Doesn't Get Bigger Than This For Miami Dolphins

A month ago, to think these Miami Dolphins would be two days away from playing in a game of this magnitude, this late in the season, would have been a reach of epic proportions.

That's because one month ago, this once premiere organization had hit the rockiest of all bottoms.

The locker room was under a national attack.

The head coach and GM were sticking "for sale" signs up on the South Florida palm trees surrounding their houses.

And the players were fresh off a Monday night debacle in Tampa Bay.

This team was toast.  The season was over.  The franchise, a laughing stock.

And then, something funny happened.  Something you only see in sports.  Something so unprecedented, so unpredictable, that it almost wasn't believable.

This team, amid a national scandal that made you afraid to turn the TV on in the morning, began to gel.

It started with a defensive stand against San Diego, you know, that team that just beat Peyton Manning?

Then it was the rout in New York, where these scandalous group of men bullied Geno and the Jets from the word go.

Finally, you had the near miracle in Pittsburgh, where a snowy, 34 point offensive outburst was nearly undone by a series of laterals that will forever live in Dolphins lore.

Everybody had buried the Miami Dolphins.

Except, well, the Miami Dolphins.

So now here they sit, winners of three of their last four, above .500 for the first time since October, and 48 hours away from the biggest game this franchise has seen in years.

What a difference 30 days can make.

But, as Joe Philbin loves to say, there is still work left to be done.

Plenty of it.

Work like beating Tom Brady for the first time in 4 years.  Work like beating Bill Belichick for only the third time since 2008.  Work like overcoming years of second half meltdowns and blown leads.

17-3 ring a bell?

Boston's own Pedro Martinez once called the Yankees his "daddy."  If that was the case with Pedro, then what are Bill Belichick and Tom Brady to the Miami Dolphins?

Pedro would later overcome New York, on the most pivotal of all stages.

Can Ryan Tannehill and Joe Philbin do the same on Sunday?

Make no mistake about it, for the Miami Dolphins, it doesn't get any bigger than this.

The New England Patriots could very well be the only thing standing in the way of the Dolphins and their first postseason birth in five years.

Think about that for a second.

After all this team has been through- a three game winning streak, a four game losing streak, a national controversy, and a snowy miracle- the only thing standing in their way now is, as Bostonians would say, the friggin' Patriots.

And you know what, doesn't it have to be this way?

Shouldn't it be the Patriots?  If the Miami Dolphins ARE truly back, if Ryan Tannehill and Joe Philbin have really, honestly turned this thing around, then what better way to prove it?

For years the Miami Dolphins have waited for this chance.  This team was built some nine months ago for this very moment, on this very stage.

And make no mistake about it, this is a big stage.

Sun Life Stadium will be sold out.  No orange seats for this one!

CBS is sending their A team.  Tickets are priced in the triple digits.  Heck, even today the grounds crew painted the end zone in Miami Dolphins aqua for the first time, well, ever.

This is the game of the week around the NFL.  Ask yourselves, Dolfans, how many times have you said that in the last decade?

Can Ryan Tannehill out-duel a legend?

Can Joe Phibin out-coach one?

Can the Miami Dolphins finish what they started some six weeks ago?

So many questions.  So many unknowns.  So much excitement for a game that, 30 days ago, would have given South Floridians nightmares.

But not anymore.  Not after the latest reclamation project.

For the first time in a while, South Florida is sleeping soundly.

For now.

That could all change soon.  After all, "daddy" does get home on Sunday.  It's time for the Miami Dolphins to face the music, once and for all.

It doesn't get any bigger than this.

Dol-fans Should Have Vested Interest In TNF; Pouncey Back From Boston; Thursday Injury Report

Big game tonight, folks.

I'll be watching, mostly because I have Philip Rivers on my fantasy team and I'm going against Peyton Manning.

But also because, as I've told you before, San Diego could very well play a big part in getting the Dolphins into the post season.

Right now the Chargers sit at 6-7, one game, but technically two, behind the Dolphins. As I told you earlier this week, it's in Miami's best interest for San Diego to keep winning and possibly get to 9-7.

Why?  Well, assuming both Baltimore and the Dolphins are 9-7 as well, having the Chargers there would eliminate the head to head advantage the Ravens have over Miami.

Again, a two way tie between the Fins and Ravens at the end of the year is game over for Miami.  That's the worst possible outcome, folks.

Root for San Diego tonight.


POUNCEY BACK

Mike Pouncey missed practice yesterday because he was in Boston answering questions from a Grand Jury regarding Aaron Hernandez.  Pouncey was served a subpoena following the Patriots game in week 8.

According to the injury report, even though the Fins didn't practice today, if they HAD then Pouncey would have been there.  No details have really come out regarding the situation, but expect him to play on Sunday.


INJURY REPORT

According to yesterday's report, S Reshad Jones did not practice due to a groin injury, while Chris Clemons, Paul Soliai, and Nolan Carroll were all limited.

Expect all of these guys to play on Sunday.


The Dolphins will have their final practice of the week tomorrow.  After that, it's all systems go!

We've reached the 72-hour mark.

GO FINS

Playoff Push In Full Swing For Dolphins; Patterson Lands On IR; Wild Card Scenarios

Good day off yesterday.  A much needed day off after a Sunday in which The Dolphinsider recorded a record number of page views for one day.

A very warm thank you to everybody who followed along.

Now, lets get you caught up:

The playoff push has hit its high gear as we enter the final three weeks of the season. And yes, the Miami Dolphins are very aware of what's at stake.  Well, at least TE Charles Clay is.

"We came in with the mindset since the first day of minicamp that we were going to make a playoff push," said Clay, "We're doing that."

When asked about the playoff race, Joe Philbin told the media the easiest way to avoid any distractions or score board watching is to simply focus on the task at hand.

"The easiest thing is you are playing good football teams every single week," Philbin said. "It's easy to keep guys focused.  Now we have the New England Patriots coming to town. That and your plate is already full."

Miami currently sits at a 7-6 tie with the Baltimore Ravens for the final wild card spot. However, thanks to the head to head tie breaker, the Ravens have the edge as of today.

More on that in a bit.


PATTERSON DONE FOR THE YEAR

CB Dimitri Patterson was placed on injured reserve earlier today, effectively ending his season due to a groin injury he suffered way back in week one.  Patterson, who leads the team in INT's (4), has only started 5 of the team's 13 games this season due to the injury, and has been routinely replaced by CB Nolan Carroll, who's done a fine job filling in.

Look for an extended role for rookie Jamar Taylor (if he can get and stay healthy), as he'll now become the full time back up to Carroll.


WILD CARD SCENARIOS 

Alright, an early look ahead to week 15.

Obviously Miami hosts New England.  The team the Fins need to lose, Baltimore, will travel to Detroit for a Monday night contest with the Lions.

It's pretty simple, folks.  A Miami win on Sunday, and a Baltimore loss on Monday, would put the Fins a game ahead of the Ravens with two games to play.

The easiest road to the playoffs is this:

Miami finishes the season either 2-1 or 3-0, and Baltimore finishes either 1-2 or 0-3.

What the Dolphins DO NOT WANT is a two-way tie at the end of the season with the Ravens.  IF that happens, then Baltimore would take the final playoff spot.

Remember, the head to head tie breaker ONLY takes effect when two teams are involved.

A three team tie breaker is a different story.

Now, there are other scenarios that put the Fins in the playoffs, most notably one that involves the San Diego Chargers.

IF the Dolphins and Ravens both finish 9-7, with Baltimore losing to either NE or Cin, AND San Diego WINS OUT, then the Dolphins would take the final wild card spot.

In this scenario, there would be a three-way tie between Miami, San Diego, and Baltimore, BUT because the Ravens lost to an AFC team, Miami's conference record would be the best out of all three teams, therefore giving them the final playoff spot.

Obviously that scenario is out the window with a Denver win over the Chargers on Thursday night, so you'll be rooting for San Diego in a couple days.

There are two other scenarios that involve the Cincinnati Bengals.

- IF both Miami and Baltimore happen to finish 2-1 down the stretch, and the Bengals lose out, then the Fins and Bengals would both finish 9-7 with Miami winning the head to head tie breaker.

Baltimore would win the AFC North.

- IF both Miami and Baltimore win out, and Cincinnati finishes 1-2 (which they would in this scenario because Cincinnati and Baltimore play each other week 17), then Miami would be the final wild card at 10-6, winning the tie breaker over the Bengals.

Cincinnati's remaining opponents include Pittsburgh (away), Minnesota (home), and Baltimore (home).


I also suppose the Dolphins could win out, and New England could lose out, and the Dolphins could be division champs...

But, for right now, let's assume that's not going to happen.


Now, there are obviously other crazy scenarios.  Some that quite frankly would make your eyes bleed.

I'm not going to get into those.  Right now, it's a pretty simple formula.  Win on Sunday.

Worry about next week, next week.

More to come tomorrow.

Dolphins Avoid Disaster, Beat Steelers 34-28

They may not be the sexiest or flashiest team to watch, but if you're ever in the mood to give your blood pressure a run for its money, the Miami Dolphins are the team for you.

Let's start with the build up.

Trailing 31-28 with four minutes to play, the Dolphins took over deep in their own territory.

But they wouldn't be there for long, thanks to a Daniel Thomas 55 yard run down to the Pittsburgh 13 yard line.

Yes, that Daniel Thomas. The one who, two weeks ago, was feared to be out the rest of the year with an ankle injury.

Two plays later, the man who Dolfans have dubbed "BigPlayClay" lived up to his billing as he took a short pass the distance after breaking two tackles along the sideline.

Clay finished with 2 TD's on the day.

Following a Pittsburgh four and out inside their own 10 yard line, Miami would take over with 2:13 left. 

Three straight runs and a Caleb Sturgis FG would follow to put the Dolphins up by six.

And then the real fun began.

Big Ben and company took over with a minute to play and no timeouts left, needing a TD to win.

After a dominant three plays by the Miami defense, Roethlisberger snapped the ball with just over a second to play and threw it Emmanual Sanders down the sideline.

Chaos ensued.

Sanders flipped it to tackle Marcus Gilbert, who then threw it back to Roethlisberger, who then threw what appeared to be a forward pass to WR Antonio Brown. 

No flags were thrown and Brown races down the sideline and into the end zone for what would be a game-winning TD.

HOWEVER, Brown stepped out of bounds at the Miami 13 (cue Mike Tomlin sideline joke) and the game ended.

Miami 34 Pittsburgh 28.

Ryan Tannehill finished the day 20-31, 201 yards, 3 TD's, and 1 INT (a pick six by Troy Polamalu).

Charles Clay finished with 7 catches, 98 yards, and 2 TD's.

Daniel Thomas carried the ball 16 times for 105 yards and a TD.

The Dolphins now sit at 7-6 and remained tied with the Ravens, who beat Minnesota today. However, Baltimore owns the head to head tiebreaker with Miami.

The Dolphins will host New England next week.

Baltimore will travel to Detroit.

The race for the final wild card spot is ON.

Steelers trail Dolphins 24-21 going into final quarter

Big quarter do both teams.

Miami opened up with a Daniel Thomas TD.

Pittsburgh responded with a 43 yard TD to Antonio Brown, followed by an INT returned for a TD.

Miami responded with a 40 yard pass to Charles Clay and a 4-yard TD to Brian Hartline.

15 minutes to play.

Buckle up.

Dolphins lead Steelers 10-7 at halftime

Good second quarter for the Miami Dolphins.

Following a Cam Wake strip sack, Ryan Tannehill connected with Charles Clay for a 6 yard TD.

Following a string of punts from each team, it was the Dolphins special teams unit who made the big play, blocking a Steelers punt at the end of the half.

Celeb Sturgis would attempt a 52 yard FG, but it was short. Miami averted a bear disaster as Pittsburgh returned the kick down to the Miami 40 yard line but the Fins finally brought them down.

I say them because there were about 4 laterals on the play.

Miami has 114 yards on offense. 109 of those are from Ryan Tannehill, who has 52 rushing yards, including a career long of 48.

Mike Wallace had two catches in his return.

The Dolphins MUST establish a running game in the second half and continue to pressure Ben Roethlisberger if they are to hold on.

They get the ball to begin the second half.

Can they hold on?

To the third.

Steelers lead Dolphins 7-3 after first quarter

Well, conditions aren't great.

And it's showing.

After both teams traded three and outs to begin the game, Pittsburgh called off a 12 play, 74 yard drive with a TD pass to Emmanual Sanders.

Miami answered with a FG on a drive highlighted by a Tannehill 48 yard run.

Pittsburgh is running the ball well.

Ryan Tannehill has completed one pass.

You can't see the field.

To the second!