Just Win!
It is finally here; this Sunday, in the kick off the Dolphins 2015 season, Miami will be in Washington to take on the Redskins at 1pm. Hopes and expectations for the ‘Phins this year are very high, and in order to keep them that way the team must win this game. On paper the Dolphins are a better team, but they need to prove it on the field on Sunday.
The reason this is a “must win” game is the Dolphins MUST win their games against inferior opponents in order to reach the playoffs, and the Redskins are an inferior team. The Dolphins have a better QB, a better offense and a better defense, but this is the NFL so ‘on any given Sunday’ any team can win – legitimate playoff teams makes that “any given Sunday” a rarity.
The best sportsbooks in the world have the Dolphins as a -3 point favorite. This line was as low as -1.5 for the Dolphins during the summer and went as high as -4 last week. I know that -4 does not sound like a lot, but if you compare it to the other spreads on all the other games this week it would be the fourth highest spread. In addition, the Dolphins are on the road and all of the best sportsbooks in the world automatically factor in an extra 3 points for the home team, which would mean that if Miami were home they would be an even bigger favorite at -6.
Road games are always tougher. But opening day games present fans with an extra oomphf as every team fans have stored up hope all off season hope and that energy translates into louder crowds which can boost a team’s morale, so this road game will be especially tough. In addition to playing against the opponent, the players must then cope with not only their opponent but the “13th man” in the deafening noise – this is especially troublesome on offensive snaps where snap counts and audible are lost in a sea of screams. Miami has a relatively young set of offensive lineman, so they must be extra focused so they don’t commit too many silly false start penalties.
Clearly it is not the end of the world if the Dolphins lose this game, but when you play a team that you should beat and are favored to beat, the playoff worthy teams win those types of games. So even though Miami can afford to lose the game because it is the first game of the season, it would not bode well for their playoff hopes. The NFL is a very short season compared to the other major sports, which means every game is crucial, and there is very little margin for error. One victory could be the difference between making the playoffs or missing the playoffs.
My prediction is that Miami wins by a touchdown with a final score of 24-17. What does the rest of the Miami Dolphins news fans think will be the outcome of this first game?
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Remember last year @ the Jaguars!!!!!! We could not move the ball until the second half… When our defense made a turn-over! If we are truly contenders we must improve every week.
We must start to dominate the weaker teams. Our division alone is one of the best divisions
in the NFL. Our QB must throw deep every week in order for him to gain confidence in every
phase of a his maturity as a TOP NFL Quarterback. We need him to be one of the leaders on this team!!!!! Believe,..and prove yourself a winner. The time is now no excuses.
I believe the talent is there, however, it’s now up to the coaching staff to prove they have their act together. No more questionable game management decisions.
I feel this year we’ll finally see our beloved Dolphins back in the playoffs. Phins 27-13.
Go D!! I would love to see them start with a shut-out., and they are capable. What a statement that would make!