I realize we can only play the teams on our schedule, but is this team good enough to beat a Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, or even a Joe Flacco?? Just looking at our QBs faced we've only beaten one decent one in Andy Dalton. I'm still optimistic because we really only face one beast and that's Brady (can't put Luck their yet). If we win these next 2 games the playoffs look like a very good possibility, but I don't want to go to Denver and get 1999'd either. Or suffer ANOTHER playoff loss to the gloomy Ravens.
If we keep teams to 18 points on average, we still need a little more offense to come out on top everytime. Even though we haven't faced any real high powered offense yet, Our defense will hold up IMO.
Being "GOOD" feels great...but I'm ready to be a serious contender. For that to happen we need Tanny n the running game to play lights out.
The Patriots aren't a very good team in my opinion. They just aren't....I don't see talent across their roster. I see Brady and a bunch of stop-gap pieces. Honestly I think we can hang with anyone in the AFC. I can't say we will beat them...but we will hang in there and make it a close game we have opportunities to win.
I'll take that "stop gap" Gronkowski and Ridley any day. Until we start beating the Pats we are 2nd tier.
One thing I'm sure of, is we can play with any team in the league, right now. And we will beat most of them too. We have a bit more work to get to the point where we can walk into any stadium on any Sunday and consistently walk out with a win, but for the 1st time in years I can see and feel that is coming. We are in such good shape going forward. This is only the beginning.
I guess going to Denver or Houston scares me the most... Good news is I project them the 1-2 seeds in the AFC, so in order to travel there.....yep. You know.
Its true. Take away the 5 minutes of craziness, most of it coming from a man that will probably be the defensive player of the year, we beat the Texans before and after and were winning on the scoreboard. I know you just can't take 5 minutes out of a game, but if you do, we won by 1 point. We had that stadium quiet and every fan was nervous.
Yeah, fixed that for you. I'll be thrilled if we can pull off a win versus the Pats in Miami. A split with them should be enough to get us to the playoffs.
There are more pieces we need to be a true contender. If we make the playoffs as a wild card (most probable scenario) we'd have to win 3 road games as underdogs and I don't see our defence being dominant enough to do that 3 times. We'd also be relying on Tanny on not having any 'rookie learning curve' games in the playoffs. So whilst anything is possible you wouldn't bet your life savings on the 'phins making a deep playoff run. But we do have some very solid young talent that will be better next year. Our coaching staff is both developing talent skills and also giving the players the mental tools to feel confident whatever the situation. Depth of Talent + good skills/discipline + confidence = success over multiple years. Good schemes on offence and defence help, but games are won by players.
Lol. Before the season you were 100% certain we were going to be a bottom 5 team. 7 games of good play that has us 2nd in the division and 5th seed in the playoff race, after monkey stomping giant mud holes in Jets asses...and you are tired of good? Lol.
Exactly, in Indianapolis, mob city refs will be made to call heavily in favor of the Colts. To practice ignoring horrible calls, we need to mentally chant "Om Mani Padme Steratore". As always, mental focus and execution will be honed.
I mean, I'm discovering all this too, even as I'm saying it... [video=youtube;Q9QAfcn9cA0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9QAfcn9cA0[/video]
You may want to invest in some glasses Alex! If you cannot see the extemely talented offensive players on that roster then you've got to be going blind.
You can't just take away time or plays that happened in the game. You can't beat someone for half a game, we lost because they made plays off turnovers that cost us.
Objectively the Colts game is possibly more important than the Jest game simply b/c we are likely vying for the same Wildcard slot. One of the things that has doomed our last 3 seasons has been intra conference losses, it just messes everything up.
I'm with FinO. Years of mediocrity have led to this. Too many times we've had everything fall in place perfectly for us to make the playoffs, and we couldn't come through. I am cautiously optimistic right, but If you put a gun to my head and have me take a guess, I would say that I don't think that we're going to the playoffs. I don't care how bad the Pats have looked, as long as they have Brady/Belichick, they should be favored in most games they play. I'm not being negative here. I am very pleased with the team and the direction were headed, but I just don't want to get my hopes up, not yet at least. I've seen this movie too many times.
I say, enjoy this season for what it is. At the beginning of this season most people thought Miami would be battling for the #1 pick in the draft. However they winning games while not playing perfect football. IMO, that is the biggest difference between 2008. If Miami makes the playoffs this year, it will be in a season where Tom Brady doesn't get hurt and Miami doesn't tie the record for least amount of turnovers in a season.
Atlleast you didn't put your own spin on things.... Never made either of those comments. You sir should be in politics or an ESPN "reporter". Lol
I would love another shot at Houston, in the AFC Championship game. That would be a perfect place for us to get our first win over them!!!
I think people need to lower their expectations. They seem to be running a little high. We got some good pieces to build on. I would say in a year or two we'll be serious contenders if we stay on track and have good drafts/FA. This year, because of our schedule, just reaching the playoffs would be a huge accomplishment for a rookie HC and rookie QB.
Flacco is the most over-rated QB in the league (have said this for several years) ... he has never 'won' games for BAL ... he just lives off the D - which has taken a hit this year. We should not be afraid of anyone in the AFC ... HOU was it - and they have lost their best defensive player ... Barring injury we can certainly hang with PIT, BAL + NE ... if Gaffney or Armstrong can make an impact, then our odds get even better! Whilst I would not predict a SB appearance ... anything could happen with injury, etc ... we just need to win the next 4 games -- which are absolutely 'winnable' games, and see what happens with better competition the last couple ...
The Dolphins are playing much better this season than I thought they would. It basically has been the defense and special teams which have led to the Dolphins victories. To me the offense is still the unit which needs to step it up when the Dolphins play the better teams on their schedule. The running game has gotten worse since earlier in the season. The Jets had the 30th ranked defense against the run, yet the Dolphins averaged only 2.9 yards per rush. In the passing game, hopefully some of the other receivers will continue to step up, because Hartline hasn't really done much since he had his one great game earlier in the season. Right now the Dolphins are good enough to beat the teams which don't have potent offenses, or great defenses. I still question if they will be able to be competitive when they go up against the Patriots and their powerful offense. The 49er's are also going to be a tough team for the Dolphins because it is going to be very difficult for Miami to score against their high powered defense. In fact the game this week against the Colts is going to be tough to win. The Colts run defense is no worse than the Jets. Their pass defense is rated in the top ten in the NFL. I also believe that Luck may be the best QB the defense has faced since the Houston game. I agree that if the Dolphins win the next two games, they have a good chance of making the playoffs. I also don't think they will go very far in the playoffs because they just don't match up to the top tier teams in the AFC right now. I believe that 2013 is the year the Dolphins will become a legitimate SB contender in the AFC. All I want this season is to see improvement throughout the year and for Tannehill to get healthy again so he can continue to get additional NFL experience. I will admit I was wrong about the Dolphins before the season. Perhaps they will prove me wrong about their chances if they do make the playoffs. Whether or not they make the playoffs this year. I feel a lot better about the future of this franchise then I have in over a decade. Hopefully with all the draft selections the Dolphins have in the 2013 draft, they will be able to add some play makers on the offense who can come in and contribute immediately.
I wouldn't mind our first win against Houston being a playoff game in their house. As for now one week at a time.
This is 100% correct. We cannot be hypocritical here and expect anything more than what is stated above. We thought this season was going to go nowhere. Its a new coaching staff and a whole new scheme with a rookie QB. @ .500 is a success and anything above that is bonus. Enjoy the season and don't get too hyped. Just enjoy the games.
Some people are overreacting to a few good wins. Yes, the team is playing better than anyone expected, but that's not a guarantee that we are going to have a winning season or make the playoffs. I certainly hope we do, but getting yourself too pumped up too early is a great way to set yourself up for a big fall. If this team makes the playoffs, I will be very, very happy, but right now I don't expect that to happen. Right now, I can see us finishing around .500. That may change if we keep rising to the occasion and playing hard, but I am not ready to buy playoff tickets just yet.
