I just don't want to see us get run out of the stadium. If we can hang with them, and make a game out of it thats the best I can hope for. Injuries on defense are going to hurt us and I expect a loss but I don't expect us to be blown out. This has the makings of a shootout in my opinion.
Let me just say that this also feels like one of those games that you totally expect to lose, but end up winning somehow. I wouldn't be surprised either way win or lose. Like I said...I just want us to show some fight and hang with them for the entire game. I think this will be a track race though.
We will probably lose, possibly by 7-10 points. No Wake and less of a chance the opposing coach decides to get conservative with the play calling means we could easily give up more points than we did against Atlanta. We can't run the ball. We can't keep Tannehill from getting sacked. And so far the Saints are good at defending the pass.
We are going in to this game with a banged team, without Wake and Patterson, not sure about Solia and Ellerbe yet, however I feel that overall we are the better team, young and well coached with a lot of determination, not afraid to be in a hostile environment in front of a National audience. This game is wide open, GO PHINS!
If Soliai, Wake, Patterson, and possibly Ellebe are all out for this game, I think it is going to be a very long night for the defense. If all these players were healthy and able to play, I think it would be a close game with the last team having the ball in the fourth quarter ending up winning the game. With all the injuries on defense and the game being played in the Saints stadium, I feel the Saints will probably be able to move the ball rather easily against the Dolphins defense and Graham will have a huge game for the Saints. Right now, assuming Wake, Soliai, and Patterson won't play in the game, my prediction is Saints 37 Dolphins 27.
Tannehill has completed 19-of-22 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown with an 86.3 completion percentage in two minute drill situations.. The no huddle, a moving pocket, and some read option... We have a lot in the bag.
Philbin refuses to acknowledge injuries when it comes to how his team projects to perform, very Shula like.
I don't think we are going to see that high-scoring of a game. These are two top-10 defenses IMO. My prediction: Dolphins 20 Saints 24 Thats assuming Wake is out. If Wake plays, my prediction: Dolphins 24 Saints 20
I think we win the special teams battle as long as Thigpen doesn't do anything stupid. Their D is improved but I think we can move the ball against them and score against them. Their O is not to be stopped. Slowed down, hampered, inconvenienced but you just aren't going to stop Brees and Graham. There is not reason we can't win this game.
Thing is, to me it would make more sense to see what Jelani Jenkins has in coverage on Graham then Trusnik, I have visions of Trus doing a Crowder chases the Te across the middle impression.
We have shown the ability to close out halves/games both offensively and defensively. There is absolutely no reason we can't beat NO.
My expectations is that our coaches will raise the tempo of our offense. If we're trying to win TOP like Sparano used to do on every gameplan, we're going to get blown out. Our offense is slow, the Saints defense is very underrated, they can force us to 3 and out and the Saints' offense is fast. We can lose the game from the start if we don't take it to another level offensively. Enough with the slowness. Come out firing testing the Saints' secondary.
Totally agree, the proof is in the pudding, the second half of the win over Hotlanta. Only 3 points given up by our depleted/banged up defense and Coyle.
Dual edged sword, also means we turn the ball over more quickly if we fail, giving them more chances to score Td's vs a nicked up Defense.
I feel like Padre here... Most don't realized we played last game with D players injuries as the game went one... Players on the D have been nicked/missing playing time since the Colts game... still they kept two of the top 4 Offenses in the NFL out of the end zone for most of the games... Why all of the sudden do we notice this??? I expect a win this Monday night... We have been scoring points on O and getting TO's from our D... Maybe our rookie DB's contribute this week a little more, who knows for sure??? Maybe we need to realize, that we finally have a coaching staff that coaches the right way... and the players are starting to believe... So am I...
You guys are too doom and gloom. OK, I understand we should also be realistic, but you know what? Good teams find ways to win. We were second best against ATL and guess what - we kept it close and found a way to win. There's nothing stopping us from doing that again. Know something else? One thing I've noticed since the season started is that we haven't even played close to full potential yet. Only perhaps Tanny has met/exceeded expectations. The O-line? Can be better. Our running game? Can be much better. Defense? Same thing. Our defense has kept us in all three games and I think we'd all agree that it hasn't played lights out yet. We beat ATL without getting to the QB. Can you believe that? A week ago, if we'd said here that we'll beat ATL but have no sacks, most of us would have laughed. My point is that we can/should play better than we did against ATL. It won't be good if Wake is out (he practiced today on a limited basis), but we beat the Falcons without him and we can beat NO without him too with a greater role for Jordan/Shelby/Ellerbe/Wheeler. This is one of our toughest games of the season, but we've found ways to win so far and I know we can do it again. Do I expect to win? Yes. Will I be disappointed if we lose? Of course, but I'll take a loss if we play lights out and still get beaten by the better team. Here's to a tough Miami win on the road, 30-27
Considering they had playoff caliber teams in 75, 77, 78, 79 and 81, I don't think your argument is holding water. Expecting them to play at a high level and them actually doing so are two different things. They're second string for a reason- they aren't as good. You may get inspired performances occasionally. You might even be able to mitigate the damage by scheming around the weakness. But the better players and coaches will find the holes. Is the depth good enough to overcome numerous key injuries against a guy like Drew Brees? We shall see.
A fact that I think people overlook too often. If our offense is better than their defense more than their offense is better than our defense, we win.
The New Orleans game is not a must win by any means. It is a non-conference game on the road. However it is the first prime time game of the season. And if this Dolphins squad wants to get some league wide attention in a battle of undefeateds, and show us all we can reasonably expect them to make any noise come the postseason, they'll need to win a game like this. I'm expecting them to be alive in the 4th quarter, and with the game on the line I expect Tannehill to keep up the great work and win the game. The Dolphins could have waited for Weeden. They could have sucked for Luck. They could have picked Ryan over Long. And they definitely should have had Brees twice. But beat em all I say. And annoint Ryan Tannehill!!!! Then go kick Flacco's sorry ***.
Come on now, dont buy the Saints offense hype! This is the Saints offense who only put up 23 points at home against the same Falcons we just scored 27 against, and only beat the Bucs 16-14. Even with some of our defense banged up, Im only concerned about Jimmy Graham, the best receiving TE in the NFL. It is very possible for us to hold NO to under 30 points, and if we do that we have The Saints defense is 4th in yards allowed so far... the talking heads are going on about what a difference Rob Ryan has made and what a shocking turnaround this is from last year. Yes their defense is improved... but the stats are skewed against the pathetic competition of the Bucs and the Cardinals the last few weeks. Realistic expectations: another tough game with ups and downs but Tannehill continues his run as the comeback kid along with production from Wallace... Dolphins 31-27!
I expect a Win myself, we are not a slow offense and we can score fast! I believe the Offense will explode on the Saints Monday Night, Book It!!! Afterwards having the experts wondering if the Saints D is for real? Hmmm
I'll add this as well. The Saints have not played an offense as effective as the Dolphins have been in 2013, and entering the 4th game of the season it is a bit of do or die for the Phins running game. With a speed guy like Lamar Miller playing on turf, not to mention Mike Wallace, I think this game sets up well for the speedier look the Dolphins built this off season.
Rather, one is making my point for me, Shula made do with who he had, he did not lament losing Bouniconti, Scott, Csonka etc, he simply replaced them. Do note, he had Griese during those runs, when Bob dropped out he had to insert Strock and Woodley, once again, he made due. Several times a guy was signed that week and started that weekend after 1 day to learn the system, this sort of "it takes a few weeks to learn everything" simply did not happen. I can recall Shula signing Greg Koch after being released by GB, he was starting that weekend. This is one of many reasons why I don't buy into "well we have injuries", you don't have 25 irreplaceable starters and 27 stiffs roaming the sidelines on good teams. For me, I'd expect Watkins and Austin to be ready to play this Monday. Patterson simply won't play until he is 100%, he has made that clear in the league, don't blame him, however we also then have to replace his contribution.
Do know Jenkins and Kaddu had best be ready to step on the field and play well in case they are called to play. I think we are underdogs, rightfully so, also think we are underdogs mostly b/c we are untested not b/c we've proven to lack talent.
Sitting at 3-0 I'd feel awful greedy to expect a win against a very good team for the third game in a row, esp. on the road. Good teams lose games. This is a loss I can live with if it happens. A win is pure gravy imo. Last week was a very tough game. If this team somehow manages to win 11 games or something, looking back to having one of your five losses being a Monday nighter at the Saints is nothing to hang your head over.
We will go into the Dome knowing full well just where we will stand winning or losing, remember that NE plays Hotlanta in their house Sunday night, and if they lose we then get to have a leg up on them. No small matter this early in the season or in tie breaker mode, if needed.
Win or lose, my expectation is that the team play at the level that has earned them this 3-0 record. The same level of play that has compelled skeptics, to take notice, and re-evaluate their perception of this team. The level of play that will justify this newfound recognition, and ultimately convince those skeptics into believers. If you expect your heart to get firmly lodged in your throat on Monday, get angry instead. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009102510/2009/REG7/saints@dolphins#menu=highlights&tab=recap
If we lose to a better team, then we lose. I don't mind losing to a better team. What I mind though is when we beat ourselves...penalties, dropped passes, blown coverages and turnovers. If we play a good hard fought game, don't make THOSE mistakes and we still lose? Hey, no one here doubts Drew Brees is a BEAST of a quarterback. If he beats us, then he beats us. I just don't want us to beat ourselves, that's all. I already won $50 from the guy who lives across the hall from me when I bet him Miami would win one of two against Atlanta or New Orleans. If we beat New Orleans, add a $100 to my wallet! I need the drinking money when I come home next week!
Judging by your history of picking up dude-ladies "accidentally" at bars, I'd concur. Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk 4
I won't temper my expectations for the pundits that call HOPE "unrealistic". Fact is, we started the season with two tough road victories, and this may well be another one. If we can score first, and stay tight D in ther redzone, we win. With the resolve on this team this year, I ain't givin' up till the game is over! Dolphins 31 Saints 24
I wish Wake was playing, but Dion Jordan needs to step up to the moment and grip it. I think he's going to have a big game for us, I really do.
Agreed 100%. It wouldn't shock me if we won, cause we're good enough, its just not a result I'd bet money on or anything. If we did pull it off, though, we'd have to be considered the 3rd best team in the league after the Broncos and Seahawks.