For some reason, this game just really brought to mind the week 16 game from our last winning season. We were facing KC in terrible weather and we had won all but one of our second half games (just like this year), only we did it that year by dominating time of possession and keeping our defense from being exposed too much. KC turned everyone on its side in that one. They were starting the very familiar now Tyler Thigpen and had switched to a spread passing attack, shotgun based, since what they heck, they were a bad team anyway. In the oppressive, snow covered field, they dominated the early part of the game, and we were facing a big deficit that this team, especially after losing its most reliable pass catcher in Greg Camarillo, wasn't well equipped to overcome. We typically used the wildcat or other creative plays (including Pennington deep balls) to get ahead, then ate away the clock consistently not with the running game as much as Pennington, who was absolutely lethal at working the pocket and finding a chain moving completion to keep the clock moving.
Going into week 16 that year, it really felt like if we can get over this hump, we have our destiny in our hands. Us winning in that game would set up a winner take all finale for the division against the Jets, and anything could happen in that game. But we had to get through week 16, and as Thigpen carved us up and the weather worked against us, it didn't feel like it would happen. This year, we knew beating Buffalo left us a shot to clinch a spot this weekend, and at least gave us a chance at destiny in our hands next week. But we had to beat Buffalo.
I don't remember as much about how we beat KC in 2008 as much as I remember that we found a way to. I remember the defense got a couple big turnovers. The offense found a way to close the gap. The end of this week's game was so crazy, and there were so many plays necessary to win this one, I'm not sure I can even now remember, much less in a couple years. But just like in 2008, when a team came from out of nowhere after a slow start to find a way to win, this team today came into a game with pressure all over it, faced significant adversity during that game on the road, and found a way to win. 2008 was a special year for me since as an adult the Dolphins haven't made the playoffs in any other season. For me, just making the playoffs this year will be special if we can have it sealed.
What a game, and what a season.
Going into week 16 that year, it really felt like if we can get over this hump, we have our destiny in our hands. Us winning in that game would set up a winner take all finale for the division against the Jets, and anything could happen in that game. But we had to get through week 16, and as Thigpen carved us up and the weather worked against us, it didn't feel like it would happen. This year, we knew beating Buffalo left us a shot to clinch a spot this weekend, and at least gave us a chance at destiny in our hands next week. But we had to beat Buffalo.
I don't remember as much about how we beat KC in 2008 as much as I remember that we found a way to. I remember the defense got a couple big turnovers. The offense found a way to close the gap. The end of this week's game was so crazy, and there were so many plays necessary to win this one, I'm not sure I can even now remember, much less in a couple years. But just like in 2008, when a team came from out of nowhere after a slow start to find a way to win, this team today came into a game with pressure all over it, faced significant adversity during that game on the road, and found a way to win. 2008 was a special year for me since as an adult the Dolphins haven't made the playoffs in any other season. For me, just making the playoffs this year will be special if we can have it sealed.
What a game, and what a season.
