FANS SHOW UP...

            JOEY AND THE DEFENSE DO NOT

                           Cassel and Pats Shred the Fins 48-28

                           Andre Goodman absorbs the pain of a loss against the Patriots

All week Joey Porter chastised the Miami Dolphin fan base to get out to the game and support the team. Yep, challenged our manhood (or womanhood) to support the team and be the 12th man. Well I was there and the fans showed up. The stadium was rocking and collectivly trying to will the team to victory. We did out part, we showed up. Joey and the Dolphin defense did not show up. The defense was torched by backup quarterback Matt Cassel who threw for 415 yards as Wes Welker and Randy Moss ran free in the Miami secondary all afternoon. In fact the Patriots never punted once. But the fans were there. Third and ten for the Pats and we screamed and New England converted. Goalline situation we stomped and blew the roof off. The Patriots scored again. We take the lead and the crowd goes nuts. The defense gives up the lead...again.  If this sounds a little "biting" it is. When you are a player and you and your fellow players want to call out your fans to do their part and criticize them for "too many orange plastic seats" then you damn well better deliver. The fact is the fans of this team have stuck by it through six or seven years of rotten football and it never stunk more than it did last year. Give us a product Joey to come out for. You see we don't make six million dollars and the cost of seeing you and the defense tank thsi game sets us back several hundred dollars. But we do it because we love the team. Don't call us out and then drop this stinker of a game on South Florida.

This year we are better and we are on the right track and we have much to feel good about. But today was a hot stick of reality being poked in the eye of the fans and the team. We were 1-15 last year and the Patriots were in the Super Bowl. There is a reason for that and we are just not better than they are. Closer but not better. The offense did their part. Chad was spectacular except his one interception. The referees were horrible, just horrible and they share this victory with the Patriots. But in the end Joey and the defense could not get ANY pressure on Matt Cassel who sat and sat and SAT in the pocket. Sometimes it seemed like he was more in pregame warm-ups then facing the leagues leading sacker. It was the worst defensive performance since Arizona and is easily on that par. Just putrid.

Then let's talk about the lack of class by both teams. There was Vince Wilfork (dont know it it was on TV) after the late sack of Pennington standing on the Dolphin logo calling out Porter and the Dolphin bench and mimicking Joey's crank start and kick. Pointing him out on the sideline and telling him he is not the man today. There was Channing Crowder losing his cool and charging Matt Light, who promptly responded by yanking him down by the dreads and pounding his head. Both players ejected. A play or two later Porter gets two personal fouls teeing up New England for the "rub the salt in the wound" final score which they didn't have to have, but to them I am sure felt nice. Things like this build rivalries and I am sure it will make for juicy anticipation for next season. Because that is when Miami will most liekly see them again. With this loss and the Jet victory it is unlikely that Miami will find its way into the playoffs. Especially with this defense, which misses a pass rush lineman (Jason we miss you!) so bad that it hurts. This is a copy cat league and you can look for the remaining teams to air it out all day against our Dolphins. I know I would.

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              MISSION CRITICAL: FINS MUST WIN

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                    TIME OF RECKONING

                                                        Will the Wildcat work again?

By all sretch of the imagination this year is a success. Very few thought that this Miami Dolphin team would be contending for a playoff berth. Yet they head into this weekend's game against the New England Patriots with a chance to really make a statement and establish a new era of Dolphin football. Right here on the front page of Finheaven I predicted the first win over the Patriots, and for the most part my reasoning all came to pass. But this week I am struggling to do the same. Why? I think I am just jaded. I want to believe this is all real, and I want to believe we are truly a playoff contending team. But I just cant' get there yet. Maybe it was the ridiculous loss to Houston or the last minute escape against the hapless Raiders. But we just seem vulnerable. Does anyone else feel this way?

The New England Patriiots come to town hurt and angry and desperate. A loss this weekend makes their challenge of winning the division nearly impossible. The heartbreaking overtime loss to the division leading NY Jets (God I hate that) will either push them down or inspire them, anger them to come out and play with a vegence. They know this game against Miami will define their season.  They have had a week and a half to prepare. Can this young Dolphin team weather that storm? For our beloved Fins to win this weekend they will have to fix a few things and play at a high level. They can not give up the long and damaging special teams plays that have become a weekly habit. Also they have to, have to run the ball well. The offensive line without the Widlcat has been rather pedestrian. They have to open up some holes and Ricky and Ronnie have to establish control of this game. On defense they have to get pressure on the QB and keep coverage tight. If Matt Cassel throw for 400 yards against us we may find oursleves losing this game. The defense has to play its best game of the year.

So the stage is set for easily the biggest game of the year for the Miami Dolphins. A victory against this division rival keeps Miami right on the Jets heals for the division and firmly in the Wild Card mix. Wow...what a difference a year makes.

 So the game is sold out. Joey Porter challenged the fans to show up and be the 12th man. We have responded and the game is sold out. Now on behalf of the Miami Dolphin fans that frequent this site by the tens of thousands we challenge you Joey. We challenge you Miami Dolphins football team. Don't let our support and this season die on the field Sunday. Reward us with your phyical and smart play. Win this game for the fans who now have suffered for seven years waiting for a playoff team. We challenge you to give us something to cheer about and win this game.

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            FINS ESCAPE WITH A WIN!

                   Miami 17  Oakland 15

                           Miami's Ted Ginn Jr. avoids a tackle enroute to a 40 yrd TD run

Hey it's a win. There will be plenty of nay sayers and pundits who will point out that for two weeks in a row the Miami Dolphins have squeaked out a last minute win against the bottom dwellers of the NFL. They will also say that it is proof that Miami is not truly a playoff team. Well I say there are no easy wins in the NFL and this now puts the team on a four game winning streak and setup a showdowon with division rival New England next week. I will take this situation and I have no guilt about this win. The dolphins running game was solid behind another 100 yard day by Ronnie Brown and the 40 yard TD run by Ted Ginn, but the passing game was erratic and couldn't quite come up with the plays it needed when they needed them. The safety the Dolphins gave up just makes you shake your head. You expect more from an improved offensive line and a veteran quarterback. And then there was the big poke in the eye which was the punt return for the touchdown. When the front office brought in a platoon of unknown players it was to improve the special teams. I think we can universally agree that they are the one part of this team that has gone backwards. None the less, there is still plenty to feel good about on a day when you feel good but not great. Miami's defense kept Oakland out of th endzone and that is a credit to them and Joey Porter continued his stellar season by adding 1.5 sacks. Ronnie is running strong and living up to the number 2 overall pick status and Chad is managing the game well.  However if this Dolphin team is going to contend then some of the support players are going to have pick up their productivity and become more consistent. Miami is not good enough to give up safeties, long pass interference penalties, and special team TDs, and beat the better teams. So there is much to improve on this young Dolphin team.

But...they did win.

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