I like Ethan. When he did camp reports he actually seemed to put some effort into getting good information.
I'll take the computer's take on it over what either of those guys "predict". My prediction is Dolphins 31 (yeah over 30 points for the first time this season when most least expect it) Panthers 20
This is the NFL, stranger things happen all the time. Just when people think they have things figured out they find out that they don't have any clue. Stats and rankings don't always determine how any game is going to play out.
While I agree that anything can happen (see Indy-StL), the idea that people don't have any clue in week 11 is a little absurd. The Panthers defense is great, the offense is so-so. The. Phins defense is decent , the offense is mediocre. Unless you have injured players or players returning from injuries, everything is pretty known and constant at t his stage of the season.Like I said, this doesn't mean the Dolphins can't or won't win, it just means that the Panthers are rightfully favored.
The Panthers are rightfully favored....but this is a Dolphins message board so don't be shocked if you see some over the top optimism. I hope Miami finds a way but I have my own battle with Las Vegas. So I'm taking the Panthers in a teaser. Carolina 20 Miami 16 I'd love to be wrong.
Very unlikely but if tannehill can actually connect on a deep ball for a change and the offense can take advantage of any turnovers the d can get, its very possible. Its not like the dolphins offense doesn't have the talent to do it. Dolphins have better skill players than the panthers, their line and playcalling just sucks. The good news for Miami fans is the panthers offense is mediocre too. Their rushing offense avg 4.0 ypc which isn't below avg, they just run it a lot which makes fans think their rushing offense is good, when its actually below avg, especially when you factor in their qb runs for a lot of those yards. Panthers aren't going to throw all over anybody either. Outside of an aging Smith, their weapons in the passing game are mediocre. I expect a fairly low scoring game that tannehill blows in the 4th qtr. 23-17 Panthers
If the Dolphins don't turn the ball over or get blatantly hosed by the refs like they did vs the Patriots (yeah we had the Pats best too Panther fans) then I'd guarantee a Dolphins win. Unfortunately, tannehill will likely throw an int from locking onto Hartline and probably add a fumble on top of that. Panthers just don't impress me on offense. If they make the playoffs, Cam and that offense will be their downfall. I've chuckled a few times though hearing about how great he was vs the 49ers and Patriots. I hope he has another great game where he throws for 200 yards and leads his team to 13 points. I laughed out loud when one of the panther fans said Cam single handidly beat the 49ers LOL.
Our offense has only looked bad against the Seahawks, Cards, and Niners. Those three teams have top five or ten defense, no matter what metric you use.
The offense is 24th in the NFL at 21.3 points per game. The offense doesn't look bad against certain teams, it is bad against all teams. Just to put this in perspective: the Dolphins have scored less points this season than the Buffalo Bills, the Cleveland Browns, the Tennessee Titans, the Minnesota Vikings, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sure, your defense is solid, but whiffing on Jordan is really hurting you guys this year. You aren't in the "best defense in the league" conversation with KC, Car, Sea, SF, ARI, or NYJ.
I'd want my number one pick to be more than a one dimensional player whose snap counts diminish as the season goes on, but I'm weird like that.
Not his fault. Dion Jordan is going to be a star in this league. When he plays, he makes a difference.
Then you'd want a coaching staff that plays him. Jordan makes plays when he's in the game. Sent from my Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk
He has 12 tackles and one sack on the season. Obviously that isn't everything, but those stats are pretty pitiful.
Holy crap! Thank you, Scoop, we had no idea what his stats were, but you can't blame us, its pretty rare for a message board devoted to one team, to keep track of their #1 draft pick.
He's forced numerous interceptions. You've clearly not watched any Miami games. Sent from my Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk
I don't see Tannehill having enough time for Wallace to catch a deep ball so maybe keeping short routes for the other receivers will move the chains this week. Carolina 21 Dolphins 24
True the Panthers should be favored due to them having a better record and right now looking like the better team. However how many people could predict, without a shadow of a doubt, the winner of the Superbowl at this point? In 2010 how many people predicted that the Packers, a team that was 10-6 and had to take the wildcard path was going to win the Superbowl? In 2011 how many people predicted that the Giants , a team that was 9-7 and struggling near the end of the season was going to win the Superbowl? In 2012 how many people predicted that the 10-6 Ravens, who had lost 4 of their final 5 regular season games, were going to make a run? Who predicted that Ravens team was going to beat the highly favored Broncos and Patriots? Not saying that the Dolphins are going to make a run like any of those teams or that they will even make the playoffs. Just pointing out that this is the NFL, and if any thinks they know exactly what's going to happen, then that person is in for a rude awakening. Upsets happen and some teams catch fire while other teams, that may look invincible, can easily nose dive. My feeling for Sunday's Dolphins vs Panthers game is that the patchwork O-Line that Miami is going to trot out there is actually going to surprise. Also I have a feeling that Tannehill and Wallace are finally going to get on the same page. Which will make a below average Dolphins offense, a lot tougher to defend. Once Tannehill starts getting Wallace more involved that's going to open up a can of worms that I don't believe even a good Panthers defense will be ready for.
Zona and the Jets have legit defenses. The Jets D-Line is the only one in the league that is as good as the Panthers.
Dolphin defensive line has three pro bowlers, adding a pri bowl performer this year (odrick) and dion jordan. The jets have nowhere near as good a line.
You're really using pro bowlers? Wilkerson and Richardson are beasts and scare me way more than any player on Miami's defense.
I hope you don't think I'm bad mouthing the Dolphins. I'm not. You're an outside contender to win an AFC WC. You guys will give us a tough game but your defense hasn't shown me anything this year above being average.
If Cameron Wake, Randy Starks, Brent Grimes and Jared Odrick don't scare you, you have not paid attention. If Dion Jordan doesn't scare you then I know you haven't watched a single game. Its all good though, I don't know anything about your team....of course I'm not on a Panther site pretending like I do know about them, so there's that.
It's a credit to Oliver Vernon that Jordan's snaps have been limited....One good thing about that is this slow to react staff has realized that he (Jordan) can do a LOT more than stick his hand in the dirt.
