Strength of schedule is the determining factor, which is one of those arcane metrics that cause me to shake my head as they make calculating playoff scenarios virtually impossible until the last 2 games. Of course we have to beat the Brownies this Sunday to get the ball rolling, but allow me to point out that the dolphins were 5-5 in 08 when they started their run.
To be honest, I'm not even thinking about the playoffs, I can't see past Sunday (Not that it matters what I think to the Fins). We have to win Sunday, than I will worry about the jets. (PS, long range forecast calls for snow the 11th into the 12th, but that will change 20 times I'm sure))
Attempting to clarify what is what NJ, we still would have to travel to NJ in mid December and win there so it is not a cake walk by any means. As for the Browns, the key to Hillis is his size and speed on the edge of the defense when he can head down hill on the edge he is a bulldozer and I've watched him literally hurdle tacklers, like leap 5 ft into the air and go up and over guys and keep running.
If this team could string together some wins I would be a lot more optimistic. Instead it seems like the rollar coaster will keep going.
I had to laugh a little NJFF when you said you can't see past this Sunday with the Dolphins but you have checked out the long range weather forecast.
w/w/l/l/w/l/w/l/w/l/w.... That is the pattern this season, a W followed by a L followed by a W if we are to do anything that pattern has to be broken.
This reinforces what we were talking about yesterday, but we never addressed the scenario where the Jets beat Pit and Chi on the road and lose to Buf at home. Why didn't we? Maybe because it is the least likely scenario So Jets wins over Chi and Buff only and a Miami run out goes to the Dolphins. Jets wins over Buf and anyone other than Chicago kills any tiebreaker with Miami. sent from my EVO 4G
I've been giving some thought to the fact the we have a team of fat boys. Which bodes well for a cold weather team in December - not so much for a warm weather team in September. Of course to buy into this notion, you have to totally ignore the fact that we gave away two games in September through our un-special teams.
Well, iirc we have done well on the road in the cold under Sparano, if anything in 09 we did poorly in warm weather games to end the season, so NY and NE are not the weather problems they once presented to us.
Something seemed a bit different this past Sunday....you could almost feel this team shake out of this could that has been hanging over us for quite awhile....going back to last season. If we can not only beat the Browns on Sunday...but put together another solid game in which all three phases are clicking..I think the Dolphins will take a huge shot of confidence into the Jets game. I really think our season comes down to our offense though....if we put together another very solid offensive performance...I think we have the type of defense to start taking apart teams. We win by more then 10 points on Sunday..... We will finish 11-5. My prediction...but Im a firm believer of a team making a December run with a full head of confidence. Look at the Bolts.....they are playing probably the best ball in the NFL right now....and they werent looking so hot earlier in the season. Its nice to still be relevant in December.
It's going to take 11-5 to make the playoffs and there is no guarantee to make it then. Remember that the Patriots were 11-5 in 2008 and they MISSED the playoffs. Some team out of the AFC North or East will have to totally collapse in the month of December. Then we have to outrun the teams in the South and West.
Far to many variables - including but often overlooked - the WIN/LOSS of every team already played which corresponds to Strength of Schedule....everyone presumes status-quo on those records when in fact all are subject to change with 5 games remaining for each and everyone.
We were irrelevant until December. We have not been relevant since the loss to the Patriots AFTER the loss to the Jets. It is the same two matchups that CAN make us relevant again.
Exactly, and if we don't win, it doesn't matter anyway all this attempt at clarification is about is showing the "how" it could happen. I will say this, there are so many people who threw dirt on our season in the media that I will completely enjoy this if it does happen.
I just don't see us getting 11-5. I think if we do get there we'll make it though, whether it is over the Pats, Jets, Steelers, or most likely IMO the Ravens.
Didn't realize Steelers had the same # of wins as Pitt. I guess that alters my thinking a little. Also, looking at the schedules of NYJ and NE, while I would be surprised to see them finish the season 0-5 or 1-4 all 5 remaining games are games individually that it wouldn't surprise me to see a loss. Our non AFCE schedule that remains is much easier than theirs.
Eh, cannot bag on my fellow Dolfans BDH, there are some media characters, not figures, who have been pernicious with their grave digging for the Dolphins Season that I would dearly love to see eat crow. As fans, we are not paid to objectively state our views, for example I called Brandon Marshall "the *****" because he was putting himself ahead of the team, but I also left the door open to change that back to "beast" if he stops doing so, some in the media have their template and are sticking to it no matter what, I'm thinking of a certain BSPN employee who at one time participated on this very forum....
I think you edited this part just as I posted. Cross promotion, Padre. That's all it was. Far more entertainment than enlightenment.
He has been tossing dirt on us for nearly a month, the dolt's problem is he apparently cannot read a schedule. Basically, "oh, the Jets are 7-2, now 8-2, now 9-2, ohh they have it locked up!" Nevermind they played their easier games earlier in the year and have a tough final 4 of 5 games, nevermind the dolphins not only play them, but have an easier schedule, oh no, "the dolphins playoff chances are gone". The man moved to Buffalo, willingly, and oh yes I think he is in line for a large plate of crow.
While this is true, for most of the games played it will effect all of the teams the same. The schedule is not as different for each team in the division as it used to be. We all play the same opponents except for 2 teams each. Meaning........14 of our games are against the same teams. so that will be the same W/ L for each team. The OTHER 2 games are the wild card in all of this. This is the list of the games we each play this year that are different opponents than the others. Jets..............play Houston and Denver.....2 wins Pats.............play Indy and SD...............2 wins Bufs.............play Jax and KC.................2 loses..........aint that a beautiful thing Fins.............play Tenn and Oak.............2 wins everything else is the same except where they played.......home or away.
Well the Pats are going to wrap that one up. Indy and SD will end up with more wins than those other teams.
According to this thing we're pretty much screwed. Had to do some seriously unrealistic scenarios for us to get in as the second WC. That said, I guess it's still possible.
I got us in pretty easily... We beat the Jets and they lose to the Bears and Steelers. We win our games and take care of business!
It's easy to get the Fins in if we win out and the Jets lose a few. We can even get in at 10-6 in a 3 way tie with KC and Balt/Pitt. Not saying it's probable or likely but it's not so far fetched as to be completely unbelieveable
The craziest part of the Playoff scenario is that the NFC West is SO TERRIBLE that one of them may get in at 7-9!!! MADNESS...
I think the Bills with Fitzpatrick could be a pretty tough game. Though they seem good at finding ways to ultimately lose in the end. We got them with Captain checkdown last time. On the flipside of that, they're suffering a ton of injuries.
