I also think if Miami does get in the Red Zone they need touchdowns. You can't bring fieldgoals to a touchdown fight.
Well we need scoring drives period... the moment we go back to back 3 and out or back to back punt possessions is when i will begin to worry. Because KC barely has drives like that.
It's about that time of week so may as well convert this into the game thread! Lots of interest in this match up and it's always nice going in against the best because you can really get a sense of where you are in the different aspects of the game. Plus, there tends to be less pressure in a 'scheduled loss' game. I'm excited for this one! Here's the run down and few previews: 1pm (Local) Game in Miami TV - CBS Aqua Throwbacks!: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Previews: Sports Illustrated - "Facing a Juggernaut": https://www.si.com/nfl/dolphins/new...y-lesson-on-facing-a-team-with-a-gaudy-record Miami Herald - 'Dolphins in Depth' Podcast: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article247697165.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Oddsshark Preview: "The Kansas City Chiefs, coming off their lowest-scoring performance of the season, head to Miami to take on the Dolphins (8-4 SU, 9-3 ATS) and one of the stingiest defenses in the league. If you could poke any holes in the Chiefs (11-1 SU, 6-6 ATS) this year, it would be the strength of their schedule, and Miami could well be better than any team they have played thus far. Kansas City News & Notes The Kansas City Chiefs seem to have established themselves as the best team in the league in the eyes of most analysts. The Chiefs lead the league in yards per play and total yards and are second in points scored. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is on track to win his second MVP award – he leads the NFL in yards and QBR and is second in touchdowns and quarterback rating – and tight end Travis Kelce and receiver Tyreek Hill are second and third respectively in the league in receiving yards. This offense appears to be virtually unstoppable. But the Chiefs enter Week 14 coming off their lowest-scoring game of the season against Denver and now go on the road to face a Dolphins defense better than any they have faced this year. Miami News & Notes The Dolphins will again start Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback after he had his most prolific passing game of the season. Tagovailoa threw for 296 yards and a touchdown in Miami’s win over Cincinnati. Tua has yet to throw an interception in his five starts but it is hard to imagine him leading the Dolphins to the kind of high-scoring performance that might be required against the Chiefs. Miami has scored more than 30 points just once with Tua at the helm and he has thrown for more than one touchdown in a game only twice. A Dolphins win over the Chiefs would almost certainly need to come with the defense leading the way. The Dolphins have allowed the second-fewest points in the NFL and have forced the second-most turnovers. The defense is led by star cornerback Xavien Howard, who has a league-best eight interceptions. Betting Pick: Chiefs -7.5 As good as their defense is, we just have a hard time seeing the Dolphins offense score the number of points necessary to cover this spread. You can’t completely stop Patrick Mahomes, you can only do your best to contain him. We see the Chiefs hitting their implied team total of 28. But we don’t see Miami getting to 20." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realistically I'm thinking this is a lopsided loss of something like 38-17. I'll still be watching and hoping for a win though.
Interesting that SI article said we beat 3 of the last 4 with a 12-1 or better record coming to Miami. The S. Florida heat may not be a factor though due to the current cold front, so we'd have to beat them straight up without the "12th man". Edit- Sunday has a high of 80! It's the hottest day in that 10-day span. Hopefully there's plenty of sun for kickoff. Still, I have a guy feeling that we shock the world in this one. Everything's in place for it to be a total trap game for KC
God that feels good. This thing with Flores is getting better and better, I‘m already pumped for Sunday!
Checked in on the Chiefs forum and was disappointed in some of their fans--already acting like Patriots fans of the past two decades. Most of them think Tua is a chump and less of a threat than Fitzpatrick, that the defense is overrated, and that the ARZ and LAR wins were flukes. I hope we kill 'em.
They're probably right about the defense. Not that it's bad, but I think a lot of people here are overrating it since it does give up a buttload of yards and depends heavily on turnovers. And turnovers are awesome if you get them, but I don't think they're something you can build your defensive scheme around unless you have a powerful, high-scoring offense that you can count on to force the other team to pass more than they're comfortable with. The AZ win was no fluke. The Cards have shown they're not all that. Neither was the LAR win...that's a matter of match-ups, and the match-ups in that game favored us. They may be right about Tua being less of a threat than Fitz, but he's also less of a threat to turn the ball over.
I wish I was more optimistic about this one but I just think KC has too many weapons for our defense and our offense will struggle. I'm expecting a 10+ point loss but I believe in Flo so maybe he gets the team ready to brawl.
Whatever happens, we're in for something of a gauntlet run these last four games (except maybe Patriots). So it should get our boys' heads straight to know right where they stand.
The one thing you know for sure is that the Dolphins of old would have rolled over and died and showed zero fight to end the season. They might not make the playoffs but the way that they play will be a big indicator of how the culture has changed.
Well.... as long as that ball is shaped in the fashion it is, it can bounce anyway fortune sends it, and then do something weird for an encore! Never assume! The Chiefs are a good team. But even great teams can get defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. That is why the games are played.
I didn't like our chances much at all, then Gaskins gets on the COVID list...like 'em even less now Looking like we're about to get boat-raced.
In years past, we'd say that our 2nd game against New England was our "Super Bowl" since they were always contenders to go all the way. It was our consolation game as an average team when we won because it showed a little reason to be hyped about the next season. The Miracle in Miami, Fitz's final drive last season to change NE's playoff bracket and toss them to a hungry Tennessee team, those were the best we could hope for when this wasn't a playoff caliber team. Don't get me wrong, those were incredible moments that I'll remember for a very long time. But it's not the same as being a true contender that can take on anybody on any given Sunday. Today, we're facing the defending Super Bowl champions and they're playing like the best team in the league. That means today is our "Super Bowl" but the implications are so much deeper than ever before because this is a playoff team and the win matters for this Dolphins team beyond today. I guarantee you that Flores has been preaching that all week- you worked so hard to get to this point, and now it's time to prove you actually belong. I get that we have some key injuries while KC is almost full strength. I get that Tua is still a huge question mark since he's never played four quarters of championship football at the NFL level. And I also get that this team is super young without all the right pieces in place yet. But folks, I don't think that matters when you truly believe and you play football as bold as this team has in 2020. In fact, I think Flores only has one message to send this morning- let's go punch someone in the mouth and show them why they need to be worried. It's no longer about buying in for this Miami team; everyone's all-in 100% and that defense is playing like world-beaters already. Those boxes are already checked and the message is received; we go harder than anyone else, we play tougher, and we just keep on coming. So when I say today's our "Super Bowl", I'm not talking about consolation prizes here....I'm taking about an actual Super Bowl preview for the AFC Championship and how this team is viewed for the next year of football. Because if we win this one folks, if we come out and punch the Chiefs in the mouth and play our brand of football, then this is a top-5 team today that's ready for a deep post-season run. I know many of you are looking at the other side of the coin here....look what KC has in offensive weapons. Mahommes is too good, their offense is too fluid to stop for four quarters, but that's total bull. Miami has imposed their will on every team they've faced this season after the first few games, and today KC will not be that polished offensive machine that we're so used to seeing. Our secondary is going to play lights-out all afternoon while the interior dials up pressure from every angle- this is our Super Bowl before the actual Super Bowl and everyone on the roster knows that. You think we responded last week after the cheap shots on Grant? Just wait and see. Miami will take it to a completely different level today. We're going to win this one folks, I feel it in my bones. Today will be Miami's coming out party to set the tone for the playoffs and the next several seasons. Or maybe I'm wrong. Maybe we're just average, KC will dominate like they do to everyone, and this is just the same old Miami that's unable to rise up to the moment except in meaningless games against NE. Maybe that's all true...but I simply don't believe it. This is the hungriest Miami team I've seen in decades and I think we make a clear statement over the next four hours.
It’s interesting that we are one of the strongest teams that the Chiefs have faced so far this season. It gives me a little more hope, though there’s no denying that they have a very good roster. Whatever happens for the rest of the schedule, it’s been a hell of a ride; much better than my expectations were in early September. I'm not saying I don’t care if we don’t make the playoffs. Of course, I want them to win as many games as possible, but to have won eight already is beyond my wildest dreams and any more victories will be a real bonus. With the expanded post-season, I think one more win should be enough to see us Miami playing football in January.
I'd love to see the upset, but missing Gaskins is going to hurt our chances. Still, a competitive game and we can feel good this team has made serious progress these last two seasons. I still think we can beat the Pats and Raiders, so 10-6 is doable, and 11-5 if we pull an upset over the Chefs or Bills.
Gentlemen don't forget... The NFL's number 2 scoring offense in the Kansas City Chiefs will be facing the NFL's number defense in points allowed in the Miami Dolphins. This is NOT going to be a cakewalk in which the Chiefs are going to roll all over us. When you look at the defenses the Chiefs have faces, it's no wonder the Chiefs are the number 2 scoring offense. The Jets? The Broncos? The Panthers? The Texans? Facing those teams, Kansas City was already up 14-0 even before kickoff! No, this is going to be their toughest test yet. For the LONGEST time (as difficult it may seem to believe based on my recent post history), I always believed a high flying scoring offense was all you needed to win. For all those years in which I called a certain team to win based on their offense, it always came back to bite me in the butt because that high scoring, high ranked offense would lose to the opposing high ranked defense. Kansas City is not invulnerable. They have been beaten by the hot and cold Raiders and the remaining teams they've faced have mediocre defenses. I'm not saying we're going to win, by no means whatsoever but we CAN win because Mahomes is going to face his toughest defense this season. The offense just needs to play mistake free, be capable and let the defense lead the way.
This season they surprised me in a positive way for the first time in forever so even if they won’t make the playoffs it wouldn’t be a big deal to me. Even if we’re short handed today I think we‘ll make a game out of this one. Even though Gaskin is hurt looking forward to see more of Washington and Breida as long as he holds on to the ball. Go Phins!