Week 5 Open Thread: Dolphins at Texans

Miami Dolphins (0-4) at Houston Texans (2-2)

Team Offensive Rankings

Dolphins - 17th total offense (327.3), 21st rush offense (95), 11th pass offense (232.3), 19th scoring offense (19.5)

Texans - 16th total offense (328.3), 23rd rush offense (88.8), 8th pass offense (239.5), 10th scoring offense (23.5)

Team Defensive Rankings

Dolphins - 21st total defense (344.3), 32nd rush defense (199.3), 2nd pass defense (145), 29th scoring defense (29.8)

Texans - 14th total defense (309.5), 6th rush defense (80), 21st pass defense (229.5), 14th scoring defense (20)

Today's Inactives

Dolphins: LB Channing Crowder, DT Vonnie Holliday, S Donovin Darius, S Travares Tillman, RB Lorenzo Booker, LB Abraham Wright, QB John Beck and LB Rob Ninkovich

Texans: WR Andre Johnson, WR Jacoby Jones, CB Jamar Fletcher, RB Ahman Green, DE Shantee Orr, LB Zac Diles, RG Kasey Studdard and DT Rashad Butler

3 Absolute Keys to the Game

1.Get Ronnie the ball. It's very clear now that what I've been saying for a while is true: Ronnie Brown is the best player on this offense. The Dolphins need to make sure they get him the ball. Whether it's on the ground or through the air, put the ball in his hands and let him try to make plays.

2. Stop the run. Again, this isn't very original or different, but it's something the Dolphins are yet to do. They must stop Houston on the ground and force Matt Schaub and a diluted receiving group to make plays. If the Dolphins continue to struggle against the run, they simply won't win. That's the bottom line.

3. Get off the field on third down. Yet again, it's one of the fundamentals of winning football but this defense has been unable to do this all year long. Even in 3rd and long situations, the Dolphins' defense can't seem to get off the field. If they continue to allow the opposition to convert 3rd downs, then they are making it 10 times harder to win. This Texans' offense isn't exactly an elite offense, so they need to start putting together some stops.

Prediction: This is the week the Dolphins finally get a "W," winning 24-20 in what will likely be a stressful game to watch. Make sure you have plenty of antacids or alcohol. Both will likely be needed for this one.

GO DOLPHINS!!!!

**UPDATE**: What a way to lose this damn game. The Texans get the ball at their own 4 with 1:33 left and they're able to drive down the field and kick a 57 yard field goal to win the game. Sickening. I know some people are going to call out Cam's decision to punt it, and though I think I would have rather seen them try the long field goal, the blame falls, yet again, on the shoulders of the defense. Look for all my thoughts on this game later on tonight. Your thoughts below...