Patriots defeat Fins 28-0 to end 2012 season

Well, what are you gonna do?

This: get an offensive line that isn't offensive, get a receiver who doesn't drop pass after pass, and get a cornerback.

Those are the three GLARING needs that this shutout loss exposed at great lengths today.

Ryan Tannehill was sacked SEVEN times today. I'm shocked the kid didn't break something.

Armon Binns dropped a TD pass and a fourth down conversion pass.

Wes Welker and Tom Brady shredded the Fins secondary.

Reggie Bush fumbled the ball at the one yard line.

Absolutely nothing went Miami's way today.

Ryan Tannehill didn't play bad considering the circumstances. He went 20-35, for 235 yards and an INT.

Reggie Bush did nothing today, with the exception of a 20 yard run on the final play of the game. He fell 12 yards short of 1,000.

Defensively, Miami was passed on, run on, basically torched all day long. They came in with 41 sacks on the year and only got to Tom Brady once today.

That, I did not see coming.

And so that'll do it for the 2012 Miami Dolphins. They finish 7-9, second in the AFC East, and with a huge offseason upon them.

Bad way to end a pretty good season considering the expectations. But hey, only 9 months till week one!

More to come.

Patriots lead Fins 21-0 heading into final quarter of 2012

Give it to Ryan Tannehill, the kid is battling out there.

He's been sacked 5 times today, and limped off the field after sack #4. However, the rookie came back out and orchestrated a great Dolphins drive, only to have Reggie Bush fumble at the one yard line.

The Patriots caught a break when Wes Welker appeared to bobble a ball and have it intercepted by Chris Clemons for a Fins TD, but it was later ruled incomplete.

To the fourth!

Patriots dismantling Dolphins 21-0 at the half

Only two quarters left!

Until this game finally ends.

Ryan Tannehill overthrew a wide open Reggie Bush for a would be TD.

Then, a couple plays later had Armon Binns drop a perfect TD pass.

THEN, Nate Kaeding missed a 41 yard FG!

Then Tom Brady and the Patriots scored...for the third time in the first half.

Meanwhile, the Fins defense has sacked Brady ZERO times. Heck, I haven't even seen them lay a finger on him.

Ryan Tannehill has been harassed, as has Reggie Bush and Lamar Miller.

This one has the feel of the 2010 season finale in New England when the Fins lost 38-7.

To the third!

Patriots lead Dolphins 7-0 after first quarter

Ryan Tannehill threw a bad interception inside his own 50, which led to a Wes Welker TD.

The INT was his first since last month against Seattle.

The Fins are getting carved up defensively, and have put ZERO pressure on Tom Brady.

Offensively, they haven't been in Patriot territory yet.

Yikes.

To the 2nd.

Fins, Pats ready to begin season finale; the inactives

They're just about an hour from kickoff in Foxboro, where it's 28 degrees with 30 mph wind gusts, so that should be fun.

The inactives for the Fins are QB Pat Devlin, WR Davone Bess, CB Nolan Carroll, LB Josh Kaddu, OT Patrick Brown TE Kyle Miller, and DT Kheeston Randall.

Ron Gronkowski IS active for the Patriots today.

The Fins in the all white, while the Patriots are in the blue and grey.

Live blog starts at 4:25.

Go Fins!

Gameday: Five keys to an 8-8 finish PLUS prediction

Well, it's the worst Sunday of the NFL season for 20 of the 32 teams around the league, as today will be their final quarters of football until August.  Unfortunately, the Fins are one of those 20 teams yet again this season, as they were eliminated from playoff contention last week.

However, as I wrote about earlier this week, things are brighter in Miami than they've been in a long, long time, and a win today in Foxboro would send the Fins into the offseason with more momentum than they've had in years.

So, for one final time in 2012, I present to you my five keys to a Miami Dolphins victory today.  Enjoy.


1. Contain Wes Welker.  This is something the Fins have been unable to do since, well, he became a Patriot.  Earlier this year, Welker had 10 catches in the first half in Miami, and was seemingly WIDE open on every play.  Containing Welker today will go a long way in upsetting the almighty Patriots.

2. Hit, hit, hit Tom Brady.  The Fins did a brilliant job of this earlier this month, sacking Brady four times and pressuring him on nearly every play.  Expect Cam Wake to play a huge role in today's game, as he's only 3.5 sacks away from the franchise record of 18.5.  IF Wake and others can rattle Brady early on, then the Fins will have a chance in this one.

3. Continue utilizing Reggie Bush in multiple areas.  Bush recorded three TD's a week ago against Buffalo, and two of them were through the air.  Mike Sherman has done a brilliant job the last three weeks of using Bush in the passing game, as it constantly creates mismatches for opposing defenses, and can open up holes elsewhere for other guys.  Bush will be pivotal today if the Fins hope to win.

4. Go play-action heavy with Ryan Tannehill.  This one is simple, according to ESPN Tannehill has completed 67.1 percent of his passes off play-action this season. That is the highest completion percentage in the AFC East, and yes, that's even higher than the Greek God himself, Tom Brady.  Tannehill also has six touchdowns off play-action passes compared to just one interception. His QBR is an impressive 90.2, and he averages 10.33 yards per attempt.  Enough said.

5. Pride.  This team has a chance to finish a season at .500 for the first time in four years, and doing it against a playoff bound New England team would be huge. Finishing this season with three straight wins, including a road win against a Super Bowl contender, to get to 8-8 would do wonders for the Fins heading into the offseason, and would give them a signature win to end the year with.  Playoffs or not, this is a big time game today for the Miami Dolphins.


PREDICTION

This is my final Miami Dolphins prediction of the year.  If you remember, I predicted the Fins would go 8-8 this season in my preseason picks, so I obviously have to pick Miami here!  What the heck, they're playing well right now, and an upset wouldn't surprise me. I'm going Dolphins.

Final: Dolphins 26 Patriots 25


The live blog starts at 4:25, so follow along.  And don't forget to check back right before game time for any last minute news, including the inactives.

Also, I just wanted to extend a thank you to all my readers who have made this season such an enjoyable one.  The blog has grown on a weekly basis, and is nearing 10,000 page views.  Once again, thank you for all the views, and for making this site a success!

Go Fins!  

Week 17 in the NFL: picks and predictions

Well, this is it.  The final Sunday of the 2012 NFL season is upon us, and there are no shortage of story lines around the league.  So, for one final time this year, I present to you my week 17 predictions.  Enjoy.

Last weeks record: 10-5

Overall record: 138-87-1


Tampa Bay @ Atlanta:  Remember when the Bucs were in the playoff hunt?  Yeah, that was a lot of losses ago.  Atlanta, however, is in the playoffs, and even though Mike Smith may rest his starters, I still like the Falcons in this one.

N.Y. Jets @ Buffalo:  Who cares?  Bills.

Jacksonville @ Tennessee:  Really, who cares?  Titans.

Cleveland @ Pittsburgh:  It'll be weird not seeing Mike Tomlin and the Steelers in the playoffs starting next week.  You know what won't be weird?  Seeing them dismantle the Browns today.  Give me Pittsburgh.

Carolina @ New Orleans:  So Sean Payton gets suspended for a year, and then gets a five year extension making him the highest paid coach in the league?  Gotta love the NFL.  In regards to this one, I'll take the Saints.

Houston @ Indianapolis:  Even with Coach Pagano making his emotional return to the sidelines, I don't see the Colts knocking off an angry Texans team with something to play for.

Philadelphia @ N.Y. Giants:  Yes, they're 2-5 in their last 7, but they can beat the Eagles at home in a must win game, right?  Gulp.  I'll take the Giants.

Chicago @ Detroit:  I've said it all year, the Bears just don't have the offense to make a legitimate playoff run.  I didn't see them getting in a month ago and I don't see them getting in today.  Give me Detroit.

Baltimore @ Cincinnati:  I like the Bengals right now, they've made a nice little playoff run and will be looking for momentum heading into next week.  Give me Cincinnati at home.

Green Bay @ Minnesota:  This is a coin flip.  Both teams are playing well, but I was extremely impressed with the Vikings showing last week in Houston.  As long as they continue to feed Adrian Peterson, and Christian Ponder doesn't turn the ball over, then I think they win this one at home.  I'm going Minnesota.

Arizona @ San Francisco:  The 49ers got embarrassed a week ago.  Bad news for you, Arizona.  Bad, bad news.  Give me the Niners.

Oakland @ San Diego:  Terrell Pryor!!!!  Gulp.  Chargers.

Kansas City @ Denver:  So the 2-13 Chiefs have FIVE pro-bowlers on their team? Really?  I'm going to go ahead and say that the one real pro bowler in this game, Peyton Manning, may have something to say about that.  Give me Denver.

St. Louis @ Seattle:  The Seahawks are scary good.  The Rams, however, are not. Seattle will win this one.

Dallas @ Washington:  This is the big one today, the winner take all NFC East title fight.  My heart has me going Dallas, but my mind has me going Washington, so I'm torn.  Tony Romo has 19 turnovers this season, RGIII has only 7, so I should go with my head, right?  However, I just think the Washington secondary is the clear weakness of that defense, and that, combined with Tony Romo's experience, has me going with my heart in this one.  Give me Dallas, in a close, clooooooose one.


Check back later today for all your Miami Dolphins pre-game coverage as they kick things off in frigid New England at 4:25.

And, for one last time this year, follow the live blog throughout the game.

Until then, Go Fins!

Despite 7-8 record, 2012 a season of discovery

Five months ago, before we even pulled the trigger on this 2012 season, I wrote about managing expectations for these young, rebuilding Miami Dolphins.

I said that this season wasn't about the playoffs, or a division title, or even a winning record.  Rather, it was about the development of Ryan Tannehill, the growth of the coaching staff, and to end December better than they began September.

Check, check, and double check.

Some may look at this season, with its' 7-8 record, and see it as a disappointment.

Wrong.  Very, very wrong.  This has been a season of something so much more.

This has been a season of discovery.

This season we discovered that Joe Philbin has a very particular vision of how he wants things done, and if you're not apart of that vision, then you're gone.  However, if you're on board with that vision, then, given a little time and experience, it could have long term success.

This season we discovered that Reshad Jones has blossomed into one of the top playmaking safties in the NFL, and given his age, 24, the Fins should be set at the position for a long, long time.

This season we discovered that life without Jake Long really isn't that bad, and that Jonathan Martin will be a fine replacement for the forseeable future.

We learned that the Fins have one of the best linebacking units in the NFL, one of the best front fours' in the NFL, and arguably the best 4-3 defensive end in the league.

We discovered that Brian Hartline is a really solid receiver, that Davone Bess is one of the best slot men in the NFL (although we already knew that), and that Reggie Bush, if used properly, is a nightmare for opposing defenses.

We learned that the offense is in desperate need of WR help, but, at the same time, may have found something in rookie Rishard Matthews, and free agent Armon Binns.

We learned that Jeff Ireland may have struck gold with rookies Lamar Miller and Olivier Vernon, as both have had their moments this season.

And, of course, we learned a heck of a lot about Ryan Tannehill. 

We learned that the kid can run, and he can run well. 

We learned that he's at his best when rolling out of the pocket.

We, along with the rest of the league, learned pretty quickly not to throw a blitz at the kid, because he'll pick it apart with the ease of a savvy veteran.

We discovered that he loves the long ball, and he's good at it too, as Pro Football Focus has him ranked 10th when it comes to the deep pass.

But most importantly, we learned that Tannehill can adjust to anything the NFL throws at him.  He corrected the batted ball issue in week one.  He adjusted to different blitz packages thrown at him, so much so that teams just stopped doing it.

And guess what?  He adjusted to that too.

He had accuracy issues that were corrected, and mental errors that were not made twice.

He learned to make plays with his feet, that Reggie Bush can be his best friend, and, above all, he corrected the turnovers.  At one point this season he had 12 interceptions and only 6 TD's.  Now, entering the season finale against New England, he has 12 TD's, 12 INT's, and has the offense blossoming down the stretch more than any other point this season.

That shows the kind of development and improvement that Chad Henne, or John Beck, or any other Dolphins QB not named Chad Pennington simply weren't capable of.

Yes, it's week 17 and the Fins are once again out of playoff contention.  But that doesn't mean they're that far off.

Because when you look at it, and realize what the expectations were going into this season, I think you'll find it hard not to crack a smile at what these Miami Dolphins can be this time next year.

Jeff Ireland's got more money to work with than most GM's in the NFL right now, and he's got FIVE out of the first 100 picks in April's draft.  My point?

Whoever he wants in free agency, whether it be a Greg Jennings, or a Dwayne Bowe, or a Mike Wallace, he can have, because nobody will be able to match Miami's offers.

And, as far as the draft goes, just look at it like this:

The Fins will get a shot at five of the top 100 players coming into the NFL next season.

How can you still not smile at that?

Oh yes, despite their 7-8 record, these Miami Dolphins are on the cusp of NFL relevancy once again.

And that may be the most exciting discovery yet. 

News and notes on the seasons' final Wednesday

Final Wednesday of the season for the Miami Dolphins, as their season effectively ends Sunday in New England, where the early weather reports are calling for snow.

So that oughta' be fun, no?

The Fins are playing for an 8-8 record, which would be their first non-losing record since 2008.

The Pats are playing for a possible first round bye and/or home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

So it's pretty even...

To the notes:

-WR Brian Hartline, Armon Binns, and LB Karlos Dansby all practiced in full on Wednesday.

- CB Nolan Carroll and FS Reshad Jones practiced on a limited basis

- Davone Bess, Koa Misi, Randy Starks, and Sean Smith all sat out of practice today.

- You think that's a lot? The Patriots had 21 players limited in practice today.

- Pro Bowl announcements are tonight at 7. I expect P Brandon Fields and Cameron Wake to make it for Miami.

- Reshad Jones, Karlos Dansby, Brian Hartline and Reggie Bush all have a very outside shot of getting in, but I'd be surprised.

- Sunday's game has been moved to 4:25 with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms on the call.


Until next time, adios.

Fins defeat Bills 24-10, still eliminated from playoff contention

It was a good day from Miami.

Ryan Tannehill threw two TD passes, both to Reggie Bush, and Bush would add another rushing TD to give the Fins an eventual 24-10 win.

Defensively, Miami forced four turnovers, including a Reshad Jones INT to seal the game.

The Steelers, however, lost to Cincinnati on a last second field goal, effectively eliminating Miami from postseason contention.

Miami improves to 7-8 on the season and will travel to New England next week in their season finale.

Fins lead Bills 24-3 after third quarter

Big third quarter from Miami.

After a Fins fumble recovery, Ryan Tannehill hit Reggie Bush on a fade pass in the corner of the endzone to put Miami up 21-3.

It was Reggie's third TD of the day.

Cameron Wake would strip sack Ryan Fitzpatrick on the next drive, recovered by Miami, to set up a Nate Kaeding FG.

It was Wake's 15th of the year, a career high.

To the fourth.

Fins lead Bills 14-3 at halftime

Ryan Tannehill connected on a 30 yard pass to Rishard Matthews, and followed it up with a 31 yard run of his own to bring the Fins down to the Buffalo one yard line.

Reggie Bush would then punch it in from there to put Miami up 14-3.

Tannehill is 7-15 on the day for 90 yards and a TD.

He also has 43 yards rushing.

Along with Tannehill, Reggie Bush has 38 yards on the ground, and Lamar Miller has 34 yards.

To the third.

Fins lead Bills 7-0 after first quarter

After a Nate Kaeding blocked field goal, Reshad Jones recovered a Stevie Johnson fumble, which would lead to a 17 yard TD pass to Reggie Bush.

Bush made some nice moves, ending it with a Reggie like dive into the endzone.

To the second.

Egnew active as Fins, Bills ready to go; the inactives

Gorgeous day in Miami, here are the inactives:

Misi, Bess, Carroll, Patrick Brown, Pat Devlin, Kyle Miller, and Kheeston Randall.

TE Michael Egnew is ACTIVE today for the first time all season.

Fins are in all white, Bills in the blue tops and white pants.

Blog starts at 1.

Go Fins!

Gameday: Three keys to a Dolphins' victory PLUS prediction

It's gameday here at the Dolphinsider, as the Fins and Bills are just a few hours from kickoff. Until then, take a look at what I think are three keys to a Dolphins victory today. Enjoy.


1. Use Reggie in the passing game. Mike Sherman started to do this in San Francisco but, unfortunately, there was no carry over effect into last week's game. With Davone Bess out, and Brian Hartline knicked up, using Reggje Bush today in the slot and out of the backfield will do wonders for Ryan Tannehill.

2. Continue to let Ryan Tannehill make plays with his feet. Last week the rookie scrambled for over 50 yards, including a 30 yard run. Mike Sherman must continue to be creative with his play-calling, rolling Tannehill out of the pocket and allowing him to make plays with his feet, if the Fins are to be successful today.

3. Create turnovers on defense. Miami has a near-league low 12 defensive turnovers this season, and they've only had one in the last five weeks. This must change today, and there will be good opportunity with Ryan Fitzpatrick - one of the more turnover-prone QB's in the league - at the helm. If the Fins secondary can step up and give Ryan Tannehill and company good field position throughout the day, then it should be a long day for the Buffalo Bills.


PREDICTION

This is a must win game today for the Fins, as their slim playoff hopes lie in the balance. I expect a much better performance out of Ryan Tannehill than earlier this season in Buffalo, and the rookie should put up decent numbers today. Defensively, containing the Bills running attack, combined with a couple of turnovers and constant pressure throughout the game on Ryan Fitzpatrick should be the formula this unit follows today. When it really comes down to it, Miami just has a lot more to play for, and that, combined with this being the home-season finale, should be enough to give the Fins the victory in this one.

Final: Bills 20 Dolphins 23


Remember to check back in right before kickoff for any last minute news, including the inactives. I'm heading down to Miami right now so don't forget to follow the live blog as well!

Until then, Go Fins!

Week 16 in the NFL: picks and predictions

It's two days until Christmas, so yes, I'm being lazy. I am however going down to the game tomorrow, so remember to follow the live blog!


Last weeks record: 10-5

Overall record: 128-82-1


Dallas

Green Bay

Indianapolis

San Diego

Washington

Pittsburgh

Tampa Bay

Carolina

New England

Houston

Denver

Chicago

N.Y. Giants

Seattle


Check back in tomorrow for all your pre- game coverage, including my prediction, as the Fins and Bills kick things off at 1 pm.

And, as always, follow the live blog throughout the game.

Until then, Go Fins!

The week that was for the Miami Dolphins

I've been traveling all week, so the site has been quiet for some time now.

BUT, the world did not end yesterday, I'm settled in, and ready to go!

So, here is all you need to know about the week that was regarding the Miami Dolphins:

• Playoffs.  Yes, I said it.  I don't buy into it, but hey, in the words of a one Lloyd Christmas, "So you're saying there's a chance..?"  And yes, there is a chance that these 6-8 Miami Dolphins do in-fact sneak into the dance.  Let's focus on this weekend first.  The Fins MUST win on Sunday and have the Steelers win as well.  IF these two things happen then Miami will head to New England next week with a shot at the postseason.  Crazier thing have happened, no?

• Kicker Dan Carpenter was placed on injured reserve today with a groin injury, meaning his season is over.  To replace him, the Fins signed Nate Kaeding, only the most accurate kicker in NFL history who has connected on 87% of his field goal attempts in nine seasons.  Ironically, Kaeding was placed on injured reserve earlier this season by the Chargers for, what else, a groin injury.

• WR Davone Bess will miss his second game in a row this weekend as he's been officially ruled out with a back injury.  LB Koa Misi has also been ruled out for Sunday's game, his second absence in a row as well.

• WR Brian Hartline is questionable for Sunday's game with a back injury, but I expect him to play.  

• DT Randy Starks missed the entire week of practice for an undisclosed, non-football related reason.  He has been ruled questionable as well.

• The team claimed Ex-Browns CB Dimitri Patterson off waivers earlier this week, signaling that CB Nolan Carroll's knee injury could be more serious than we know.  Carroll has been ruled questionable for Sunday's game.

• RB Daniel Thomas was also placed on injured reserve earlier this week, joining Carpenter and TE Charles Clay.  Thomas hurt his knee last Sunday against Jacksonville.  

I will post my picks and some other things at some point tomorrow, so come back!  I'll also be at the game Sunday, so the live blog will obviously be must see material (...not that it isn't already...).

Until then, adios, and congratulations on being alive today!

Fins lose Charles Clay for rest of season

Miami Dolphins H-back Charles Clay tore a ligament in his right knee in Sunday's game against Jacksonville, and will undergo season ending surgery sometime this week to repair it.

He will be placed on injured reserve for the seasons' final two games.

Clay, a former Tulsa standout who caught 18 passes for 212 yards and scored two touchdowns in his second NFL season, will need three months to fully recover from the knee injury.

Dolphins defeat Jaguars 24-3

Good day today for the Miami Dolphins, a day they needed badly.

Ryan Tannehill went 22-28, for 220 yards, and two TD passes. The rookie also added 52 yards rushing on 8 carries.

His passer rating was 123.2, while his completion percentage was 78.6.

Both were by far his best of his career.

Reggie Bush ran well today, gaining 104 yards on 21 carries.

Brian Hartline had a good day, catching five passes for 77 yards.

Anthony Fasano caught six passes, and added a TD grab.

The Fins defense had three redzone stops.

The Jaguars are not a good team, but the Fins played solid football and got a much needed victory.

They are now 6-8 on the season and welcome in Buffalo next week for the home season finale.

More to come.

Fins lead Jags 16-3 going into fourth quarter

Good quarter for the Fins, but it could have been better.

A good opening drive by Miami ended in a failed fake field goal attempt, which was one of the more bizarre plays I've seen all year.

The next drive featured a long Reggie Bush run, only to once again end in a Fins field goal.

The next drive featured a 30+ yard run from Ryan Tannehill, only to have Marcus Thigpen drop a TD pass. The drive once again ended in three.

Tannehill has had a good day, going 17-23, 187 yards, and a TD. He also had 45 yards rushing.

Brian Hartline had a big quarter, and has surpassed 1,000 yards on the season.

To the fourth.

Dolphins lead Jaguars 10-3 at halftime

It was not a good first half offensively for the Dolphins UNTIL their final drive, when Ryan Tannehill marched the team down the field, capping it with a 4-yard TD pass to Jorvorskie Lane.

Tannehill, who went 6-6 on the drive, finished the first half 10-14, 79 yards, and a TD.

Chad Henne went 9-15 for 96 yards.

The big thing today has been all the injuries, and ALL of them have happened to the Miami Dolphins.

Charles Clay was injured with a knee injury.

Nolan Carroll was injured.

Daniel Thomas was injured.

Chris Clemons was injured.

Kevin Burnett was injured.

Sean Smith limped off the field.

Whew.

To the third.

Jags, Fins tied 3-3 after first quarter

Riveting one from Miami.

Chad Henne drove Jacksonville down the field on his opening drive, which ended with a Josh Scobee field goal.

Ryan Tannehill responded with a drive of his own, which also ended in a field goal.

That's about it so far.

To the second.

Henne, Fins set for reunion; the inactives

They are just under an hour away from kickoff in South Florida.

The inactives for Miami are Michael Egnew, Kyle Miller, Davone Bess, Kheeston Randall, Koa Misi, and Pat Devlin.

WR Armon Binns, who the Fins signed earlier this week, is active and wearing #19.

The Fins are, shocker, in all white today. The Jaguars in the black and white.

It's Chad Henne time from Miami! So check out the live blog when things kick off at 1 pm.

Until then, Go Fins!

Gameday: three keys to a Dolphins victory PLUS prediction

It's gameday here at the Dolphinsider, as the Fins and Jaguars are set to kick things off from Sun Life Stadium in a little over three hours.  Until then, check out what I think are three keys to a Fins victory today.  Enjoy.


1. Take advantage of that Jaguars run defense.  A defense that actually ranks 28th against the run, TWENTY EIGHTH!  Please, for the love of everything that is good and holy, run the ball today Reggie.   Putting up anything less than 100 yards on the ground would be deemed a failure today for the Miami Dolphins, not to mention make life a little more difficult for Ryan Tannehill, so this is an absolute must today for the Fins.

2. Don't let Chad Henne hang around.  This team is terrible, folks, there's no two ways around it.  Go out today, and stick it to that 30th ranked Jaguars defense, and do it early and often.  Enough with the field goals, enough with the three and outs, it's time to go out today, and prove to this fan base that this Dolphins team is headed in the right direction.  So please, please, don't let Chad Henne of all people hang around in this one and win it, because that could be more apocalyptic to this franchise then this Friday could be.

3. Utilize Reggie Bush as much as possible.  Mike Sherman did a better job of this last week, as Reggie was used more in the passing game than any other time this season. However, with Davone Bess out today for the first time in his career, the Fins must use Reggie even more.  Put him out in the slot, throw screen passes to him, send him deep, whatever you have to do Mike Sherman, do it, because the loss of Davone Bess will be more evident than we realize.  USE REGGIE!


PREDICTION

This is a must win today for the Miami Dolphins.  Not for the playoffs, not for second place in the division, but for a sign- a sign to this fan base that this team is headed in the right direction.  They've done some good things this year, and taken more than a few steps, but a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars today will erase all of that.  Scratch that, a loss to CHAD HENNE will erase all of that.  I expect the Fins to win this one, but I'm looking for a blow out, because lets be honest, this really should be no contest.

Final: Jaguars 13 Dolphins 28


Check back later for any last minute news, including the inactives.

And, as always, follow the live blog throughout the game.

Until then, Go Fins!

Week 15 in the NFL: picks and predictions

It's exam week, time for a rapid fire picks session.  Lets go.

Last week's record:  8-7

Overall record:  118-77-1


N.Y. Giants

Minnesota

New Orleans

Houston

Washington

Green Bay

Denver

San Diego

Buffalo

Detroit

Oakland

Dallas

New England

Tennessee



Check in tomorrow for all your Miami Dolphins pre-game coverage, and, as always, follow the live blog starting at 1:00 pm.

Until then, Go Fins!

Criticism of Ryan Tannehill ignorant and premature, but what else is new?

Two months ago the kid was the next Dan Marino.

Now, to some, he's no better than his predecessor, and, ironically, opponent this weekend, Chad Henne.

Fans look around the NFL and see other rookie QB's, most notably Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson, and RGIII, in the thick of a playoff race, and in the mist of impressive rookie campaigns.

And then they look at Ryan Tannehill, who is 5-8, has only thrown eight TD's, and possesses a passer rating near the bottom of the league, and they call him a bust, a fluke, another swing and a miss for the Miami Dolphins.

Ignorant.  Premature.  Sickening.  Some other words I can't say in public.

I'm not saying Ryan Tannehill is the answer, no, what I'm saying is to compare Tannehill to his fellow rookie counterparts is like comparing apples to oranges. Peaches to pears.  Whole milk to 2%.

Good teams to mediocre ones.

Andrew Luck has Reggie Wayne.  Ryan Tannehill has Brian Hartline.

RGIII has Santana Moss, Pierre Garcon, and Alfred Morris.  Tannehill has Davone Bess, Marlon Moore, and Reggie Bush.

Russell Wilson has Golden Tate, Sydney Rice, and Marshawn Lynch.  Ryan Tannehill has Anthony Fasano, Rishard Matthews, and Marcus Thigpen.

Good teams, to mediocre ones.

And please, please, don't give me the "great QB's make their team better," talk, because, once again, that's just pure ignorance.

Ryan Tannehill is no where near a great QB yet!  He's started a total of thirteen games in the NFL, and this on top of his nineteen starts at Texas A&M.  That's 32 career starts at the position.  Lets compare that to those other "great" rookie QB's fans are comparing Tannehill to.

Andrew Luck: 38 starts in college, 51 career starts at QB.

RGIII:  41 starts in college, 54 career starts at QB.

Russell Wilson:  50 starts in college, 63 career starts at QB.

Yet, fans continue to label Tannehill the problem, instead of the solution, because his team is 5-8.

I've got news for you, Ryan Tannehill is the absolute least of the Miami Dolphins worries right now.

Wide receiver, is a major worry.

Tight end, is a major worry.

Offensive line, is a major worry.

Cornerback, is a major worry.

Heck, Ryan Tannehill shouldn't even be put on that list; he's too young, too raw, too inexperienced to even be considered a problem right now.  It's the ignorance of Dolfans all over that wrongly label Tannehill's struggles as a "bust."  Instead, they should be labeled as "growing pains," or, how about this one:

"Absolutely nothing to work with."

Like I said, I'm not ready to crown Tannehill the next Dan Marino, but, nor am I at all ready to close the book on him before I've even gotten through the prologue.  That would be nothing more than premature, ignorant, and just plain wrong.

Unfortunately, I seem to be in the minority right now.

But, knowing Dolfans like I do, that will all change with a good game this weekend.

What else is new?

Misi, Bess out for Sunday

According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, WR Davone Bess, and LB Koa Misi have been ruled out of Sunday's game.

Expect Jason Trusnick to fill in for Misi. As for Bess, I expect the duo of Rishard Matthews and Marlon Moore to fill in.

Miami Dolphins news and notes as Sunday approaches

It's Chad Henne week in Miami! Unfortunately, it's also finals week, so I apologize for the lack of blogging since Sunday.

Now to the news:

• Davone Bess missed practice today for the second straight day with a back injury.  My guess is he'll be listed as questionable for Sunday's game, but I expect him to play.

• Koa Misi also sat out of practice today with an ankle injury he suffered on Sunday.  I expect Jason Trusnick to replace him at LB.

• Dolphins FS Chris Clemons (ribs) and CB Jimmy Wilson practiced without limitations on Thursday. Both were limited yesterday.

• Randy Starks missed practice today for a non-football related reason.

• The Dolphins have put an emphasis on special teams during practice this week, which isn't surprising after letting up a punt return against Buffalo, a kick return against Seattle, and muffed punts against New England and San Francisco.  I can imagine Joe Philbin pulling a Mike D'Antoni if he's asked about it: "Hell yeah we practiced special teams."

What they're saying:

• “We’ve got to play better to win,” Joe Philbin said. “We haven’t earned a victory the last two weeks. We haven’t played enough in the fourth quarter. We’re very honest up front about the issues and we’ve got to get them corrected and we’ve got to play better." 

• Ryan Tannehill: “We realize we’re out of the playoff race…”

• Reggie Bush on his contract expiring:  “It’s getting pretty late,” Bush said. “It’s getting pretty late."

• "It’s a little uneasy and unsure, but at the same time, exciting, because you know there are opportunities out there,” Bush added. “I’d love to stay here, but part of me says, well, there’s nothing been on the table quite yet. I’m remaining optimistic.”

• “It comes down to who needs me, who wants me, and obviously money,” Bush said.

• Ex-Fins QB Chad Henne:  “They gave me every opportunity and they drafted me there, and I appreciate that,” he said. “But sometimes things don’t work out and you move on, but I definitely felt I had my fair share [of chances] and I appreciate the opportunity down there."

• “Everybody can put the blame on me. I’m still going to go home with my head held high knowing that I did the best I can.” - Henne on his tenure in Miami

Until tomorrow, adios.

Miami Dolphins woes a broken record

It's not the loss that irritates me, I was expecting it.

It's not the 5-8 record that irritates me either, like I've said time and time again, this is a bridge year.

It's not even the fact that the Fins last two losses were theirs for the taking, and both times they failed miserably.

I don't care about any of that, this is a young team and these things are expected.

It's the way the Miami Dolphins are losing these games that has my patience wearing ever so thin.

It's the one big mistake EVERY SINGLE GAME that somebody in the aqua and orange seems to make, that really gets under my skin.  Today it was punt returner Marcus Thigpen, somebody who's been a bright spot for most of the season, who was the culprit.  With the game at a 6-3 deadlock early in the third quarter, Thigpen fumbled a punt inside the Dolphins 10 yard line, setting up a Frank Gore TD run to put the 49ers up by ten.

That was the backbreaker, the gut wrenching turnover that ultimately, I believe, was the difference in this game.

The Fins are no stranger to this however, as the EXACT same thing happened a week ago against New England.  Remember the Brandon Fields fumbled snap inside his own ten?  These are the mistakes that the Miami Dolphins make every single week, and the fact is they're just not good enough to win against good teams, like the Patriots and 49ers, when they give them the ball at the ten yard line.

Yet I see no progress.

Don't go anywhere, I'm not done yet.

The play-calling, the bland, vanilla, mind numbingly boring play-calling, is really starting to irritate me as well.  First and ten? Run up the middle.  Second and eight?  Delayed draw up the middle.  Third and five?  Incompletion/four yard checkdown/sack.  Rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat.

Get creative Mike Sherman!

Start having some input Joe Philbin!

The play-calling the last two weeks has been so conservative that one can only assume that every member of the Miami Dolphins has to be a Republican.  That's the only answer I can come up with!

I realize the Dolphins have ZERO playmaking wide receivers, believe me, nobody gets that more than I do, but when you have the league's 3rd ranked rush defense stuffing every single run for a two yard gain, why would you keep running at them?  Why not let your rookie QB make some plays for you?  Why not change something up, Mike Sherman?

The offensive play-calling is beginning to fall right under the definition of insanity.  Don't think so?  Please, go check out the definition then report back to me.

Am I done?  Oh no, there's more.

Why is every single receiver, week after week, WIDE open nine times out of ten?  Last week it was Wes Welker, today it was Michael Crabtree, and next week I'm willing to bet it'll be Justin Blackmon.  The reality is this secondary is just not very good, and it hasn't been for a long, long time.  Sean Smith has played well at times this year, but for the most part he's been no different than the rest of the Miami Dolphins secondary- just plain mediocre.

Notice to DC Kevin Coyle, the zone defense DOES NOT WORK, so please, I beg you, stop throwing it out there.  You don't have the personel to run a zone defense, and with every wide open receiver it becomes more and more evident.

Okay, almost done, just one more.

Brian Hartline, Davone Bess, Marlon Moore, all three of you, is there any way you could help out your rookie QB?  Anything at all?

Brian Hartline was wide open in the first quarter after catching a Ryan Tannehill pass, and had only one man standing between him and the endzone.  Brandon Marshall makes that man miss.  Reggie Wayne makes that man miss.  Heck, even Michael Crabtree makes that man miss (we should know, he made a dozen Dolphin defenders miss today).  But Hartline?  Nope, he just fell to the grass.

A symbol for this 2012 season.

How about Marlon Moore?  With the Fins trailing by two TD's early in the fourth quarter, Ryan Tannehill bought himself some time in the pocket, stepped up, and unloaded one of the best passes he's thrown all year deep down the sideline to a streaking Marlon Moore.  It was a sure fire TD for the Fins, it was going to bring them within seven with plenty of time left, momentum was headed towards the Miami sideline!

And then Moore dropped it. The same phantom tackler that took down Hartline earlier in the game made his way over to Moore, and knocked the perfectly thrown pass right out of his hands.

These are the plays that winning football teams make.  Those are the catches that real wide receivers make, especially for their rookie QB.  But, just as it's gone all season long for the Miami Dolphins, the plays just were not made today.  The big, crunch time, throws just weren't caught.

No, today, just like last week, was more of the same from these Miami Dolphins.  They found a way to make the big mistake, and they couldn't find a way to recover from it.

Like I said, I don't care about the loss, it is what it is, I expected it.

But it's the way these Miami Dolphins are losing that raises a red flag for me.  Week after week it's the the same mistakes, the same conservative play-calling, and the same missed opportunities that continue to hurt this young group.

I understand mistakes, they're going to happen, but at some point, they've got to be corrected.

Or else you just become a broken record.

49ers beat Dolphins 27-13

Dolphins had their chance, just like they have so many times this season, but once again came up short.

After an Anthony Fasano TD, and a 49ers three and out, the Fins failed to tie the game, stalling at the San Francisco 35 yard line.

Colin Kaepernick would then have a huge TD run to seal the deal.

Too many mistakes, not enough offensive firepower, and too many missed opportunities.

Ryan Tannehill did enough today to keep the Dolphins in it, but, as the story of the season goes, it just wasn't enough.

Thank God for Jacksonville next week.

Miami drops to 5-8 on the season.

49ers lead Dolphins 20-6 to begin 4th quarter

Marcus Thigpen's fumble led to a Niner TD to begin the third quarter.

The Fins would respond with a FG.

Defense came to play today.

Offense, however, has been stagnant.

The 49ers have scored to begin the fourth quarter after a 13 play drive.

Not looking good.

49ers lead Dolphins 6-3 at halftime

This one has been one of the hardest hitting defensive battles I've seen in a long time.

And that plays right into Miami's favor.

Cameron Wake recorded three sacks in the first half, Jared Odrick has played well, and the Fins secondary, as usual, has been shaky.

Offensively, Ryan Tannehill has been efficient, going 10-14 for 104 yards.

The Fins get the ball to begin the second half.

Lets go there now.

Fins, Niners scoreless after first quarter

The Dolphins have played solid football thus far.

Ryan Tannehill has been sharp, as had Davone Bess. They currently have the ball inside the 49ers 15 yard line.

Cameron Wake has two sacks, and the defense has looked impressive all day.

To the 2nd

Fins, 49ers ready to go; the inactives

Fins are Niners are about 20 minutes from kickoff.

The inactives for Miami are Pat Devlin, Michael Coe, Josh Kaddu, PatrickBrown, Michael Egnew, Jimmy Wilson, and Kyle Miller.

The Fins are in all white. The 49ers in their red and gold.

Beautiful day in the Bay Area! Live blog starts soon, so follow it.

And, as always, Go Fins!

Gameday: 5 keys to a Dolphins victory PLUS prediction

It's gameday here at the Dolphinsider, as the Fins and 49ers are about three hours away from kickoff out in San Francisco.  Until then, take a look at what I think are five keys to a Dolphins win today, plus, my prediction.  Enjoy.


1. Contain Colin Kaepernick.  I wrote about this earlier this week, and it's pretty simple, when the Fins play mobile QB's, they have not done well this season.  Andrew Luck, Jake Locker, Russell Wilson and Ryan Fitzpatrick all had success against the Dolphins defense because they all make plays with their legs.  Today will be no different with Kaepernick.  The Fins must contain him if they hope to win.

2.  Ryan Tannehill must be accurate.  Last week we saw the bad side of Tannehill, as his accuracy was off for a good part of the afternoon.  That led to missed opportunities all over the place, especially on that first quarter overthrow to Brian Hartline that would have been a sure fire TD.  Tannehill cannot afford to miss opportunities today, not against this 49ers defense, because he may only get one or two.

3.  Make a special play on special teams.  Surprisingly, this was the downfall of the Dolphins last week, with the muffed snap by P Brandon Field, and the roughing the kicker by Jimmy Wilson.  Today, the Fins are going to need a spark in this area, especially because I don't see the offense scoring a lot of points.  Whether it's a blocked punt, a kick return for TD, or even a surprise onside kick, the Fins must look for a big play today from their special teams.

4.  Run Reggie, Run.  This will be asking a lot, especially given that the 49ers rank 3rd at stopping the run, but if the Fins are to pull of this upset, it will be crucial that Reggie Bush make some big plays on the ground.  He's been looking better the last couple weeks, and could take a big load of Ryan Tannehill's shoulders if he can open up some passing lanes by running the ball effectively.

5.  Make the plays on the "money down."  This is what players refer to third downs as in this league, the "money down."  Why?  Because this is the most crucial play of every series, and this is where these guys make the big bucks, both offensively and defensively.  The Fins, specifically Ryan Tannehill, have been terrible this season on this down, as he's thrown only one TD and six INT's.  He must find a way to correct this today, because you can only have so many three and outs until the game gets out of hand.  Defensively, it's pretty simple, GET OFF THE FIELD!


PREDICTION

I'm teetering on picking the upset here, because this is the kind of game the Dolphins like.  What do I mean by that?  I mean that this will be the most physical game of the year for the Fins, and that's playing into their strengths.  They love these type of games, it's the other games, the finesse, speed type of games that they tend to lose. But not the physical ones, because, say what you want about them, these Dolphins do not get pushed around.  However, it's still a road game against an angry 49ers team, and as much as that scares me, just imagine Ryan Tannehill back there without his pro bowl LT... YIKES

Final: Dolphins 14 49ers 24


Remember to check back in right before kickoff for any last minute news, including the inactives.

And, as always, follow the live blog throughout the game.

Until then, GO FINS!

Week 14 in the NFL: picks and predictions

Gotta have a big bounce back week, lets do it.

Last week's record: 7-8

Overall record: 110-70-1


St. Louis @ Buffalo:  Both teams are still "mathematically" in the playoff picture, but lets be honest, these guys are playing for pride the rest of the way.  I like what Jeff Fisher has done in St. Louis, but I don't go against Buffalo at home in December.  Give me the Bills.

Baltimore @ Washington:  RGIII had a big time win on Monday to vault the Skins back into the playoff picture, while Joe Flacco got outplayed by Charlie Batch.  These are to teams going in opposite directions, and I like that to continue this week with another big Redskins win.

Philadelphia @ Tampa Bay:  Andy Reid named Nick Foles the starter for the remainder of the season earlier this week.  Unfortunately, I think it's to late for the embattled head coach.  As for this game, I'm going Buccaneers all the way.

San Diego @ Pittsburgh:  Even if Big Ben wasn't playing I'd probably still pick the Steelers.  The fact is, the Chargers just aren't very good.  Is the Norv Turner era FINALLY done?  Regardless, I'm going Pittsburgh.

Chicago @ Minnesota:  If I were to ask you where the Bears rank offensively, I bet you wouldn't say 30th, would you?  I'm still not sold on this Chicago team, and with the Vikings at home this week I like them for the upset.

Atlanta @ Carolina:  Weren't the Panthers supposed to be playoff bound this year?  I can tell you who is, the Falcons, and that's who I'm taking tomorrow.

Dallas @ Cincinnati:  This is going to be a fun one from Cincinnati, as both teams are in the thick of the playoff race, and both are coming off big time wins.  I think the Bengals are hot at the right time, and I'll take them in a signature win at home.

Kansas City @ Cleveland:  Brady Quinn put on a heroic performance a week ago, and I like that to continue in his return to Cleveland.  Give me the Chiefs.

Tennessee @ Indianapolis:  Boy, this Andrew Luck kid is special.  Don't ask me to go against him, especially at home.  I'm going Colts all the way.

N.Y. Jets@ Jacksonville:  Well, that was a short lived benching for Mark Sanchez, huh?  In another installment of the battle of mediocre QB's, I'll take Henne over Sanchez.  Give me the Jags.

New Orleans @ N.Y. Giants:  Drew Brees is coming off a FIVE interception performance last Thursday night in Atlanta, while Eli and the Giants are fighting for their playoff lives after a road loss in Washington.  I like New York to bounce back this week, and get back on course for January football.  If they don't win tomorrow, they could be in serious trouble.

Arizona @ Seattle:  The Cardinals haven't won a football game in two months.  Enough said.  Give me the Seahawks.

Detroit @ Green Bay:  Intriguing matchup here on Sunday night, and even though the Lions have drastically underachieved this year, I still like them to give the Packers a run for their money.  However, Aaron Rodgers, as usual, finds a way to get it done at home.  Give me Green Bay.

Houston @ New England:  Easily the game of the week on Monday night, and quite possibly an AFC Championship preview, no?  Tom Brady did not look good last week, and will have his hands full again for this one, as the Texans defense ranks 6th in the league.  However, something tells me Brady and Belichick get it done at home, but it's cloooooooose.  Give me the Pats.


Check back tomorrow for all your Miami Dolphins pre-game coverage, including my prediction, as the Fins and Niners kick things off at 4:05 from Candlestick park.

And, as always, follow the live, quarter by quarter blog, of the game.

Until then, Go Fins!

The 49ers one weakness Miami must expose (but with caution); other news

Did some researching this week, and found out that the almighty San Francisco 49ers do, in-fact, carry a bit of baggage with them.

Where?

The pass blocking.  Through 12 games this year the 49ers rank near the bottom of the league in sacks allowed, giving up 34 sacks and 52 QB hits.  To put just how high that is into perspective, teams such as the Carolina Panthers, Kansas Chiefs, and Oakland Raiders all rank ahead of the 49ers in this category.

This is where I believe Miami must focus most of its defensive efforts this week. However, with that being said, they must proceed with caution as well.  Why? Because that new guy behind center, Kaepernick I believe, yeah, he can run.  And so far this season, mobile QB's have KILLED this defense.

Andrew Luck makes plays with his feet, and he was unstoppable.

Jake Locker makes plays with his feet, and he handed the Dolphins their worse loss in decades.

Russell Wilson was a NIGHTMARE a couple weeks ago.

Heck, even Ryan Fitzpatrick gave this defense fits with his legs.

The Dolphins have not performed well against mobile QB's!  In-fact, they had their best defensive game IN MONTHS last week against Tom Brady, of all people, because he doesn't have that added element.  The result of that?  Four sacks, and no big QB scrambles (or any for that matter).

Defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle has to put together a gameplan that a) exposes this vulnerable 49ers pass protection, but b) also doesn't allow the second year QB the freedom to run at will, like so many mobile QB's this season have.

My point? Even though the 49ers given up a lot of sacks, It must be approached with caution, because if you don't take Colin Kaepernick down, it's off to the races.

And the Fins rarely win a race like that.


Other Notes:

• Rookie RT Jonathan Martin will make his first start of the season this Sunday at LT, filling in for Jake Long, who was placed on IR Monday with a triceps injury.  Martin, however, has played LT all of his career, until being moved over to the right side this season.

• According to the Miami Herald, The Dolphins are not optimistic that nickel cornerback Jimmy Wilson will be able to play Sunday. Wilson has missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday and is not expected to work on Friday, either.  His replacement will most likely be Bryan McCann, who played last week against the Patriots. McCann has been on the roster for about a month.

• Joe Philbin on Colin Kaepernick, just in case you didn't quite believe me: "The discipline of our rush games have to be there," Philbin said. "Our success is going to come from keeping (Kaepernick) contained."

Until next time, adios.

Long placed on injured reserve; Fins sign Brown

Jake Long was placed on injured reserve today after suffering a left triceps injury Sunday against New England.

This means his 2012 season is officially over.  And, unfortunately, his career as a Miami Dolphin could be effectively over as well.  Long will be a free agent this offseason and the team has yet to say whether or not he will be resigned.

This is a huge blow to an already shaky Miami offensive line, especially when they have the 49ers coming up, who pose one of the strongest defensive units in the NFL.

Short term, you have to imagine rookie Jonathan Martin will take over for Long at LT. That's where Martin played at all of his college career until this season, when he moved over to the right side.

Long term?  Who knows.  Long could be resigned to a long term deal.  The Dolphins could place the franchise tag on him for a year.  Or, what I fear most, they could let him walk.

Only time will tell.

In other news, the Fins did sign offensive tackle Patrick Brown and safety Tyrone Culver today.  Culver, as you might remember, was a member of the team for the past three seasons.  The Fins also cut CB Anderson Russell today.

Miami Dolphins lack of weapons on offense more glaring than ever; Long's season over?

Statistically, Ryan Tannehill is having a poor rookie campaign.  He's thrown only 7 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and has one of the worst QB ratings in the league at 72.3.

But anybody who's watched Tannehill this season knows that he's showed signs of being that franchise QB this team has lacked for over a decade.

He's poised, in command, confident, and knows this offense better than anybody else on it.

So why is he, statistically, so far behind the likes of Andrew Luck, RGIII, and Russell Wilson?  It's actually quite simple..

They all have playmakers surrounding them.

Tannehill, bluntly, does not.

Let's look at Andrew Luck.  He's got one of the best wide receivers in the game in Reggie Wayne to throw to.  He's got a rookie weapon in T.Y. Hilton to throw to.  Heck, I'll even throw in rookie TE Colby Fleener, who's battled a injuries all season, but when healthy, is still a weapon for Luck.

What about RGIII?  Well, for starters, he's got WR Santana Moss, who only has 7 TD's this year.  He's got rookie RB Alfred Morris, who will probably eclipse the 1,000 yard mark tonight, and already has 6 TD's.  And he's got Pierre Garcon, who, much like Fleener, has battled injuries all season, but when on the field, is yet another option for the rookie QB.

Russell Wilson?  He's got them all around.  Sydney Rice is having a monster year with 7 TD's.  Marshawn Lynch is already nearing 1200 yards.  Golden Tate has turned into the weapon most thought he would be out of college, putting up 7 TD's on the season. Heck, he's even got a polished veteran at TE in Zach Miller.

And now, we look at the arsenal around Ryan Tannehill.  Yes, he's got Reggie Bush, but aside from him, the weapons are sparse.  No disrespect to Davone Bess or Brian Hartline, both are fine receivers, but are they going to change a game like, say, a Reggie Wayne, or a Santana Moss, or a Sydney Rice will?

I don't think so.

Let me put it to you like this, when your number one receiver in Brian Hartline only has one TD on the season, you've got serious problems.

My point?  The Dolphins don't have a game changer.  They don't have somebody who can make a big play out of a five yard catch (like Brandon Marshall), or catch every pass, good or bad, thrown his way (like Reggie Wayne), or stretch the field (like Santana Moss).

They have one really solid number two receiver in Brian Hartline, and one of the better slot receivers in the game in Davone Bess.

And don't get me started on Anthony Fasano.  His time is waaaaaaaaaaay past due here in Miami.  Did he even play yesterday?

And then, of course, they've got Reggie Bush.  Who, I may add, could very possibly not be with this team next season.

If the Miami Dolphins want Ryan Tannehill to blossom into this franchise QB, and, as I've said time and time again, I think he can, then they absolutely need to surround him with the pieces to do that.

James Jones comes to mind.  Did you see that catch he made in the endzone yesterday for Aaron Rodgers?  That ball is either intercepted or incomplete if Ryan Tannehill throws it.  But Jones has done it time and time again this year, as he's already hauled in 9 TD's.

Greg Jennings comes to mind.  The 29 year old will be a free agent next season, and I fully expect the Fins to take a look at him.

USC wide receiver Robert Woods comes to mind.

Heck, I'll even throw in Tennessee WR Justin Hunter.

This offense is severely lacking a play maker, a game changer, a weapon, and if Ryan Tannehill is to become that franchise QB everybody, including myself, has envisioned, then GM Jeff Ireland has to at least give him a chance to do so.

Because if you have playmakers to turn to, then you're really not that far off from playing in January.

Just ask Russell Wilson, RGIII, and Andrew Luck.


JAKE LONG UPDATE

Long left yesterday's game in the first quarter with a triceps injury, and did not return. Reports coming out of Miami have not been good, and, even though the team has yet to officially announce anything, it appears Long's season is over.

A team source told Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald today that Jake Long is "probably" out for the remainder of the season, and it would be a surprise to the team if he's not.

With Long facing free agency next season, one has to wonder if yesterday was his final game in a Dolphins uniform.


Until next time, adios.

Patriots outlast Dolphins 23-16

The offense was just simply not good enough today.

With the exception of two Miami drives, the unit did nothing. Ryan Tannehill had his moments, but was off for most of the day, and the Fins dropped this one 23-13.

Defensively, Miami gave the Pats all they had, sacking Brady four times on the day, and intercepting him for only the fourth tile this year, but still, it wasn't enough.

The Fins made it interesting at the end, driving down the field quickly and hitting a 42 yard field goal with 31 seconds to play, but failed to recover the onside kick.

The Patriots clinched the AFC East with the win.

The Fins drop to 5-7 and will head out to San Francisco next week.

More to come.

Patriots holding 17-10 lead after third quarter

All you can ask of this Miami team is to keep it close till the end, and they've done that today.

The defense has been spectacular, as both teams have traded multiple punts in the third quarter.

The Fins offense must get it together if they are to win this game, as the defense can only hold Tom Brady for so long.

To the fourth.

Patriots lead Dolphins 17-10 at halftime

Well, all things considered, it could be A LOT worse for the Miami Dolphins.

In a half filled with penalties, miscues, and missed opportunities, the Fins went 80 yards and 12 plays to end the half with a Ryan Tannehill TD to pull the Fins within 7.

The defense has held it's own against Tom Brady, even intercepting him for the first time in weeks.

The offense has found a groove with their running game.

Pats get the ball to begin the third quarter.

Lets go their now.

Pats lead Fins 7-0 after first quarter

It was not the start the Fins were looking for.

After a three and out, Brandon Fields couldn't handle the snap, giving the Patriots the ball inside the Dolphins 20.

Steven Ridley would punch it in to out the Pats up.

However, the Fins would pick off Tom Brady, only have to the ensuing TD return by Reshad Jones called back on penalty.

Miami would take over and kick a field goal to close out the quarter.

To the 2nd.

Fins, Pats set to renew AFC East rivalry; the inactives

Kickoff is just about an hour away from steamy Sun Life Stadium.

Dolphins Inactives are P. Devlin, J. Amaya, J. Kaddu, W. Yeatman, M. Egnew, K. Miller, and K. Randall.

Patriots inactives are TE Gronkowski, DE Jones, LG Mankins, TE Shiancoe, RB Develin, OL Petrus, and DB Martin.

Fins are in all white. Pats in the navy and gray.

Live blog starts with the first quarter, so follow along.

Go Fins!

Gameday: Seven players to watch today PLUS prediction

It is gameday here at the Dolphinsider as the Patriots and Dolphins are just a few hours away from kicking it off in South Florida.  Until then, take a look at who I think should be watched closely for both teams today, and, as always, I'll offer up my prediction on the game.

Enjoy.


1) Watch out for Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez.  The third year man out of Florida has been on and off the field for most of the year due to injury, but don't let that fool you, he's still a force to be reckoned with when healthy.  The Fins have ALWAYS struggled with tight ends, and you can bet Bill Belichick knows this. Expect Hernandez to play a big role in this game.

2) Watch out for Dolphins RB's Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas.  The Patriots run defense has been stellar this season, only letting up right around 100 yards a game on the ground, and forcing teams to become one dimensional. This cannot happen today, as the last thing you want to do is force the rookie QB to shoulder the load.  Running backs Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas will have to carry the momentum over from last weeks performance, where they nearly ran for 200 yards against Seattle, and keep it going into todays' game if the Fins are to be successful.

3) Watch out for Patriots WR Wes Welker.  The former Miami Dolphin has quietly put together another solid year, catching 80 passes, and nearing the 1,000 yard mark for yet another season.  Welker has always given the Fins trouble (99 yard TD ring a bell?), and must be watched closely today, especially on third downs.

4) Watch out for Dolphins TE Charles Clay.  The second year man out of Tulsa had an explosive performance a week ago, catching 6 passes for 84 yards, and a huge 29 yard TD in the fourth quarter.  Clay can be a special player in this Miami offense, as he can line up as receiver, full back, or tight end, and can pose matchup problems all day for the Patriots secondary.  Hopefully OC Mike Sherman continues using Clay like he did last week, because this could be the matchup to watch today on offense.

5) Watch out for Patriots LB Brandon Spikes.  The former University of Florida standout has put together another solid season, and is tied for 4th in league in fumbles caused with five through the first 11 games.  Who is he tied with?  Teammate Rob Ninkovich.  Yikes.  Spikes has a knack for finding the football, and with Reggie Bush known to cough one up from time to time, don't be surprised to see this come into play today.

6) Watch out for Dolphins DE Cameron Wake.  Everything you need to know here can be found in my article I posted on Thursday.  Wake will absolutely be the difference in this game, and if the Dolphins ever needed a monster game from the for CFL standout, today would be the day.  If Wake can generate constant pressure on Brady, then expect this one to remain close all day.

No, I did not mention Tom Brady, or Ryan Tannehill, as these two should be the obvious players to watch.  But, mark my words, one of those seven up there will make a difference in this game.

Lets just hope it's the even numbers..


PREDICTION

Joe Philbin has said it all week, this game will be a true measure of where this team is at right now.  Win and you get the attention of the entire NFL, not to mention the wild card contenders.  Lose and you're essentially playing for 2013.  I don't see this being the runaway game for the Patriots like some have made it out to be, not after the Fins emotional walkoff win last Sunday.  The key will be to run the ball effectively, not turn it over, and put pressure on Tom Brady.  IF the Fins can do all these things they can absolutely win this game, but, unfortunately, those are a lot of ifs.

Final: Patriots 34 Dolphins 23


Check back in right before game time for any last minute news, including the inactives.

And, as always, follow the live, quarter by quarter, blog of today's game.

Until then, GO FINS!

Week 13 in the NFL: picks and predictions

Big week in the NFL, lets do it.

Last week's record: 10-6

Overall record: 103-62-1


Houston @ Tennessee: Chris Johnson is having a nice season for the Titans, but that defense is awful. Give me the Texans on the road.

Indianapolis @ Detroit:  The Colts seem playoff bound, but I'm still not completely sold. Give me the Lions, especially that offense, to slow down the Andrew Luck train.

Jacksonville @ Buffalo:  Really?  Chad Henne?  The former Fins QB has revived his career over the last two weeks, and seems to be the lock in starter for next season. However, nobody knows "Robot Chad" like us Dolphin fans, and I don't see him keeping it up.  Give me the Bills at home.

Seattle @ Chicago:  This is a big test for Russell Wilson, especially coming off a loss. The rookie QB has guided the 'Hawks to some big wins this season, but, unfortunately, most of them came at home. The kid's on the road here, and I think that leads to a Bears victory.

San Francisco @ St. Louis:  These two played themselves into a tie just a few weeks ago, and the 49ers have been the talk of the NFL ever since, mainly due to 2nd year QB Colin Kaepernick.  The kid earned his third straight start this week, and I think he keeps it up in a big road win in St. Louis.  Give me San Francisco.

Minnesota @ Green Bay:  The Vikings benefited from a soft first half schedule this season, but have struggled of late, dropping three of their last four games, and tinkering on the edge of .500.  I don't see them going on the road and beating Aaron Rodgers, especially after that performance last week in New York.  Give me the Packers.

Carolina @ Kansas City:  This will be an emotional Kansas City team tomorrow, as they will be just 24 hours removed from the tragic murder-suicide of LB Jovan Belcher. I think they'll play hard, but I don't see it being enough against a suddenly revived Cam Newton.  Give me the Panthers.

Arizona @ N.Y. Jets:  These two teams are pitiful, I'm not wasting space.  Give me the Jets.

Tampa Bay @ Denver:  Peyton Manning and company haven't lost a game since that Oct. 7th loss in New England.  In that time span, they've won six in a row, and, besides last week, have put up 30+ points in every game.  The Bucs are coming off a crushing one point loss to Atlanta, but are still in the thick of the NFC wild card race, and could end that six game winning streak.  However, I don't see it.  Give me the Broncos at home.

Cleveland @ Oakland:  Again, not wasting space.  Raiders.

Cincinnati @ San Diego:  A must win game for Norv Turner in December- what else is new?  The Chargers playoff hopes took a devastating hit in last week's OT loss, as they now sit at 4-7 and two games out of the playoff picture.  Sitting in their way?  The Bengals, who have won three in a row.  This will be a good one out west, but I'll take the Chargers in a desperation win.

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore:  Hey Charlie Batch, did you think that Cleveland defense was tough?  Well, that was nothing.  Even with Big Ben I'd take the Ravens here, I think they're just the better team, especially at home.

Philadelphia @ Dallas:  That Monday night performance was nothing short of disgusting.  The secondary is terrible, the QB is raw, and Andy Reid's days are numbered.  Give me the Cowboys at home.

N.Y. Giants @ Washington:  Well, I guess that puts an end to all that "Eli's got a dead arm" talk, doesn't it?  The Giants are back, and what we saw on Sunday night was scary.  RGIII will keep the Skins in it, but I don't see it being enough in this NFC East rivalry.  Give me the Giants in a good one.


Check back in tomorrow morning for all your Miami Dolphins pre-game coverage, including my prediction.  And, as always, follow the live, quarter by quarter blog, of the game.

Until then, Go Fins!

Cameron Wake can be the difference on Sunday

Cameron Wake has played in six career games against the Patriots, dating back to his first in 2009.  However, in those six games, Wake has only recorded four sacks, and hasn't recorded a multiple sack game yet.

If the Dolphins are to win on Sunday, this must change.

Tom Brady has only been sacked 15 times this year, that's good for second best in the league behind Eli Manning, and has only been hit 36 times, which has him tied for first, again with Manning.

My point?  Tom Brady rarely has to clean his jersey.  Hence his 24 TD's and only 3 INT's.  Hence his 105.2 QB rating.  Hence his 8-3 record.

Get my drift?

If Miami wants to have a chance in this one, Cameron Wake, and the rest of the defensive line for that matter, must come out to play Sunday.  But lets focus on Wake right now, because not only does his 9.5 sacks have him 5th in the NFL, but he'll also be going up against a) a banged up Sebastian Vollmer or b) second year backup Marcus Cannon.

Wake must take advantage of either, because he could make a difference in this game.  Lets say he puts on another performance like he did in week four against Arizona, when he recorded 4.5 sacks.

Now, feel a little better about this one?

I don't expect Wake to do that, don't get me wrong, when the man is on he's unstoppable, but if he can even record, say, 2-3 sacks, then this game could change in a hurry.  On top of that, Wake, along with the rest of the Miami defensive line, must constantly put pressure on Brady.  From the first snap, to the last, this Miami front four must be in the backfield, because if the Fins are forced to blitz, the 13th year man out of Michigan will pick them apart.

Look at last December, when the Fins lost to the Pats 27-24, but were up 17-0 at halftime.  Tom Brady was sacked two times in that first half, but more importantly, was constantly under pressure and had little time to throw.  In the second half, while the Fins did record two sacks, the pressure on Brady was significantly less, and the pro bowler led the Pats to 27 unanswered points en route to the win.

If you want to beat this offense, the key is winning the battle up front, and on Sunday, Cam Wake is going to have to take the lead on this.  He'll be going up against either a banged up Sebastian Vollmer, or second year back up in Marcus Cannon, so the opportunity will be there, Wake just has to take it.

Lets hope for the Dolphins sake he does.

How do you beat the Patriots? Run the ball, create turnovers, and stay on the field

There's no sugar-coating it- the Dolphins have a MONUMENTAL task in-front of them on Sunday.

The Patriots are about as hot as you can get right now, winning five in a row, and scoring a ridiculous 219 points in the process (that's a 43.8 average).  Tom Brady is playing like, well, Tom Brady, and their defense/special teams have scored EIGHT touchdowns this season; not to mention their plus 24 turnover ratio, which is easily best in the league.

So, can the Dolphins, who are currently a seven point underdog at home, pull off the nearly unthinkable upset?  Sure they can, any given Sunday, right?  A win on Sunday will seriously turn the Fins into January contenders, and will most certainly grab the attention of the rest of the league.

However, after looking back at past victories over the Patriots (it didn't take that long, they've only had two since 2008), it's become clear to me that Miami must follow some guidelines if they are to pull off the... "unpullable."


1)  Keep that offense off the field!  Think of it like this, the Fins must play defense on offense.  Convert third downs, throw a couple of those 13-14 play drives together, and do not, DO NOT, turn the ball over.  In the only two wins Miami has had over New England since 2008, they've won the time of possession and turnover battle each time. See a trend?  Even the great Tom Brady can't beat you from the bench, can he?

2)  Run, run, run the ball.  This one goes hand in hand with number one, but only if you run it effectively.  In previous years, that wouldn't be an issue against the Patriots defense, but that's not the case this year, as the unit ranks 9th against the run.  In both the 2008 and 2009 wins, the Fins ran the ball for nearly 100 yards or more each time. In their "birth of the wildcat" win in 2008, the Fins ran wild, racking up over 200 yards on the ground.  No, I don't expect that same production here by any means, but if the Fins are to control the ball and win the game, their running game must put up anywhere from 120-180 yards on the ground.

3)  Create turnovers on defense.  This will be a huge challenge on Sunday for the Miami Dolphins, as Tom Brady isn't exactly the giving type.  The future hall of famer has been picked off three times in 421 attempts, THREE!  In-fact, his career low is four in 2010, so he has a legitimate shot at topping that this season.  The Fins have been working on fumbles all week in practice, and with good cause, because that may be their only chance at a turnover.  Back in 2009 the Fins won the turnover battle, picking off Brady twice, with one of those coming in the endzone.  They also won the turnover battle in their 2008 victory, however, I don't put too much into that because Brady was injured.

My point?  If you want to beat the Patriots, you must find a way keep them off the field, and that means you must create turnovers.  Gulp.

This will by far be the toughest task of the year for the Miami Dolphins, but the Patriots can be beat.

Like Joe Philbin said, it's just going to take a near perfect game to do it.