Week 13: Miami Dolphins (5-6) @ Green Bay Packers (8-3) on Thanksgiving

[TheKillerNacho]

With three straight wins, our Miami Dolphins have clawed their way back into the AFC playoff picture, but the margin for error is still extremely small. This matchup could easily be the biggest test remaining on our schedule, and the fact that it's the same team that derailed our season a couple seasons ago on Christmas definitely makes me worried. While the stakes are high for Miami, Green Bay's situation is also as dire as can be expected for an 8-3 team, as they need to continue to win to match the pace of its NFC North rivals (the Lions at 10-1 and Vikings at 9-2).

Unfortunately, this is going to be a hard game for us to win. Not only does Green Bay match up relatively well against us, our Dolphins famously underperform in cold weather. With the forecast predicting a low of 20 degrees and possible flurries, Mike McDaniel has his work cut out for him to try to undo that narrative. The one glimmer of hope is that our new offensive philosophy this season of quick short passes is a bit more ideal for playing in these conditions. I also feel that our defense can slow down the Packers offensively, so I'd wager this game will be a relatively low-scoring affair.

While I'd love to win, I think the cards may be too stacked against us.

Miami 19
Green Bay 23

 

Hope I'm wrong, FINS UP!

[Phinsesq]

Man I want Miami to finally beat that can’t win in the cold narrative. Will be tough, this Packer team is playing well, Miami has the weapons to do it though. I’m going to pick the Dolphins because why not, eventually they have to win in the cold and their season is in do or die mode.  

[Swampbilly]

I'm picking Dolphins by 3 or less.  Why???  Because it's Thanksgiving and my Apple Pie just won't taste as good if we lose.  Also, because Tua needs a Cold Weather Win like a Fat Man needs Pie!!!!  24-21 on a last minute Icy Sanders FG Fins Up!!!!

[JourneymanQB13]

Fire Danny Crossman into the sun

[JourneymanQB13]

Well, this has been a disaster. Special teams continues to be a problem. Defense is getting physically handled. Offense has too many negative runs and Tua missing key throws. Overall, Tua has been efficient. Would be great to see him launch a furious comeback. Defense needs to force a turnover to help us get back in it. 

[JourneymanQB13]

Obviously we can only see so much on TV copy. But on multiple occasions it would appear that Jordan Poyer goes into zone coverage where another player is in coverage and we have gotten smoked for it. Happened against NE too. He has been a detriment all season long. I do not understand why he's never been held accountable. 

[JourneymanQB13]

Poor goal to go sequence. I believe Jeff Wilson is active.

Just such poor tackling on defense today too. 

ugh. 

[Swampbilly]

15 hours ago, JourneymanQB13 said:

Fire Danny Crossman into the sun

I have to agree.  He's been our Special Teams coordinator since 2019 and was even The Assistant HC in 2021.  The Kicks and Punts haven't been horrible during his overall tenure IMO, but the coverage and blocking has been at the bottom of the league and currently PFF ranks our ST as 32nd overall.

[Swampbilly]

Beyond a doubt we cannot play in the cold, and we also cannot play when the sun goes down.  A cold weather night time road game against a good team = A Dolphins Disaster.  It's not just Tua, it's the majority of the team.  Ya Tua was off for Tua, which made him about average as a NFL QB IMO.  We should just cut Beckham now, he has been awful all year, and this should be Eichenberg's last season, even though he has improved it's been too little too late.  Washington is a rookie, and he has big upside and will get more chances in the slot or #3 WR, but he shouldn't get more chances to return punts IMO.  Defensively; The entire Starting Defensive Backfield not named Ramsey or Fuller needs to be replaced.  That includes Jevon Holland who should be balling out for a contract extension, but instead I expect to see him playing for Flores and the Vikings next year.

[Phinsesq]

23 hours ago, Swampbilly said:

Beyond a doubt we cannot play in the cold, and we also cannot play when the sun goes down.  A cold weather night time road game against a good team = A Dolphins Disaster.  It's not just Tua, it's the majority of the team.  Ya Tua was off for Tua, which made him about average as a NFL QB IMO.  We should just cut Beckham now, he has been awful all year, and this should be Eichenberg's last season, even though he has improved it's been too little too late.  Washington is a rookie, and he has big upside and will get more chances in the slot or #3 WR, but he shouldn't get more chances to return punts IMO.  Defensively; The entire Starting Defensive Backfield not named Ramsey or Fuller needs to be replaced.  That includes Jevon Holland who should be balling out for a contract extension, but instead I expect to see him playing for Flores and the Vikings next year.

A disappointing game for sure. I agree I expect Holland to be gone next year. Though they could designate Chubb as a post June 1st cut and free up the money to sign him. 

[Dolphinmeister]

I have not posted much this year because when Tua went down I figured the season was lost. My biggest concern now is that even with Tua back (and who knows when the next KO is coming for him) this team is just not a tough and scrappy team and that is a direct reflection on the coach in my opinion, I saw a stat the other day that Miami is 1 - 15 against teams with a winning record under Mcdaniels and that is not a good thing. I have lost all confidence in Mcdaniels to make Miami a perennial winner and hope Miami moves on from him after this season instead of mid-season next season when it is just more of the same. Miami has 5 games left against bad and struggling teams and that may be enough for Mcdaniels to save his job but I personally hope he fails and Miami moves on from him. My number one pick for his replacement at the moment would be Jon Gruden.

[TheKillerNacho]

1 hour ago, Dolphinmeister said:

My number one pick for his replacement at the moment would be Jon Gruden.

hard "no thanks"

[Phinsesq]

15 hours ago, TheKillerNacho said:

hard "no thanks"

I will be furious if they let McDaniel go.  

[TheKillerNacho]

55 minutes ago, Phinsesq said:

I will be furious if they let McDaniel go.  

I like McDaniel and would prefer giving him another year but I could definitely see the argument for moving on. That said, if we do move on, a retread has-been like Jon Gruden would be on the bottom of my wishlist lol

[Phinsesq]

3 hours ago, TheKillerNacho said:

I like McDaniel and would prefer giving him another year but I could definitely see the argument for moving on. That said, if we do move on, a retread has-been like Jon Gruden would be on the bottom of my wishlist lol

I am a fan of McDaniel but putting that aside any Coach we get would want his guy and Miami is committed to Tua for the next 3 years. Might as well keep the Coach that believes in him. I think Grier is more likely to go than McDaniel though I don’t really support that at this point yet either.