Miami Dolphins put in position to contend with latest win

I told you two weeks ago that this last road trip would define the 2012 Miami Dolphins season.

And low and behold, it did.

I wrote to you that if the Fins came back home this week at 1-4, instead of, say, 2-3, the rest of this season could be what many predicted it would be before it even began- a rebuilding year.  And while it could very well still be that, the standings, energy, and buzz surrounding this young group out of South Florida says otherwise.

It says contention.  Now there's a word we're not used to around these parts.  Yes, folks, this young group, led by a rookie QB and rookie head coach, will be playing meaningful football games in October, and if they play their cards right, and thats still a big IF, the same could be said for Novemeber.

The schedule is begging for a Miami Dolphins run.  A run that could have that same vibe of another special Fins team- the 2008 group.  Starting this week, and running until their December 2nd matchup against the Patriots, the Fins' schedule looks like this:

St. Louis Rams

Bye week

@ N.Y. Jets

@ Indianapolis

Tennessee

@ Buffalo

Seattle

By my account, and obviously this could change, Miami should be favored in all three home games and at least one of the road games (take your pick at this point). Considering the Fins have not been favored in even one of their first five game, this carries significance.  This means, and if you follow the NFL at all this shouldn't come as a surprise, that for the next six weeks the schedule heavily favors the Dolphins. Gone are the daunting games of Houston, Arizona, and Cincinnati.  Instead, replace those with the likes of, say, Indianapolis, Tennessee, and Seattle.

Now, tell me that doesn't bring just the faintest of smiles to your faces.  No, I'm not looking past the St. Louis Rams, in-fact, I think this game could possibly be the toughest on that schedule, and I caution anybody who thinks its not.  But, lets just peer ahead for a minute.  IF the Fins can rattle off just four wins in the next six weeks, the Rams, Jets, Titans and Seahawks come to mind, then things start to become really serious.

Four wins puts Miami at 6-5 heading into one of the most daunting Decembers to date- New England twice and the 49ers.  And folks, I've said it before, 6-5 in this years' NFL has you right in the thick of it for the stretch run.  However, this magical run I'm envisioning, this 2008-esque run, must start this weekend at home.

A win on Sunday puts the Fins at .500 heading into the bye week, with momentum, and with an extra week to prepare for the Jets.  A win on Sunday, all of a sudden, has become that much bigger with this latest Fins win.

Contention.  It's a word that, at this time last year, was used by Fins fans all over in reference to the number one pick in Aprils draft.

My what a difference a year makes.

Meaningful football, if just for a few weeks, is back in Miami.