After 2 hard fought, gritty, somewhat sloppy road wins, we'll make our home opener next week against the Atlanta Falcons.
Of the first 5 games everybody was so worried about, this one and New Orleans are my only real concerns.
That said, I think we match up defensively with them fairly well. Their WRs are kinda gimped up, and Gonzales is getting old and not putting up the numbers he normally does.
Their D gave up 24 to the Rams today, and I think we can beat that. Special teams seems to be about even, maybe a slight edge to our kicker (Neva Nurvis Sturgis!). Thigpen seems like he's improving and he may even be able to break one past the 50.
Mike Wallace showed today he's not the 1-trick-pony that was so well publicized when we signed him. Many though Indy's DBs matched up well with our receivers, that didn't show. I believe Wallace will have another big effect next week against Atlanta.
In a nail-biter, Miami comes through on a late GW drive to cinch the win 34-31.
Any thoughts?
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PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
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PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
ATLANTA -- Falcons running back Steven Jackson left Sunday's game against the Rams with a first-quarter thigh injury, the first of a long list of injuries for Atlanta.
The Falcons also lost linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (foot), defensive end Kroy Biermann (right ankle), fullback Bradie Ewing (shoulder), defensive end Cliff Matthews (neck) and cornerback Asante Samuel (thigh) in the first half.
Only Matthews returned in the first half.
Ewing, who couldn't put weight on his right leg, left the field on a cart. Ewing, Biermann, Samuel and Jackson -- all starters -- did not return to the sideline for the second half.
Jackson apparently was injured when he scored on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan in the first quarter. Jackson was escorted to the locker room during the ensuing kickoff.
Rams safety Matt Daniels was carted off the field with his right ankle in a splint in the first quarter and did not return.
Samuel missed last week's game at New Orleans with a thigh injury. He aggravated the injury in the first quarter. Rookie Robert Alford replaced Samuel at cornerback.
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We need a very loud home crowd.SICK, HULKFish, Finfan7273 and 1 other person like this. -
Will be there for the game. Been waiting a long time for this.
Can't wait to see the new Uni's and the new attitude in MIAMISICK likes this. -
I'm weary about it...Tony Gonzalez is going to have a big game, obviously (then we have Jimmy Graham a week later!). They are hurting coming into the game. Dolphins haven't started 3-0 since 2002. We'll see what happens. I won't be mad if we lose thanks to back-to-back AFC wins, but the Falcons are banged up. Still...Gonzalez, Julio Jones and Roddy White....yikes. I'll say Falcons-30, Dolphins-20 for now.
Though I am more worried about going into the Superdome in Primetime than about this game...just hope we keep that one close. Even teams like the Pats have gotten smoked in the Superdome in Primetime. -
PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
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PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
This win today was on turf...which will certainly help a little for the N.O. game, but Brees is a surgeon (who would EVER pass an opportunity to sign that guy?).
I can surely understand your outlook, but I don't think there's any way we only score 20 against Atlanta. The Rams even got 24. They let Brees get over 400 yards and only sacked him twice. -
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PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
Basically a pickem...not surprised, 3 in a row.
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those are some crazy injuries. wild.
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Jackson is a stud. 2 or 3 years ago he was listed as injured for 15 games and just put up numbers.
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PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
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PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
"There were plenty of flaws in the Falcons' performance -- hardly any running game, a lack of protection for Ryan, not much pressure on Rams quarterback Sam Bradford -- but they'll take it considering all the players who went down."
http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=330915001
Sounds like a solid matchup for the good guys.Oboy likes this. -
I don't see how you all think we match up better with Atl than Indy.
The receiving core for Atl is probably the best in the NFL.... And these are the teams that seem to always give the Dolphins trouble... Unfortunately I think we lose this one and the one again NO....Oboy likes this. -
PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
GMJohnson likes this. -
This will be a really tough game for us...hoping being home makes the difference. I look at the next three games, and think if we win 2 of 3, then playoffs are a real possibility. Even 1 of 3 we are still sitting alright. Ravens is a must win game.
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Home opener should give us a huge boost out of the gate. Hopefully anyway. Key will be starting well.
HULKFish likes this. -
Count me among those more confident vs ATL than Indy. Roddy White is a complete not factor due to his injury. Julio is great, but so is Grimes. Gonzalez is gonna be a problem, but even he's 37 and hasn't done much through 2 games (he has to regress sometime). Their OL hasn't protected Ryan 2 games in a row, and he's not mobile and much easier to bring down than Luck. On the other side of the ball, they have bad run D, no pass rush, and Asante Samuel will be gimpy/out. We should have an actual home field advantage coming off 2 road wins to start the season. I like our chances.
Mcduffie81, Paul 13 and Fin D like this. -
We do have another little advantage of playing a dome team used to playing on turf outside in the heat. Even though its 415 heat instead of 1pm heat. We should have an easier time taking down Ryan, Luck is like a truck.
darefugee likes this. -
PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
I believe they're more explosive than the Colts, but I don't think they're better. If they can't run, can't protect Ryan, and can't get to the other QB...I like our chances. Tanny should be able to light 'em up with good protection. Grimes knows their receivers too...should certainly help. -
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shula_guy Well-Known Member
TBH I think they are still knocking the rust off a bit. They are not a team to be under-estimated. -
PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
darefugee likes this. -
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Edit... it'll probably be cloudy and raining... :pity:HULKFish likes this. -
If the falcons are healthy they should beat us. But if all those guys listed are out next week we have a damn good shot at winning. Who knows, maybe this is the year where all the breaks go our way
Oboy likes this. -
PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
adamprez2003 likes this. -
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