They teased us two years ago as well.
Flashback to week three of the 2010 season, when the then 2-0 Miami Dolphins welcomed the 1-1 New York Jets to Sun Life Stadium for a primetime battle on the National Stage. South Florida was back on the football map again, as the Fins, led by Chad Henne and Tony Sparano, had opened up the season with back to back wins on the road. We all thought they'd finally figured it out. We were talking division title, we were talking playoffs, we were talking, dare I say it, Super Bowl.
We were wrong. Very, very wrong.
The Fins lost that game. Then they lost the next one. Then, before you knew it, we were staring another losing season, 7-9, right in the eye. They sucked us in and then spit us out, something the Tony Sparano era was famous for.
Now back to the 2012 Miami Dolphins, who find themselves in a precariously similar situation. They have our attention again after Sunday's impressive win. The Jets are in town. It's week three. And yes, Tony Sparano will be in the house.
Eerily similar, no?
However, let's hope the similarities stop there. In-fact, I'm going to bring it one step further and say they MUST stop there.
Because, unfortunately, we've seen this movie before. Heck, Chad Henne was not only the original film, but the two sequels after it. This time around, for the sake of a fan base dying to see the light, things must be different.
Oh yes, Sunday's game is a big one.
Not because it's the Jets, not because these two teams are tied for the division lead, and not because Tony Sparano is on the other sideline. But because a win on Sunday shows progress. A win on Sunday shows that things are different this time around, that this organization, one which has teased us so many times before, may finally be serious this time around.
Think about what it would do for Ryan Tannehill. Think about what it would do for Joe Philbin. Think about what it would do for those empty orange seats, who week in and week out beg for some company. Two years ago fans got sucked in, we fell for it, and we, once again, were let down. It won't be that easy this time around, nor should it be. Our shell has been hardened by years of disappointment, and it's going to take more than just four quarters of winning football to break it.
This time around we need to see more. We need to see a statement win, not one that just gets our attention like last week's did.
Because we've seen this movie before.
And this time around, the Dolphins must show us that this is, in-fact, a new saga.
And not just another heartbreaking sequel.
No comments:
Post a Comment