Tomorrow is not a cakewalk

[Ring 6]

There is no doubt we are clearly a better team than Miami. There is no doubt we shouod win the game.
There is a lot of doubt that the game and score will be some sort statement about how much better we are than Miami, or what kind of algorythm you could create to show how this score translates to what we will do in any other game.
The job is to win. If its 3-0 or 73-72, the job is to win.

This could be one of the toughest games to win we have all year. Our track record playing in Miami regardless of the quality of either team it is hard to win there.

What we will see tomorrow is some or all of the following:

1) Our offense, which is paid to move the ball and score points, will face their defense, which is paid to stop us from doing that. Our offense will succeed some times and their defense will succeed some times. We will move the ball, they will make plays to stifle drives. Overall, we should have an offensive day that is above average (20 points or more) and they will have a defensive day that is below average (20 points or more)
2) Joey Harrington will have some fleeting success throwing the ball. Why? Because we play a defensive style that will give him plays if he reads it right and makes good throws, but will cause him to fail miserably when he doesnt not read it right or makes a poor throw. The successes he has will be because on those plays, he did a good job, but the defensive philospophy is that if the game depends on him reading our coverage right and making good throws, he will fail to do that enough that we cannot lose.
3) Whether the game is close or not going to the 4th quarter will depend on turnovers and red zone performance. We may be in a very close game.
4) If the game is close in the 4th quarter, we will win, because first, the highest quality of the talent level on this team is its ability to finish a game and make plays when the game is on the line, and secondly, through the first 3 quarters of the game our gameplan will have positioned us to set up what we need to do in the 4th quarter to win. (for example we may be very run heavy all day, and be in a tight game, then in the 4th quarter when we throw Brady will have more time than he would have, and receivers will see coverages that were set up by the run heavy gameplan) (defensively, the passes Harrington completed will now be into a disguised coverage he is misreading and throwing into like he did earlier in the day, but the decision will now be wrong)
This is the aspect of our success that many fans seem to overlook, but many analysts have converted into the comment that this coaching staff is the best gameplanning staff in the NFL.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

i haven't seen too many posts out here suggesting that it IS a cakewalk. i think most people realize that Miami is always dangerous, especially down there and with Saban as Coach

 

[pats1]

i haven't seen too many posts out here suggesting that it IS a cakewalk. i think most people realize that Miami is always dangerous, especially down there and with Saban as Coach

How has Saban proven he's dangerous?

 

[shirtsleeve]

How has Saban proven he's dangerous?

He's the most dangerous creature in the universe! Oh, wait, you said Saban. Nevermind!

Seriously, Miami's D is pretty stout and Harrington likes to air it out to his WR's alot. But with their feature back out, the Pats should be able to stop their run and force Harrington to go one dimensional. So I dont look for Miami to score more than the two touchdowns the Pats are averaging, and I wouldnt be surprised if they scored less.
So the bottom line is IF the Pats protect the ball, and make few mental errors. they should win comfortably.

 

[VJCPatriot]

If the Pats defense lets Harrington come out throwing and make him look like Dan Marino... it's gonna be a long day. No letdown you say? This is the same Pats D that let Griese beat us soundly. And Griese is so bad that he is currently warming the pine in Denver!!

This game is important and it will say a lot about whether this team "gets it." They almost fell asleep at the switch against the Lions. A repeat performance like last week and they won't be winning against the Fins. Plus I'd have to question their mental toughness at that point.

Go Pats! They need to start the game strong and not play come from behind football. The Pats have the overall edge to dictate their own style of play and they need to do so. I'd run Dillon/Maroney right over Jason Taylor rather than let the guy sit back and play passrush the QB all dya.

 

[Jacky Roberts]

There is no doubt we are clearly a better team than Miami. There is no doubt we shouod win the game.
There is a lot of doubt that the game and score will be some sort statement about how much better we are than Miami, or what kind of algorythm you could create to show how this score translates to what we will do in any other game.
The job is to win. If its 3-0 or 73-72, the job is to win.

This could be one of the toughest games to win we have all year. Our track record playing in Miami regardless of the quality of either team it is hard to win there.

What we will see tomorrow is some or all of the following:

1) Our offense, which is paid to move the ball and score points, will face their defense, which is paid to stop us from doing that. Our offense will succeed some times and their defense will succeed some times. We will move the ball, they will make plays to stifle drives. Overall, we should have an offensive day that is above average (20 points or more) and they will have a defensive day that is below average (20 points or more)
2) Joey Harrington will have some fleeting success throwing the ball. Why? Because we play a defensive style that will give him plays if he reads it right and makes good throws, but will cause him to fail miserably when he doesnt not read it right or makes a poor throw. The successes he has will be because on those plays, he did a good job, but the defensive philospophy is that if the game depends on him reading our coverage right and making good throws, he will fail to do that enough that we cannot lose.
3) Whether the game is close or not going to the 4th quarter will depend on turnovers and red zone performance. We may be in a very close game.
4) If the game is close in the 4th quarter, we will win, because first, the highest quality of the talent level on this team is its ability to finish a game and make plays when the game is on the line, and secondly, through the first 3 quarters of the game our gameplan will have positioned us to set up what we need to do in the 4th quarter to win. (for example we may be very run heavy all day, and be in a tight game, then in the 4th quarter when we throw Brady will have more time than he would have, and receivers will see coverages that were set up by the run heavy gameplan) (defensively, the passes Harrington completed will now be into a disguised coverage he is misreading and throwing into like he did earlier in the day, but the decision will now be wrong)
This is the aspect of our success that many fans seem to overlook, but many analysts have converted into the comment that this coaching staff is the best gameplanning staff in the NFL.

Does anyone think tomorrows game is going to be easy? I think they will probably win, but if they lose, I would not be surprised. I'd say 50/50 at best.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Brady has almost always had a hard time against the Phish. I'm sure he and his cohorts don't think it's a 'cakewalk' and theirs is the opinion that counts.

Maybe we should start Cassel?

 

[ATippett56]

I still remember that Monday Night football game against a pathetic Miami Dolphins in 2004 in which Tom Brady threw four interceptions including the third falling on his back. With that loss, the New England Patriots lost any hope of home field advantage throughout the playoffs. To this day, it's amazing the New England Patriots won a Super Bowl with Brandon Gorin playing right tackle.

 

[skri65]

I think they will probably win.... I'd say 50/50 at best.

Please explain this logic?

 

[unoriginal]

I think they will probably win, but if they lose, I would not be surprised. I'd say 50/50 at best.

Please explain this logic?

I don't think Jacky is mathematically inclined.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Please explain this logic?

Isn't 50/50 a tie?

 

[patsox23]

Griese, first of all, plays for CHICAGO. Secondly, aj's right - this is no cakewalk. Finally, others are right in pointing out that very few of us consider this game a cakewalk.

 

[broadwayjoe]

Those Pats fans that know this will not be a cakewalk this message is not for you just the ones that have forgotten how tough it is to win in South Florida besides it was tough to beat Miami at home this year.

10/31/76 -- at Miami 10, New England 3
11/13/77 -- at Miami 17, New England 5
12/18/78 -- at Miami 23, New England 3
10/21/79 -- at New England 28, Miami 13
11/29/79 -- at Miami 39, New England 24
12/08/80 -- at Miami 16, New England 13
12/06/81 -- at Miami 24, New England 14
01/08/83 -- *at Miami 28, New England 13
09/11/83 -- at Miami 34, New England 24
09/09/84 -- at Miami 28, New England 7
12/16/85 -- at Miami 30, New England 27
01/12/86 -- **New England 31, at Miami 14
12/22/86 -- New England 34, at Miami 27
12/28/87 -- New England 24, at Miami 10
11/20/88 -- New England 6, at Miami 3
12/10/89 -- at Miami 31, New England 10
10/18/90 -- at Miami 17, New England 10
11/10/91 -- at Miami 30, New England 20
10/18/92 -- at Miami 38, New England 17
11/21/93 -- at Miami 17, New England 13
09/04/94 -- at Miami 39, New England 35
11/12/95 -- New England 34, at Miami 17
09/01/96 -- at Miami 24, New England 10
11/23/97 -- New England 27, at Miami 24
12/22/97 -- New England 14, at Miami 12
10/25/98 -- at Miami 12, New England 9 (ot)
11/21/99 -- at Miami 27, New England 17
09/24/00 -- at Miami 10, New England 3
10/07/01 -- at Miami 30, New England 10
10/06/02 -- at Miami 26, New England 13
10/19/03 -- New England 19, at Miami 13 (ot)
12/20/04 -- at Miami 29, New England 28
11/13/05 -- New England 23, at Miami 16

 

[PatsFanSince74]

How has Saban proven he's dangerous?

he's smart and he has the respect of BB...that's enough for me...

 

[Pats726]

No cakewalk...I agree I don't thnk MANY think it will be..a hard fought game yes..but I do think they will take it....If one looks at the last8..it wasn't until 03 that they won out of that stretch and that wa sin OT and then in 04 a collapse..and a close game last year...Many poh poohed last years win, but it was a tough one. Pats win..but close NO easy game in Mia for NE...

 

[dolphan117]

Rather than start another thread I thought I would just throw this in for those who might find it funny.

(On if Bill Belichick is playing games when he says Jason Taylor should be Defensive Player of the Year MVP) – “I think that Bill (Belichick) has a lot of honesty and integrity, but I also think that anything he says or does is always to try to give his team some type of advantage. That’s about as diplomatic a statement as I can make about a good friend.”

Said with a great big smile of course, its from Sabans 12/06 PC which you can watch HERE if you like. I just always find it interesting/funny when these two guys talk about each other because of the respect/friendship factor even within a division. One more reason to enjoy a great rivalry.

 

[Fogbuster]

I've not seen anybody on this list say that tomorrow is going to be cakewalk. Far from it, I think everybody here knows the history between these two teams. The Dolphins, no matter where they are in the standings, ALWAYS play their best game against the Patriots, whereas the Patriots, for some (probably metaphysical) reason seem to sputter offensively against the 'phins.

We need to be crisp, sure, and poised -- especially on offense -- *throughout* this game. If we give the Dolphins even a glimmer of hope they can win this game, they will feed off of that like moths flocking to a light-bulb.

We've got to mount a sharp, sustained attack from the very first drive, one that lets them know who wants this game more. If we can succeed in that during the first half, we will knock a lot -- if not all -- wind out of their sails. And with BB & Co's typically excellent half-time adjustments, we can continue that deflation in the second half, and the game will be a Pats W.

The D has got to do its job of keeping down the points, which they are more than capable of doing. But the O has got to make itself known from the first down it plays, and sustain that.

We need to cut down the penalties because they only breathe new life into the opponent, and let's pray for no injuries.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

Too many factors weigh against the Fish tomorrow for them to come out with a winning effort.

- Brown is out and the backups are not threatening types, which puts too much pressure on Harrington, a guy who does not thrive when the heat is on.

- Harrington throws too many INTs even when he has a solid running game. Don't forget we are 3rd in the league in fewest points allowed; the Brownless, Harrington addled Dolphins don't have the game to rack up much on our solid D.

- The playoff bubble has burst. The Fins are out of the race and they know it. Last week was make or break and they couldn't get it done. After teasing themselves for a few weeks with the possibility of charging into the playoffs, the team is likely quite deflated after getting beat last week and being put on the shelf for a team record 5th straight year. The "do we suck?" thoughts are rattling around in more than one head in Miami right now.

- Their coach has been rumored to be going elsewhere. Sure, Saban told the team it was not true he was going to Alabama but plenty of NFL players have seen a coach say he's staying put then turn up two time zones over signing a fat new contract, so, true or not, the rumors, especially considering the failure of the team to qualify for the postseason just occured and that makes Saban's departure more likely, are sure to have eroded the cohesiveness of the team at least to some degree.

- Jason Taylor is hurt. The Fins say it isn't bad but I saw Taylor's wrist hanging limp like noodle last week, and held gingerly in place while he walked off the field. Taylor is a tough guy and will play hurt but he uses his hands a great deal to get leverage and if he's weakened by a very sore wrist and loses effectiveness the D will really sag.

- It's not going to be hot. Instead the weather will be windy and in the mid 70's with moderate humidity. Instead of getting fried, most of the team will find the weather very pleasant and soothing on their aches and pains, so Miami loses whatever small advantage they might have had with the game conditions.

- the Pats are beginning to focus. The team is well aware of the trouble the Fins provide and they are hyper aware that losing any games now will really hurt their playoff seeding. it's time for a statement to the Fins and the rest of the league that the 2006 Patriots are for real and they are coming to kick your butt.

Pats 27 Dolphins 13

 

[ATippett56]

- the Pats are beginning to focus. The team is well aware of the trouble the Fins provide and they are hyper aware that losing any games now will really hurt their playoff seeding. it's time for a statement to the Fins and the rest of the league that the 2006 Patriots are for real and they are coming to kick your butt.

It seemed the Patriots lost their focus against the Detroit Lions.

 

[Water Boy]

This could be one of the toughest games to win we have all year. Our track record playing in Miami regardless of the quality of either team it is hard to win there.

I couldn't agree more. Unless Harrington implodes, this game will be close. I can see Chambers and McMichael giving our secondary a workout.