Gameday is finally here, as the Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers are a little over 3 hours away from kicking things off down in South Florida.
This will be a HUGE challenge today for the Fins, as Carolina is the hottest team in the league right now, winning SIX straight games, including Monday night's thriller over New England.
As I've told you all week, this season has come down to six games for the Miami Dolphins.
Game one is today.
To the keys:
1. Don't wait around. This Dolphins team has made a bad habit of getting off to slow starts. They did it against Tampa, Buffalo, Baltimore, and New Orleans-- which were all losses. Come out firing today against a hot Carolina team and establish momentum early on. Get the crowd involved, rattle Cam Newton, and act like a perennial playoff team.
2. Make a play on defense, special teams. For the Fins to win today, they're going to have to put up around 30 points, something they haven't done all year long. So how do they do that? Get some help from another unit! Someone MUST step up defensively today and make one of those game changing plays the really good teams make. Think Reshad Jones against Baltimore. IT can't just stop there. Marcus Thigpen, this is for YOU. Make a play today in the return game, it's been far too long since we've seen you do so. Getting points from other units will be HUGE if the Fins are to win.
3. Contain Superman. Why is this such a bad matchup for Miami? Well, they don't exactly do great against mobile, athletic QB's like Cam Newton. Never have. It will be CRUCIAL today for this defense to find a way to keep the big guy in the pocket and not allow him to win this game with his feet. Put a spy on him, keep him at bay, and make him beat your good secondary, not your poor run defense.
PREDICTION
This is a bad matchup for Miami. Does that mean they'll lose? Not necessarily. Carolina is ripe for a letdown today, especially after a big time win like they had Monday night. Many also consider this a trap game for the Panthers, as they could find themselves looking ahead to New Orleans. With all that being said, I just can't see Miami winning today if both these teams play to their potential, because Carolina is just the better team. It'll take a really bad game from the Panthers, or a perfect game from Miami for the Fins to win, and I just don't see it.
Final: Carolina 28 Miami 20
Come back right before kickoff for any last minute news, including the inactives.
And, as always, follow the quarter by quarter blog beginning AFTER the first quarter today!
Three hours.
GO FINS
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