It's been a pretty busy week for the Miami Dolphins, as the team continues to prepare for their HUGE matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This game is big, folks.
Bigger than any game we've seen all year. I'll even argue with you and say this is the biggest game the Miami Dolphins have played in a while.
This is their chance to make that leap. Playoff teams WIN this game, plain and simple.
Don't tell me it's on the road, in hostile territory, in the snow, against a Hall Of Fame QB.
Don't.
Those are excuses. Mediocre teams make those. Playoff teams DO NOT.
This is Ryan Tannehill's chance to prove he can play with the big boys and Joe Philbin's chance to prove he can coach with the big boys.
Ben Roethlisberger told the South Florida media earlier this week that this is a playoff game.
You're naive if you think otherwise.
As Dannell Ellerbe said today, "it's one of those games you have to buckle your chinstrap."
If you have a seatbelt, I'd buckle that as well.
CHARLES CLAY A MONSTER?
CB Ike Davis joined the Finsiders yesterday and gave some serious love to TE Charles Clay:
"He's a monster. They feature him. In certain situations he gets featured. You know, we can talk about 11 (Mike Wallace) and 82 (Brian Hartlin), but in a lot of clutch, crucial situations, 42 (Clay) is gonna get featured."
Clay's had a breakout season, and has formed a nice chemistry with Ryan Tannehill. He caught 7 passes for 80 yards last week, and already has career highs in catches (51), yards (581) and TD's (4).
Davis is absolutely right. Look for another big day from Clay on Sunday.
IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS
Ah, the NFL in December. Here's a look at the forecast for Pittsburgh on Sunday:
30 degrees, 12 MPH winds, and a 70% chance of snow.
This is actually an IMPROVEMENT from earlier in the week, where forecasters were calling for a mix of rain and snow. Why is this outlook an upgrade? Well, take a look:
“Snow is probably last [in degree of difficulty] because it’s really not as wet or causes as many problems. Wind can be a pain in the butt because ball location changes really quickly. Rain, it depends because if it’s soaking wet, it’s maybe not as bad because you can adjust. When it’s hot then it rains and things get greasy, that can be tough. Cold is just a mindset.”
That was WR Brian Hartline, who played college ball in Ohio and grew up in the Cleveland area, so he knows a thing or two about December football.
KR Marcus Thigpen agreed with Hartline, and WR Mike Wallace, who played four years in Pittsburgh, added this:
"I never thought that because I was playing on it every week, so it didn’t make much of a different to me. The grass comes up a lot. It’s soft grass. You’ve got to be ready for it."
The wind will be a problem. Rain would be a problem.
But as far as that white stuff is concerned?
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
Another week, another day of scoreboard watching around the NFL.
Here's how the Dolphins can re-take that 6th seed from the Baltimore Ravens. Brace yourselves, it's a lot to process:
Miami Wins AND
Baltimore loses to Minnesota
That's it, folks. Pretty straightforward this week.
I'll have your week 13 viewer guide coming up tomorrow, so make sure to come back for that.
The wait is ALMOST over.
Two. Days.
No comments:
Post a Comment