Arizona: Best Losing Team In NFL
Cardinals have a losing record, but have an excellent coaching staff and talent.
Even with a losing record, Cardinals are a tough opponent.
Last season, the Arizona Cardinals appeared in the NFC Championship game against the Carolina Panthers. However, Carolina overpowered them in that game and ended up crushing them by a score of 49-15 on their way to the 2015 Superbowl.
Many of the best pay per head sportsbook in the world had the Cardinals pegged as one of the top 5 teams in the league and with a solid value to win the Super Bowl at +1000 in late July. At the time, it looked like a good pick considering that the Cardinals were returning most of their key starters. Most expected they’d be just as good as last year or maybe even better.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they had a disastrous start going 1-3 in their first 4 games. And even though they had to face a Brady-less Patriots team in their first game of the season, they were still no match for Bill Belichick. Then in their third game they got ‘out toughed’ by a hot Buffalo Bills team, and in their fourth game they got outlasted by an L.A. Rams team that has a very good defense.
Their other 3 losses were against the Panthers, Vikings, and Falcons, all talented teams. As a result the Cardinals are currently 5-6-1, and their biggest problem has been that they have played poorly on the road, going 1-4 so far this season.
This bodes well for the Dolphins who will have the luxury of playing the Cardinals in Miami, which appears to be one of the few advantages they have in this game.
Losing this game will sink either team’s season.
When one looks deeper into the stats, the Cardinals are playing like a top 10 football team.
On defense, the Cardinals are ranked 2nd best in the entire league in terms of yards allowed. Their pass defense is ranked 3rd best in the league allowing a stingy 199.3 yards per game, and their run defense is tied for 11th best in the league allowed 97.9 yards per game. These two stats combined make them tied for 11th best in the league in points allowed per game at 20.9.
Miami is ranked behind them in everyone of these categories.
On Offense, the Cardinals are ranked 9th best in overall yards per game. With a passing game ranked 9th best with 369.1 yards per game and a rushing game ranked 15th best with 105.3 yards per game, this is a balanced offense.
Running Back David Johnson is ranked 3rd in overall rushing with 1,005 yards and 11 touchdowns. He will be a nightmare match-up for Miami all afternoon. So even though Miami is ranked higher in terms of rushing yards per game, the Cardinals have a better chance to have more success on the ground when they play each other. And another issue is that they are banged up at the linebacker position and Johnson is going to be a big problem catching passes out of the backfield as well (he’s leading all running backs in receiving with 64 catches, for 704 yards and 4 touchdowns).
The losing culture in Miami needs to end this December.
This Cardinals team at 5-6-1 isn’t a typical sub .500 team, and frankly this match-up really is a tough one. But, it’s exactly what Miami needs at this point. Miami needs to face a good and desperate team, and they need to beat them. Miami must rise to the occasion and bring the type of intensity and prowess, by both coaches and players, that the Ravens brought last week — because that’s how good teams roll.
And it’s time for the Dolphins to prove the NFL, their fans, and themselves that they are a good team.
This Sunday will be put-up or shut-up. There will be nothing easy about this game. But, the truth is there is not short cuts to greatness and there never will be. Go Fins!!!
Hello Dolphins
Base on some comments by the Dallas Cowboys owner about his Rookie QB Presscott.
Jerry Jones wants Tony Romo to lead his team. But he has never carried his team to a Super Bowl, never mind to a Super Bowl victory, and he has won only two playoff games since taking the job a decade ago. In other words, Romo hasn’t earned untouchable status.
Is it possible for a team to steal Dae Prescott after the this season?
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jerry-jones-tony-romo-play-part-cowboys-super-bowl-run-article-1.2903930
This is the kind of relationship i see with Stehpen Ross & Tannehill 10 years down the road an a couple of playoffs.
Two things that will ensure the Victory
The Dolphins will go further into the playoffs requardless of the score run 30 to 35 carries and committ every game.
Defensive Coach if he believes in his Defense must allow more man to man press coverage or look for defeat his soft coverage has been exposed. I keep hearing we have excellent CornerBacks Okay! Man to Man the next four games? Time to see who plans to be employed? Running Backs Screens have murdered the Dolphins, What are we going to do about that?
This is Basic 101 defense im know expert: If the team is Rushing then use 6 men in the box.
If we are looking at mostly passing Rush 3 men and still play man to man press? This should work for the Dolphins.
I will never forget how the Great Coach Tom Landry would put emphasis on having a well balanced team.
For me, I think the key is diversity. Soft shell, press, man, zone, hybrid man /zone, and zone blitz. With good QB’s comfort is nitro. Complexity forces them to delay as they must decipher. I think it’s one reason why the Raven mauled us. They knew exactly what we were running as we ran the same play basically every down.
Admin
lack of game preparation was evident that no one studies any game tape,
My definition of a good secondary is to stop Free accesss routes, They will get up into the widereciever face bump and run and reroute the wide receivers,
Miami Dolphins we dont know who they are Yet? But I do know that Jerry Jones and Stephen Ross are both trying to Sell their questionable Romo who has played one game this seasaon and Tannehill who chokes in December QB’s. 50/50 chance.
Joe Flacco will most likely get shut down by the Patroits and he is overrated.
The Cowboys will beat the Giants though I like Eli alot, Ezekial Elliot has never lost a home game in high school, college or with Dallas. Elliot is a big time play maker.
All that is techniques applied to the scheme. The corners are told to play the routes as directed. It’s Joseph’s choice to let the wr’s run free…it’s his scheme and idea of what the roles are within the play. Maxwell would love to jam …but he is told not too.
Every player and Coach with the Miami Dolphins organization are special FIRST to have made it to the NFL level. Any given Sunday all NFL can Win. The issue is being Consistent about Winning.
Gase is a Smart Coach who has made the passing game his bread and Butter. What makes him different from the other Coaches that failed other than Coach Shula?
Don Shula age 85
Jimmy Johnson age 72
George Wilson
Died at 68 (1943-2011)
Dave Wannstedt age 63
Tony Sparano age 54
Jim Bates
age 69
Todd Bowles age 52
Nick Saban age 64
Joe Philbin age 54
Cam Cameron age 54
Actually, he does run the ball alot. Did so in Chicago and with Manning – other than the record breaking year. I might be wrong, but I think alot of his moving away from the run happens not by inclination but by situations of being down by multiple scores…I could be wrong and still need to present my case from the last game…but, in the end I agree with you: running is key!
Hello Dol Fans
This season 2016 are listed as the top 10 linebackers in the NFL.
1. Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers
2. Jamie Collins, New England Patriots Traded to the Browns
The trade is for a third-round compensatory pick if the Browns are awarded one, a source told ESPN’s Pat McManamon. If the Browns don’t get that pick from the league, the trade is for a fourth-round pick, the source said. for 4th rounder or 3rd round compensatory pick. He was To expensive for the PAT’s
3. NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers Listed under injure reserved
4. Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks
5. Sean Lee, Dallas Cowboys
6. Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings
7. Derrick Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
8. LaVonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9. Danny Trevathan, Chicago Bears
10. Thomas Davis, Carolina Panthers
The Dolphins may have a chance at Tim or Davis in the Draft.
Tim Williams
1st Rounder ranked number OLB about picked 18th
https://youtu.be/G9wTtXm9PtA
IlB Ranked a high second rounder about number 42nd
Jarrad Davis Florida Highlights
https://youtu.be/TVYsP46TbBo
….fair analysis
….they have a pretty good QB who isn’t prone to being shaken by a pass rush …vs our weakness in the middle with LB and DB coverage …and Alonzo will be playing injured again as well …this will come down to Joseph’s game plan …which has been “unoriginal” so far …at best
…not to mention our run defense, weak to begin with, and exacerbated by LB injuries
…on the offensive side we must run the ball …enough said …anything less than 25 carries by What I and we lose …imnsho
…my one hope here lies in Gase and his past responses to adversity …he has shown the ability to identify and fix problems once exposed …here’s hoping he does so again
you ain’t kidding Lemmus! I still need to work on my Gase eval from last game, but I still say it is all based of the D and Joseph. If they can hold to at least a 10 pt deficit,we’ll get alot of Ajayi. Hull will be playing it seems and these LB’s will need some help beyond more pass rush. Palmer does have an inclination to through picks so that’s good. Not sure about the Cardinals TE situation…you know anything about that?