Lewis, Smith Standing In Between Fins And Playoffs; Game Plan Won't Change

Apologies for the short hiatus as I've been traveling and such for the last 48 hours.

BUT don't get too concerned, because, like Thad Lewis, I'm back.

Wait, what?

That's right, in case you STILL haven't heard, Dolphin killer Thad Lewis will be back behind center come Sunday for the Buffalo Bills.

You know, the Thad Lewis that somehow beat the Miami Dolphins back in week 7?

The Thad Lewis that helped Buffalo convert 9-19 third downs?

The Thad Lewis that took a punishing third down hit on the final drive, still completed the pass, and drew a penalty that set up Dan Carpenter's game winning FG?

Yes, all those things DID happen some two months ago.

HOWEVER, that was a completely different Miami Dolphins team.

Ryan Tannehill was no where near the QB he is today.  The defense has tightened up (even though they still struggle with the run), and has learned how to finish games.  The wide receivers know how to break tackles and make plays now.  Charles Clay has become a household name.

Yes, this a very different team, playing for a lot more than they were two months ago.

And, unlike two months ago, this team can now see very clearly what they need to do.

Beat Thad Lewis, a former practice squad QB turned starter, and beat Geno Smith, the rookie who completed four passes against them earlier this month, and they are in the playoffs.

That's it.

Standing in the way of the Miami Dolphins and their first postseason appearance in FIVE years is THAD LEWIS, and GENO SMITH.

You know who's standing in Baltimore's way?

Tom Brady and Andy Dalton.

No pity party for you, Miami.  If YOU don't get in, you have nobody to blame but yourselves.

If you CAN'T beat Thad Lewis and Geno Smith, after beating guys like Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers, and even Andrew Luck, then, quite frankly, you don't deserve the playoffs.

If you let Thad Lewis beat you TWICE in a season, then you don't deserve the playoffs.

Remember that article I wrote two weeks ago?  That message to the Miami Dolphins?

FINISH THE JOB.

Don't let Thad and Geno stand in your way.


NO MANUEL, NO DIFFERENCE

Now, despite everything I just said, inserting Thad Lewis into the lineup really won't change much in this game.

The game plan has always been, and will always be, stop the run, and keep Ryan Tannehill upright.

Do those two things and you're leaving Buffalo with a win.  It's that simple.

The Bills lead the NFL with 49 sacks through 14 games, and, if you remember, it was Mario Williams' sack of Ryan Tannehill that cost Miami the football game back in October.

That sack led to a fumble, which gave the ball back to Buffalo, that led to a Dan Carpenter FG with 30 seconds left.

That front four is scary good, and keeps them in a lot of football games.  Thad Lewis, EJ Manuel, or Jim Kelly, it really doesn't matter.

What does matter is keeping Ryan Tannehill upright.  That's the challenge.  Not the QB.

How about the running game?  Yeah, that running game, the one that ranks 4th in the NFL with nearly 140 yards a game.

Now, the Miami defense did a nice job of containing it in the first matchup, holding Tashard Choice and Fred Jackson to only 90 yards.

But remember, CJ Spiller was hurt for that game.  He tried to go, but wasn't nearly 100%.  Well, Miami won't be that lucky this time as Buffalo's biggest threat is good to go this week.

This run defense struggles.  I don't know why, but they do.  You saw it early on last week.  You've seen it, at some point, every week.

Again, it doesn't matter who the QB WAS going to be, this is a run first offense regardless.

Stop the run.  Force Thad Lewis to beat you, AGAIN.  Don't give him any help.

The quarterbacks may have changed for this one, but the game plan certainly did not.

More to come tomorrow.