Even though they played one of their worst games of the season, trailed for most of the game, and allowed a whopping 277 rushing yards to a team that every sports gambling fan and their mother knew was going to run the ball almost every time they snapped a play, the Dolphins were still able to survive against the lowly New York Jets on Monday night and get a win. However on the bright side of things, the Dolphins still were able to come from behind and close out a close game. At the end of the day a win is still a win, no matter how ugly it is.
It was an extremely excruciating game to watch as a Dolphin fan, because the defense, even though they knew the Jets were going to run the ball, and had no intention of throwing, could still not stop the Jets from carving them up on the ground. Luckily the Dolphins defense did finally tighten up late in the 3rd and 4th quarter to finally put a lid on the Jets’ running game, because if they didn’t then that game would have surely ended in a lose and destroyed any hopes of the phins making the playoffs. The Dolphins currently sit in the 6th and final playoff spot, but there is still 4 games remaining, so the Dolphins need to prove over these next 4 games that they are worthy enough to be included in the playoffs.
If they want to make the playoffs the first thing they are going to have to do is tighten up the run defense. In past years the Dolphins have always been stingy against the run, however over the last two games they have given up an astronomical 487 rushing yards. The Dolphins must fix this issue and they must fix it fast, because if they can not stop the run, then they are not going to make the playoffs.
This upcoming Sunday they will be facing the Baltimore Ravens who they have played 6 times since 2005, and have only beat them one time, which was in overtime in 2007. The Ravens have owned the Dolphins over this 9 year time span, and if the Dolphins have any desire to break free from the shackles of the Ravens, then they need to start by stopping the run. The Ravens have the 5th best rushing attack in the league, which is averaging 131.8 yards per game, and they have the 4th leading rusher in the league in Justin Forsett who has 1009 rushing yards, and the highest yards per carry of any running back in the league with 5.6 yards per carry. Forsett and the Ravens are going to be licking their chops to bully Miami on the ground this upcoming Sunday. I honestly do not know if the Dolphins can stop the Ravens potent rushing attack, and if they can not at least make a respectable showing against the Ravens running attack, then the Dolphins are going to be in huge trouble. Can the Dolphins defense show some pride against the run, and tighten it up against the Ravens?