Sports Buzz: Postscripts, thoughts, Tannehill musings

[gafin]

This Dolphins season remains relevant tonight because Ryan Tannehill delivered his best game ever against Buffalo, Lamar Miller ran with purpose, and the Dolphins throttled the Bills in the second half, limiting them to 86 yards after halftime.

Some thoughts and reaction:

### Here’s what the Dolphins' 6-4 record means: Even if the Dolphins lose at Denver and at New England, they have a pretty good chance of making the playoffs if they win home games against Baltimore, the Jets and Minnesota and win at the Jets.

And if they win at New England (7-2) on Dec. 14, an AFC East title is a possibly if somebody can cool off the white hot Patriots, who are averaging 40 points in their past five games. The Patriots have a difficult schedule in the coming weeks (at Colts, Lions, at Packers, at Chargers, Dolphins) before closing at the Jets and home against Buffalo.

### The Dolphins had gone 33 series with only one touchdown against Buffalo, before scoring two in a span of six minutes late in the third and early in the fourth tonight.

### Both coordinators had sound game plans and their units executed them splendidly. Because the Bills’ defensive line had a clear edge over the Dolphins’ depleted offensive line, Bill Lazor served up a heavy diet of short passes, and Tannehill was accurate on short routes in the first half and short and intermediate routes in the second.

Kevin Coyle dialed up blitzes at opportune times in the second half, and the Dolphins forced Kyle Orton to get rid of the ball prematurely --- one reason Buffalo went 0 for 7 on third-down conversions in the second half, and one reason Orton --- who entered with a passer rating of close to 100 --- closed this game at 69.7.

### Tannehill, conversely, closed with a 114.8 rating, finishing 26 for 34 for 240 yards, two touchdowns (a 7-yarder to Brandon Gibson and 8-yarder to Jarvis Landry), plus four carries for 17 yards.

His only missteps: a fumble in the red zone, a wayward deep pass to Mike Wallace (what else is new) and an errant pass to Wallace that should have been a pad-on touchdown late in the game.

But overall, Tannehill was very good, especially considering his history against Buffalo (67 career passer rating and 1-4 record against them before tonight).

The Dolphins are now 16-1 when Tannehill has a passer rating of 90 or higher. Tannehill has a rating of 109 or higher in four of his past seven games. And he’s now up to 17 touchdowns, seven picks.

### Tannehill, on NFL Network afterward: “I definitely think I’ve been playing better. It took me a little while to get comfortable in the offense. The guys around me have really stepped up and played well. … We were West Coast last year, so a completely different system. All kinds of zone reads. Spreading things out. A lot of new concepts. But it’s been a lot of fun…. I feel great [in this system]. When I went to London, I took a step back and said make plays, have fun and stop thinking so much. I think I turned a corner….

“I think we’re pretty good. We’re two plays away from being 8-2, looking at the Green Bay and Detroit game. We’re that close. Just because we didn’t make those plays doesn’t mean we can’t think of ourselves that way. We have a lot of confidence in what we can do this year.”

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...fter-dolphins-22-9-win.html#storylink=addthis

 

[D0lphan72]

I'll take it

 

[Despacio]

I dig the confidence. "Just because we didn't make those plays doesn't mean we can't think of ourselves that way."

6 wins all by double digits. There's something special in this team dying to get out. I just hope it emerges at the right time when we need it.


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[Sons Of Shula]

And when you say miami, you're talking super bowl ....

 

[LordTua]

"Stop thinking so much ....I think I turned a corner"

It was at that moment, a single tear of joy rolled down my cheek.

He has been listening to me scream at the t.v all along, way to be RT17!!!!

 

[roy_miami]

I dig the confidence. "Just because we didn't make those plays doesn't mean we can't think of ourselves that way."

6 wins all by double digits. There's something special in this team dying to get out. I just hope it emerges at the right time when we need it.


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And we left a lot on the field in every one of those wins.

 

[Phinfan31]

which begs the questions...

How good COULD we have been without losing so many players to injuries? (Moreno especially)

How good COULD we be with a huge alpha WR and TE?

Were getting close you guys....were getting close. I think we make the playoffs this year...but what im REALLY excited for is next season.

 

[Mike13]

which begs the questions...

How good COULD we have been without losing so many players to injuries? (Moreno especially)

How good COULD we be with a huge alpha WR and TE?

Were getting close you guys....were getting close. I think we make the playoffs this year...but what im REALLY excited for is next season.

Draft a few LBs. get some size at WR and we could make a serious push.