Phins took the Super Bowl champs to the wire with one hand tied behind their back
While the Miami Dolphins lost to the Chiefs 33-27, falling to 8-5 on the season, it’s hard not to feel great about the team’s direction despite the defeat. Not only did the Phins have a handful of starters miss the game, but they lost a handful more during the game and still kept it competitive. Even with all this extra adversity, the defense delivered haymaker after haymaker and Tua showed star qualities working with the B and C squad at running back and receiver. All I needed to hear when the clock struck 00:00 was a loud scream calling, “Adrian!” to complete the Rocky I vibe to this game.
I can’t remember the last time I felt this good after a loss. Man, times have really changed Phins fans!
Injuries, injuries, injuries
Miami went into this game without running backs Brieda, Gaskin, and Ahmed. They were also without LBs Roberts and Van Noy. That’s three starters down before kickoff! But, insult was added to injury with even more key injuries. The Phins lost WR Parker and Grant, TE Gesicki, and rookie tackle Jackson on offense. On defense, Miami lost safety Bobby McCain for most of the game.
It doesn’t take the best pay per head services to know that’s a lot of missing firepower.
Miami suffered on deep plays with the loss of McCainand without their three best receivers, the offense lacked much of its punch until late in the game. Add to these losses, a Parker drop in the endzone, a missed read by Tua that would have led to a TD on the same play, a Sanders missed field goal, and two deep balls dropped. Even with all this they only lost by 6 points!
Yes, there is a loss added to the Phins record, but don’t tell me this game didn’t add a ton to their confidence.
Tua showed star power in guiding a damaged ship
First, Tua showed all that needs to be seen to believe he’s the quarterback of the future in Miami. Tua was behind on the scoreboard, under pressure, without a run game, throwing to backup receivers, and still managed to bring the team back. These are telltale signs of a franchise quarterback. Added to this, Tua displayed growth in his throwing mechanics, decision making, and anticipation. Sure, there were some tough moments, but he’s a rookie and that’s expected. What isn’t expected from a rookie who hasn’t even completed six full games is all these positives. While I’m not crowning him the ‘best QB eva’, it’s clear he IS Miami’s future.
The Phins defense IS legit!
The defense and coaches Brian Flores and Josh Boyer are the real deal. Despite major losses in personnel before and during the game, Miami managed to take the best offense in the league to the edge of destruction. Beyond two big run plays, the Chief’s rushers were held in check and Mahomes threw three picks–a career first–and was sacked three times. The only real negative was TE Travis Kelce feasted with 136 yards. Still, considering this is only Year 2 of the rebuild, this is spectacular. This defense and staff are a legitimate foundation to build the future on.
Given what we saw from the quarterback position and defense as a whole, Miami has the recipe for legitimate success in the NFL. And the craziness of it all is that the Dolphins are stocked to the gills with draft picks in this coming draft! Go Phins!!!
I agree with the other commentators that this team showed great grit and resolve, despite all the injuries. If this team is to make the playoffs, then we will need these guys back, plus Preston Williams. In the upcoming draft team needs to draft a top flight RT in the first round, plus either a super stud WR with size and great speed. I thought for a while that MLB would be a very top priority, but Roberts has proven to be effective, and Van Ginkel did nice job filling in. We also have Vince Biegel coming back next season. In the 2nd round I say we go for a real “bellcow” Stub RB and possibly another top WR! Parker and Williams are excellent when healthy, but healthy is the key. Both tend to get “nicked” up and miss games, so I feel that they can’t be counted on. Tua will need more weapons for this team to take the next step. The top flight RT will protect Tua’s blind side and provide much needed help on the OL. In FA top priority for me is bring in a stud veteran FA OG to paly RG. Kinsley and Hunt are good and developing, Jesse Davis is stable but he is not great. We need a Pro Bowler (s) up front. The biggest area of deficiency is the lack in the running game. Every QB needs a running game so I say invest early in the draft and FA on the offensive side of the ball. A good FA DT would be nice to add quality depth at the interior D-Line. Then in the 3rd round, we can bring in a top 3 or 4 MLB . The team will have a very good amount of cap money to spend, and spend they will! This team is just one season away, one draft away from being a contender in the AFC! Finally!! Flores, Grier, Allen, and McKenzie have done a terrific job!! Has anyone noticed just how much Ross is staying out of the picture just like he said he would! Ross needs to now just stay away and right checks! That’s it! Finally, some might say that Stephen you are nuts two (2) WR’s in the first two (2) rounds? I say yes, Tua needs more weapons and you can’t count on Parker and Williams to be healthy. Besides, both Albert Wilson and Allan Hurns won’t be back. Both are turning 32 and this does not “jive” with the youth movement by Flores and Grier. I feel that we can win 2 of our next 3, but we are going to have to get guys healthy, or at least they need to “spot” play and contribute. Injuries will dictate if we make the playoffs, or go 1-3, 0-4. Unfortunately it is possible to end up 8-8. Pats have NO passing offense so we should be able to crowd the LS and even put a “spy” on Newton. Bills will be tough! Have not won up in Buffalo in how long? Raiders are not stellar and this is winnable, but no gimmie either! Go Fins!
“In the upcoming draft team needs to draft a top flight RT in the first round, plus either a super stud WR with size and great speed. I thought for a while that MLB would be a very top priority, but Roberts has proven to be effective, and Van Ginkel did nice job filling in. We also have Vince Biegel coming back next season. In the 2nd round I say we go for a real “bellcow” Stub RB and possibly another top WR! ”
I could see that. But, I think it would have to be a very good back in the 2nd. I think this FO doesn’t put a high premium on RBs, “The biggest area of deficiency is the lack in the running game.” A good run blocking OL would fix most of the issues. “Unfortunately it is possible to end up 8-8. Pats have NO passing offense so we should be able to crowd the LS and even put a “spy” on Newton. Bills will be tough! Have not won up in Buffalo in how long? Raiders are not stellar and this is winnable, but no gimmie either! Go Fins!” I agree here too… I think we should win against both the Pats and Raiders. It would be a let down if we don’t. Bills will be brutal without a real run game… that is a real long shot. We should be at least 9-7. 8-8 would be a bit fo a letdown, Stephen.
I never thought that we would beat Kansas City. However, I also thought that we could make it a competitive game. The injuries were unfortunate but we gave them a good fight! When you look at this team’s play and their stats you can see we are on the right track. Coach Flores has done a great job. Coach Gaily has to mix up the plays better on first down. We need a stud wide receiver and a better running back. My hat is off to the defense! great job!
We can win the next two games for sure! Buffalo has proven they are the real deal. Great season finale!
“This headline is like the one, “Sitting Bull Gives Custer A Great Opportunity!” No really! I mean that drunk Custer had beating up on “lesser” opponents and then he got to attack Sitting Bull and the Great Sioux Nation. Tua is sort of like Custer and the Dolphins remind me of the 7th cavalry – in a rather obscure metaphorical way!”
Maybe my reading comprehension is poor, but this doesn’t sound like you predicted a competitive game, Van. 🙂
I do think you are right on the rest… I do hope we get to Buffalo with 10 wins. Browns losing helps. Hope Gesicki isn’t out long.
MJ,I couldn’t agree with you anymore. When I heard Sunday morning that Gaskin was placed on the Covid list Saturday knowing that Ahmed and Brieda were already not going to play along with the defensive players Van Noy and Roberts I was just hoping it wasn’t going to be a blow out. What I loved the most about the game was when we were down 20 in the 3rd is that the grit that the dolphins showed. Then losing Parker and Grant in the 3rd and Gesiciki in the 4th and we still fought and made a terrific showing fighting back and not just shutting it down. To me that just shows the make up of this team and what kind of coach we have in Flores. I believe we do have our franchise QB and coach finally. Dolphins future is bright and possibly we can still make that playoff run this season.GO FINS!!!
“MJ,I couldn’t agree with you anymore. When I heard Sunday morning that Gaskin was placed on the Covid list Saturday knowing that Ahmed and Brieda were already not going to play along with the defensive players Van Noy and Roberts I was just hoping it wasn’t going to be a blow out.” All I could think of was now they would be blown out and I’d have to eat a heap of crow!
So surprised they fought back when down that much and with all those injuries. Flores and his staff are special. This is a special regime!
MJ,
I agree with the other commentators that this team showed great grit and resolve, despite all the injuries. If this team is to make the playoffs, then we will need these guys back, plus Preston Williams. In the upcoming draft team needs to draft a top flight RT in the first round, plus either a super stud WR with size and great speed. I thought for a while that MLB would be a very top priority, but Roberts has proven to be effective, and Van Ginkel did nice job filling in. We also have Vince Biegel coming back next season. In the 2nd round I say we go for a real “bellcow” Stub RB and possibly another top WR! Parker and Williams are excellent when healthy, but healthy is the key. Both tend to get “nicked” up and miss games, so I feel that they can’t be counted on. Tua will need more weapons for this team to take the next step. The top flight RT will protect Tua’s blind side and provide much needed help on the OL. In FA top priority for me is bring in a stud veteran FA OG to paly RG. Kinsley and Hunt are good and developing, Jesse Davis is stable but he is not great. We need a Pro Bowler (s) up front. The biggest area of deficiency is the lack in the running game. Every QB needs a running game so I say invest early in the draft and FA on the offensive side of the ball. A good FA DT would be nice to add quality depth at the interior D-Line. Then in the 3rd round, we can bring in a top 3 or 4 MLB . The team will have a very good amount of cap money to spend, and spend they will! This team is just one season away, one draft away from being a contender in the AFC! Finally!! Flores, Grier, Allen, and McKenzie have done a terrific job!! Has anyone noticed just how much Ross is staying out of the picture just like he said he would! Ross needs to now just stay away and right checks! That’s it! Finally, some might say that Stephen you are nuts two (2) WR’s in the first two (2) rounds? I say yes, Tua needs more weapons and you can’t count on Parker and Williams to be healthy. Besides, both Albert Wilson and Allan Hurns won’t be back. Both are turning 32 and this does not “jive” with the youth movement by Flores and Grier. I feel that we can win 2 of our next 3, but we are going to have to get guys healthy, or at least they need to “spot” play and contribute. Injuries will dictate if we make the playoffs, or go 1-3, 0-4. Unfortunately it is possible to end up 8-8. Pats have NO passing offense so we should be able to crowd the LS and even put a “spy” on Newton. Bills will be tough! Have not won up in Buffalo in how long? Raiders are not stellar and this is winnable, but no gimmie either! Go Fins!
“In the upcoming draft team needs to draft a top flight RT in the first round, plus either a super stud WR with size and great speed. I thought for a while that MLB would be a very top priority, but Roberts has proven to be effective, and Van Ginkel did nice job filling in. We also have Vince Biegel coming back next season. In the 2nd round I say we go for a real “bellcow” Stub RB and possibly another top WR! ”
I could see that. But, I think it would have to be a very good back in the 2nd. I think this FO doesn’t put a high premium on RBs,
“The biggest area of deficiency is the lack in the running game.” A good run blocking OL would fix most of the issues.
“Unfortunately it is possible to end up 8-8. Pats have NO passing offense so we should be able to crowd the LS and even put a “spy” on Newton. Bills will be tough! Have not won up in Buffalo in how long? Raiders are not stellar and this is winnable, but no gimmie either! Go Fins!”
I agree here too… I think we should win against both the Pats and Raiders. It would be a let down if we don’t. Bills will be brutal without a real run game… that is a real long shot. We should be at least 9-7. 8-8 would be a bit fo a letdown, Stephen.
I never thought that we would beat Kansas City. However, I also thought that we could make it a competitive game. The injuries were unfortunate but we gave them a good fight! When you look at this team’s play and their stats you can see we are on the right track. Coach Flores has done a great job. Coach Gaily has to mix up the plays better on first down. We need a stud wide receiver and a better running back. My hat is off to the defense! great job!
We can win the next two games for sure! Buffalo has proven they are the real deal. Great season finale!
“This headline is like the one, “Sitting Bull Gives Custer A Great Opportunity!” No really! I mean that drunk Custer had beating up on “lesser” opponents and then he got to attack Sitting Bull and the Great Sioux Nation. Tua is sort of like Custer and the Dolphins remind me of the 7th cavalry – in a rather obscure metaphorical way!”
Maybe my reading comprehension is poor, but this doesn’t sound like you predicted a competitive game, Van. 🙂
I do think you are right on the rest… I do hope we get to Buffalo with 10 wins. Browns losing helps. Hope Gesicki isn’t out long.
MJ,I couldn’t agree with you anymore. When I heard Sunday morning that Gaskin was placed on the Covid list Saturday knowing that Ahmed and Brieda were already not going to play along with the defensive players Van Noy and Roberts I was just hoping it wasn’t going to be a blow out. What I loved the most about the game was when we were down 20 in the 3rd is that the grit that the dolphins showed. Then losing Parker and Grant in the 3rd and Gesiciki in the 4th and we still fought and made a terrific showing fighting back and not just shutting it down. To me that just shows the make up of this team and what kind of coach we have in Flores. I believe we do have our franchise QB and coach finally. Dolphins future is bright and possibly we can still make that playoff run this season.GO FINS!!!
“MJ,I couldn’t agree with you anymore. When I heard Sunday morning that Gaskin was placed on the Covid list Saturday knowing that Ahmed and Brieda were already not going to play along with the defensive players Van Noy and Roberts I was just hoping it wasn’t going to be a blow out.”
All I could think of was now they would be blown out and I’d have to eat a heap of crow!
So surprised they fought back when down that much and with all those injuries. Flores and his staff are special.
This is a special regime!