Facing the Ravens in ‘prime time’ is a double whammy for the Phins
The Miami Dolphins have their lone prime time game coming up this Thursday at home against the Baltimore Ravens. In hindsight the league was smart to only give the Dolphins one prime time game, since they are not even going to be a playoff contender. However, the one prime time game they give is against a team that has dominated us for years. So considering the Dolphins have a recent history of getting spanked in both prime time and by the Ravens, this combo makes the chances for a gross public humiliation very high.
Ravens, Prime Time, Tua hurt… ohh my!
The salt in the wound is that Tua is once again battling an injury and might not even play in this prime time game. This is even more unfortunate since this doesn’t properly allow the organization to continue their evaluation of him. Coach Flores said yesterday that Tua was throwing the ball…
… However, if the game was tonight, then Jacoby would be the starter.
I get they want to protect Tua, but does anyone think Tom Brady would have missed games from a broken rib and now a broken finger? This is the NFL and players are hurt all the time, sometimes you just need to tape it up and play through the pain.
What’s crazy is they forced Tua into the starting role last season when he didn’t even know the play book, not 100% recovered from his hip injury, and when Fitzpatrick was playing some of his best football of his career. Now, when the season is lost, and we need a proper evaluation of his progress he is being sidelined.
We can’t even get a proper evaluation of Tua this season
Yes, I know he’s hurt… but again this is the NFL and players get hurt all the time. A couple years ago Drew Brees broke his ribs, and he played the next week. Not for nothing, but when your QB plays through an injury, he gets more respect from his fellow teammates because it shows his toughness. Instead, this organization is babying him.
The various sportsbook lines software providers have the Dolphins as a +7.5 underdog at home. At first glance this looks generous since Miami has been routinely blown out, out played, and out toughed by the Ravens over the years. Baltimore is exactly what the Dolphins aren’t… and what we hope they could become. The Ravens always have a very good defense with a stout running attack and sturdy powerful offensive and defensive line.
Raven are the mirror opposite of this Phins organization.
A Phins team with Ravens qualities is what we hoped this Dolphins regime would build and become…
However, we’ve failed for decades to achieve this and the Grier regime is one more failed go at it. Maybe the worst of them all? This is precisely why the Ravens are a perennial playoff team and we are a perennial loser.
In terms of small victories, the Defense has played better over the last two games, so just maybe, they can keep up that trend, and slow the Ravens? The problem though is the Ravens are a run heavy offense, with the best running QB in the league. These are two things Miami have proved for a long time that they can’t handle. I would love for Miami to shock the world and finally beat the Ravens, and do it on prime time, but that’s way too much to ask for. If anything, hopefully at least Miami can make it a game–even if it’s just till late in the game–and not get blown out. Even the illusion of a chance to win when the fourth quarter starts would feel great. Again, that’s likely asking for way too much!