I tried to hold back a little.  I really did.  But it's time to finally look ahead to this weekend's game between the Dolphins and Patriots down in Miami.

I know I've used this phrase once or twice already this season.  But I'm 100% sure that this time I am dead on accurate: Sunday's game is the absolute biggest game in at least 5 years.  You could even make an argument that this game is the biggest game the Dolphins will have played in this millennium.  That's right - it's that damn big.

There are a number of reasons why.  But the most important is what a Dolphins' victory would signify.  It would really all but end the Patriots' reign as the dominant AFC East team.  It would be the first time since 2000 that the Dolphins sweep the season series against the Pats.  And most importantly, it would legitimize the Dolphins and their amazing, improbable success this season.

A win by the Dolphins on Sunday would end all this talk of the Dolphins being just a "good story."  It would move them from the list of "pretenders" to the list of "contenders."  In all honesty, it would thrust the Dolphins into the limelight - for a positive reason, rather than a negative.

The good news?  The Dolphins' players and coaches all realize the importance of this game.  And no matter the outcome, I can guarantee you that this team will come prepared to play.

Coach Tony Sparano even made one significant change this week.  All season long, if the Dolphins won on Sunday, the players would get Monday off.  But not this week - a decision made on Saturday before the team even took the field against Oakland.  And the players have taken notice.  Antony Fasano said that "it kind of opened our eyes up that it's a big game."

Sparano said on Monday that he woke up in the morning feeling like he was "a kid in a candy store."  And what did he tell his players?

"My message to the players is if you walk through this door Wednesday and your heart isn't racing a million miles an hour then you don't have a pulse. This is why we do what we do. We put ourselves in a position to have a big game at home here at the end of November. I don't think too much has to be said this week."

The players have received this message loud and clear.  In fact, Ronnie Brown even called this game the biggest game of his NFL career, adding, "It's going to be a big turning point of our season."

Extra Time

With the Patriots having played the Thursday night game last week, they've gotten a little extra time to prepare for Sunday's tilt with the Fins.  But Sparano doesn't seem worried.  He said:

"That doesn’t bother me at all, them having a few extra days one way or the other. Sometimes the more you do is not always good.”

Bill Belichick, though, is probably happy with the extra preparation time that he has gotten.  It's probably allowed him to really break down the 'Wildcat' - which was unveiled back in week 3 by the Dolphins and absolutely killed the Pats in that game.

But Justin Smiley isn't worried.  Instead, he's confident that Dan Henning and company will come up with another solid gameplan for Sunday.  Says Smiley:

“We always got something. We have stuff nobody’s seen. We always have wrinkles and stuff like that. Every week he’s got something special, something to keep them on their toes.”

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