Will the Dolphins play their starters on Sunday?

[Ring 6]

The thing is there are 2 AFC HFA I hate. KC and Denver. Both are so huge. Denver is out and KC can not pass us for the #1 seed no matter what. Miami is up there too but only early in the year. Late in the year they lose that HFA.

I am okay with the #2 seed but it needs to be planed. If the Pats play like crap I will not be okay with it. If we just sit the whole game or play half and get up then sit and lose with backups that is okay too.

I have no fear about playing Oakland in Oakland. Not like that is at all likely to happen.

However if the Pats play to win they better win and play well. I don't want any stop in positive momentum.

The key is using this week to maintain momentum. Resting players makes them lose their edge more often than not. If there is an injury to heal let it heal. Otherwise practice and prepare like a playoff game and play hard. Hopefully with a big lead you can limit some guys reps to reduce the injury risk.

 

[archstanton543]

Yes. Next question.

 

[MitchKumstein]

If I was a Dolphins fan, I would want the Phins to give it everything they got against the Patriots next weekend. You don't want your team to roll over against a hated division rival, especially when your team can still move up in the seedings while making your rival move down.

 

[The Gr8est]

If they take a page out of Tom Coughlin's book in 2007, Case should tell his guys to play balls to the wall.

Not exactly apples to oranges. False, damaging pre-Superbowl news reports don't generally originate in Miami.

 

[The Gr8est]

I look at the phins points differential and it's +4 for the year. After 15 games, they are winning by .25 points... they have kept games close and then pull a win out at the end. Except for jets in week 15 and steelers in week 6 all wins have been a TD or less. And 3 of 5 losses have been ugly. Make the pats loss ugly too, since jimmy got injured. Phins have found a way to survive, and they will probably play that way in week 17. Pats need to play hard, take the fight out of the phins and remind them who they are dealing with, a team that has prettty much embarrassed the jets, donkeys and ratbirds the past 3 games.

I think the Dolphins started out 1-4. If other teams took them seriously after that the Dolphins may have missed the playoffs entirely.

No one has Miami circled on their schedule.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Agreed. Miami is playing to win. We should too, if for no other reason that the end of last year left a bad taste and sent us into the playoffs on a downslide. We already have a bye next week. Let's play so we stay home no matter what. A trip all the way across the country for the AFC Championship game rather than making Oakland come here (if they get that far, I realize) is not something to just give up on.

I wish I could agree with this 5 times. Totally totally totally totally totally agree.

 

[Galeb]

...And SEA lost.

Colts, Birds and Donkeys all out.

It was like the end of the Godfather.

All family business was settled.

As long as Roger Goodell holds power, family business is not settled.

 

[pazrul72]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is both teams are in the playoffs which means they could see each other again with a lot more on the line in potentially 2 weeks. If the pats win and then miami beats Pittsburgh we play them in back to back games. How much of our A game should we show them to secure the #1 seed? On their end how much do you show knowing you are gonna need 4-5 surprises to upset the pats in NE?

What I expect to see is the same for both teams, anyone who is truly hurting and could use a week off (Bennet, Hightower, Amendola for instance) will get it. Star players you don't want to get injured (Brady, Edelman, Butler) should play the first half or so while playing a pretty vanilla scheme. The more talented team with greater depth should win that game and I believe that to be the pats.

 

[RobertWeathers]

As long as Roger Goodell holds power, family business is not settled.

Yea they need to Hyman Roth him

 

[obgod3]

There is no way Miami wants to risk the momentum theyahve developed, I think they play to win and the Pats better bring their "A" game.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Jets-like intensity.

Jets-like intensity... hmmm.....

 

[BJ_McWild]

Coach said something about never holding back plays recently. but it's an interesting question regarding Miami as a potential opponent in the tournament.

 

[Galeb]

Yea they need to Hyman Roth him

I was thinking more like Moe Green.

 

[mikejd]

I think they will play to win. They don't have the pedigree to take weeks off willy-nilly especially with a QB who missed most of the year. Besides, I don't want the Pats to take a mental vacation either. Hang 40 on them, enjoy the bye week and we can all start thinking of ways Goody will try to screw us over.

 

[Tony2046]

First you didn't want to see the Ravens. You don't want to see the Giants. Now you don't want to see the Steelers. Exactly who WOULD you like to see the Pats play this playoff season, the Browns, Rams, and Jags?????? Grow a sack will yah, PP.

From this point on EVERY team that we play is capable of beating the Pats on a given Sunday. Deal with it. In fact EMBRACE it.

This is no time for fear or even angst Fear is for the other guy's fans, NOT us. We are Patriots fans. We have an excellent team, with offensive and defensive balance, great special teams, the best HC in the league, if not in hisory, and the GOAT at QB. This doesn't guarantee a superbowl trophy, but I don't give a f*ck who shows up at Gillette or Houston. If THIS team plays it's A game, I'm not afraid of any team. The only reason I might not want to see the Steelers is that I'm TIRED of beating their sorry asses. Bring on some fresh blood.

"Grow a sack PP" ??

You know you wrote that on purpose.

 

[PatsBoy12]

We must win against Miami, no let up we need HFA.

100000000 PERCENT AGREED

 

[Chevy]

Whatever his name is, we could beat him in his own backyard

This guy?

 

[RobertWeathers]

I was thinking more like Moe Green.

I'm up for anyone with out the last name of Corleone.

I thought Mike was too harsh on Fredo...

 

[venecol]

According to BB there aren't enough players to rest starters so there's that.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

To me, it's a no brainer.

If I'm Gase, I've already way-exceeded expectation. so why would I take my foot off the gas now?

What better way to go into a Playoff game that nobody ever expected you to play other than by beating the Patriots and finishing with 11 wins? Especially if there's even a remote chance that I could avoid a trip to Pittsburgh and get to play the team that is on everybody's "most likely one and done list" this year?