This wasn't supposed to be a big game, not this year, no way. This game wasn't supposed to have playoff implications, not in a million years. This was supposed to be a game geared towards the future, towards next year, but not this year, not this January.
Ryan Tannehill wasn't supposed to start this year, and he definitely wasn't supposed to do well. The Dolphins weren't supposed to have four wins already by November- that was supposed to be their final tally come January. Same goes for the Colts. They were supposed to be in a Peyton Manning hangover, not an Andrew Luck buzz.
This game was meant to be meaningless! One, maybe two wins tops were all these teams were supposed to have at this point. They shouldn't be holding playoff spots today; they should be holding down the cellar.
The Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts haven't arrived yet by any means, but boy, are they ahead of schedule.
And that may just be the understatement of the year.
If the playoffs started today, these two teams, scratch that, these two rookie QB led teams, would represent the AFC's fifth and sixth seed in the playoffs. Think about that for a second; just let that marinate. If you saw this coming, and I mean honestly saw this coming, then I want to talk to you, because we could make some serious money in the future.
All of a sudden, this preseason snoozer of a game will have everybody wide awake on Sunday. There are story lines every which way you look. Andrew Luck vs Ryan Tannehill (and I include this one because I expect Tannehill to play as of right now), for starters, will be the battle within the war, not only on Sunday, but for years to come. What both Luck and Tannehill have done this year has been nothing short of sensational.
Both have taken over teams coming off losing seasons (and in Tannehill's case, a losing decade), and have them both in the playoffs right now, playing at a higher level then most, including myself, expected. Both were drafted in the top ten, Luck at number one, and Tannehill at number eight, and both are legitimate rookie of the year candidates.
Intriguing story line, no?
How about this for a good one- Ryan Tannehill playing through a hyperextended knee and thigh bruise in a huge conference game. Sort of Marino-esque, isn't it? This kid has done it all this year. He's taken control of an NFL offense after only 19 college starts. He's gained the respect of the locker room, the coaching staff, and the entire league. He's been smart, accurate, timely, and, most importantly, poised. Now, assuming he plays Sunday, it's time to add on to that impressive first year resume. Play through the injury, do it effectively, and win a big game for your football team. Do that, Mr. Tannehill, and you'll have something really special brewing in Miami.
But lets not forget about the biggest story line of all- the implications. One team will leave this game at 5-3, a little more separated from the pack then when they got there, and in a relatively comfortable playoff position. The other team will drop back to .500, and join the majority of the AFC at 4-4.
The winner of this game has an essential two game lead over the other if a tiebreaker scenario had to come into play in December, and with the way this year is going, and with the schedules these two face down the road, that's a distinct possibility.
The implications, playoff implications, in this one, are huge, folks. Like I said earlier this year, if the Fins continue to win, and they have, then every game starting in November will grow in importance.
Well, it's November 1st. Does this one sound important?
"We all know whats at stake," Matt Moore told the media yesterday.
Between Ryan Tannehill's injury, the battle with Andrew Luck, and the final two playoff spots, I'd say Moore is spot on. There's plenty at stake in this one.
Welcome to the show, Miami and Indianapolis.
You're taking center stage this weekend.
Ready or not.
No comments:
Post a Comment