As I just got done saying on my radio show for the last two hours, today's game is a defining one for the Dolphins.
Notice I did not say it is a must-win. It is not that.
But it is one that will tell us exactly what we have in these Dolphins. It will tell us if this team can successfully compete with the elite teams in the NFL -- which, in turn, will tell us how legitimate a playoff contender Miami is.
Or it will tell us that the Dolphins are what they have been the first five weeks of this NFL season -- a good team that can hang with elite teams, but cannot actually beat elite teams.
The 2-3 Dolphins are a on a two-game win streak and that's great. They are undefeated in the AFC East and that's great. And they hung with Indy and Atlanta earlier in the season. But ...
The teams Miami beat are a combined 5-7. At some point the Dolphins have to beat a really good team to convince everyone, including themselves, they are a legitimate playoff contender.
And what better time than today? The Dolphins are coming off a bye so they've had extra time to prepare. They're at home. They're playing a team that had an emotional game last week and has difficult division games the next two weeks after this one.
So the time is now. Today we find out about these Dolphins.
Today defines the Dolphins.
Join me in the comments section for the first quarter of the live blog.
Come strong so you can show the New Orleans trolls, whodatbeattheSaints.
Colston drop averts another 6 yard gain.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | October 25, 2009 at 04:17 PM
Me come on fox
Posted by: Eddy007 | October 25, 2009 at 04:17 PM
Nice tackle Bell!
Posted by: Marc | October 25, 2009 at 04:17 PM
Awesome tackle by yeremiah Bell on Thomas. Loss of 1 on a play that might have gone for 20 if Bell missed the tackle.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | October 25, 2009 at 04:17 PM
need link
Posted by: lou | October 25, 2009 at 04:18 PM
any one got link??
Posted by: Rob P | October 25, 2009 at 04:19 PM
JP, JT and Wake not on the field at the same time on third and long.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | October 25, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Hello All!
Posted by: Bostonfinfan | October 25, 2009 at 04:19 PM
need a link big time !
Posted by: pj | October 25, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Saints made Dolphins use a time out on special teams because they lined up in fake punt formation.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | October 25, 2009 at 04:19 PM
C'mon Fox!
Posted by: Bostonfinfan | October 25, 2009 at 04:20 PM
we should be familiar with the fake punt by now.
Posted by: Jimmie Johnson | October 25, 2009 at 04:20 PM
And now the Dolphins plow the Saints.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | October 25, 2009 at 04:20 PM
Good D, now let's go offense, let's show NO our high power offense
Posted by: Eddy007 | October 25, 2009 at 04:21 PM
who has a link?
Posted by: Jimmie Johnson | October 25, 2009 at 04:21 PM
1st time all season Aints havnt scored!! GREAT start!!!!
Posted by: Robbyhenz | October 25, 2009 at 04:21 PM
Go to a sports bar find a war
Posted by: Standley23 | October 25, 2009 at 04:21 PM
Omg fox still hasn't switched to the game. Commercials first. Such whores.
Posted by: Bostonfinfan | October 25, 2009 at 04:21 PM
nice stop to get brees off the field now we can be the first team to be leading the saints.
Posted by: dave | October 25, 2009 at 04:22 PM
Indeed, that was the first time all season Saints didn't score on their opening drive.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | October 25, 2009 at 04:22 PM
That's the fourth game this year the Dolphins have run their first play to get Ginn involved.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | October 25, 2009 at 04:23 PM
It's the boca - labelle game on Justin!
Posted by: Keithwpb2lv | October 25, 2009 at 04:23 PM
Back shoulder throw to Bess is complete for a first.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | October 25, 2009 at 04:23 PM
What a catch!!!!!!!
Posted by: Robbyhenz | October 25, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Wow !
Posted by: Randthefin | October 25, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Wow. We're 5 mins behind on the broadcast up here in Boston. Still saints 1st drive.
Posted by: Bostonfinfan | October 25, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Do you have the link in justin?
Posted by: cd | October 25, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Bs
Posted by: Finatic | October 25, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Let's GO DOLPHINS
SCORE AND GO UP
Posted by: DAVE | October 25, 2009 at 04:24 PM
Challenge this!
Posted by: Randthefin | October 25, 2009 at 04:25 PM
Link for game on radio or tv? Fox ny showing Dallas and canny stream 560??
Posted by: Finsgo | October 25, 2009 at 04:25 PM
play challenged. looks like bess was juggling maybe.
Posted by: mike d | October 25, 2009 at 04:25 PM
Boca labelle
Posted by: Keithwpb2lv | October 25, 2009 at 04:25 PM
Noticed Ginn run straight out of bounds?
Posted by: Spillmar | October 25, 2009 at 04:25 PM
Hey Florida natives. Any radio station bradcasting the game that I can get online?
Posted by: Jimmie Johnson | October 25, 2009 at 04:25 PM
fox sucks..they didn't show the replay? was it a catch?
Posted by: big I | October 25, 2009 at 04:26 PM
no catch
Posted by: mike d | October 25, 2009 at 04:26 PM
Looks like ball came out.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | October 25, 2009 at 04:27 PM
http://atdhe.net/9715/watch-new-orleans-saints-vs-miami-dolphins
thats the link
Posted by: miateamsfan | October 25, 2009 at 04:27 PM
No catch...Ginn would have had it.
Posted by: Wayne Fontes | October 25, 2009 at 04:27 PM
Armando,
Whats going on with The Miami Herald football forum? Are the mods there going wack, or is almost every poster there getting banned, or is something wrong with the site. Can you check that out for us. I tried several times to email them about it and got no response.
Posted by: DyingBreed | October 25, 2009 at 04:27 PM
Live stream here:
http://www.atdhe.net/
Posted by: Tommya | October 25, 2009 at 04:27 PM
and replay equipment is not working therefor no review.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | October 25, 2009 at 04:27 PM
WOW!!!!
Posted by: Wayne Fontes | October 25, 2009 at 04:27 PM
holy .... replay not working yes!!!!!! catch counts
Posted by: mike d | October 25, 2009 at 04:27 PM
Jahahahhahha
Posted by: Randthefin | October 25, 2009 at 04:27 PM
holy crap..malfunction--wow we got lucky!
Posted by: big I | October 25, 2009 at 04:28 PM
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!
Posted by: Tommya | October 25, 2009 at 04:28 PM
dolphins getting a lucky break
Posted by: Chase | October 25, 2009 at 04:28 PM
What a break
Posted by: Standley23 | October 25, 2009 at 04:28 PM
Wow
Posted by: Eddy007 | October 25, 2009 at 04:28 PM
Former sec refs?
Posted by: Keithwpb2lv | October 25, 2009 at 04:29 PM
wow got away with one.
Posted by: dave | October 25, 2009 at 04:29 PM
Dolphins running power play out of Wildcat.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | October 25, 2009 at 04:29 PM
WILDCAT TIME
Posted by: venom | October 25, 2009 at 04:29 PM
Lol Kieth
Posted by: Bostonfinfan | October 25, 2009 at 04:30 PM
Clock killers!
Posted by: Standley23 | October 25, 2009 at 04:30 PM
Dolphins third down conversion domination continues with Polite conversion.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | October 25, 2009 at 04:30 PM
ugh this feed sucks......doesnt catch the game action
Posted by: miateamsfan | October 25, 2009 at 04:30 PM
We have the personel to run the WC all day
Posted by: Randthefin | October 25, 2009 at 04:30 PM