With 2 wins (which we would be seeking even if we beat BUF and TB), we are still talking about who we will play in the playoffs and a possible #2 seed bye. Its still in front of us, and its all about doing what we would expect and seek.....win these 2 games and playoffs are a lock.

Win these two and see if NE loses its last 2, and its about #3 seed!

Win these two, have NE lose its last two, and we get #2 seed if IND and CIN each lose one of their last 2.

So, I always expect a W, even if we qualify for playoffs...just win and same outcome can occur.

 

You should not do this. Pom pom squad is out in full force.

 

Let's also throw away the "what if we beat _________ " notion.. We won the last two games on the last play and could have easily lost both. No more crying about the Ravens game or the Bills game. We are even this season when it comes to getting some breaks.

 

Next game in Buffalo is IMO just as hard as the previous 2. This team has begun the climb, but they have not yet reached the peak. They still have some work left to do.

 

I haven't been this excited for the seasone finale since Penny lead us to the playoffs & SFGiants torture aka heart attack finish run to win 2 World Series. I have no doubt they will win the last two wins to get a wildcard spot. With that said, whatever the outcome I'm so grateful for the excitement the Dolphins have given me even though many years have gone from my life with the way they end games. GO FINS!

 

Before the NE game and as crazy as this sounds the game out of three remaining I thought would be our toughest win would be the Bills game, I was more worried about beating them than the Pats.

 

Winning our 4th in a row is the goal....a huge goal now....its right in front of us....the only goal we need to focus on.

 

I feel we win this week.....and no matter what else, week 17 will have some amazing story lines......CIN vs. BAL....NE vs. BUF....and us just enjoying it all.

Heck Colts vs KC is huge this week too. Lots of goodness....

....we turn that corner this week vs BUF...thats the focus. Its all set up.

....And tonight, after the sweet taste of victory vs NE....tonight watching BAL vs. DET is one of those moments...we get to sit back and just watch...really has no impact if we focus on winning our next two. Just enjoy.

 

Monz, like you I have the "is this the year" syndrome. This franchize has set many, if not all fans up for dissapointment before and it's hard to really trust that this franchise is 'making that move'. Winning out this year will go a long way towards reinforcing the fanbase, but even just getting to the POs would be a boon. It's just that I can't remember the last time we have been 'relevant' in December and perhaps this is the year...We just can't drop games we should win, like the jills in Oct, the Bucs in Nov...
Either way, I'm excited for one...

 

Agree 100%. I had this game circled MONTHS ago as one of the toughest we'd have this year. I honestly told everybody in my home and at work all last week, "no way the Dolphins lose to the Patriots this week...I'm more worried about going to Buffalo on December 22nd."

Division games are what they are...a toss-up...throw out the records against each other, throw out the current season record, it doesn't mean JACK when it comes to division rivalries.

We could very easily go any combination of record over the next two weeks...2-0, 1-1, 0-2...either is highly possible, that's what makes division games and rivalries so damn fun! If we win at Buffalo, and I pray we do, the Jets game will be like a mini-super bowl to the Jets...we need to at least equal or outpace our opponents want-to-win over the next two weeks.

 

I don't think anybody should ever assume "mission accomplished" until it's accomplished. But I do think we have turned a corner. All the years that we've looked like a rudderless team are different than this year. That should be pretty obvious to anybody who bases things on more than a win/loss record. At no point since Marino have I felt we had a long-term solution at QB and multiple players with top 5 at their position potential at key positions. Regardless of what happens in the last two games, this team has a bright future. That is corner that we've turned.

 

Your a grade A ***.....you know that? Punk.

 

P.S. I do think we have turned a corner...just not a final corner that comes with championship victory lap:wink2:.

But the corner we have turned, is the one that put us into a winning record securing the playoffs with a bright QB future, with key young talent type roster in some other areas (with weaknesses in others still)...this franchise in years past, in the type of victories we have pulled off this year, never would have left you feeling like you can trust them. I feel we can see the trust in these last 3 huge victories @NYJ, @PIT, NE! Those are huge in scope.

This year, these victories our QB has anchored over other QBs (Philip Rivers, Andrew Luck, Matt Ryan); plus like an NFL record of beating Roethlisberger led PIT and Brady led NE in back to back weeks...these are different types of victories. Victories we havent seen in decades.

We have turned a corner....now its about the homestretch coming off the last turn and heading down the straight away. This is where we put the pedal to the metal.

 

I agree. And you know what...Im sure the team will tell you the same thing. The last three wins....starting today mean nothing. Im nervous about the Bills game, tbh. To many times Ive seen this team fall back on their haunchs and seem to get cocky.

One thing I will say....is...notice how we have guys just starting to ....make plays? I cant remember the last time, where so many guys won their individual battles and make the play. Its not just one player....Its Clay, Wallace, Wake, Tannehill, Mathews, Hartline, and now Thomas. Its getting contagious....guys are starting to believe, someone is gonna step up...some one is gonna make a play.

 

I'm just glad that last one is at home!

 

I feel good about the Jets game....because I think the stadium will be in full on Berserk mode if we are playoff bound at that point.

 

I thought before yesterday's game that the Buffalo game would be tougher to win than the game against the Patriots. For some reason, the Bills just seem to have the Dolphins number and having to go up to Buffalo in late December and win in a "must win" game is something this Dolphin team needs to show they can do.

I believe the Dolphins are more talented than the Bills and have a far better QB. Of course I felt this same way when the Bills came to Miami and beat the Dolphins earlier in the season.

The playoffs have effectively begun for these Dolphins because they really can't afford to lose another game and expect to be a playoff team this year. So the next two weeks will tell us all a lot about what this team is made of and whether or not they have what it takes to be a playoff team.

They have beat teams like the Patriots, Bengals, Colts, Chargers, this season, so that shows they are as good as many teams who will be in the playoffs. Now they need to show they can go up against two inferior teams in the Bills and Jets and win the games they are expected to win. Only by winning these next two games and making the playoffs will this season be considered a success for this Dolphin team.

 

Here's what I think is the dream scenario and the likelihood of each component coming to fruition:

Dolphins beat Bills -- 55%
Dolphins beat Jets -- 70%
Lions beat Ravens -- 55%
Ravens beat Pats -- 40%
Bills beat Pats -- 15%
Vikings beat Bengals -- 25%
Ravens beat Bengals -- 45%
Chiefs beat Colts -- 60%

Total -- Less than 0.1% (But a guy can dream)

If this scenario somehow plays out, the Dolphins would finish 10-6 and win the division due to tiebreaker against NE based on division record (Pats would have 3 division losses to our 2). The Colts would also finish 10-6 and the Dolphins would have the tiebreaker edge based on the head-to-head matchup. The Ravens would finish 9-7 and in tie with the Bengals, but would win the division based on the head-to-head matchup. The Bengals would finish 9-7 and get a wild card even if SD wins out based on head-to-head. Thus the Dolphins would get the No. 2 seed, a first week playoff bye and a home playoff game.

The playoff seeds would then be:

1. Denver
2. Miami
3. Indy
4. Baltimore
5. Chiefs
6. NE

Indy would play NE at home in the first round and Baltimore would play the Chiefs at home. Both Indy and NE beat the Broncos, but if Indy wins we would play them and Denver would end up with the KC/Balt winner. I don't mind our Indy matchup at all, but as much as I hate NE and want to see them dead, if they win they would play Denver in the next round and we would get the KC/Balt winner. And that Brady/Manning matchup always seems to give an edge to Brady. If NE won and we won our matchup, we would be at home against the Pats in the AFC Championship game. I hate to play the Pats again, but I'd rather play them at home then Denver on the road and I think Denver probably beats KC or Baltimore at home.

Yes, the odds of it playing out this way are tiny, but its fun to think about. :up:

 

I am all about enjoying the win. Heck, I was a complete and total *** to my nurse yesterday because she interrupted me watching the game. It happens.

However, I truly think some fans are really over valuing the talent we have on this team and think that it is better than what it really is. Be very careful in thinking that we have a strong core to build around. I think Ryan Tannehill is a building block, but this team desperately needs impact players around him and on defense. That's what we are lacking. Our receivers are average at best. Our line sucks. Our linebackers suck. Our secondary has played above their talent level all year. Really, the only difference makers on this team are Cameron Wake and Brent Grimes. I think Ryan Tannehill is possibly ascending into that group, but the team needs more.

 

It's impossible to play "above" your talent level...just like it's impossible to give 110%...what level they're playing at IS their level.

 

How about two plays that could have clinched the panthers game? 4th and 10 & the dropped Carroll int

 

I'm very glad and very excited that we have the chance to make the playoffs by winning these last two games. However I am also very very worried about Buffalo. Historically this is just the kind of game that we would blow. I really hope this team is changed and give us all a very nice Christmas present.

 

2009 and 2010 collapses were mainly the fault of one Chad Henne. He threw game killing INTs in many of the final games that sank promising seasons.

Ryan Tannehill seems to have much more poise than Henne, he's certainly mentally tougher than Henne. Tannehill (through he through 3 TDs) played like absolute ka-ka against Buffalo in October, lately he's been a much better QB.

 

No crap... Why is it so hard for people to give this team it's due? You are going to tell me that grimes isn't an elite cb? You are going to tell me having him back there doesn't improve the guys around him? Clemmons has been Clemmons... Carroll is coming I to his own... If anything Jones has played below his talent level... These wanna be gms make me laugh...

 

People (cough Dan Le Batard) would like to pour water on this win because of all the Patriots injuries but look who the Dolphins fielded in their secondary their last play. Soliea was out. Then we have the Offensive line problems (Martin-Incognito crap and the fact that the line kinda sucked from the start), Keller and Gibson are out too.

This team has held up very well facing lots of controversy.

 

Carroll is playing at an unsustainable level for his talent. It will be interesting to see if we overpay to keep him.

 

I don't agree with that at all. Carroll is talented and is playing up to his talent. In fact to his talent much better if he was fully playing to his talent

 

Not to hijack but I wanted to make a quick observation. Did anyone else notice the way Ellerbe played yesterday ?
Everytime I watched a big play by the Pats it seems as though Ellerbe was involved with missing a tackle, tacking a bad angle or giving up on the play.
This Cat needs to turn the corner these next two weeks, IMO. We need him....
Wish someone would put up some video on this clown from last game.

 

-We'll turn the corner when we have a franchise QB.
-Ok, we'll turn the corner when we play meaningful football in December.
-Ok, we'll turn the corner when we can beat a team like the Steelers in their house in the snow.
-Ok, we'll turn the corner when Tannehill starts playing better than Brady.
-Ok, we'll turn the corner when we challenge the Pats for the division.
-Ok, we'll turn the corner when we beat the Pats.

At this rate, we'll never turn the effing corner.

 

That is the rate of the "realist" Keep on moving the definition, then they can always be right.

 

:lol: (Stupid Radius!)

:hi5:

 

I figured it out. Realist is a portmanteau word made up of "really pessimist".