Watch tonight's game between our rivals for the last playoff spot in the AFC. It's going to come down to one of these three teams making it, and two watching from home. And as the Chiefs and Broncos duke out a defensive gem, one thing is clear: Neither of these two teams can pass against a loaded box.
The game plan is simple if you want to beat KC or DEN- load up 8 in the box and make them pass. Their defenses are elite, and they may beat you ugly even if you stop their offense, but they will not score much if you dare them to throw.
San Francisco came in today and dared the Dolphins to throw. Ryan Tannehill put 31 on them. Which means that the Dolphins have something that so many teams don't: a player who can make a team pay if they try a one-dimensional scheme. None of the teams outside of the playoff chase have that. And at least two that are in the hunt would love to have Tannehill's arm strength and ability.
Tannehill may never be a pass-into-a-passing-defense type of quarterback. Or he may evolve into one. The jury is out. What he certainly is, is a player who can look at single coverage and go to work. For the Dolphins, if the O-line can get and stay healthy, that may be enough.
We struggled to run today. And we struggled to defend. And we came five yards away from potentially losing at home to a 1-10 team.
This is the NFL and any win is a good win, so long as the team learns and grows. That said, we won today with only one of our dimensions clicking. Having a passing game that can carry the team when necessary is something few NFL teams have: Ryan Tannehill is a blue chip asset.
Jay Lopez
Sunday, November 27, 2016
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19 comments
He is playing well during the streak. Very well, Jay.
Suh has been playing well all season.
5 yards away from a tie, unless you are giving them a 2 point conversion.
We better hope this kc Denver game doesn't need up in a tie, or this could be ugly down the road.
It's amazing how much Tannehill has grown under Adam gase especially with his pocket presence I have noticed a big difference these past couple games wonderful to see
You gotta feel proud of Tannehill for finally getting over the final hurdle. He is getting away from pass rushers. Credit goes to Gaze, yes. But Tannehill has taken his lumps and now is a complete quarterback. And Kapernack actually got tackled at the 2. Suh and Alonso took him down on the two yard line! Too Damon close!
Carl, in spite of being somewhat lean on talent (most particularly depth) this is becoming a team LONG ON HEART, and that does my long-suffering fan's heart good. GO 'fins!!
So true.
OMG....this could be a special year.
Too many three and outs. He is still wearing out our defense. He is not a franchise QB. He is still unpredictable. He is still causing our WRs to get injured. Within two or 3 weeks; we will have all rookies and unknowns on the offense because all of our starters will be severely injured from EXTREME blocking and catching his passes. It is not worth it; not even close. Tannehill is costing us too much for far too long.
(Why is it; that every player around tannehill STAYS HURT?) 4 years running.
Yes Apollos, you're right. It's all Tannehill's fault that our team is injured. He also orchestrated 9/11 and mentored Hitler on his path to pure evil.
I bet if we started Moore and ran the Wildcat offense that you "invented" we would win the SB...
Now that I've lowered my IQ to engage in the above stupidity, let's see if I can finish strong...
Speaking of finishing strong, we just keep FINDING ways to win! Remember when we used to always find ways to lose? Like when we started Matt Moore (Shots fired).
I really thought that with 3 O-line starters out, we were going to look like the team that played the Titans in week 5, but this game proved that Miami has fixed most of it's problems and has really settled into Gase's game plan.
This year's Miami team is special. We finally have a coaching staff, we finally have a team that can play complimentary football, we finally have a QB who is capable of carrying the offense on his back, and we are finally winning the close ones. If we beat Baltimore next week, we're playoff-bound. Take that to the bank.
Out of our next five games I have singled out Baltimore and Buffalo as our biggest challenges and our greatest risks to lose. Not that I'm overlooking the others but those are two teams we seem to have trouble beating especially when playing in their home stadiums. I'm very concerned about Baltimore because I don't think our current Oline will get it done. If we get back Albert and/or Tunsil I like our chances much better. However, we have so many players banged up that it could effect our performance too. The good news is we can lose a game or two and still have a shot at the playoffs. So I just want to encourage everyone not to get discouraged if we lose one in the near future. (No one can win them all, Lol) I also go back to the beginning of the season. When considering the players we have, along with news coaches and new scheme we should not have high expectations. I believed at the time and still believe a 9 and 7 season is a huge step forward for us. Just because we have had an incredible run of consecutive wins the team has gotten our hopes up. We need to embrace reality in spite of our excitement. As much as I want to think playoffs we have to be honest that our team has many flaws. Just because we have found ways to minimize them doesn't mean they are there and that we are going to continue to win. I just don't want to see people turn on the team when they drop a game or two down the stretch. Let's support our team no matter what happens this Sunday while we hope for the best while keeping in mind that we are doing better than most people expected us to do.
Plain truth.. Tannehill is not the Dolphin's most valuable commodity..
Adam Gase is..... What he is building will allow you to plug and play. Like NE, or KC, when Brady was out, they plugged in two other QB's.. same result.
The TEAM is looking much better. If Dolphins can go 3-2 over the next five games they could/should make the playoffs. I see this as very doable. If they can win all five they have a chance to win the division, very unlikely, but not impossible.
I in no way believe this will ever happen, but if Miami wins out and NE loses another game in the next couple of weeks, there's a chance Miami could end up the one seed if the Raiders lose two of there three remaining divisional games.
Wishful thinking, but I'd be ecstatic. That being said, I'm with David Keller. Anything above .500 is a successful season and if you disagree you have no grasp on reality.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/upshot/miami-dolphins-nfl-playoff-picture.html
Click on green for a win, red for a loss. Then look what each scenario does to playoff chances. Enjoy!
We look real good and Dave looks like he can't admit he was wrong.
Let's run the table, have NE loses at Denver and then we are AFC East Champs+
All the games left are winable. We aren't that bad and our opponents aren't dominating.
Nice thread, everyone! So glad to see optimism back. And Gase- "Unknown"- is only our coach because he liked Tannnehill (see numerous statements to that effect.)