Miami had the opportunity to make a statement against a team that has made them their whipping boy over the last decade, and take control of their playoff destiny, however the same old Dolphins could not play up to the level of their opponent. The Ravens proved why they are only 2 years removed from winning a Super Bowl, and why they are worthy of the playoffs, and why the Dolphins are still a team searching to get over the hump of being relevant.
The Dolphins came out swinging in the first quarter, jumping to an early 10-0 lead on the Ravens, however that was as good as it would get for this Miami team. They could not stop the Ravens when they forced them into 3rd and longs, they could not stop the run late in the game, they could not protect Tannehill (6 sacks), they could not stop committing penalties (even though some were bogus), they could not make the big play when it counted. They were also physically out toughed by a Ravens team that played like it was a do or die game, compared to a Miami team that was playing like it was a regular Sunday game.
Miami’s playoff dreams are pretty much destroyed, even though they are mathematically still alive if they win out and get some help, but after a game like this it is clear that Miami is just not there yet. We as phin fans can bitch and moan and complain all we want, but the Dolphins are who they are, and what they are is a middle of the road team that still needs a few more elements to be a playoff team. Most football gambling fans would say that Miami has definitely made strides in the right direction, and there are a lot of valuable pieces to work with. However, Miami still does not have that killer instinct and even though it is not an excuse, they have been suffering injuries at an above average rate. In the secondary and linebacker units, the Dolphins are now being forced to relay on 3rd string players.
However the biggest thing is that the Ravens proved why they are a perennial playoff team, with their physicality and by having their players make the big plays when the game was on the line. I’m sick of losing to Baltimore, but they are a great measuring stick of where we want the Dolphins to be one day. Unfortunately that day will not be coming this season. The Dolphins still need some more pieces to complete the puzzle of competing in the playoffs. There are going to be plenty of phins fans complaining and saying, “see I told you this team is not good and Tannehill and Philbin need to be let go”, and this and that, but at the end of the day the Dolphins organization does not give a rats’ ass what anyone thinks including their fans, they are going to make the decisions for what they feel is best for the team, and they are not going to care if anyone disagrees with them. For all those fans that do want to complain, my advice to them would be to go find a new team to cheer for. The Dolphins have been competitive all season and they are a young team that still needs some talent at a few positions, but we are definitely a lot closer than at any other point in this century.