The Dolphins gave the Pats all they could handle yesterday. So here are a few thoughts on yesterdays game from the enemy camp: 1. I was very impressed with the Phins D, ESPECIALLY Wake. I think he would have nullified Gronks importance to the team yesterday had he been able to play. (IE he would have stayed in to help block.) 2.Tannahill missed some open receivers, but on the hole I think the Pats D confused him a lot. 3. I as a Pats fan am glad they escaped Miami with a win with Brady having an off day. 4. Am I crazy thinking Ridley looked BETTER than Bush yesterday? All in all a good game and as usual Miami was a PIA in Miami. All the experts up here see Miami as the team closest to NE and I have to agree you guys will be a challenge from here on out.
I think both looked equally impressive and unimpressive at times. Reggie Bush is a drive killer though. How many times did Miami hand it off to him on 1st and 10 only to see a 2nd and 11, 2nd and 12, etc.? At least 3 by my count. I don't see Reggie Bush in a Dolphins uniform next year; he's danced too much and has made way too many negative plays. He's had some decent games - Oakland, Seattle, yesterday at times, but not enough to warrant a starting job. I wish they'd get Lamar Miller onto the field to see what they have in him for 2013 and beyond. Ridley is impressive; I like his physicality. More impressive though was the play of your O-line without Mankins. I know Vollmer and Connolly played banged up, and the McDonald kid held his own when Connolloy went out. It was especially impressive on that 7 minute drive to close out the game. That was a back-breaker.
A shame our coaches had Wake sit out most of your final drive that ate up 7+ minutes and iced the victory for you. Must be nice to have Brady. Even on an off day.
A shame for Phin fans I was very glad see Wake sitting FAR FAR away from Brady lol. As for having Brady I am enjoying EVERY DAY we have him because when he retires life will be hell.
Miami did not have a good game. The offense scored one TD against one of the worst defenses in the NFL. The defense played well for much of the game, but they failed to get the ball back in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line. Special teams gave the Patriots an easy score when our punter couldn't handle a snap. They also turned the ball back over to the Patriots when Wilson ran into the Patriots punter. After four seasons of this same crap, close is not good enough. As you stated, Brady didn't have a good day and the Dolphins still couldn't win the game. What my observation was yesterday is that the Dolphins continue to find ways to lose games they have every opportunity to win. I also was not that impressed by the Patriots. They are still the best team in the AFC East right now, but I don't see them getting far in the playoffs. You can run on their defense and a quality QB can have a big game against them. If Brady plays in the playoffs like he did yesterday, they will lose in the first round. The few things the Patriots have going for them is that Belichick is still the best coach in the NFL. Brady probably won't have another game like he did yesterday and you should have Gronks back for the playoffs. I am really interested in seeing how the Patriots play next week against the Texans. I think it will be the Texans and the Broncos in the AFC title game, but maybe the Patriots will change my mind by beating the Texans convincingly next week.
Frustrating watching Tannehill struggle, then look great, then struggle. Thought the pats have improved their overall toughness on D, but also think you guys probably lack playmakers on defense.
One of our biggest playmakers was out do to injury (Jones, 6 sacks Rookie) and another out because he was an idiot and got suspended (Cunningham.) I like the blitz calling myself now, seems BB wants make teams earn it instead of the bend but dont break stuff.. (but we do get a lot of TO on this D.. even yesterday the strip sack of Tannahill )
Counts as one but imo that was more or less THill hanging onto the ball and the RT getting beaten. What I'm not seeing in your D is a sort of Ed Reed type, Samuel used to fill that role but now aside from Arrington not seeing a lot of playmakers, the Lb corps is solid but not outstanding imo
I don't think the Dolphins had a great game at all. The defense played well, but once again came up short when they were needed most. But when the Pats first 17 points came off of Dolphins mistakes, that isn't a great game. They played a wounded New England team that made their own share of mistakes and still couldn't capitalize.
Thought we played like sh&$.. Thought Reggie played like sh$), the couple runs he did have was because of the lane created for him.. Brady played like sh&$ as well, it was weird, because I didn't think it was anything we were doing.
I do not agree. Miami did a good job of hitting Brady and not letting him be comfortable. At least in the first half or so.
The Pats defense is second only to the Bears in Turnovers. They have playmakers. What they don't have is decent play out of their safeties and corners. Hartline should have had a long touchdown but Tanny bombed it over his head. The Pats corners and safeties have done that time and time again. On the other had they made the Dolphins put the ball on the ground 3 or 4 times yesterday. They need better playmaking out of their safeties and corner but are averaging 2 turnovers a game on defense.
I don't know what happened to the dolphins running game. On the touchdown drive it was all working. On another drive that scored a field goal Bush got a bunch of yard. On those drives he had 5 carries for about 50 yards. The rest of the drives he was 10 carries for 14 yards. Either the Pats fixed something or Miami stopped doing what was working. Brady missed a bunch of wide open guys. Edelman's deep pass was similar to Hartlines and Brady overthrew him. Also missed Hernandez at the 3 yard line for what would have been an easy score. The pressure was there but he was a little off as well.
