1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

A real playoff team or not

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Finatik, Nov 6, 2014.

  1. Finatik

    Finatik Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

    4,323
    4,012
    113
    May 2, 2014
    SO Cal
    This week is a real test. On the road. Playing the #1 defense.

    When we win, does this catapult us to "legitimate" contender status?
     
    Bpk likes this.
  2. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

    72,252
    43,684
    113
    Nov 27, 2007
    We already are legitimate playoff contenders, regardless of the Lions game score.
     
    Larry Little and djphinfan like this.
  3. CrunchTime

    CrunchTime Administrator Retired Administrator

    23,327
    35,934
    113
    Nov 23, 2007
    At this stage I think we are .The caveat is that perhaps the team has taken too long to gell and there may not be enough games left to get into the playoffs.If somehow we do get into the playoffs I think this team will surprise.:yes:
     
  4. Ohio Fanatic

    Ohio Fanatic Twuaddle or bust Club Member

    32,070
    22,827
    113
    Nov 26, 2007
    Concord, MA
    we are already contenders to make the playoffs, no one doubts that. Beating Detroit on the road is the kind of win that gives me confidence that we can win a wildcard game vs either Indy, Cincy, Pitts or KC - our likely opponent if we get a wild card spot.
     
  5. RGF

    RGF THE FINSTER Club Member

    6,066
    3,436
    113
    Nov 24, 2007
    NY
    A win in Detroit will be huge, no question about it. Them coming off a bye and getting their weapons back it wont be easy but its a game that upper echelon teams find a way to win. Are we in that category yet ? No one knows for sure and it would certainly be another step forward for this team to beat the Lions. IF we lose this game then next Thursday at home against the Bills is a must win, no way around it. And I dont need anyone telling me its not a must win just because its not a playoff game or a game that knocks us out, but a loss and we're pretty much back where we started. But, one game at a time just lets win Sunday and continue to get the respect we're starting to garner.

    And, to answer the question about being a playoff team I need two more games to determine that.
     
  6. Alex44

    Alex44 Boshosaurus Rex

    20,810
    8,965
    0
    Jan 7, 2008
    Hollywood, Florida
    Well any team that makes the playoffs is a real playoff team. So if we make it we are. If we don't...we aren't.
     
  7. Sethdaddy8

    Sethdaddy8 Well-Known Member

    13,006
    6,368
    113
    Dec 6, 2007
    NJ
    Im excited for Sunday,..but I'm telling you now...if we lose to the Bills next Thursday..I will blow a mother ****ing gasket.
     
    MAFishFan, djphinfan and Aqua4Ever04 like this.
  8. Sethdaddy8

    Sethdaddy8 Well-Known Member

    13,006
    6,368
    113
    Dec 6, 2007
    NJ
    If we end up 7-3...which should be 8-2...I'll be a happy boy. Have to think of us as a legit playoff team.
     
  9. bigbry

    bigbry Huge Member

    5,278
    3,071
    0
    Dec 18, 2008
    Colorado
    Better order a spare head gasket now then.
     
  10. CitizenSnips

    CitizenSnips hmm.

    5,525
    4,219
    113
    Nov 29, 2007
    PA
    I want the Detroit game....


    But we need the bills game.
     
  11. ToddPhin

    ToddPhin Premium Member Luxury Box Club Member

    42,442
    24,982
    113
    Jul 6, 2012
    NC
    Barring injury, I don't see why not either, Crunch. I think the biggest obstacle could be the team's own mentality. Right now they appear to be playing with a similar swagger that we saw from Seattle last year and the Giants a few years ago. I just hope that, if they do happen to have a couple down games, they have a short memory and don't lose track of that confident butt-kicking mentality. I hope this newfound success and realization that they legitimately are a playoff caliber team motivates them to work even harder during weekly preparations to fight for what's within reach, as opposed to the mediocre teams of recent years past that seemed to feel like they had little reason to give more than the standard amount of effort required.
     
  12. Dorfdad

    Dorfdad Well-Known Member

    4,052
    2,347
    113
    Dec 9, 2007
    Realistically? I say no.. Hope Im wrong I just really have a hard time believing in this team. I will say since week 1 the offense has been improving. Ryan has look comfortable and that's a great sign of growth, but were still in a division with New England so were always going to be wildcard hunting. I just think we will fall short again this year..
     
  13. Bpk

    Bpk Premium Member Luxury Box

    [video=youtube;yXhRFnUn72E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXhRFnUn72E[/video]

    Yes! WOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     
    Larry Little and heylookatme like this.
  14. RickyNeverInhaled

    RickyNeverInhaled Well-Known Member

    6,771
    1,680
    113
    Mar 15, 2009
    Alabama
    I agree, however, I think a game like this would determine whether or not we would be able to make it far in the playoffs once we get there.
     
  15. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    111,650
    67,543
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    I look for it to be a hell of a game.
     
  16. Fin4Ever

    Fin4Ever Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    9,297
    2,738
    113
    Aug 26, 2014
    Vero Beach, FL
    We are the #1 Defense in the AFC and the Lions are the #1 defense in the NFL.We are #3 overall but we are still going to win!!
     
  17. RickyNeverInhaled

    RickyNeverInhaled Well-Known Member

    6,771
    1,680
    113
    Mar 15, 2009
    Alabama
    I've thought about this too. At least we will be when we put up more yards and points against their defense after we beat them. Right now, the Lions have the edge on defense but a good way to think about this game is the battle for the title of the #1 defense. It's a challenge I am excited to see and if I had money, i would put it on the Dolphins defense. :yes:
     
  18. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

    72,252
    43,684
    113
    Nov 27, 2007
    This game will tell us nothing other than "can we beat the Lions".
     
  19. RickyNeverInhaled

    RickyNeverInhaled Well-Known Member

    6,771
    1,680
    113
    Mar 15, 2009
    Alabama
    I agree to disagree with you. I would argue my point but you have already made up your mind. Are you like that with all games? What if we beat Denver, will that tell you anything other than "can we beat the Broncos" ?
     
  20. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

    72,252
    43,684
    113
    Nov 27, 2007
    No, I take exception to the notion that X game will somehow tell us the future of Y game or Z season. There are too many variables in football. And all of this is false benchmarks people are literally creating out of thin air, emotion and pixie farts.

    I was told if we beat the Bills, we're a playoff team. We didn't beat them, but yet....
    I was told if we beat the Chiefs, we're a a playoff team. We didn't beat them, but yet....
    I was told if we beat the Packers, we're a playoff team. We didn't beat them, but yet....
    I was told if we beat the Bears, we're a playoff team. We did beat them, but yet....
    I was told if we beat the Chargers, we're a playoff team. We did beat them, but yet....
    I'm now being told if we beat the Lions, we're a playoff team.....sigh....

    If these false benchmarks were true, this conversation wouldn't be happening because we aren't a playoff team based on the Bills game.
     
    Piston Honda likes this.
  21. Finatik

    Finatik Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

    4,323
    4,012
    113
    May 2, 2014
    SO Cal
    What are the true benchmarks then if it isn't beating one of the division leaders, hell NFL leaders, and a #1 ranked defense on the road? I would call that a benchmark game. They will also be at full strength on offense with the addition of Johnson and their TE corps.

    I have to say even if we lose this game, if the game is tight all the way to the end that give you a barometer as to where the team is.
     
  22. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

    72,252
    43,684
    113
    Nov 27, 2007
    The benchmarks are the quality of the play and the circumstances behind that play level. Case in point, the GB game vs the Jax game. One game showed our level of play better than the other......

    GB showed we can be contenders even though we lost and Jax made us look like we were regressing even though we won.
     
  23. Fin4Ever

    Fin4Ever Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    9,297
    2,738
    113
    Aug 26, 2014
    Vero Beach, FL
    You know I have been thinking about it and I bet that is exactly what Aqua was really saying..We will be #1 Defense in NFL after Sunday's games.
     
  24. Fin4Ever

    Fin4Ever Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    9,297
    2,738
    113
    Aug 26, 2014
    Vero Beach, FL
    Positivity Fin D :)
     
  25. Starry31

    Starry31 Phins and Heels.

    3,641
    1,143
    113
    Dec 8, 2009
    North Carolina
    I think this game will decide a lot about how everyone else views Miami. The San Diego game raised eye brows but was it one game or is Miami stronger than they thought? Following the Chargers game with a win in Detroit and a lot of the skeptics will turn. Not that that stuff really matters but I think on a national level a win here changes how Miami is viewed. I think it's similar to Pittsburgh, a team that was ok, had some struggles early and then beat one of the hottest teams in the AFC in the Colts. They followed that up beating another quality team and now the Steelers are viewed as more than just a team who will be poring over "what if" scenarios week 17.
     
    Finatik and RGF like this.
  26. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

    72,252
    43,684
    113
    Nov 27, 2007
    I'm positive we're already a playoff contender and one of the better teams in the league. We have the talent and coaching to beat anyone convincingly. I've literally seen that level of play with my own two eyes. Our only problem going forward is consistency. The Detroit game won't answer the question of consistency one way or the other.
     
  27. RGF

    RGF THE FINSTER Club Member

    6,066
    3,436
    113
    Nov 24, 2007
    NY

    Not entirely true, it will also tell us if we deserve to be 6-3 . If we get blown out it will tell us that were probably not there yet, if we win it means were still making great strides. If we`re at least competitive it means we`re capable of competing at a high level regardless of who and where the game is played. I see no reason to down play the significance of an important game, because in my eyes they`re all important.
    So, to say this game will tell us "nothing" doesn't seem too logical a statement.
     
  28. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

    72,252
    43,684
    113
    Nov 27, 2007
    I've said in this thread that our level of play is the benchmark. However, we've seen in our division how the Pats on occasion get murdered in a game, and yet are still always in the top of power lists come the end of year.

    The results of any single game taken on its own, can be used to indicate whatever someone wants them too.
     
  29. TooGoodForDez

    TooGoodForDez Deion Sanders for GM

    3,840
    636
    0
    Feb 26, 2013
    It's too early, out of conf on the road game 9 is almost meaningless. We really need the Bills game.
    I think we are as good if not better than any team in the league, the issues are consistency, health.
     
  30. Finatik

    Finatik Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

    4,323
    4,012
    113
    May 2, 2014
    SO Cal
    Maybe to the AFC but not entirely meaningless. If we don't win this game it only get harder to win the division.
     
  31. PhinFan1968

    PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member

    No doubt...the team said they treated last game like a playoff game...they need to keep that up. EVERY win is important to even steal a wildcard...10-6 may not cut it.
     
  32. Piston Honda

    Piston Honda Well-Known Member

    7,853
    8,088
    113
    Sep 23, 2014
    Detroit's D is good but they're not even close to Miami's imo.
     
  33. pumpdogs

    pumpdogs Well-Known Member

    5,185
    2,907
    113
    Sep 22, 2009
    delaware
    Lose to bills and stick a fork in us.We already lost to kc and can't afford to lose against another wildcard contender.
     
  34. PhinFan1968

    PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member

    The Bills are headed into implosion mode...it's past halfway in the season.

    They've lost some key players recently...that without, I don't think they have a prayer against us, at home, on Thursday night under the lights. We're going to freaking DESTROY the Bills. Really believe we'll be up 14-0 in the first quarter.
     
  35. PhinFan1968

    PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member

  36. Piston Honda

    Piston Honda Well-Known Member

    7,853
    8,088
    113
    Sep 23, 2014
    Youre a logical thinker in a sea of emotional guys. This week we are awesome but a loss or two and Philbin will be an idiot once again, we'll also need a new GM and QB, if Ross has the balls to do it rah rah rah, that's the way it goes in fandom.
     
    Fin D likes this.
  37. Piston Honda

    Piston Honda Well-Known Member

    7,853
    8,088
    113
    Sep 23, 2014
    Why not? Because we have 5-6 tough games remaining and can't afford to lose more than 2 maybe 3 times. We have no depth at RB, LB or safety. I'm amazed at how quickly we seem to have gone from 8-8 also ran to playoff shoe in. I hope the Pats, Chiefs, Steelers, Ravens, Bengals etc got the memo lol.
     
  38. Piston Honda

    Piston Honda Well-Known Member

    7,853
    8,088
    113
    Sep 23, 2014
    Oh yeah, the Bills have no chance. I'm almost hoping they win this week so that I can get a better line to wager on Thursday ;)
     
  39. Fin4Ever

    Fin4Ever Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    9,297
    2,738
    113
    Aug 26, 2014
    Vero Beach, FL
    Hey..I am PRO MIAMI all the way!! Please do not misunderstand that...like I stated several times..we keep up how we have been playing of recent and we can run the table.
     
  40. Piston Honda

    Piston Honda Well-Known Member

    7,853
    8,088
    113
    Sep 23, 2014
    I'm looking at the tape not the numbers. Their DL/pass rush isn't as good, they don't ha e the depth to keep their guys fresh like we do, especially with Fairley out. Our OL will at least play them to a draw. OTOH our DL is going to dominate their front, they won't be able to run it and Stafford will feel the heat.

    The biggest difference is in the secondary, they are BAD back there. If the Rush isn't getting there they tend to get shredded. They are mostly a zone team Bc their CBs can't cover man to man, the more I watch them the more confident I get.
     
    Aqua4Ever04 and djphinfan like this.

Share This Page