Dolphins vs Patriots: Prediction Time
by Matty I on Nov 7, 2009 1:00 AM EST
in News
27 comments
It's that time of the week again. It's time to make our predictions for Sunday's game. But first, let's see who the "experts" are picking (hmmm...I wonder):
| Chris Mortensen - NE | Adam Schefter - NE | Mark Schlereth - NE |
| Tom Jackson - NE | Cris Carter - NE | PFT - NE |
| Peter King - NE | Jason Cole - NE | Michael Silver - NE |
| Pete Prisco - NE | Harmon Forecast - NE | Dave Richard - NE |
Not one person went out on a limb and picked the Dolphins. Surprised? Me neither.
But I'm not about to give the Dolphins no chance to win this game, as many in the media seem to think. I think that if the Dolphins can just make a couple of plays, they can certainly hang with the Patriots and even pull off the win.
The Dolphins are one of the most physical teams in the NFL and that's going to play to their advantage on Sunday. The Patriots are beat a little bit on both their offensive and defensive lines. If the Dolphins can control the line of scrimmage and dominate up front - on both sides of the ball - they could very well surprise a lot of people.
So what do I think? I don't know if the Dolphins will win. But I'd be rather surprised to see the Dolphins get blown out on Sunday. I think this game will actually be close. And if the Dolphins can make it to the fourth quarter in a tight game, I'll take my chances.
My Week 9 Locks
Dolphins +10.5 over Patriots - Like I said, I don't have a feeling one way or the other about who will win. But I think the Dolphins are getting disrespected with these very high point spread.
Ravens -2.5 over Bengals - This is the time of the year when the "cream rises to the top." That means it's time for the Bengals to start sinking.
Jaguars -6.5 over Chiefs - I look for a big dose of MJD against KC. The Chiefs might keep it close for a half or so, but the Jaguars will pull away late.
Packers -9.5 over Bucs - Tampa just stinks and the Packers have too much offensive firepower for the Bucs to keep up with.
Last Week: 3-1
Season: 13-11
27 comments | 0 recs
Dolphins/Patriots Final Injury Report
by Matty I on Nov 6, 2009 4:53 PM EST
in News
22 comments
Key injuries for both teams, so let's take a look.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Doubtful
Channing Crowder, LB (shoulder)
Jason Ferguson, NT (elbow)
Notes
-Tony Sparano said that he's "on the fence" about Crowder's availability on Sunday.
-Reggie Torbor would again replace Crowder if he can't go.
-Paul Soliai would replace Ferguson.
22 comments | 0 recs |
Dolphins vs Patriots: Miami's Keys to Victory
by Matty I on Nov 6, 2009 12:15 AM EST
in News
88 comments
Huge. There's no way around it. That's what Sunday's game between the Dolphins and the Patriots up in Foxborough is. It's huge - for the Dolphins, at least.
A win up in New England would pull the Dolphins within one game of the division lead and give the Dolphins a 4-0 record within the division - which would mean a win over Buffalo later on in the year would give the Dolphins the tie-breaker over the Patriots regardless of how their second meeting plays out in Miami. So let's be real about this game - it's a season-defining game, though at this point I think every game for the Dolphins is critical. But that's what putting yourself in a 2-4 hole does - it magnifies every game from here on out.
So what do the Dolphins have to do to leave Foxborough with a win for the second consecutive time? A lot, of course. But these three factors are among the most important.
Pressure, Pressure, Pressure
This is probably the most obvious key for the Dolphins - and yet it's also the most important. We know how dominant New England's passing attack can be. In my opinion, there is no better duo at the wide receiver position than Randy Moss and Wes Welker. They each have their own strengths and roles and they compliment each other absolutely perfectly.
It's no coincidence that the Patriots have the second best passing offense in the NFL and have been sacked the third fewest times all season. It's also no coincidence that in two of their last three losses with Tom Brady under center, it's been outstanding, relentless pass rushes that have slowed New England's dynamic offense - scoring just 23 combined points in those two games. The two games I'm referring to, of course, are the Super Bowl against the Giants back in February of 2008 and the Pats' week two loss to the Jets back in September. In each of those games, Tom Brady was under constant duress. The Giants got to Brady for five sacks. The Jets didn't actually record any sacks. But if you watched that game, you'd know that the various blitz packages the Jets were sending did enough to force Brady to have to throw the football well before he wanted to.
In those two games, Brady connected on just 55% of his throws and averaged just 5.07 yards per attempt. That's the blueprint the Dolphins will look to follow on Sunday.
To accomplish this, the Dolphins will obviously need big performances out of Jason Taylor and Joey Porter. But it goes beyond just those two. Randy Starks has been outstandthing this year and another big performance out of him would be terrific. Cameron Wake has been quiet since his big week against Buffalo, but I think we might see a little bit more of him on Sunday. I also expect t o see more of those safety blitzes we saw last week with Gibril Wilson and Yeremiah Bell.
The Pats will likely be without starting left tackle Matt Light, which means the Dolphins should have even more opportunities to get to Brady. They can't let those opportunities go to waste.
88 comments | 0 recs |
Wildcat Weekly Issue 3: Swiffer Edition
by BSerious72 on Nov 5, 2009 11:31 PM EST
30 comments
Issue 3:
Current Record (3-4, 3-0)
Break out the brooms, bitches! It's funny how a Jet victory can cure all. I had a cold during Halloween and went to the doctor and his advice was to get some rest and watch the Dolphins beat up on the Jets, again. And what do you know, 2 1/2 teaspoons of Jason Taylor and Ted Ginn later, I felt like a new man. After a tough loss to the Saints, sweeping our most hated rivals and sending them spiraling into a whole notha' world of mess is about as good as watching people fall. Kind of crazy that our last 2 wins were against the one team we loathe the most. How great it is to see Sanchez on the sideline sulking. Don't get me wrong, it was ugly at times, but we hung in there and found ways to win in which I've never seen before. We might not be the best team in football - but sometimes it's hard to deny the magic that we see from our boys every gameday.
30 comments | 6 recs
I should have picked that ball off and run for 100 yards, I could start with that. God! And then on the play when Braylon scored, it was supposed to be a bracket with me and the safety on him. But I kind of misplayed my leverage and pretty much didn't use my safety at all. I put myself in a bad position, where the ball shouldn't even have been thrown over there. The play we had, the call was perfect. I just had a mental lapse and I kind of put myself in a bad position. Small things like that, things that shouldn't happen...I guarantee that isn't happening again.
1 day ago
Matty I
17 comments
0 recs
Dolphins vs Patriots: Game Capsule
by Matty I on Nov 5, 2009 12:30 PM EST
in News
31 comments
MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-4) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (5-2)
SERIES
|
|
DOLPHINS |
PATRIOTS |
|
SERIES LEADER |
48-36 |
|
|
STREAKS |
3 of past 4 |
|
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COACHES VS. OPP. |
Sparano: 1-1 |
Belichick: 11-9 |
|
LAST WEEK |
W 30-25 at Jets |
Bye (Wk. 7: W 35-7 at Buccaneers in London) |
|
LAST GAME |
11/23/08: Patriots 48 at Dolphins 28. New England QB Matt Cassel passes for 415 yards with 3 TDs - his 2nd straight 400-yard game - & adds 8-yard TD run. |
|
|
LAST GAME AT SITE |
9/21/08: Dolphins 38, Patriots 13. Miami RB Ronnie Brown accounts for 5 TDs (4 rush, 1 pass) as Dolphins halt New England's NFL-record 21-game regular-season win streak. |
|
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BROADCAST |
CBS (1:00 PM ET): Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf. SIRIUS: 153 (Mia.), 122 (NE). XM: 108 (NE). |
|
31 comments | 0 recs |
Dolphins in the red zone: Week 8
by Matty I on Nov 5, 2009 12:15 AM EST
in News
49 comments
This post is sponsored by Comcast and their NFL RedZone channel. Want to see every touchdown from every NFL game as it happens as well as live look-ins to all of Sunday's games in key situations? Then you need Comcast's NFL RedZone.
On Sunday, both red zone offense and red zone defense were critical for the Dolphins. Offensively, the Dolphins were only in the red zone one time - a sad commentary on who ineffective they were on offense, of course. But nonetheless, the Dolphins converted on the one time they made it down there, and that was simply huge.
The Jets had just scored to cut Miami's lead to 24-19 late in the third quarter. But the Dolphins answered with a critical 13 play drive that ate up nearly eight minutes. On that drive, they converted three crucial third downs. Then once they got inside the 20, the Dolphins relied on a tough 7 yard run by Ricky Williams and a defensive holding penalty to get down to the 5 yard line. That's when Chad Henne faked the hand off to Ronnie Brown, rolled out right, and threw an accurate pass on the run with a defender closing in to Joey Haynos for the touchdown. And give credit to Haynos, who did an excellent job of selling his "block" just enough to keep the defender honest and a step behind when he broke right for his pattern. Maybe it's just me, but I want to see more of Haynos in the coming weeks.
With their one red zone conversions, the Dolphins are now scoring touchdowns on 63% of their red zone trips - a solid ratio for sure.
49 comments | 0 recs |
The Phinsider goes over 3 million visits
Today, our little community achieved a major milestone. Less than three years after launching, this blog has gone over the 3 million visit plateau.
At 3:14 pm ET, a reader from the Winter Park, Florida area became the 3 millionth visitor to The Phinsider. So congrats to you, anonymous reader, for being the person to crack the 3 million barrier.
And thank you to all who have become loyal readers and community members. This place wouldn't be what it is today without all of you!
2 days ago
Matty I
94 comments
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Dolphins Schedule
@
Atlanta
|
Sun 09/13 | L 7 - 19 |
|
Indianapolis
|
Mon 09/21 | L 23 - 27 |
|
@
San Diego
|
Sun 09/27 | L 13 - 23 |
|
Buffalo
|
Sun 10/04 | W 38 - 10 |
|
New York Jets
|
Mon 10/12 | W 31 - 27 |
|
New Orleans
|
Sun 10/25 | L 34 - 46 |
|
@
New York Jets
|
Sun 11/01 | W 30 - 25 |
|
@
New England
|
Sun 11/08 | 1:00 PM EST |
|
Tampa Bay
|
Sun 11/15 | 1:00 PM EST |
|
@
Carolina
|
Thu 11/19 | 8:20 PM EST |
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@
Buffalo
|
Sun 11/29 | 1:00 PM EST |
|
New England
|
Sun 12/06 | 8:20 PM EST |
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@
Jacksonville
|
Sun 12/13 | 1:00 PM EST |
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@
Tennessee
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Sun 12/20 | 1:00 PM EST |
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Houston
|
Sun 12/27 | 1:00 PM EST |
|
Pittsburgh
|
Sun 01/03 | 1:00 PM EST |
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