So, the Ravens game is another huge late season game.
Terrible win vs Jets, but it was a win. Nevertheless, what a fiasco of a game against a 9-2 team whose QB hadn't thrown more than 10 passes until inside the 2 minute warning. Wow.
Lose to the Ravens and we are completely behind the 8-ball. But, Win and we are in a good position - which doesn't mean a lot.
Four other teams behind us:
Indy at Cleveland
Buffalo at Denver
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati
Kansas City at Arizona
Two clear tough games: I'd predict a Cleveland loss and probably a Buffalo loss (though Denver may have some trouble against them).
Cincinnati leads the AFC North but are playing poorly. I'd favor Pittsburgh in that game in spite of some of their losses.
Kansas City is also playing a reeling team in Arizona - the loss of Carson Palmer looks like a killer for them - in spite of their lead in the NFC West. I'd favor the Chiefs.
There's a possibility that, though we are in the #6 spot (due to overall tie-breakers being tied with these other teams), we could win and drop out of that slot if KC wins and the other teams lose - then we lose the tiebreaker against them if only those two teams are tied.
Clearly - as every pundit on earth is saying - the Ravens will run like hell against us.
This is the time for the Dolphins to decide if they are going to become physical on defense.
The Ravens can score but have given up a lot of points in the last 4-5 weeks against good passing teams.
This is also a short week which can also be a disadvantage but we are at home so that will help.
Coaching staff has their work cut out for them getting this team ready on a short week. Wednesday thru Friday. In my view, it's on them to come up with good schemes and have the players ready to go to the wall next Sunday. No margin for error at this point.
The other concern is injuries. Even though Wake and Satele came back in the game, a good sign, they could also have lingering injuries that could creep into the game next week. Would also be great to see Finnegan and Clay get back into the lineup.
Current weather predicted is high of 79 and sunny. Bit too mild to have a big impact weather wise. But, I'm still hoping for a 1:00 p.m. game and some humidity ... and put the Ravens in their purple jerseys.
Run D. Return of some injured DBs. Running the ball well. Protecting RT effectively. And, as always, winning turnovers. Those are the vital keys, imo.
Page 1 of 3
-
Da 'Fins Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member
-
It's time to make a statement in a home game late in the season for the first time in eons.
MAFishFan, Bpk, MikeHoncho and 2 others like this. -
Miami plays New England in 2 weeks and are currently 2 games back. The division is still in play.
-
The only way we control our own destiny from here on out is to win out. If we lose one game then we will need help from other teams to lose to make the playoffs. I don't want to see that happen. I would like to see us take control of our playoff birth and finish 11-5.
-
-
Tannehill > Flacco.
Just don't let too many Ravens fans in the stadium. I've been to Dolphins/Ravens in Miami it can get ugly.keithjackson likes this. -
Philbin and Coyle better get the run D figured out. Because if they have to stack 9 in the box to stop Forsett, Flacco will cut Miami to shreds.
Bpk, MikeHoncho, dolphin25 and 2 others like this. -
-
CAN'T let Forsett do what the Jets run game did...and Forsett is playing much better than any Jet was. Because Flacco will not play nearly as bad as Geno, so if they run like that it'll be more TD's and less FG's/mistakes with a better passing game as well.
Offense needs to play better as well. Don't shy from the run game.dolphin25 and Ophinerated like this. -
-
Team just has to take the games one at a time. Can't let anything carry over to the Baltimore game from this game. Watch the film, learn from the mistakes, and move on.
-
Bpk, DOLPHAN1, first&goal and 4 others like this.
-
vt_dolfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member
Can I have 4 more terrible wins in a row please..
MikeHoncho, dolphindebby, DOLPHAN1 and 8 others like this. -
I can't put my finger on it, but the Ravens are missing something..Forsett is a lot better than I thought, that dude has wiggle and will shred you if you don't stay at home, Flacco has really good evasiveness and pocket awareness, and their front four is good, but something is missing..idk.
Expect a sell out with 15 to 20 k Ravens fans..
At least the building will have some energy inside...
I expect Clay, Finnegan and Taylor to be back, the emergence of sims..
We got this.. -
-
Seems like we get killed once a year with screen passes to Ray Rice. This year it could be Coyle's fascination with the 4-2 look. The only thing that makes me cringe more than when we're in this defensive alignment is when Trusnik is playing in it.
We should be okay playing at home. Our defensive line personnel does not match up well with wet playing fields. They're too athletic and need to be able to make cuts. Got snowplowed by a bunch of fat guys...
Torrey Smith is a load. Forsett and the offensive line are in synch. Suggs is turning into a herculoid.Bpk and keithjackson like this. -
We always have a tough time against baltimore, I don't think we've beat them since the Camarillo play. I'll be there, and IdrA is right, the raven fan's are always nasty at the stadium. Hope we can get a lead early to keep them quiet.
-
Can the Phins pick up Greg Camarillo for moral support?
MikeHoncho, Kud_II, GARDENHEAD and 1 other person like this. -
We have to win at home against the Ravens, because we sure as hell aren't winning in Foxboro. The Pats game is the only game left we can afford to lose and still have a shot at making the playoffs. We HAVE to beat the Ravens. I hope they come to play Sunday because another game like last night and we will be sitting at home in January.
-
dolphin25 likes this.
-
-
Pitt @ Cinci
Indy @ Cleveland
KC @ Arizona
NE @ San Diego
BUF @ DEN
Assuming the Dolphins take care of business, those games could do a lot towards securing a playoff birth.
-Cincinnati has only lost like 1 home game in 3 or 4 years, Pitt lost to NYJ 3 weeks ago. Cinci could do us a lot of favors
-Indy @ Cleveland should be a good game, but I expect with the distraction of the emergence of Manziel, there are going to be issues for Cleveland.
-KC could win their game against the cardinals, but the 2 AZ losses have come on the road and they return home for this one. Chiefs took 2 demoralizing division losses. Chiefs have the talent to win, I just don't see it.
-I know that in terms of us making the playoffs, SD losing is probably better for us in the long run, but a win by the Chargers means the game in foxboro in 2 weeks would be for the division. Please Rivers, do something good for the phins. We are sorry for shutting you out in Miami. Sort of.
-Denver is going to destroy buffalo. Denver is coming around and with their new found run game, are as dangerous offensively as they have been since manning arrived.
Of course is all means little if the dolphins lose to the Ravens. Could be a great weekend for our chances, again.Kud_II, RickyNeverInhaled and GARDENHEAD like this. -
Da 'Fins Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member
And, to be fair, the Broncos shredded Miami's run D as well.
I think Starks needs to play more. But, I also think they need to fix several things. Too often the RBs are getting to the 3rd level of the D. Linemen and LBs are getting blocked.dolphin25 likes this. -
-
-
Bpk likes this.
-
Baltimore tends to physically dominate us. On the plus side though I don't see a win this season by the Ravens from a +.500 team outside of their division (Steelers, Browns). They've gotten on by beating up on the weak NFC south division and are currently on a 2-3 streak.
-
Ignoring the NFL Parody Circle for a minute.
http://deadspin.com/5959827/it-happened-again-the-nfls-parity-in-one-striking-graphic
Miami > San Diego > Baltimore (At home to boot)
Just sayin' -
RickyNeverInhaled likes this.
-
Do the Ravens still have Ed Reed? No?
Oh good, cause that guy killed us. I'm not afraid of the Ravens anymore.djphinfan and RickyNeverInhaled like this. -
Ravens pass D hasn't been that great this year. Tannehill has to step up. Hope they get some running going too though. Can't abandon it no matter what.
-
There have been a lot of penalties with the new Linemen. Our offense isn't designed to overcome those holding and formation and illegal man down field calls.
-
Baltimore's front four is beastly, and they are a very physical team....If our O Line doesn't perform we are in a world of crap. On offense we have to stop the run, plain and simple.
-
Why is it when talking about games, people seem to say Tannehill needs to step up? Tannehill can only steel up add much as his line/receivers/backs/defense step up. Look no further back than last night, Tannehill stepped up, the a td to Wallace, and Wallace dropped it. Since Wallace capped the bed, does that mean Tannehill didn't step up and make the play that needed to be made? I just don't get that mindset.
-
Its weird but I like our chances vs the patriots better then the ravens. I think our injuroes have caught up to us and we'll probably be a better team in two weeks then this sunday
-
-
PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
I've learned that here.resnor likes this.
Page 1 of 3