Dolphins beat Broncos 26-17, oh my!

DENVER -- Your Miami Dolphins are officially in the playoff race now.

Their 26-17 victory over the AFC West leading Denver Broncos says they are in the hunt. Their 4-4 record at the midway point says they are in the hunt. And the way they are fighting and clawing and never saying die more than suggests they are going to stay in the hunt.

The Dolphins today got heroic performances from:

Their secondary that had three interceptions, including one that led to a field goal and one that was returned for a touchdown.

Greg Camarillo had 11 catches for 111 yards.

And the offensive line protected Chad Pennington as if he was Fort Knox on that last TD drive that sealed the victory.

So that's my opinion ...

You guys agree or disagree this looks like a playoff contender?

Comments

[Jon]

Thanks for holding this blog every Sunday Mando, since I live in Ohio the updates from you and the guys are all I've got other than NFL.com.

Go Phins

[Mark in Germany]

Great game tonight, glad I stayed up 'till 0115 to watch it all. The Dolphins just didn't quit today and that was the difference.

[Palmface]

If they can beat the teams they should, like the ones coming up, then I say Playoffs are a possiblity.

[Jon]

I officially have hope for the playoffs. If you are a fin fan with this record you should have hope.

This doesn't meant it will happen, it just means there is hope.

[phil76]

oh what a feeling winning feels good

[Fish Boy]

CATCH RICKY CATCH!!

[Eric]

great win! now i need to take a shower because my butthole is full of sweat from the suspense.

[spiewak]

these next couple of games are going to be fun

[Master]

Mando - Tell Mike Shanahan for me that he can go Fu@k Himself.

[farrington07]

we could be 6-2 right now, but ill take 4-4 good job guys, keep up the good work!!!

[phil76]

we are now only one game out of first

[Mark in Germany]

Playoff hope is...too early, but still, it is nice to know we're not the first team out of the hunt without hope.

Secondary played great tonight. Ginn was decent, could have been better. Camarillo - stud. Porter - stud.

[macca]

There were many times in the last quarter where the old fins would have folded to the pressure. Awesome last drive !

[phil76]

the old phins died today

[farrington07]

Thats the way to close games out

[greg_bennett]

Late night here in Germany, but the Fins are certainly motivating with these wins. There is nobody in the league that we just straight out couldnt beat.

Dolfan abroad

[phil76]

funny that the oline sucked most of the game but they found a way to come thru when they had to

[farrington07]

Thats something the old fins would not do

[Chase]

If we keep playing the way we are capable of. Play D and execute on O. HELL YES WE ARE!

We have Oakland, Kansas City, Seattle, and San Fransisco left on the schedule. There is no reason we should lose to them if we play to our capability!
Other then that we have to fight through our conference with the new england, bills, and jets to finish out the season!
LETS GO FINS!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Joekerman]

Having already beaten the patriots, chargers, bills, and denver, only a moron would question their playoff potential. Any morons out there?

[shawn]

The final scoring drive after having the lead cut to 19-17 was an incredibly pleasant surprise. Many teams would have lost that game after losing the momentum.

They now have 2 games coming where they will be (believe it or not) favored. They have hope. If they can win the next 2 winnable games, they have real hope.

[The Boz in Oz]

The whole organisation is believing and things can only get better. I think the core players are beginning to show up. The secondary is showing that all that hard work is paying of. Once the o-line gets it together we should be a handful for everyone. Despite some poor throws by Chad he came through like the winner he is.

[Germany speaking]

Mando until they can get yards out of the running game they are no playoff contender.

Anyway great game - they were fighting even though the killer instinct was missing - they could have done more out of all these INTs - anyway great win

GO FINS

[Scalzo]

We are not the punching bag of the AFC anymore. Teams better start to respect the Phins once again.

[macca]

Its great to just be talked about again - for good reasons !

[Machete]

playoffs?

I think that's premature. God, I hope that's premature.

I want more picks so we can get stronger on our line and in our secondary!

[ziggy]

Hell Yes we are!!!! And we have a great schedule for the next 2 weeks and can be 6-4 heading into the NE game at home. These next three weeks are huge and if we go on a streak here and get some help we could be leading the division at 7-4!! I love this team and the character that they possess!! GO FINS!!!!!! JOKES NO MORE!!!!

[phil76]

the only punching bag let is that jet midget

[joeyoneshot]

Hey Jon, why don't you look into JustinT. I live in West By God Virginia and that is the only way i get to see the dolphins.

[Joekerman]

If your're a jets fan you can kiss all our backsides. Thank you very much.

[phil76]

left

[phil76]

go INDY

[Jon Bubar]

If we beat the teams we should beat, Seattle, Oakland, KC, SF and St.L, we win 9 games. If we beat the Jills and Pats again, we are 11-5 and probably atop the AFC East... I don't want to jinx the team, so I won't say playoffs...

[phil76]

one game at a time wish i could be in that locker room

[Jon]

I'll have to try that JustinT.......I've seen mixed reviews of it on here from people though

[ziggy]

Do you guys realize that this team is two plays away from being 6-2? Seriously we have made major improvements all around and I am gonna make the statement that the Jets game at the end of the year will either put us in the playoffs or keep us out. This team has more heart and fight than any Fin team ive seen the last 10 years!! Fans better get your a$$es to the next three home games and support your team!!!

[The New Kid]

I'm not bullish on the Dolphins' playoff prospects, but this is a radically improved team. They're a bit too reliant on throwing the ball to drive the field - a scary prospect when Greg Camarillo is your best WR (though Camarillo is a fantastic feel-good story of a guy that is overachieving to help his team win - Camarillo wasn't even a big numbers guy in college). If Tje Dolphins could start to run the ball out of the base offense with any consistency, they'd have a real shot at the postseason. Regardless, this is turning into a far better season than anyone had a right to expect. Pennington has been a godsend.

[ziggy]

Do you guys realize that this team is two plays away from being 6-2? Seriously we have made major improvements all around and I am gonna make the statement that the Jets game at the end of the year will either put us in the playoffs or keep us out. This team has more heart and fight than any Fin team ive seen the last 10 years!! Fans better get your butts to the next three home games and support your team!!!

[Tony T Bone]

Isay 9-7 looking at the remaining games.That should get you a spot in the AFC.The way they compete I will be dissapointed with anything less.

[Joekerman]

Go colts

[phil76]

Brett Favre tosses career interception No. 300

[Chase]

IT's kinda funny. This game almost went perfect to how Tony sparano would like a game to be finished. He said a perfect game would be controlling the ball for 35 minutes of the game, with 40 carries..... We ended up holding the ball for 36 min 32 sec while PASSING the ball 40 times.

[lil mikey p]

The Fish R Exocising Ghost Of Losers Past Dave(i Am Useless)wannstadt,nick(ill Sell My Mother 4 A Buck)sabin,cam(cant Win)cammron,by 2 Preist By The Name Of Bill(big Tuna)parcells And Tony(coach Of The Year)saprano God Bless These Men Of The Clothe...if Anyone Could Please Locate Ted(hands Of Stone)ginn Tell Him Theres Still 8 Games Left So He Ll Be Required To Catch At Least 10 More Catchs This Year..go Phins

[Gus]

Great job by the Fins, however, I am still concerned about the lack of a consistant running game. The Broncos have the worst run defense in the league and Ronnie Brown only got 50 yards.

[cappy]

The toughest games in the second half of the schedule are the three division rivals, Pats, Jets and Bills. The other five teams Raiders, Chiefs, Seahawks, Rams and 49ers have a combined record of 9-31. If they can keep playing like they have then 6-2 down the stretch is possible.

[lil mikey p]

The Fish R Exocising Ghost Of Losers Past Dave(i Am Useless)wannstadt,nick(ill Sell My Mother 4 A Buck)sabin,cam(cant Win)cammron,by 2 Preist By The Name Of Bill(big Tuna)parcells And Tony(coach Of The Year)saprano God Bless These Men Of The Clothe...if Anyone Could Please Locate Ted(hands Of Stone)ginn Tell Him Theres Still 8 Games Left So He Ll Be Required To Catch At Least 10 More Catchs This Year..go Phins

[mccreet]

Way to get it done Miami! Secondary played the best that I have seen them in a few years. Running game hit a snag, and penny looked sharp at times,and sour at others. The real good news is that we got 3 home games coming up,against teams we have a decent chance to beat. Seattle,oakland,and new england are all hurting and we need to kick them while their down. How bout those know it all fans that claim they know more than others on here and said Miami was a 4 win team at best this year and we needed to just quit whining and face it. Fact is you are a loser,and you dont know football, real dolfans like to whine but we never accept defeat, and never give up, old fans that went through the perfect season were forever spoiled and we will always be like that, thank God! GO MIAMI!

Hello to all Fins Fans...Up here in Virginia where I am either surrounded by the burgundy & white (Skins) or the black & purple (Ravens)...It feels really good to know our team is fastly gaining a lot of respect...And is taking the role of "underdog" with a lot of pride based on their collective efforts on Sunday. Last season was painful...this season is doing a whole lot to erase that pain and make me feel even more proud to show off my true colors as a "minority". Half a season to go...Let's go FINS...one game at a time. Damn...I can't wait to play the Jets again. Have a great week everyone.

FinsMan62

[lil mikey p]

The Fish R Exocising Ghost Of Losers Past Dave(i Am Useless)wannstadt,nick(ill Sell My Mother 4 A Buck)sabin,cam(cant Win)cammron,by 2 Preist By The Name Of Bill(big Tuna)parcells And Tony(coach Of The Year)saprano God Bless These Men Of The Clothe...if Anyone Could Please Locate Ted(hands Of Stone)ginn Tell Him Theres Still 8 Games Left So He Ll Be Required To Catch At Least 10 More Catchs This Year..go Phins

[vtdolfan]

Ok - I admit I was wrong. Half way throught the Bills game I was saying that the Dolphins looked the same (undiciplined, dumb mistakes, etc) but I now believe. Sporano has got them playing (most weeks) - today was a huge step forward. It has been a while since we have seen progree but it is happening!

[Dan]

The TD drive at the end of the game was the absolute biggest and best drive that I have seen the Dolphins put together in a long time. What a way to end it.

[crimsonblack]

I agree with much of what you said - with the exception of playoff contender. I wouldn't want to see the Phins back into the playoffs at 8 - 8. They need to have a winning record and be able to put away the teams they should beat like Houston and even the Ravens. If they can do that the last half of the season... then they are worthy. But 8 & 8 - no one deserves the playoffs with a 500 record. For Miami that 8 & 8 season would be incredible. A great change from the 1-15 and knowing the phins were once again respectable as well as competitive. This season is about establishing the fundamentals of playing the game - time management; no turnovers; solid offense and defense; game planning and attitude. The scary thing is, Miami is already playing with these things almost every week. To be compared with the Giants and Tennessee on ESPN after the games this week was impressive. The Dolphins are learning how NOT to loose the game. Something other teams have not learnt to do. NICE.

[diaz]

Fu@king A!

[klndry]

Great game. I will admit that I didn't believe that the Phins would make the playoffs. They have a chance but they still have to win at least 5 or 6 games.
Impressive.
I am still a fins fan. Even if I didn't really believe that we would be here at this point in the season.

[ziggy]

Not to be overly optimistic but seems we all agree that the division games are most important and with the rest of the schedule I dont think its out of the question that this team could be in the playoffs, and if that happens NOBODY WILL WANNA PLAY US I GUARANTEE IT!! Also as a side note how great would it be to have Chad go into that last game in NY and need a win to get into the playoffs, and get it in his old stompin ground? GO FINS BABY!!!

[The Bra1n]

Contender, yes. If they can finish 6-2, they have a good chance of making it. One game at a time. It starts with a winnable game against Seattle next week.

[michigan dolfan]

Camarillo reminds me of Welker. Nobody thinks he's any good but he keeps getting the job done.

[Hope]

No other NFL team has a CHAD. This guy has a spine from steel,and he will lead his team to the top of the AFC East. I can not believe that the Jets let him go for Favre?

[ziggy]

Anybody catch what an idiot Brandon Marsahll is? In an interview after the game he was making fun stating that, " I dont even know who that guy is that caught all those balls" Speaking of Camarillo's 11 catch performance, " just tighten up and play some defense" sounds like a whining loser who couldnt handle being covered tight all day long.

[Jareth]

Man I hope so!! playoffs would be great!! but That Houston loss is still hanging over my head!! that was our game