Has the Defense ever stepped up to when it mattered most in the past 15 years?

Last game of the 2008 season against the Jets to win the AFC East. Outside of that, slim pickings.

Look at our defense. There is a definite lack of talent. It's no surprise they will eventually give against an elite offense like New England.

 

Last 15 years? Excuse me? Try last 25+ years. Even during the excellent JJ / Wannsh*t D's.

 

Yes, the defense stepped up big today, and played very well against NE.

 

I thought the defense played well for the most part today, but the intention of this thread (as I read it) is in reference to "crunch time" at the end of the game. If the offense executed today it shouldn't have come down to the last drive, but sadly it did.

 

That wasn't the question. The question was when we needed it to have a chance.

 

Our offense had 10 points total through 3 quarters. Try again.

 

Well, last week. But lets not count that!

 

When you're forced to play guys like Bryan McCann and R.J. Stanford for long stretches...I think you've got to be pretty surprised at how well they performed. They lack an elite cover safety, and the CB depth is razor thin. Aside from Wake, there's no one that consistently wins one-on-one situations getting to the passer; the defense manufactures sacks with blitzes and hustle plays. They're still lacking some serious pieces.

 

Cincy game, too. They gave the offense a chance against Buffalo as well.

 

No.

 

They're not an elite defense. They don't create turnovers, Cameron Wake is the only one that can rush the passer, and they have no depth.

 

The only time I can really think of was in Minnesota a couple of seasons ago. I remember being shocked that we actually stopped them.

Can't blame today on the defense though. They came through big in the 3rd quarter when we pinned the Pats back deep and got the ball back to the offense on the Pats 49 yard line. The offense them proceeds to **** the bed again (including the play were Wilfork nearly takes the hand-off) and then punts the ball into the endzone.

 

That series in the 3rd was huge for momentum, the offense failed us again.

 

The defense did stand up when it counted. New England was up two touchdowns, threatening to blow the game open. The defense responded, forcing punts on three straight possessions. They even gave the offense the ball in Patriots territory.

The offense went 3-and-out and/or punted on all three possessions.

Sure you'd like them to get that stop on the last drive. But you simply can't expect a defense, especially a non-elite one, to hold that offense down for an entire game. It's just not realistic. I mean, they'd been held below 40 just once in the last six games. And that game they scored 37.

- sent from my Android device via Tapatalk -

 

Why are the games they won this year being ignored?

Does anyone remember the Cincy game as other people said?

 

They also stood up on the next to last drive, facing first and goal from the 2 and holding Brady to a FG.

- sent from my Android device via Tapatalk -

 

Huh...held a team that was averaging 37 points per game to only 23 and only gave up 6 points in the 2nd half and they were the problem?

 

The defense gave up a drive at the end that hurt but held the Patriots to a low score by their standards,the offense did not get it done today against an average defense and holds most of the blame.The muffed punt set the tone for the game.

 

Defense made a couple of stops against the Jests in the finale of last years season.

 

I remember a big stop last week.

 

Hanging this game on the defense is silly.

Ryan Tannehill was terrible. The offense had a multitude of chances to put points on the board and win this game and did nothing.

 

Elite defenses have playmakers...we know nothing about having one of those. A ball hawk?? Ha!! Guy who creates fumbles?? Nope. We have #91 and a bunch of average joes who couldn't make a big play if it fell right in their hands late in the 4th quarter.

 

That's not really true. This may not be an elite defense but we have more than above average joes on defense. This is still a very, very good defense.

 

The defense has kept you in a lot of games. Saying they haven't stepped up is stupid. sorry.

 

Above average in Dolphins fans eyes, but outside of Wake and maybe Starks. Nobody has been consistently better than average. Schematically we seem to mesh well, but like I said a big play is foreign to this football team.

 

Jones is better than average

 

No, above average in anyone's eyes.

 

I typed his name then deleted it. He's having a good year though, hopefully it lasts.

 

Whatever u say chief.

 

awesome. Except for the fact that they you know, kept you in the game while your o did jack ****.

 

I think people mean in general. And generally this defense nor many in the past can come up with a big play.

 

stopping someone from converting a 1st down is a big play. I understand the frustration with a lack of a scoring d. But those are rare, and it doesn't make our current d, ****ty, bad, useless, whatever.