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.
Be Polite!!
Posted by: Dishpan | October 25, 2009 at 05:17 PM
How bout them Dolphins!
Posted by: Hennegivensunda | October 25, 2009 at 05:17 PM
Two walk-in TDs what??
Posted by: Finsncanes66 | October 25, 2009 at 05:17 PM
Who fey?
Posted by: Dishpan | October 25, 2009 at 05:18 PM
@hennigiven
LMAO, I was thinking same thing
Posted by: Cali dolfan | October 25, 2009 at 05:18 PM
Who Dey?
Posted by: Dishpan | October 25, 2009 at 05:18 PM
I love it.
Posted by: Beerndrums | October 25, 2009 at 05:18 PM
The Aints ran into a BUZZSAW in MIA!
Posted by: el guru | October 25, 2009 at 05:18 PM
This is a statement game to the AFC !!!
Posted by: Nando | October 25, 2009 at 05:18 PM
Ok what time does the Dolphins play today?
Posted by: Finsncanes66 | October 25, 2009 at 05:19 PM
keep pouring it on
DON'T STOP
Posted by: DAVE | October 25, 2009 at 05:19 PM
Our line is nasty !!!!!! Go fins
Posted by: Concretefin | October 25, 2009 at 05:19 PM
No seriously, Who Dey?
Posted by: Dishpan | October 25, 2009 at 05:20 PM
GUYS, THE LIVE BLOG HAS MOVED TO THE SECOND QUARTER POST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE SECOND QUARTER NOW.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | October 25, 2009 at 05:20 PM
I'm good
Posted by: Dishpan | October 25, 2009 at 05:21 PM
Armando what do you think about our young DBS today ?
Posted by: Concretefin | October 25, 2009 at 05:24 PM
Missed! WhooDat?
GO DOLPHINS!
Posted by: FlaJunkie | October 25, 2009 at 05:27 PM
Where's Drew Breezzzeeeeeeee!
Sacked!
GO DOLPHINS!
Posted by: FlaJunkie | October 25, 2009 at 05:28 PM
Mando.......I cant find the link to the new live blog
Posted by: Naples Gator | October 25, 2009 at 05:28 PM
What a great game! Shula is smiling on the sidelines!
GO DOLPHINS!
Posted by: FlaJunkie | October 25, 2009 at 05:29 PM
Awesome game so far! Go Fins!
Posted by: Kim | October 25, 2009 at 05:32 PM
The Aints are dropping like flies! The Dolphins are playing smash-mouth football today!
GO DOLPHINS!
Posted by: FlaJunkie | October 25, 2009 at 05:32 PM
Way to go Bell
Posted by: Youngcapo83 | October 25, 2009 at 05:39 PM
Sparano's an idiot; if he hadn't called the TO, they were going for a FG. What an idiot!
Posted by: FB | October 25, 2009 at 05:57 PM
Sparano calling a time out after New Orleans had elected to kick was a dum move. He gave NO the chance to think about it. Four points weighing on Sparano's shoulder.
Posted by: erns66 | October 25, 2009 at 06:03 PM
I WISH they were playing the Dolphin's game where I live (Cali). Instead they are playing a crap game...Carolina vs. Buffalo. Complete bullsh*t!!!
Posted by: dolfanman13 | October 25, 2009 at 06:07 PM
you can watch it here
http://www.justin.tv/kidmms3
Posted by: Rod | October 25, 2009 at 06:10 PM
This will be a huge call for us. We either win the game or lose it with this call.
Posted by: FB | October 25, 2009 at 06:16 PM
The special teams has been playing outstanding. What a game. The defense needs to protect this lead.
Posted by: los | October 25, 2009 at 06:35 PM
Ronnie just needs to throw that one away
Posted by: Gerry | October 25, 2009 at 06:42 PM
Just like that Miami is up by ten again. Great play Hartline
Posted by: erns66 | October 25, 2009 at 06:53 PM
Where did the first-half defense go?
Posted by: erns66 | October 25, 2009 at 07:00 PM
So, does color announcer on Fox have sexual relations with the Saints on a daily or weekly basis. That guy is so slanted its disgusting....
In addition, the phins better start beating some teams, because these crappy ref's are starting to drive me crazy. They miss every damn thing. How many reviews in this game?
Posted by: arg | October 25, 2009 at 07:09 PM
Wow how do u loose a 24-3 lead! WTF can someone tell me where the 1at half D-fense went?
Posted by: Jester5044 | October 25, 2009 at 07:14 PM
Here are the four points that Sparano gave up, coming back to haunt him.
Posted by: erns66 | October 25, 2009 at 07:14 PM
seriously, that fox announcer must have money on the game for the saints to win, is either personally related to a player, a super NO fan, or as previously mentioned, the sexual relations possibility with player/s.
Posted by: arg | October 25, 2009 at 07:21 PM
hahahah, fox announcer on brees with a simple throw......Take a look at a "super" quarterback.
I hope a fox exec fires his butt.
Posted by: arg | October 25, 2009 at 07:24 PM
Can anyone explain to me why we've completely stopped trying to run the ball? 3 passes then punt? Really???
Posted by: clay | October 25, 2009 at 07:30 PM
What made the Orange Bowl great was the S Fl climate. The Fins and Canes were used to it. It seems the We are losing home games in the 4th quarter seems simple are guys ain`t tough enough. Thats pretty sorry !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: kemsr | October 25, 2009 at 07:31 PM
ginn is a joke!
Posted by: scottpez | October 25, 2009 at 07:41 PM
I want to go on record, the refs in this game were horrible. The back judge was neglegent. And an illegal shift and center false start on 4th down....sounds an awful lot like someone had a bet on the game.
Posted by: arg | October 25, 2009 at 07:41 PM
there is nobody that can tell me that Ginn is a NFL starter. no way!
Posted by: scottpez | October 25, 2009 at 07:41 PM
g. wilson and T. Ginn should be cut on the spot those two guys SUCK
Posted by: Big Ed | October 25, 2009 at 07:43 PM
Dolphins blew it in the 2nd half. Bad play-calling, poor tackling, terrible secondary, stupid penalties. All this combined with the fact that we are just OUT-MATCHED by the Saints. Oh well, good effort...Dolphins just not "good enough" to play an elite team yet.
Posted by: Eric | October 25, 2009 at 07:43 PM
Pathetic, just pathetic. Fins are just not ready for prime time. Ginn has gone from a joke to an absolute liability. Refs aside, who may have had bets on the game, terrible pressure performance. I love the wildcat, but tough to ask your young QB to win a game in the 4th when he has only thrown about 10-15 passes all game.
Posted by: GinnFamily | October 25, 2009 at 07:45 PM
tedd ginn and his clutch plays keep coming
Posted by: ginnsucks | October 25, 2009 at 07:46 PM
ted ginn caught the most overrated catch of the whole f..... night
Posted by: ginnsucks | October 25, 2009 at 07:48 PM
what are the excuses now ? the whole team quit on us today .
Posted by: FinFan 71 | October 25, 2009 at 07:49 PM
I like this team, but Ginn has to go. More often, he has cost the dolphins with dropped passes and inability to get open. Top draft pick or not, he needs to go.
Posted by: usnavydolfaninva | October 25, 2009 at 07:49 PM
ted ginn sucks he dropped another one
NOT a big time receiver
Posted by: Big Ed | October 25, 2009 at 07:49 PM
Ginn again drops a pass that any NFL reciever would catch
Posted by: scottpez | October 25, 2009 at 07:50 PM
wasn't able to watch a whole lot of the game til the 4th quarter, just in time to watch junior drop another pass. Let me guess, Saints torched our secondary in the second half.
Posted by: usnavydolfaninva | October 25, 2009 at 07:51 PM
Part of me can't help but wonder if this team came into the season a little overconfident, thinking they'd just automatically win the division and get to the AFC title game. They still can, but they're gonna have to play all 4 quarters. Did it against the Jets 2 weeks ago. Not this week.
Posted by: usnavydolfaninva | October 25, 2009 at 07:52 PM
Trade Ginn and bolster the secondary.
Posted by: usnavydolfaninva | October 25, 2009 at 07:53 PM
i know ginn is on this team just to strech the field but he is holding back hartline and even turner. let hartling start with bess and cammy...what do we have to lose?
Posted by: scottpez | October 25, 2009 at 07:53 PM
Not with the Ginn Family...Cameron drfated this guy... ENOUGH said..... Get rid of him RIGHT NOW......... HE SUCKS
Posted by: Big Ed | October 25, 2009 at 07:53 PM
Typical dolphin loss Ginn and Fasano can't catch and Wilson can't tackle. Wow do we need a safety in a bad way.
Posted by: Derek | October 25, 2009 at 07:54 PM
what happened to accoutability with this team? bench wilson and ginn!! please. and what the heck happened to fasano this year? he cant catch the flu.
Posted by: scottpez | October 25, 2009 at 07:57 PM
2-4. No Super Bowl this year !
Posted by: Scam Scameron | October 25, 2009 at 07:57 PM
Chad Henne doesn't look like the next Dan Marino to me.
Posted by: Jay Fiedler | October 25, 2009 at 07:58 PM