TheKillerNacho Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 Just a few weeks ago, this game was looking to be a potential play-off game between two teams heavily contending for a wildcard spot. Since then, however, the Raiders have collapsed, nearly losing to the winless Jets followed by some brutal defeats. At one point in the season they were 6-3 and looking at the easiest schedule remaining in the NFL. Since then, they've lost four of five (would've been five for five if not for Gregg Williams) and require a miracle to make the playoffs. This game, however, is huge for Miami. Miami needs to win out in order to make the post-season, as even just one loss will allow the Ravens, who play two joke teams as their final two games - to take the 7th wildcard spot. Winning, however, keeps the Ravens at bay and potentially opens the door to taking the Colts' or Browns' wildcard spots if they end up losing out. But playoffstatus.com really does make the point clear - lose this game and our chance to make the playoffs drops to just 9%. We need both of these games or our chances become a mere 33%. The Raiders are free-falling and morale is probably destroyed. Still, they could come out wanting to prove that they are not as bad as their collapse suggests. Josh Jacobs presents a very real problem to our poor interior run defense, and he may be able to carve us up for the majority of the night. Derek Carr has had a tremendous season but we should be able to challenge him with our elite secondary. Carr, however, has been sidelined with a serious groin injury so it's a possibility we'll be facing Marcus Mariota, instead. Mariota's mobility would actually serve to be a somewhat significant threat considering our struggles with scrambling QBs this season, but offers much less as a passer than Carr. Offensively, the Raiders have been so bad they fired their defensive coordinator following their 44-27 loss to the Colts. This always presents a tricky situation as it is unknown just how much the new coordinator will switch things up as his first game was on a short week. Rod Marinelli is an experienced coach in this league and he will do everything to get pressure on Tua. Unfortunately for the Raiders, the defensive talent just isn't there. Assuming we get some of our key playmakers back (Parker, Grant, Gesicki, Gaskin), we should have no issues moving the ball. Overall this is a game I feel good about but we can't afford to look past the Raiders. They are definitely capable of some big plays on both sides of the ball. We must deny them playing spoiler to us to give us a chance in Week 17. My prediction? Dolphins 33 Raiders 26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinSting Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 Yup, Jacobs is a problem and Mariota (if he starts instead of Carr) is very mobile. The newfound ground game was a pleasant surprise for Miami last Sunday, let's do more of that running stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrubes20 Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 Slightly concerned about Mariota's ability to run. But it shouldn't be too much for the D to handle. There is nothing about that Raiders defense that is scary. Fins 31, Raiders 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phinsesq Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 You definitely don't want to discount the Raiders a lot of weapons just can't seem to put it together. Tua has been superb but you never know when that bill might come due for a rookie. I don't think this team is looking past anyone, Coach Flo will have them focused. Hopefully we get some receivers back this week. Waller is the player that concerns me most, but this defense is legit. My main critique: perhaps if they are going to call a trick play, just maybe for once, consider for the love of all that is holy, have the "receiver" report as eligible. please, just once. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerica Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 MIA - 27 LV - 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainpd Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 Dolphins 34 Raiders 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phinsesq Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 Carr was a full participant at practice, I think our chances improve if he plays. I feel he is far less than 100% but is pushing to keep his starting spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadeye Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 If Miamis find a way to win this game, it will make the all time series 20 wins for the Raiders, and 19 wins for Miami. I remember back in the mid-80s, the Dolphins had only two or three wins versus thirteen defeats. That's pretty amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JourneymanQB13 Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 (edited) Jesse Davis' effort on that screen play...just horrible. Edited December 27, 2020 by JourneymanQB13 Darn auto correct 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JourneymanQB13 Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Raiders should run Jacobs 40-45 times today 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKillerNacho Posted December 27, 2020 Author Share Posted December 27, 2020 Not a great start. Let's hope for a great finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JourneymanQB13 Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 33 minutes ago, TheKillerNacho said: Not a great start. Let's hope for a great finish. I feel like the Raiders could put us away but they get in their own way. They're throwing wayyyy too much. Jacobs should be obliterating us, but they refuse to run him as much as they should. And why they throw to anyone not named Waller idk. Also I think we hold open tryouts tomorrow for WR. I mean absolutely no one is getting open. Hollins has made two spectacular catches this season, but other than that seems to offer nothing but bad drops. Ford has like one catch i think? Grant finally starting catching the ball but that knee injury looked awful. LBJ seems to be our only legit threat but he's not going to stretch the field the way we need to. So all they have to do is keep Gesicki covered, and not let LBJ get YAC. Hollins isn't going to catch the ball. Ford isn't seeing targets, so he probably isn't getting open. This is probably the worst WR corps Tua has had since high school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerica Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Rowe is getting abused by Waller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKillerNacho Posted December 27, 2020 Author Share Posted December 27, 2020 1 minute ago, Emerica said: Rowe is getting abused by Waller. Rowe's coverage hasn't even been bad. Waller has just been incredible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKillerNacho Posted December 27, 2020 Author Share Posted December 27, 2020 3 minutes ago, JourneymanQB13 said: I feel like the Raiders could put us away but they get in their own way. They're throwing wayyyy too much. Jacobs should be obliterating us, but they refuse to run him as much as they should. And why they throw to anyone not named Waller idk. Also I think we hold open tryouts tomorrow for WR. I mean absolutely no one is getting open. Hollins has made two spectacular catches this season, but other than that seems to offer nothing but bad drops. Ford has like one catch i think? Grant finally starting catching the ball but that knee injury looked awful. LBJ seems to be our only legit threat but he's not going to stretch the field the way we need to. So all they have to do is keep Gesicki covered, and not let LBJ get YAC. Hollins isn't going to catch the ball. Ford isn't seeing targets, so he probably isn't getting open. This is probably the worst WR corps Tua has had since high school. Gesicki clearly isn't 100%. We really need to put Shaheen in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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