Did you wake up this morning feeling like it's Christmas? I did. I was actually excited about covering today's game and I've covered perhaps 300 NFL games and 18 Super Bowls in my career.
Today is about making a statement for the Miami Dolphins.
If the Dolphins beat the New England Patriots, we will know that we know that we know that they are for real, that they won't go away the rest of the season, that what we saw during the four-game winning streak was not a mirage.
If the Dolphins lose to New England today we will once again be focusing on a yeah-but team. They won four consecutive games before today, yeah, but they barely got by terrible Oakland and Seattle teams. They got to these heights of relevance, yeah, but they fell back to the pack of teams likely not getting in the playoffs.
So today is, well, HUGE!
Expect a huge crowd today. The traffic around the stadium is already buzzing when normally it is dead this time of day. I will be blogging live starting at kickoff. Join me in the comments section and we'll watch what happens together.
Those points fall on the special teams unit, u can't kick short all game like that.
Posted by: Joel | November 23, 2008 at 01:12 PM
We will lose if we let every team start at the 40 yard line every friggin kickoff
Posted by: Beerphin | November 23, 2008 at 01:12 PM
good stop we need to figure out a way to get him in that shot gun...
Posted by: farrington07 | November 23, 2008 at 01:13 PM
good stand there. now lets score
Posted by: David | November 23, 2008 at 01:13 PM
The Dolphins need to answer with points of their own here. A TD would be nice, but they at least need to string together some first downs and get a field goal.
Posted by: The New Kid | November 23, 2008 at 01:13 PM
anyone webcasting the game or atleast the radio coverage of the game?
Posted by: Oregon Fin Fan | November 23, 2008 at 01:13 PM
Is there a Net feed?
Posted by: DM | November 23, 2008 at 01:14 PM
The Beef Sez:THE MAN KEEPING THE BEEFSTER IN DA NOSE BLEED SECTION ,ALWAYS KEEPING THE BROTHER DOWN,WAIT TILL BARACK TAKES DA WHITE HOUSE.
Posted by: BEEF SUPREME | November 23, 2008 at 01:14 PM
dolphins open in three wide. No FB
Posted by: Armando Salguero | November 23, 2008 at 01:15 PM
nice
Posted by: | November 23, 2008 at 01:15 PM
Blown play on first down. Looks like Brown went to the wrong side.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | November 23, 2008 at 01:16 PM
I don't think we ever did THAT last year.
Posted by: Andrew H | November 23, 2008 at 01:16 PM
great offensive start
Posted by: | November 23, 2008 at 01:16 PM
Interesting, uneven line on the first play, long and carey on the right side but brown botches the play.
Posted by: Joel | November 23, 2008 at 01:16 PM
im in lakeland fl anyway of catching this game on the computer.
Posted by: jose sanchez | November 23, 2008 at 01:16 PM
big game jitters....you can sense it
Posted by: nyfinfan | November 23, 2008 at 01:16 PM
Did Miami practice this week?
Posted by: Hayden Fox | November 23, 2008 at 01:16 PM
you can just FEEL how uncomfortable they are right now by watching
Posted by: Andrew H | November 23, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Yeah, Beef then your mortgage will be paid and you'll have no worries.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | November 23, 2008 at 01:17 PM
awful execution so far boys.
Posted by: ziggy | November 23, 2008 at 01:17 PM
that was ugly
Posted by: David | November 23, 2008 at 01:17 PM
I hate the Patriots.
Posted by: Hayden Fox | November 23, 2008 at 01:17 PM
that was a terrible first drive
Posted by: Beerphin | November 23, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Pennington looked for just a sec deep and went away from it. Oh well.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | November 23, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Nice 3 and out to start the game.
Posted by: Joel | November 23, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Great punt. 52 yards.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | November 23, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Terrible
Posted by: Marc | November 23, 2008 at 01:18 PM
piss poor start; bad omen?
Posted by: C. Little | November 23, 2008 at 01:18 PM
They get all the favorable news coverage and MOST OF ALL they get all the calls from the officials.
Bob Kraft's influence on the league.
Posted by: Hayden Fox | November 23, 2008 at 01:18 PM
why in the world can we not call good first down plays? This is the worst start weve had all year. Crowd will be taken out of this game if the defense yields another score. Cant let home field advantage go away. Got to stop them here.
Posted by: ziggy | November 23, 2008 at 01:19 PM
Probably should have tested wildcat out on first play.
Posted by: Andrew H | November 23, 2008 at 01:19 PM
Mandich sez we're too uptight.
Posted by: C. Little | November 23, 2008 at 01:19 PM
Nice tackle on special teams. Good to see.
Posted by: matt, st. louis | November 23, 2008 at 01:19 PM
A three-and-out or a turnover here would be nice.
Posted by: The New Kid | November 23, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Playoff hopes aren't looking good so far
Posted by: will it really be the end today if we lose? | November 23, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Beef Sez:MANDO, YOU THERE?
Posted by: BEEF SUPREME | November 23, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Obviously, the Pats have decided they can get things done attacking Miami with the pass. But that is going to bite them. Cassel will make mistakes.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | November 23, 2008 at 01:20 PM
they are going to pass all over us today. That is how you beat us. Coverage is terrible.
Posted by: ziggy | November 23, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Been here, bro.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | November 23, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Time to hit home.
Posted by: Hayden Fox | November 23, 2008 at 01:21 PM
That's Gaffney's MO, he sucks.
Posted by: Joel | November 23, 2008 at 01:21 PM
our secondary is getting beat like red headed step children
Posted by: ziggy | November 23, 2008 at 01:22 PM
This isn't going to cut it, the wildcat might have got us the points but the pressure on cassell got us the first win.
Posted by: nyfinfan | November 23, 2008 at 01:22 PM
Did I say there would be mistakes?
Posted by: Armando Salguero | November 23, 2008 at 01:22 PM
woo hoo!!!
Posted by: ziggy | November 23, 2008 at 01:22 PM
JASON ALLEN...PLAYMAKER!!
Posted by: Joel | November 23, 2008 at 01:22 PM
Amazing, rattle them pats
Posted by: matt, st. louis | November 23, 2008 at 01:22 PM
Jason Allen should get half the credit for that int!
Posted by: beerphin | November 23, 2008 at 01:23 PM
good call Mando! Although wouldnt call that Cassels mistake.
Posted by: ziggy | November 23, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Beef Sez:THATS TRUE MANDO.
Posted by: BEEF SUPREME | November 23, 2008 at 01:23 PM
now...same aggressiveness on offense, por favor!
Posted by: C. Little | November 23, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Nice play by Jason Allen. Huge play for the Phins.
Posted by: The New Kid | November 23, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Pats terrible covering the tight end.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | November 23, 2008 at 01:24 PM
What's that noise I hear coming from the stands? It almost sounds like cheering for the Dolphins.
Posted by: Joel | November 23, 2008 at 01:24 PM
Hey Mando, ya think out TE's we'll re-appear this week?
Posted by: nyfinfan | November 23, 2008 at 01:24 PM
Attack...
Posted by: Hayden Fox | November 23, 2008 at 01:25 PM
That hash mark has always been a good tackler.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | November 23, 2008 at 01:25 PM
way to go Ricky. God what the hell is with these guys on offense?
Posted by: ziggy | November 23, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Did ricky just fall down?
Posted by: matt, st. louis | November 23, 2008 at 01:25 PM
"Those FLOuls will offset" what is a floul?
Posted by: | November 23, 2008 at 01:25 PM