http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2008/12/is-this-where-s.html The phins are playing at a higher level and that's why they will win Sunday...
I don't hate Omar. I know I'm in the minority. Even though he's not the best writer, I believe he has genuine enthusiasm for the team. I respect that, and I'd take him over anyone currently at the Herald. He may even be right about the outcome of the game. However, to call the Baltimore game a complete whoopin' isn't entirely accurate. A recent thread about a Football Outsiders shows the game was statistically very close. I maintain our truest whoopin' game from the Cardinals.
I'm not ready for it to be over yet. Some of you might have the "We're playing with house money" attitude, but not me. Remember Dan Marino? His first trip to the Superbowl everyone thought he would be back multiple times. Sadly, it never happened. I'm not saying I think we'll never make the playoffs again. Just saying we have to make the most of every chance at a championship we can get. These things are few and far between. GO PHINS!
I think this team is completely different from that team that lost to the Ravens earlier this year. We have more confidence in our schemes, and I know the players want this, and Sprano does too. Let's leave all this talking to Sunday, and see how bad Miami really wants a win.
I dont mind people picking agianst us. I know I am not ready for it all to end. You dont know if you are ever going to get another chance for a few more years or 7 years. Not every team is going to be like the Colts and Steelers where it is pretty much a bank shot up in till this year that they will make the playoffs. So I think on sunday I think the players will bbe fired up and go out there and play there hardest and I think it will end up bring a great game for the dolphins.
Yea I was listening to the Andre' Goodman interview and he was saying that when they played the Ravens in week seven they had no idenity. I think we are a totally diferent team then the Ravens saw last
I completely agree that this is a different and better team than in week 7, but how much better ?? Baltimore is pretty solid and about the biggest difference I can see between these two teams is that the Baltimore D is much more stout than ours... What that really means, I'm not sure. I don't have a very good feeling about Baltimore...however, don't call your bookie on my predictions, I didn't have a good feeling about the jests last week either...
I think we have as good of a chance as anyone in the AFC to make it to the S.B. We just ake it one game at a time, and go from there. I also hope the Ravens think this is a replay of week 7, when teams do that they tend to get caught with heir pants down.
The ravens are also a different team from when they played you. Flacco is still a rookie, but how has more experience and our offense is clicking. Our defense is on fire and the ravens have a lot of HEART. The ravens are a dangerous team! Beware!
I don't doubt you for a second. I'd just about rather be playing any other team in the playoffs than the red hot Ravens. But we're hot too. It will be a hell of a game.
We never said they were'nt we are just saying that we have changed in no way are we saying you guys have not changed. My god Ravens fans get defensive when ever you say any thing.
I don't know, but a friend of mine who isn't a Fins fan (he's a Bucs fan) but who has watched a lot of our games told me that he is very confident that the Fins will beat the Ravens Sunday. He's pretty objective about the NFL and very knowledgable on the subject. I know I personally feel good about this game...and those who know me know that doesn't happen often. I usually get stressed out as hell about upcoming games.
I think we actually had like one or two more yards of total offense than they had. We are a better unit now and have to play above our own capacities in a couple area's. The O-line is what worries me the most. They really need to come out and play very physical and start out fast. I hope Sparano is showing film of the Giant's whipping of the Ravens as well as the Colts to see what some apparent weaknesses are.
In the Baltimore game, there were a couple times it looked like we could make a strong move. Some key plays killed us though, and then, as it does with this team, make a couple mistakes and it snowballs. Baltimore is a damn good team. It'll be fistfight on sunday.
All teams in the playoffs are dangerous, that's why they are there. Any team that thinks otherwise is due for a quick exit. I don't think you will find anyone who thinks the Fins will have a cakewalk, it will def be a tough game. But most of the media seems to think the Ravens will eat us for lunch. If the Ravens buy into that they are in for a long afternoon.
I am afraid, for the phins seem to play better on the road this season, which is a good thing except for they have to get past Baltimore at home. If we do beat Baltimore I do believe we can win in Pittsburgh. Then the flip side is we can host the AFC championship cause I feel either SD or Ind. can beat Tennessee.
We actually match up decently well to beat them. If you can limit the run without giving up the pass by playing a standard set defense against Baltimore (you'll be surprised, it works), you stand a great chance. Continue to this as well as protect the red zone especially and you'll eventually find your way to the end zone through effective short-passing.
This game will be tight all the way through IMO. Thats what we do. I have finally learned not to get too upset about a bad play or too upbeat from a good play. I have come to terms with the fact that we will keep it close and pull it out in the end.
I think the most vital aspect of the game will be the play of our guards. I could say Satele too, but I think he has played better at times this season than he is given credit for. A lot of his problems have been when he was asked to man up with a larger NT. Thats a bad idea for any center. Anyway if we don't get good interior line play this week it could be a very long game. I'm confident in Carey and Long on the outsides, but we are going to need to step it up in the middle and controll the line.
We need to come out strong and confident right from opening kickoff. Too many times we start out "tentative" and look a bit gunshy. We need to start this game off with both guns blasting and maintain that aggressiveness the entire game. We can do this! ("We," like I play??? )
wow talk about us looking to far ahead... u guys didnt play any of these guys in the regular season besides san diego. u played us, arizona, and san diego (teams in playoffs) (whereas we played 7 games against playoff teams-pitt twice lol even though we lost most of em barely) i'll give u guys some respect and say u can win this sunday at home but no way in hades you go into pittsburgh and win.
Honestly I'd much more worried about your team than theirs. They thrive off of pressure defense and creating turnovers, our offense can counter that. Big Ben has played pretty awful at times this season too, and is coming off an injury now.
i totally agree but if u guys think u have an advantage with a home game try going in there just regular season. ive been to these games. its a whole different level with their fans and their intensity
The big difference is that during the first meeting, Flacco didn't throw past 15-20 yards downfield and basically threw the ball to Mason and screens to RB's. Now he's stretching the field, tossing passes 50+ yards and checking off his #1 and #2 receivers and throwing it to the #3. And, he's getting Heap more involved. Add that to a killer D that's taking away the ball via multiple fumbles and picks per game, and couple it with a punter who's consistently nailing opposing offenses behind the 10 yard line, and it's safe to say that it's hard to beat the Ravens.
The "X" factor in this game is someone who is not a player...it's Cam Cameron, you just know he has been staying up late at night (10 pm or so is late for Cam) dreaming up stuff for the Ravens to run, he was a poor HC, but a top flight Offensive Coordinator.. Look what he did with John Beck...err... Joe Flacco..