Miami is in just Week 2, and a loss could end their season and this regime
The road for the Miami Dolphins is crystal clear: beat the New England Patriots or the 2025 Season will be lost. Miami has the intangible edge; they are home with crowd support, the sun will cook New England, and Tua hasn’t lost to New England once in his career. But they are only being given a +1.5-point advantage because they are banged up and are facing the Dolphins killer in Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel with a New England team that has as much to lose as Miami.
For Phins fans the road is murkier.
While a win will keep the team alive, theoretically, most fans know that the best thing for the Phins long term is to move off Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel. As good as a win will feel, it only delays the inevitable end of their regime. No one wants to see the Dolphins lose, but certainly most of us will feel a profound sense of relief if we lose and the end comes for this terrible regime.
I can’t get to the point to root for the Phins to lose, but the good news for me is, win or lose, I’ll feel like I’ve won.
So, will Miami win? I think so–maybe.
Here’s my breakdown on the keys for a Miami win.
Phins must be smart and tough… tall task for them
The Phins are already a fractured team with a player only meeting this week and a difference of opinions between McDaniel and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver on what the defense failed against the Colts. This is never a good sign especially in only the second week of the season. The Dolphins must play as a team and be mentally strong to beat the Patriots. This player only meeting will either have Miami come out strong and stay strong or they will splinter apart quickly.
Your guess is as good as mine as to how it will play out.
This will be a very physical game by the Patriots offense and defense. Vrabel is the new Head Coach, and his players know if they quit, they will be gone quickly. For Miami players, you can bet with the best pay per head that they see the writing on the wall and know McDaniel is done, whether it’s this week or in the near future.
Miami needs to run inside, but it will likely be big play or bust
If McDaniel wants to win and keep hope alive, he must get his offense out of the long slump they’ve been in. They must run the football between the tackles and play well on 1st down. The defense is beat to heck from last week and can’t be on the field all day. McDaniel hasn’t been able to be consistent on offense on 1st down or run the football much in his career, so either he gets big plays or flip his ugly script to get the win.
Problem is the Patriots defense has a strength on their defensive line with edges Harold Landry, and defensive tackles Christian Barmore, Christian Barmore, and massive Khyiris Tonga. Good news for Miami is edge Keion White has been sick all week and might not play. But considering the Phins will field back up guards Kion Smith or Daniel Brunskill and back up tackle Larry Borom, White being out isn’t going to swing the tide.
Reality is they need to run the ball just enough to keep them honest and big plays on offense will make or break this offense and likely the game. This isn’t a great recipe for success but will likely be the only one they have.
Miami defensive front will have a huge edge, but…
The Dolphins defensive front struggled last week to get pressure despite blitzing a league high 60%. But New England doesn’t have the offensive line that the Colts have, so they should generate more pressure without so much extra help. Miami needs to blitz less because they need as many pass defenders as they can considering how poor the unit is beyond Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Storm Duck is out, and up and down Jack Jones, rookie Jason Marshall, and long in the tooth vet Rasul Douglas will be left to the task of stopping the Patriots pass attack with Fitzpatrick and rookie Dante Trader who played pretty well Week 1. Thankfully, linebackers Dodson and Brooks are good at coverage and that will help.
While the Patriots don’t have a great receiving group, they do have some dangerous weapons in tight ends Austin Hopper and Hunter Henry and wide outs Kayshon Boutte and Stefon Diggs, who is still a threat. If the Patriots have time, they’ll put the yards and points on and the Phins will crumble. This is why the pass rush and stopping the run to keep their offense off schedule will be critical.
With all Miami spent on manning the defensive edge group, you expect them to deliver.
They’d better or McDaniel will be heading for the door after Week 2.
I’m saying Phins edge out the Patriots by a field goal. But I’m a glutton for punishment, so who knows.
Either way I win Sunday. If we shock the world and win, the season continues. If we lose, I can start counting the days before I say goodbye to Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel. It’s a win-win for me!
There is no education in the second kick of a mule. I hope for the loss and the rest of the season as well will be toast. maybe then the powers that be will wise up and select a ne coach and manager. The let Cambell go it was a major mistake but they have done this for the last 40 years. and so it goes.
You got it…. we are almost free of the idiots… we might get new idiots, but I don’t think anyone can be as dumb as Grier and McDaniel…. here we go again… hopefully this spin cycle gets out all the wet noodles. 🙂
There is no education in the second kick of a mule. I hope for the loss and the rest of the season as well will be toast. maybe then the powers that be will wise up and select a ne coach and manager. The let Cambell go it was a major mistake but they have done this for the last 40 years. and so it goes.
You got it…. we are almost free of the idiots… we might get new idiots, but I don’t think anyone can be as dumb as Grier and McDaniel…. here we go again… hopefully this spin cycle gets out all the wet noodles. 🙂