Dolphins @ Bills - Wildcard Round (01/15/‘23)

Dolphins 23 to 21. Sanders hits 3 FG's

 

With Tua and Armstead? An interesting game, where Miami has an outside chance of pulling the upset. Without both of them, it's an ugly loss in the 35-13 range.

 

Tua/Armstead- Buf 31 Mia 20
No Tua- Buf 34 Mia 10

 

Dolphins are undefeated when Skylar starts and finishes the game!!

 

Sounds like Tua could possibly be in Phase III of the protocol.

 

Tua absolutely needs to start this game. If he's not available when it matters most, especially 3 weeks after a concussion, then it really strengthens the argument he's too unreliable due to fragility.

 

Buffalo 35-7 (irrespective of who plays QB)

 

If I start, it might only be 35-3 and that's if Sanders is having a good day. Just saying....

 

It's a HUGE concern going into next season, and if he does play in the Buffalo playoff game and gets another concussion? Oh, boy....

 

I'm not sure I agree that it strengthens an argument that he's fragile, but it would strengthen the argument that if he isn't healthy enough after 3 weeks recovery then he has likely suffered very serious head injuries this season and should probably hang up the cleats.

 

Or stage 2, or stage 1.

Wonder if McDaniel actually provides some information today more than his standard.

 

Of course it would strengthen the argument he's unreliable due to fragility. What else would it be? It's either his 2nd or 3rd concussion, missing time when it matters most. A less fragile QB either wouldn't have suffered those concussions, or would recover faster.

 

Any word on Armstead? He’s tier 2 priority to protect whoever starts at QB

 

Yeah. I think you won't know anything about Armstead. Even when he plays, he never practices. So he'll probably be another gametime decision.

 

Hey, that's the stat of the week (if it's true, LOL)! I thought he did prep for one week early on and we lost.

 

I don't know if his availability this weekend should factor in at all. I think we all already know he's unreliable due to injury concerns at this point. 3 concussions in a year span, one was really horrific to see. Didn't he miss a game last year for one as well? The thing with concussions is one makes you more vulnerable for the next. We're at 2 (technically 3) we officially know about from this year already. I think you absolutely have to factor that in to long term decision making with Tua regardless of his status for this weeks game. I get your point though; but I'm just taking it further here because IMO we've already got enough reason to be concerned.

 

This team is banged up but I have faith. They will compete and hopefully keep it close waiting for that Allen interception.

 

I agree we have enough reason to be concerned regardless of whether he's available this weekend, but the difference in perception and effect on this team of him being available this weekend vs. not being available is massive. This is the playoffs. If you as an NFL player are willing to play in a violent game where concussions are part of it, then man up and help the team win!

If on the other hand you're not into that kind of stuff, then please quit so we don't have to keep hoping for everything to be just right for you to contribute. That's the way I look at it. So assuming the medical examiner isn't flat out saying Tua can't play, Tua better play.

 

Don’t think the medical staff is going to clear Tua this week. He’s legit the only shot we have at winning the game too. The more interesting thing will who we replace Boyer with and what QB is brought in to compete/be reliable when Tua inevitably gets hurt again.

 

And the hits keep on coming...

 

I truly hope they don't. Players want to play. Listen to Chris Nowinski. The medical staff needs to protect players from themselves. You are going to bring a player back who hasn't played, practiced, or done any football stuff for 2-3 weeks into his 1st playoff game ever in Buffalo against the 2nd best defense in the sport? Against Matt Milano who has a history of killing guys including Tua. Oh, and you might be missing your 2 starting OTs on a line that's already shi*. This is someone who sustained a concussion and couldn't remember things from the previous day. Someone who spoke up about his issues ONLY AFTER being told to. Honestly this is so damn CRINGE. Please don't make this man play and risk getting 4 concussions in 112 days. His life is in the balance.

 

Another positive sign. Not saying he's close but, he's obviously been working out behind the scenes.

 

Stop being dramatic. You don't give a shti. lol

 

You are a bad person, and a troll.

 

Do we even trust the Offensive line to give Tua enough time at this point? I don't know...I know Thompson was under duress for the majority of the game yesterday, but there were moments where the line did give him plenty of time to get something done. He just couldn't find anyone and that is partly due to how great the Jets secondary is.
Regardless of who the quarterback is on Sunday, we're going to have to establish the run game. We seem to be able to do that in games, but then we can't complete a pass once our run game gets us into 3rd and manageable. I've noticed a trend where we get to a 3rd and 3 for example and one of our guys jumps offsides. Stupid penalties have killed a good majority of our drives this year I've noticed. In order to even have a chance in Buffalo, we have to establish the run game, and we have to play mistake free football, and we have to get our defense off the field when we get them in a 3rd and long (which does happen). This game will be all about momentum. I don't expect us to win this even with a healthy Tua and Armstead (which we don't have). I'm going to temper my expectations with this one. We literally backed our way into the playoffs, we allowed McDaniels to keep his job and most likely Sanders. That is all. I think our season ends soon, but at least we made the tournament.

 

Thompson had time yesterday. He was just hesitant to throw the ball.

 

Ok, keep calling him "boy".

 

I definitely noticed that. He doesn't anticipate the way Tua does. Tua basically throws it to where his WR's are going to end up whereas Thompson was waiting for them to be completely open. Huge difference between the two of them. I thought the offensive line did an adequate job. Thompson was getting pressured, but I think he did hold the ball for a long time on a lot of plays.

 

With as relatively well as we ran the ball yesterday (30 total carries averaging 5 yards per carry), I'm surprised Thomspon didn't go downfield on play action for the penguin and cheetah. But as you said, he doesn't anticipate as Tua does.

That or he was so afraid of making a mistake that he elected the shorter passes. To his credit, Skylar did play mistake free yesterday. That's always a plus...no turnovers that is.

 

Uhh………

 

the down side of reaching the play offs is that it means another game with the woeful Boyer as DC.

 

Dude, he's a rookie in his 2nd NFL start. He's also our 3rd string QB so he's had almost zero practice reps this year. The kid deserves some slack, you can't compare his stats to the average starter and say they're the same thing.

 

OL coach commented on that too, saying him missing practices doesn't help the line. Not a direct quote

 

He got knocked out of the game if not mistaken.

 

On the duck his arm was hit as he threw.

His throw to Hill for a first down was off balance and thrown on a line.

 

As long as the line can keep creating lanes we will compete vs Buffalo. We traded for Wilson for a reason and Ahmed will need to contribute as well.

 

It seems as if Wilson is not hitting the holes like he did when he first got here. A couple times with him it seemed there were better places to run the ball.