The Dolphins are 3-0, and now have a 75% chance of making the playoffs.
Yet I'm looking at how giddy the fanbase is due to the first 3-0 start in over a decade and I can't help but notice the Patriots are 3-0 too. Yet their fans just shrug and lament how average the team has been playing. It's incredible how expectations change perception.
I looked up how many times the Patriots have been 3-0 since the last time the Dolphins did, expecting to see something to humble the Dolphins fanbase. However I found that in all the years since Miami last went 3-0, the Patriots have only done it twice. 2004, and 2007.
Again, expectations dictate perception.
Looking at the soft schedule of Bills, Jets, Bucs, the Patriots were expected to not only go 3-0 , but to dominate. The Dolphins were probably expected to go 1-2 and even the experts were largely picking the Browns in week 1.
Dolphins have exceeded expectations every week so far.
The Patriots are going to step up, simply because they always have. The national media has been beating them up over their unimpressive 3-0 start. And Belichick is great at using outside perception to motivate his team. They also know how to play their best football when it counts.
If the Dolphins start getting the attention they deserve, will they take their foot off the gas?
My gut tells me that Philbin's never-too-high never-too-low demeanor will help. And the fact that the team hasn't played a sound game in any one phase yet helps too. Its all a great start. But they have to finish. After this promising start, anything less than at least one playoff victory will be a disappointment.
The Dolphins are 3-0 and I'm giddy, and my expectations are higher. So what?
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worth noting. the last time we were 3-0 was 2002, we did not make the playoffs that year
MikeHoncho and His'nBeatYour'n like this. -
Three 9-7 teams in our own division that year.
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You answered your statement for you.
Patriots are used to winning, we are not. I'm enjoying this 3-0 no matter how anyone looks at it.Larry Little, mbsinmisc, gunn34 and 2 others like this. -
I think the biggest difference is opponents. We beat 2 playoff caliber teams and the Browns and 2 of those were back to back road wins. If I was a Pat fan, not only would that make me a douche bag but I'd also be nonchalant over the Pats first 3 weeks because their opponents were so poor.
I also don't agree we haven't had a sound performance in any phase of the game. We've had numerous sound phases, just no perfect ones. -
That wasn't the question I was concerned with. Which is why I answered it myself. :cool:
I'm enjoying every second of it too. The only thing I question is whether the team can sustain this momentum through 16 games and the playoffs. I'd rather be a 3-0 team disappointed in itself (Patriots) than a 3-0 team believing they've arrived. Though I'm not certain the Dolphins belong in either of these two groups. They've said all the right things so far.
With 2 tough games before the bye, I don't see this team letting off the gas yet. -
The Patriots would not be 3-0 right now if they had played our schedule. That's the difference and the Pats fans know it. Their silence must be their way to pay respects to Goodell for basically letting them have an extended preseason.
Paul 13, Tin Indian, sports24/7 and 1 other person like this. -
In looking at the only AFC East team to truly challenge and beat (in the playoffs) the Patriots, Rex Ryan's Jets were telling the league they'd arrived since the OTAs.
This won't be the Joe Phibin approach, obviously. But you can't argue the tactic didn't work for Rex Ryan his first two years.
There is more than one way to skin a cat however. I just hope Joe knows one of them.DolfanTom likes this. -
2002 is the anomaly year that brought the percentage's down.
The percentage for 3-0 is 77.4% and 2002 6 3-0 teams failed to make the playoffs.
The dirty half dozen that polluted the 3-0 stat?
• Carolina Panthers: 7-9
• Denver Broncos: 9-7
• Miami Dolphins: 9-7
• New England Patriots: 9-7
• New Orleans Saints: 9-7
• San Diego Chargers: 8-8P h i N s A N i T y, rafael, mbsinmisc and 2 others like this. -
That's a very good point. All those years the Patriots failed to go 3-0, the Colts and Falcons on their schedule tripped them up.
I still think the Dolphins would be giddy to be 3-0 regardless of opponents.
It has been a long time since the Patriots looked this beatable. Its a great year for the Dolphins to be as good as they've looked.
However, and this is a decade + of Pats dominance talking, the Pats have been getting the A game of every opponent since their first Super Bowl win, and they've still owned our division. I shudder to think what they'll do to teams that see them as average.Fin D likes this. -
Larryfinfan 17-0...Priceless Club Member
Well, we don't have Tom Brady, even an older, slower Brady with no great weapons [yet] to speak of and we are not coached by BB, arguably one of the best 2-3 coaches in the game at this point. So coming of lack luster games (albeit wins) from the pasties perspective, has to be disappointing. So you'd rather be disappointing with a 3-0 record than giddy with a 3-0 record ?? To each their own, I guess.
At this point, the only thing we know is that our team is improving, despite the 3-0 record and our future looks to be bright. What the pasties fans know is that Mother Nature's clock is ticking at a rapid pace and getting louder and louder for Tom Brady and BB....
I'd rather be where we are right now, than where we came from (you remember that QB we had....um....Marino, yea that's it).... -
Like others have mentioned, obviously expectations dictate how you feel about a 3-0 start, but a lot has to do with the way the teams have played. The Patriots have not looked good and IMO have played 3 teams that were all worse than the 3 the Dolphins have played (yes, I think the Browns are better than the Jets, Bills, and Bucs). Meanwhile the Dolphins have played 2 good teams and looked pretty good in all 3 wins. This week will be interesting. The Pats finally play a tough team and Miami has maybe it's hardest game of the year. I expect both teams to be 3-1 going into week 5 THB.
Paul 13 likes this. -
I think you misread. I am giddy.
I would rather have a team that is hungry to prove itself than one that believes they already have. I think that is universal in sports. -
Falcons Patriots game is even odds right now. We are 6 point dogs at New Orleans.
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Yeah, that was crazy, but - also - remember, our starting QB got hurt mid-year and the turd of Ray Lucas filled in for him. Granted, Fiedler was nothing to write home about, but he was a gamer, and was actually enjoying a decent season prior to getting hurt. And when he came back, he just wasn't the same, and never truly recovered in his Dolphins career.
This team is different, though it remains to be seen just how far it can go. I think playoffs are a very real possibility now, but I'm getting greedy. And my greed grows with each win.P h i N s A N i T y likes this. -
Also, the Bills started 3-0 in 2011. Finished 6-10. -
Holy **** that is crazy! SIX teams started 3-0 in 2002 and missed the playoffs. What a strange season that was.
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total tangent question... how are the home/road games determined for the non conference opponents? Pats host Saints and Bucs, but travel to Carolina and Atlanta. We are the opposite of that. I'm assuming it's by seed within the division?
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I THINK it goes on a rotating basis. If you remember, the last time we played the Panthers in '09, it was in Carolina, and the Saints game was in Miami. Now, it's the opposite. Also, we go to Tampa when they played in Miami last time, and we hosted ATL yesterday, while we traveled there to open '09.Paul 13 likes this.
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2 teams are matched up within the division and share a rotation. Dolphins/Bills and Jets/Pats
Dolphins/Bills are on the road to play NO/TB and host CAR/ATL. Pats/Jets do the opposite.
It's like that every year. So we and Buffalo pretty much will play the exact same schedule. As another example, Pittsburgh and Cleveland share a rotation so their schedules are basically the same. Baltimore and Cincinnati have the reverse (which is why we go to PIT/CLE and host BAL/CIN).DolfanTom likes this. -
The thing about the Patriots is they're defense is playing ok (albeit against offensively challenged teams) and they may get Gronk and Amendola back soon.
Tampa Bay had a close game with the Saints. They're a tough team they just can't score for crap.
I'll enjoy the 3-0 but keeping a real close eye to the Saints this week.inFINSible likes this. -
The prediction was that they'd start 1-4, by many analysts. They'll go into division play no worse than 3-2. If you assume they'll need at least 10-6 to make the playoffs they have 7 very winnable games left after beating 2 good teams and winning 2 road games
Assume they beat the Jets and Bills both time they play: that's 4. Bucs and Panthers: 6. Steelers are sucking bad this year: There's your 7.*
Then there's the Bengals, Ravens 2 Pats games and Chargers. I would argue from what we've seen from the Phins so far those are all winnable games as well.*
Then there's the Saints this week. If they beat the Saints on Monday I think Merc, Larry and Don should start cheering for the Dolphins to lose.**:shifty:
Point being their schedule clears up very nicely after the bye week, so optimism isn't just fanboyism.*
Then again the Dolphins were in a great spot to make the playoffs last year then they lost to the Titans and Bills, basically ending their season. So who knows.* -
Correct. It is on a rotating basis. Not on seeding. Only 2 games out of 16 on every team's schedule are dictated by seeding. For the Dolphins this year it is the Colts and the Chargers since they all finished 2nd in their divisions.
The Dolphins schedule for next year us all set except for which team finishes in the same position in the AFC south and north this year.
The NFL has it set up so that every team visits every other team once every 8 years for NFC vs. AFC, and once every 6 years for intraconference games.
So if you wanted to go to New Orleans to see the Dolphins play a regular season game, Monday night is your last chance until 2021. -
And adding to this for people wanting to make early travel plans, next year we are at DEN/OAK/CHI/DET and host KC/SD/GB/MIN.His'nBeatYour'n likes this.
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Which team will we host in the Thursday night opener? :DLarry Little, DolfanTom and Rocky Raccoon like this.
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Packers :shifty:
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The Pats have two division wins in their pocket right now, so I don't know if I'd be all giddy about us beating some playoff teams. Go ahead and count four wins against the Bills and Jets if you want but we all know those games are usually tough no matter what a team's record is, it sure would feel good to have two of those in hand already. Not only would we be 3-0 with two afc wins, we'd be 3-0 with two division wins, that sounds pretty damn good to me. Especially if you want to go back to 2002 and look at WHY we didn't make the play-offs with a 9-7 record.
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The Pats haven't really been tested yet imo.
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Well the Phins can't control that. But wouldn't you prefer to get games against Nola, Atlanta, Indy and Bmore out of the way before you even address divisional opponents? The Pats also escaped both those division games by the skin of their teeth.*
The Bills v Jets yesterday a race to the bottom of who make more mistakes. None of the teams in our division have yet to play games against teams that have proven to be really good this season.* -
Good point. As far as winning the division, the Pats 3-0 start is stronger because two wins came within the division. NFL tiebreaker rules don't care as much about how good the Falcons are compared to division wins.inFINSible likes this.
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As much as I'd be relatively happy with any playoff spot this season - even backing into the sixth seed, for instance - this 3-0 impressive start has me greedy. I want the division, come hell or high water, for no other reason then we would get a home game, and possibly a bye.
Yes, sadly, as bad as the Pats have been performing, not only are they undefeated, but as inFINSible mentioned, they have two division victories already in their pocket. As such, not only do we need to match those when we get the opportunity, we need to at least split w/ those Pats. I'll take a sweep if that's possible, and from what I've seen the past three weeks, I actually believe it can happen, which is saying something considering my POV coming into the season.
Anyhow, I'm greedy. Before, I would've been happy w/ 9-7 to 10-6. Now I want 11-5 to 12-4. -
I'm not sure I would, Someone earlier said that the Pats are playing an extended preseason and if that is somewhat true, I'd love to have those two division games won and starting to really gel with those tough games coming up. if we can beat them and not be playing our best, what could we do if we were banging on all cylinders against that row of teams?P h i N s A N i T y likes this.
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Who cares if the Pats already have 2 division wins. If the Dolphins can't beat those same teams they played (very closely might I ad) then they don't have any business being in playoff talk.*
It's the schedule makers fault that the Pats had a cupcake start to the season. It's like they knew Gronk would be out for the first few weeks so they gave the Pats and easy start.* -
Next up for the Pats, Troy, Savannah St., Bethune Cookman, FIU, and Tennessee St.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk 4P h i N s A N i T y, Larry Little, inFINSible and 2 others like this. -
If I had a veteran team/QB then I'd agree. On the other hand, I feel like our team is young and needs the confidence boost these 3 games have been to go into division games with the right mentality. The only downside I see is injuries by that time.
But yeah, the Pats got a gift from the league, what else is new?inFINSible likes this. -
I'm not unhappy by any stretch of the imagination, I'm just saying that I would be just as happy if we had the Pats 3-0 record instead of ours.
Fin D likes this. -
Big picture, exactly
We have to shots at the patsies, we have to win, what they are doing is beyond our control.
Far better to control your own destiny then to rely on others to do your workMikeHoncho likes this. -
That was the year we choked in Minny and NE in consecutive weeks with the division title practically in our hands. Good times.vt_dolfan likes this.