Since we're headed into the off-season it felt like a good time to reflect a little bit on how far our team has come across the past 4 months. We started the year historically bad and ended it by denying New England home field advantage in the playoffs. Pretty impressive if you ask me.
I also saw an opportunity here though since Tennessee and Miami won back to back in Gillette stadium. Obviously Tennessee's key to victory was completely different from our path and there's not much to compare directly- our QB was better and so was our secondary. However, Tennessee ran all over NE, dominated the LOS and simply kept Brady off the field.
Honestly, to my eyes, Miami was actually the better of the two teams, while Henry was the best overall player.
I also bring this up because it sure feels like the closing of an era- New England has never lost twice in a row at home in Belichek's tenure...much less in two must-win games with massive playoff implications. Both games ended with desperation pitch-backs because New England simply had no other answers...they're not used to being in desperation mode and it clearly showed.
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Miami played the better game and was the better team, but the fact that it was a playoff win gives it to Tennessee.
And yeah Brady is done. The old QB's are struggling. Brees also looked totally washed up. He got outplayed by Kurt Cousins and, frankly, Taysom Hill. Rivers looks washed up, Eli is washed up, Ben got hurt and I doubt plays at a high level next year, even Rogers is showing some age.
NFL is going to see the young QBs take full control of the league here, hopefully we can find ours. I feel very confident the Bills don't have one, though Darnold I think still has potential.
This division is wide open for next year for the first time in decades.Bumrush, Tin Indian, Pauly and 2 others like this. -
https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/nfl-video-rulebook/roughing-the-passer/
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I'd say ours was the more impressive win. To go from a 43-0 drubbing at home with a depleted roster, and then to go into Foxborough with nothing on the line but our pride and to beat the Patriots in a divisional match-up, with the Patriots playing to win... it was a truly incredible result.
The Titans have been impressive this season on multiple occasions and many people picked them to win, or at least have a decent chance.
The Miami game? I didn't see anyone giving us even half a chance. Yet we marched in there and beat them anyway.
That's what was most impressive to me this season. We beat some decent teams and beat them in a decent manner. I've been more convinced with this year's Dolphins win than with many wins from recent years. It often felt like we just managed to steal many victories; that we 'got away with' them. The Dolphins this year, although lacking in talent, seemed so much more ready to play and to win - perhaps mostly because of fewer mistakes and penalties - either way, this year has felt a lot better than expected!The_Dark_Knight, Bumrush, Finatik and 1 other person like this. -
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Miami.
We were so bad, people incorrectly thought we were tanking.The_Dark_Knight, Fin-O, resnor and 1 other person like this. -
Puka-head My2nd Fav team:___vs Jets Club Member
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And if neither "busts" they'll probably remain the starting QB's for their respective teams for a good while (at least 4-5 years). So I'm totally happy they're the QB's for the Bills and Jets and that we'll likely be facing them for many years to come.
Oh.. and with Brady's demise and us possibly getting our franchise QB in 2020, the Dolphins might soon have the best QB in the division. Would be totally refreshing if that happens (still can't get Brees out of my mind!).thetylernator likes this. -
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Darnold on the other hand is still meh to me and he has an uphill battle. -
I want to add their pick 6 was more impressive because the Titans kind of forced him into it through their play leading up to it.
Ours Brady had two wide open WR and for some reason just threw a duck between both. It really should have been an easy completion and ended up as a TD for us.
I'll take it every time, dont get me wrong, but it wasnt really anything we did. He wasnt even heavily pressured. -
Fitzpatrick shredded that defense with no run game and no oline
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PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
Would have to say Miami's win was more impressive...4-11 team that hadn't won there in like 11 straight years, against the #2 seed in the AFC? Big time...insane. The point line was like 16.5 in favor of the Pats, and the Dolphins had lost 43-0 already this year, to them. The point line in the Titans game was only 5.
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I do think Titans should get credit for going in there and winning an incredibly tough game on the road, in the playoffs, in weather that should benefit the team with the better defense.KeyFin and PhinFan1968 like this. -
PhinFan1968 To 2020, and BEYOND! Club Member
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This is a difficult question. Both wins were extremely impressive.
As pointed out earlier, Miami hadn’t won in Foxborough since Christ was a Corporal and I was his Drill Sergeant. A depleted roster, going into the Patriots’ house of invincibility and beating the #2 seed? Pretty flipping impressive, even if New England stupidly overlooked us in their presumed road to a first round bye.
Tennessee’s win however...granted, these aren’t your daddy’s Patriots but they are still that. Chris Berman used to say no one circled the wagons like the Buffalo Bills. Same goes true for the Patriots in the playoffs. That team is usually one of the BETTER teams but not even they were prepared for what was about to steamroll them. To go into Foxborough as an underdog in a donor field game...and defeat the defending Super Bowl Champions...beat them like a red headed step child was priceless.
I can’t say which one was but I can say that both were GLORIOUS!!!!KeyFin likes this. -
I would pick Miami. It was the perfect ending to the 80s sports comedy that was the 2019 Dolphins Season.
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