Phins Need ‘Freezer Bowl’ Win To Save Season

Dolphins and sub-zero temperatures don’t feel like a good mix, but…

The Miami Dolphins have everything against them in their matchup vs. the defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs in the ‘Freezer Bowl’. This is where their 2023 Season and all the hope it once had will die or be justified. Winning today, even if they don’t win another game in the playoffs, would resurrect the hope Phins fans had for this regime and franchise. Not only Miami would get their first postseason win in 23 years, but it would put a classic and historical victory in what appears to be the coldest game in NFL history. A victory over the Chiefs considering all the injuries would reboot hope for 2024 for many.

Hope is a word that has turned to despair over and over for decades with Phins fans. So much is riding on winning today, can the Dolphins pull off the heroic victory?

Injuries, cold, and the run game

The cold changes the way an offense plays the game and this insane cold changes it even more. Running the football will be used with a heavy dose by both teams, but the inside run game between the tackles will be the key. The Dolphins lead the league in rush years, but the vast majority of those yards come from the edge and the Chiefs are tough on the edge in their run defense. If they have any weakness it’s stopping the inside run game. Robert Jones, Liam Eichenberg, and Robert Hunt will be the key to the game. If Miami runs inside with consistency, along with their edge runs, then the miracle can happen.

The football will feel like a rock and the pass game will have to go against a Top 10 pass defense and strong gusts. It sure would help if Waddle could play. Unfortunately, the one lone practice that the Dolphins had showed him gingerly coming out of his break. I just don’t know if he’ll be able to go all day. Likely Waddle will be used in spurts, which is better than nothing. But, you can bet with the best pay per head that this offense though is in a much better place than the defense.

Defense is a shell of itself with injuries

No Chubb, Phillips, or Van Ginkel in this matchup. They all played key roles in the Week 9 game in Germany against the Chiefs. Add in no Howard or Baker, and likely a limited Holland and Elliot at best. holland only played 11 snaps last week, maybe he gets that or less this week.

The good news is the Chielfs offensive tackles aren’t good and Melvin Ingram and the new additions of Bruce Irvin and Juston Houston won’t be too overwhelmed. Irvin and Houston are former Chiefs, so they might have a little extra juice to beat their former team. Hey, any little extra counts. Thankfully, Wilkins, Sieler, and Davis are all good to go and will battle maybe the best trio of interior blockers in Thuney, Humphrey, and Smith. Pacheco pounding inside can’t be allowed to catch fire or it could be lights out for the Dolphins.

Ground and pound in bad weather is often a key to post-season football, even more so in this crazy cold. If the Dolphin’s defense struggles, it would be understandable, but this offensive line is only down on player Connor Williams. Chris Grier spent a 2nd and 3rd Round pick on Eicheberg and banked on him to play center, so he should show. Only the left guard spot is undermanned with Cotton or Jones, but the Chiefs are playing with only three good OLs. If we are built right this offense will do its job and keep the Dolphins in this game win or lose.

Get ready Phins fans for a key moment in Dolphins history. The crossroads are here for our Dolphins, which road do they take? Fingers crossed! Go Phins!!!