Philbin: 'We're going to find out what kind of football team we have'

Joe Philbin hit the nail on the head following Monday night's 38-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints.  He didn't pass around blame, he didn't point fingers, he didn't yell, kick, or scream.  That's not the kind of coach he is.

He said exactly what I began saying mid-way through the third quarter, when it was clear this game was going to get ugly.

"We're going to find out what kind of football team we have."

You better believe it.

As I said earlier, for the first time this season, the Miami Dolphins will face adversity. Until now, it's been all ham and eggs in South Beach.

Ryan Tannehill had arrived.

The defense was dominant.

The offense was a force to be reckon with.

Joe Philbin was the next Don Shula.

Jeff Ireland was a shoe in for executive of the year.

Bring on the Patriots!  The AFC East is ours!

And then, with a couple big time Darren Sproles runs, a couple easy Drew Brees TD passes, and a couple Ryan Tannehill misfires, reality hit the Miami Dolphins.  A harsh, hard to swallow reality pill that the Dolphins, and their fanbase, haven't had to swallow yet this season.

Fortunately, the veteran leadership on this team seems to realize this as well.

"Makes me sick but I'm glad it only counts as 1... Can't get to high on wins or low on losses... Gonna get ready for Baltimore" - Brian Hartline.

"We have to move onto the next game." - Brent Grimes.

"Very tough loss tonight! it's not how you fall it's how you get up from the fall! Big game Sunday!"- Mike Pouncey.

Call me an optimist (although that be foolish), call me a homer, call me whatever you want, but I've always been a big believer in "well timed losses."  Losses that bring you down to earth.  Losses that you can learn from.  Losses that bring out a team's true identity.

We all knew this team wouldn't stay unbeaten forever.  Most of us, like myself, knew it would end tonight.  The Saints are an ELITE team.  The Dolphins are not.

However, that's by no means saying they're not a playoff team.  Whether they are or not still remains to be seen.

Let's not forget, this team is still playing with house money.  They sit at 3-1 through the first quarter of the season, a record that, a month ago, seemed like a reach for this team given their opening schedule.

And now, with a much needed bye week in sight, they get to go home and host a depleted Ravens team.

A 4-1 record heading into the bye week was ALWAYS a best case scenario for the Miami Dolphins.  The loss tonight didn't change that possibility.

In-fact, I think it strengthened it.  We now get to see how these Miami Dolphins RESPOND to adversity.  Better to figure that out now rather than later, no?

A win on Sunday, and all is well in South Beach.  It's all ham and eggs once again.

The first three weeks were nice.

But now, as Joe Philbin said, we're going to truly find out what kind of football team we have.

Buckle up.  Now the fun begins.