7 - 4 Miami Dolphins Stake Claim over 49'ers

The DOLPHINS have (found a way) to dig themselves from three feet under at 1 - 4 to three games over 500. with their sixth successive WIN!! Not since Satan's 2005 Dolphins had Miami found victory on six consecutive weeks! (That's eleven years folks and 6 or 7 head coaches ago) including interims!

Miami's 2008 Dolphins were 5 - 5 before winning the final six which would suggest that they weren't 7 - 4 at any point. They obviously finished 6 games over 500 while everything that could go right went right in leading the league with the fewest penalties, turnovers, and having zero injuries (not even a hangnail) for that under talented teams season.

It can be recalled that many Dolphin fans wished that they hadn't done so well after the previous 1 - 15 season of 2007 while being correct in stating that particular teams era needed a few more years of high draft picks to become true contenders.

Seems as though that the Dolphins have had to scratch and claw their way to just below 500. every week and or year since 2008. Other than perhaps a fast start of 3 - 0 (that I can't recall), I don't know when the last time was that Miami was three games over 500. especially at this point of any particular season. They weren't three games over 500. until their thirteenth game of 2008, and again, it has seemed as though that they haven't been back to anywhere near such until finding their way to 7 - 4 today.

It has been a tough eleven (plus) years. It's been a tough season with five of the last six straight wins coming against top ranked defenses. The Dolphins started this current six game streak when for the first time of 2016 the intended starting offensive line actually started and played together in four victories over the Steelers, Bills, Jets, and Chargers. Miami hadn't won the next game after beating the Jets in some 31 attempts!

During the game and the practice week after the win at San Diego the Dolphins suffered the triple threat loss of starting offensive lineman Brandon Albert, Laremy Tunsil, and Mike Pouncey.

Though having one, two, or three intended starting offensive lineman not play is nothing new for Miami! The preferred starting five have played together in just 12 of the last 43 games while winning eleven of those contest. What is new! Is that over the last two games they have played with 3/5ths of their FAB-FIVE in street clothes and still found a way to victory while clearing two more hurdles beyond 500.

7 - 4!
It's been a tough eight to eleven (plus) years!
It's been a tough season for us fans to fathom!
Chasing 500. from the beginning to the end of seasons, and falling short in a multitude of critical season shifting opportunities every year. You kinda get used to expecting the worst!

I must admit (being the eternal optimist that I'm known to be).
It didn't feel right today, I didn't feel comfortable even when leading 31 - 14. Maybe due to pre game distractions that prohibited personal winning streak rituals, or even getting into the proper game attire? Maybe due to being called away during every San Francisco drive for a score? Maybe because I desired sooo baddd to be three games over 500. rather than just one, and potentially be letdown (like in years past) in yet another golden opportunity lost?

Miami executed quite a few great plays versus the 49'ers today with a few other extraordinary plays that missed by dust particles of fitting within the grid.

The San Francisco quarterback (though he threw a pick to Kiko Alonso), matched Tannehill with three touchdown passes. He also (by himself) outshined (with 113 yards rushing on 10 carries) the Dolphins entire running game of 95 yards led by Jay Ajayi's 18 attempts for 45 yards with a touchdown. Both quarterbacks were sacked twice.

Rookie receiver Leonte Carroo caught his first career touchdown, tight end Dion Sims caught his first of the season, and Kenny Stills scored again. Devante Parker made a handful of spectacular catches along with a couple that didn't quite fit inside the lines, but spectacular non the less!

Kiko's interception and a fumble recovery were his third and fourth converted turnovers in the last three games, and he finished off the San Francisco quarterback at the one yard line which kept him from scoring the tying touchdown as time expired with the scoreboard shimmering a golden Miami 31 - SF 24.

The/Your Miami Dolphins have dug their way out from a 1 - 4 bottomless pit to the AFC's six seed (as of today)! If the postseason began next week, your Dolphins would be playing!
They've been in win or go home mode for the last six games and have come out on top to earn 7 - 4, ever so slightly ahead of the wildcard pack.

It just so happens that today was not the end of the regular season. Never the less, next weeks game at Baltimore's (upper tier defense) is ever so important as both teams are in win the next game, if not playoff or bust mode!


Yeeee Haaaa, six straight DOLPHIN WINS, 7 - 4, and presently in the playoffs. Someone fill that grave we climbed out of with the nuggets we've accrued!!

Get Well Very Soon BA, MP, & Tunsil!!
JUST WIN FINS!!
GOFINS!!!

6 - 4 DOLPHINS Butt Rams for Fifth Straight WIN

The Miami Dolphins last five game winning streak closed the regular season schedule of 2008. In today's tenth game of 2016 Adam Gase' Dolphins have learned (against all odds) how to fight to the end for a fifth successive VICTORY!

It wasn't pretty offensively by any means, (well other than the final four minutes)!

Both the Rams and Dolphins for various reasons went the conservative route on a rainy southern California day.

The Rams because of a rookie quarterback (Jared Goff 17 of 31 for 134). The home teams star running back Todd Gurley had 20 attempts for 76 while the team on 28 carries totaled 102 rushing yards.

Miami because inactive/injured left tackle Brandon Albert was replaced by rookie Laramy Tunsil while the usual starting left guard Tunsil was relieved by Kraig Urbik, and Anthony Steen started at center in place of Mike (Hipless) Pouncey. Today's starting left tackle Tunsil (shoulder) went down in the second quarter, for the remainder of the game the left tackle position was manned by backup right tackle Sam Young. Jay Ajayi compiled 77 yards on 16 carries while the team had 19 attempts for 98 total on the ground.

Slipping, sliding, dripping, dropping, penalty altering, conservative calling, and exceptional defenses kept both offenses in neutral. It was a spirited, scrappy defensive battle with numerous fights throughout the day.

The Rams quarterback and the number one overall pick of the 2016 draft Jared Goff never got his team to the redzone while being sacked just once (Wake). Ryan Tannehill was no better with a 34 yard endzone interception (potentially with the aid of an uncalled defensive pushoff) two minutes into the third quarter, just 60-some total passing yards into the fourth quarter, four sacks and zero redzone trips. (Well "no better" until the last four minutes).

Goff drove his team 44 yards to the Dolphin 24 on their second possession when 2015 top draft pick running back Todd Gurley went that same 24 yards for the Rams 0 - 7 lead. Goff took them 49 yards to the Miami 28 for a field goal with 1:40 left in the third quarter and a 0 - 10 LA advantage that stood until the games 56th minute.

Ryan Tannehill (24 of 34 for 174 with an interception) threw two touchdowns in the games final 4:13. The first was of ten yards when he hit Jarvis Landry at the five, forward motion appeared stopped when the offensive line in question formed a scrum with Landry as the ball versus the Rams defensive entirety. Landry's feet were off the ground for the remaining five yards as the offensive line literally carried him to the touchdown and 7 - 10 deficit. His second was a rifeled 9 yard thing of beauty to Devante Parker with 36 games seconds to go, and the 14 - 10 VICTORY!

Miami lost the penalty and time of possession battles again, but once again times five, they beat a top notch defense. For those that care only about W's. The Dolphins have given you nothing to frown about since early October!

The/Your 2016 Miami Dolphins have WON FIVE STRAIGHT GAMES, and are sitting somewhat pretty at 6 - 4.

GOFINS!!!

Dolphins Charge to Fourth Straight VICTORY !!

Not since 2008 have the Dolphins won four consecutive games. After three successive home victories versus the AFC's Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Jets.

Miami traveled west to face-off with yet another AFC rival San Diego and their elite quarterback Phillip Rivers. Interceptions by Tony Lippett (2), Byron Maxwell, and a Kiko Alonso 60 yard pik-six game clincher in the 59th minute stole victory from the arms of a tie and/or defeat for Miami's first road win of the season 31 - 24.

Ryan Tannehill threw for two touchdowns with zero turnovers on 17 of 24 for 240 yards. Though he made many an elite play throughout the day. Jay Ajayi had 19 attempts for 79 yards while Miami totaled just 106 rushing yards on 25 carries. The Chargers rushing game consisted of 24 Melvin Gordon attempts for 70 yards.

The Dolphins accrued 337 total yards to the Chargers 379, eleven penalties for 81 yards to the home teams 29 yards on four fouls, and Miami lost the time of possession battle 27:01 to 32:59. Miami won the game and the turnover battle 4 to 1 (Jakeem Grant muffed punt).

Miami started aggressive and tossed their way down to the Chargers thirty on their opening possession before getting conservative to the point of being pushed out of field goal range. They remained complacent until they found themselves trailing 0 - 10 halfway through the second quarter.

At this point (to cap off a 9 play 74 yard drive), Tannehill fired a 60 yard line drive from the 50 to the back of the endzone/endline that hit Kenny Stills at full stride running nortbound for a forty yard touchdown to pull within three points. The first half ended with a 7 - 10 scoreboard.

Miami opened the second half with a five play 75 yard drive in 2.5 minutes that ended with a one yard touchdown run from Damian Williams. The play previous to the touchdown was an elite play via Ryan Tannehill when rollin-out under duress he threw a 25 yard sideline strike to Jarvis Landry at the one. 14 - 10 Miami.

The Chargers immediately returned the favor and regained the lead with a 75 yard drive of their own. 14 - 17.

The Dolphins answered again with another 75 yard drive on the following possession. Tannehill saved this drive with his legs when from the San Diego 44 on third and twelve he was engulfed by a defender for a definitive sack but he somehow spit the hook and scrambled while weaving his way around and through the opposition for 18 yards and " another Miami Dolphins first down" at the 26. Two plays later he threw the perfect 18 yard lollipop to Damian Williams in the rear corner of the endzone. 21 - 17 Miami at third quarters end.

The Dolphin defense held on the Chargers opening 4th quarter possession but Jakeem Grant muffed the punt and San Diego recovered at Miami's five yard line. The D held for three plays but committed a penalty on the last giving the home team a fresh set of downs at the Dolphins two yard line. Two plays later Tony Lippett picked off Phillip Rivers in the endzone for the first of four Miami Dolphins fourth quarter interceptions.

The Chargers drove from their 12 to the Miami 30 on their next possession before Byron Maxwell at his own 14 gathered in a second Dolphins defensive interception.

With 5:06 remaining in the game the Chargers took their third fourth quarter possession 58 yards in one minute for a touchdown. Miami had them stopped on a three and out but guess what, a penalty negated punt formation. Two plays later a 49 yard touchdown gave San Diego a 21 - 24 lead.

Miami's Dolphins took one more minute to drive from their own 25 to the Chargers 9 for the game tying field goal. Needless to say, Tannehill (while being molested via a multitude of hands to the throat and helmet) was spectacular with a first down 56 yard strike to DeVante Parker while roughing the passer on the same play moved Miami 15 yards closer for the short field goal. 24 - 24.

2:57 remains and San Diego takes the ball from their 25 to the Miami 47 when on first and ten Kilo Alonso takes a Phillip Rivers pik-six, sixty yards To'Da'House! MIAMI DOLPHINS 31 - 24 !!

The home team had one game minute remaining from their own 25. Two plays later, the visitors Tony Lippett picks off Phillip Rivers for the fourth quarters fourth time!!!

IT'S NEVER OVER, TILL IT'S OVER!!
The Miami Dolphins are 5 - 4, (5 - 3 in conference), not out of range from New England, and on the heals of the wildcard 5th/6th seeds!!

YEEEE-HAAAA, GIGGITTYY, GOFINS!!!

Miami Dolphin Defense Is Doing It

Post From - canamdolphin

Defense Is Doing It

Much of the media hoopla about the Dolphins focuses on RB Jay Ajayi and the offensive line. Less noticed is the Dolphins defense, who are greatly benefiting by the resurgence of the running game. The D no longer has to play almost three-fourths of a game because of offensive ineptitude. The results speak for themselves, and the Dolphins defense is not only rising to the occasion, it's also moving up in several key metrics.

What are the key responsibilities of NFL defenses? They are, quite simply, STOP the run, STOP the pass and STOP third down conversions. How are the Dolphins doing?

These Dolphins defensive hogs are ranked 10th, and rising. This is a three-phased stat, including rush yards per attempt, negative pass play % and third down %. (coldhardfootballfacts.com)

The Dolphins rush defense is 26th, giving up 4.5 yards per rush. Room for improvement! The defense forces negative pass plays on 8.3% of plays, ranking them 12th. Where the hogs shine is limiting offenses to 30.84% third down conversions, best in the league!

Defensive improvement will continue as long as the Dolphins offense doesn't sputter. When fresh, the Miami Dolphins defense dominates!

Dolphins Jets Game Discussion

I am not able to set up game chat today, so let's discuss in the comments.