best examples of this was 2003. Miami was 4-1, and New England was, I think, 4-2. Anyway, we all remember what happened, as Mare missed two short field goals off the dirt, either which could have won the game. That game will always be remembered as the crossroads for both teams. It was near the beginning of New England's 15-game winning streak that culminated with the Super Bowl win over Carolina. Of course, last year they went 17-2 and won it all again. Over that same timeframe, the Dolphins went 6-5 in 2003 and 4-12 in 2004, and of course, no play-offs. I really want to see the Dolphins put the smack down and seize control, at least temporarily, of the division. Should the Patriots lose to Atlanta (a good possibilty), and the Jets lose to Tampa (also a good possibilty), the division would look like this:

Miami 3-1
New England 2-3
Buffalo 1-4
N.Y. Jets 1-4

How sweet would it be for the standings to look like that, with Ricky coming back?

That is so True... That Division record would stupify anyone from an Offseason look! :evil:

And to anyone who watched the NFL channel "Game of the Week" Dolphins/Panthers you got a good look at some things..

Like the leadership role that Zach has grown into, he was telling Junior where a play was leading and being a Strong vocal leader which was cool...

 

[Agua]

In the past the team has handled positive press even worst than they handle the negative press.

This has been the case with every Dolphin team from 1974 forward.

 

[SmokyFin]

Agree completely. If this team is really going to contend for the playoffs this season, which I think they will, then they HAVE to win divisional games like this Sunday's. If we lose Sunday I'll be much less confident in an above .500 season.

 

[Predaphin]

We need to slow things down....

Just thought i'd say that we need to slow things down.... I'm seeing alot of "SB" threads, and "how the AFCE is ours now" threads, "easy buffalo win" threads...

I just think we need to slow down...Keep in mind we are coming off a 4-12 season, it's only week 5 and still have ALOT to prove. We need to continue playing like we have a chip on our shoulder...

Most of you make it sound like we won a game yesterday or as if our team got better with a bye week, when the truth is we need to see how our team responds to this types of situations...Yes I will admit 1st place fell in our laps, but we still need to earn it!

I remember 1st place falling in our laps numerous times during the Wanny era and our team could not capitalize...we need to see how this team responds...We have tough games ahead of us including divisional games. We are 0-1 in the division and have a long ways before we actually win it.

Although I like our chances vs. the Bills and even the Bucs, let's first see how this team responds after the bye week...I don't want to be dissapointed and keep in mind, we may still lose future games....then that's when all the "season's over" threads began...

:shakeno:

 

[Dol-Fan Dupree]

Well all I got to say is

DOLPHINS ARE GOING TO WIN THE SUPERBOWL!!!!

 

[Canadianfishfan]

Just thought i'd say that we need to slow things down.... I'm seeing alot of "SB" threads, and "how the AFCE is ours now" threads, "easy buffalo win" threads...

I just think we need to slow down...Keep in mind we are coming off a 4-12 season, it's only week 5 and still have ALOT to prove. We need to continue playing like we have a chip on our shoulder...

Most of you make it sound like we won a game yesterday or as if our team got better with a bye week, when the truth is we need to see how our team responds to this types of situations...Yes I will admit 1st place fell in our laps, but we still need to earn it!

I remember 1st place falling in our laps numerous times during the Wanny era and our team could not capitalize...we need to see how this team responds...We have tough games ahead of us including divisional games. We are 0-1 in the division and have a long ways before we actually win it.

Although I like our chances vs. the Bills and even the Bucs, let's first see how this team responds after the bye week...I don't want to be dissapointed and keep in mind, we may still lose future games....then that's when all the "season's over" threads began...

:shakeno:

I agree... but damn doesn't it feel good to feel good about the Dolphins!

 

[larfo2224]

I agree. We need to go out each and every week and prove something. We now own first place and we have to win to keep it. Any team can win on any given Sunday, we proved that last year against the Patriots on Monday night. We all need to keep it in perspective, be proud, be loyal and maybe, just maybe at the end of the year, we will have proven something.

 

[HULKFish]

I agree but people are just excited. Its been a while coming..... Hope that is...

 

[perezferia]

I agree. We need to go out each and every week and prove something. We now own first place and we have to win to keep it. Any team can win on any given Sunday, we proved that last year against the Patriots on Monday night. We all need to keep it in perspective, be proud, be loyal and maybe, just maybe at the end of the year, we will have proven something.

Couldn't agree more. Besides, these Phins haven't won on the road yet, or in the rain or snow or cold. We don't know much about this team or how well it's REALLY conditioned. We just know that Denver wilted in the heat and Carolina blew it in the end. Actually, the two wins were very close (the Denver final score doesn't reflect how tight a game it was thanks to JT's sack, fumble, td return) and the loss was NOT close at all.

We have a lot to prove but, as my old football coach used to say, "Yeah it's better to be be lucky than good, but ain't it always the case that the good are always the luckiest? It's because if you put yourself in POSITION to win, you will."

Coach was a wise man. Saban has this team in a POSITION to win games. He's not being conservative and if he ever gets a QB that doesn't overthrow wide open receivers by 10 yards on the deep ball then he'll be labaled what he SHOULD be labeled, a gun slinger. Linehan and Saban have absolutely no love for Wanny ball. All they need is a QB that can deliver the deep ball and the whole league will see for itself.

As for Superbowl... We've played 3 games. I can remember Dolphins teams that were 7-0 and another year 9-2 that didn't even get a whiff of the AFC Championship Game, much less the big dance. We have the toughest schedule in football. We all know that and ESPN agrees with that. Let's see how we do against the Patriots, the Falcons and the Chargers. We'll know an awful lot about this team then.

GO PHINS!!

 

[NYC#1finsfan]

I'm looking for the Kick 'em when they're down bloodlust that this team has lacked for a long time. On numerous ocassions this team has fallen flat when opportunity was staring us in the face. Hopefully the new regime has gotten through to this bunch, we'll see. Also has Reggie Howard gotten any better during the bye week?:confused:

 

[Trackstar]

Just thought i'd say that we need to slow things down.... I'm seeing alot of "SB" threads, and "how the AFCE is ours now" threads, "easy buffalo win" threads...

I just think we need to slow down...Keep in mind we are coming off a 4-12 season, it's only week 5 and still have ALOT to prove. We need to continue playing like we have a chip on our shoulder...

Most of you make it sound like we won a game yesterday or as if our team got better with a bye week, when the truth is we need to see how our team responds to this types of situations...Yes I will admit 1st place fell in our laps, but we still need to earn it!

I remember 1st place falling in our laps numerous times during the Wanny era and our team could not capitalize...we need to see how this team responds...We have tough games ahead of us including divisional games. We are 0-1 in the division and have a long ways before we actually win it.

Although I like our chances vs. the Bills and even the Bucs, let's first see how this team responds after the bye week...I don't want to be dissapointed and keep in mind, we may still lose future games....then that's when all the "season's over" threads began...

:shakeno:

That is one of the main reasons why I stay away from here during the good times. I like to keep things in perspective. One being our secondary has been very inconsistent. Boston has been underachieving. Things like that must improve to ensure success this year. But I will admit, not only does it feel good to be in first, but us and N.E are playing the best football in the AFC East right now so we do somewhat deserve it.

 

[MDFINFAN]

Well all I got to say is

DOLPHINS ARE GOING TO WIN THE SUPERBOWL!!!!

The question is "when"? Right now, we haven't proven anything except it's sept. again...