3-0, is 3-0, is 3-0! Can you believe that there were some people just one month ago who were honestly thinking that the Dolphins wouldn’t win three games period in 2018? Doesn’t it feel nice to walk into work on Monday morning and say, “How ‘bout those Dolphins?”? Oh, by the way, it’s still September and there will be plenty more “Victory Mondays” to come. Whether or not the Dolphins will be celebrating a “Victory Monday” the day after a game at Gillette Stadium is the next question for this team to answer.
Let’s start by taking a look at what the Dolphins have done well and what’s gone right. While Ryan Tannehill’s numbers haven’t been eye-popping, he’s protected the football well and he’s also been spreading the ball around. While our ground game hasn’t quite been what we thought it would be through the first three games, the passing game has absolutely come alive. The run defense has been surprisingly much better than anyone who follows the team could’ve anticipated, although it remains to be seen what kind of drop off might happen after the loss of defensive end William Hayes for the season with a torn ACL. The secondary has been very stout and it looks as if cornerback Xavien Howard has picked up right where he left off at the end of 2017. I’m not ready to call X-Man an elite corner just yet, but he’s well on his way to proving himself to be just that. Perhaps the biggest surprise thus far, in my estimation, has been the creativity and inventiveness of this offense. The trick play against the Oakland Raiders where wide receiver Albert Wilson threw a touchdown pass is just one wrinkle of a few more that I believe we’ll be seeing this year. But, there’s also been something else that’s kind of surprising happening in 2018.
Something very odd and out of the ordinary has been happening this year in Foxborough, MA; the Patriots actually seem somewhat dysfunctional and they’re cupboard is a bit bare right now. What is happening with the New England Patriots? Gronk coming close to be traded and also mulling retirement? Players that have left the organization speaking out against the environment that “Darth Hoody” has fostered? Rumors of a potential rift between Tom Brady and Bill Belichick? So, that all happened. The best receiver on the Patriots roster is also currently suspended. When do Patriots players ever get suspended? Oh, right…sorry Tom. The bottom line is that this team doesn’t quite seem like what we would expect from a team coached by Belichick. So what does all of that add up to for the Miami Dolphins?
The Patriots look weak right now. Julian Edleman has one more game left to serve of his suspension and will not be on the field for this game, which is a lucky break for Miami. The running game hasn’t been producing for the Patriots either. The Patriots also recently signed Josh Gordon. The issue with Josh Gordon isn’t so much that he likes to smoke pot, it’s that he seems to like it more than he likes playing football. Josh Gordon also doesn’t strike me as the most intelligent guy in the world either, which is also a potential problem for New England. With a lack of Julian Edleman, Tom Brady will have even more trouble passing on Miami, because X-Man will take his man out of the game and essentially make it a ten-on-ten battle. The Patriots offensive line seems to be a little bit lacking in cohesion compared to past years, which means Cam Wake, Robert Quinn, and Charles Harris have to get lose and rattle Tom Brady’s cage. When compared to the New England Patriots defense, the Dolphins offense has a definite speed advantage. I also believe that Miami will win in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The biggest question will be who wins the turnover battle.
I’ve hesitated to pick this game all week, as I’m sure many Dolphins fans have. But, I’ve also heard and felt allot of optimism from fellow fans and from people who cover the team for a living. Even though it’s been ten years since the last time the Dolphins won at New England, even though it took the unveiling of the Wildcat offense to defeat a Patriots team that did NOT have Tom Brady, I’m doing it. I’m on board. I am picking the Miami Dolphins to come out of Gillette Stadium with a win for the first time since 2008. I just don’t think that Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski alone can carry the entire team against a roster as talented as the Dolphins have. I’m picking the Miami Dolphins to advance to 4-0, drop the New England Patriots to 1-3, and continue to sit alone atop the AFC East. And here’s the best part, the Dolphins would be the toast of the NFL, the talk of sports fans all across the country, and featured on all the national networks this week. That would be pretty sweet…and it’s entirely possible.
