The miraculous turnaround the Miami Dolphins made this season won’t soon be forgotten. It is hard to see that now through the angst of a tough loss today to the Baltimore Ravens, but with time fans will look back and remember fondly the Miami Dolphins’ 2008 season. True, we all would have preferred to see the Dolphins advance beyond the Wild Card round but it just didn’t turn out that way.

The Miami Dolphins looked more like the team of 2007 today as they fell 27-9 to the Baltimore Ravens. The Dolphins’ problems were almost too many to list, but we’ll try and hit them all. Chad Pennington, usually so careful with the football, threw 4 interceptions, the defense put almost NO pressure on Ravens’ QB Joe Flacco, and the offense just couldn’t breakdown the Raven defense.

In the 1st half it appeared the game would be a defensive stalemate throughout. The teams traded FGs in the 1st quarter, and no TDs were scored until Ravens’ safety Ed Reed picked off Pennington and returned it 57 yds for a TD. A Baltimore FG with 16 seconds left would send Baltimore into halftime with a 13-3 lead.

In the 2nd half Miami’s turnover problems would get worse, and so would the score. Baltimore would get a TD in the 3rd quarter to stretch their lead to 20-3, and after Miami got back to 20-9 on a Pennington TD pass (Carpenter would miss the PAT), Flacco scrambled into the endzone with 3:53 to play giving Baltimore the 27-9 victory.

The biggest problem for the Dolphins was their uncharacteristic amount of turnovers. After turning the ball over only 13 times this season, tied with the New York Giants for the lowest in the NFL, the Dolphins turned the ball over 5 times today. Chad Pennington, who threw only 7 INTs all season, threw 4 today. Another major problem for the Dolphins was the defensive line. Ravens’ QB Joe Flacco had all day in the pocket to make decisions as the Dline was getting NO pressure. Despite that, Flacco was unable however to really burn the Dolphins on a consistent basis.

In the end, the Dolphins inability on offense cost them today against a superior Ravens’ defense. The Dolphins struggled to move the ball, almost completely lacking a run game, and turned the ball over too much to survive their encounter with the Ravens.

The Dolphins are now left to ponder a season that was, look back on the good and bad, and try to build off of their successes in the 2009 season. Make no mistake, the Dolphins meager effort today doesn’t take away from their amazing season. Tony Sparano, Bill Parcells, and the Dolphins’ players were able to prove their detractors wrong and win the AFC East when no one gave them a chance. Next season, it will be time to build off their successes this year and see if they can return to the playoffs and get a better result.

As we close in on the Miami Dolphins’ first playoff game since early in 2002, a familiar foe will enter Dolphins Stadium on Sunday and attempt to rain on the parade in South Florida. Tomorrow the Dolphins (AFC East Champions) face the Baltimore Ravens, an AFC Wild Card team.

The Dolphins have a good deal of recent history against the Ravens. The last time the Dolphins made the playoffs, they faced the Ravens and were booted from the playoffs in bad fashion after a 20-3 loss. Last season, as the Dolphins struggled, it was the Ravens they defeated 22-16 to get their lone win of the season. And earlier this season as the Dolphins struggled to a 2-4 start, it was the loss against the Ravens 27-14 that lit a fire under the Dolphins. After that loss the Dolphins went on to finish the season 9-1, win the AFC East, and find themselves hosting an opening round playoff game.

If the Dolphins hope to keep their magical season afloat, they should pay close attention to the lessons learned in their past two encounters with the Ravens. Within those games the Dolphins can find the gameplan to beat the Ravens again this Sunday. The Dolphins lived much of this season taking advantage of the “wildcat” formation, using its surprise and versatility to take advantage of their opponents confusion. The Ravens however are one of the BEST defenses in the NFL and in the Dolphins’ loss to the Ravens earlier this season, Baltimore was more than ready for the wildcat formations.

The Dolphins need only look to last seasons victory over Baltimore to find the way to beat them. The best way to beat Baltimore is a balanced attack and the ability to exploit a weakness if/when it is found. Baltimore will no doubt be ready for the wildcat, so the Dolphins need to employ a more conventional game plan and save the wildcat for surprise opportunities.

Win, lose, or draw tomorrow the Miami Dolphins are by far THE story of the NFL this season. Their meteoric rise from 1-15, to 11-5, division winner, and playoff participant is almost unprecedented. The Dolphins are just the 2nd team in NFL history to make a 10 game improvement on their record and make the playoffs. A huge amount of kudos are due to Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano for tearing down a system that wasn’t working and build it from the ground up. No one in their wildest imagination could have forseen such a rapid turnaround, but while it lasts, enjoy the ride! GO FINS!

The Miami Dolphins have risen from the ashes of a 1-15 season, in a matter of 1 year, to finish the 2008 season 11-5 and win the AFC East. The Dolphins took care of business against the Jets yesterday winning 24-17, sending the Dolphins to the playoffs for the first time in 7 seasons.

After a scoreless 1st quarter, the Jets struck first going up 6-0 on a Brett Favre TD pass, but failed a 2pt conversion. The Dolphins would answer back as Chad Pennington connected with Ted Ginn Jr on a 27yd TD pass to go ahead 7-6. 15 seconds later Philip Merling would intercept a Favre pass and take it to the house to extend the Dolphins’ lead to 14-6. A Jets FG at the end of the half made the Dolphins’ halftime lead 14-9.

The Jets would briefly take the lead in the 3rd quarter on a 10yd TD rush to go up 17-14. Pennington would put the Dolphins ahead for good when he hooked up with TE Anthony Fasano for a 20yd TD pass, giving the Dolphins a 21-17 lead. A Dan Carpenter FG in the 4th would give the Dolphins a 24-17 lead.

The Dolphins’ victory on Sunday was sweet in so many ways, it is nearly impossible to list them all. The Dolphins joined the 1999 Indianapolis Colts as the only teams in NFL history to see a 10 game improvement in their record and make the playoffs one season after a dismal record. Chad Pennington, who was dumped by the New York Jets in August when Favre arrived, led his new team into his old team’s stadium and took the AFC East crown (and a playoff spot) away from them.

A huge congratulations has to go out to coach Tony Sparano and his staff, Parcells, and the players for doing what no one thought they could possibly do this season. The Dolphins will host the 11-5 Baltimore Ravens next Sunday.

The Miami Dolphins miraculous turnaround continued Sunday as they won a wild game in Kansas City 38-31. The Dolphins’ defense, stout as of late, was uncharacteristically sloppy in the first half. The Dolphins’ offense however finally arrived, saving the day and salvaging Miami’s playoff dreams.

The first half was an offensive shoot out with the two teams exchanging blows. After a mild 1^st quarter ended with Miami up 10-7, both teams came out firing in the 2^nd quarter. The teams would score a combined 35 points in the 2^nd and Kansas City would go into halftime with a 28-24 lead.

After a first half that saw the Dolphins’ defense gashed from left to right by Kansas City’s offense, the Dolphins’ D showed up and shut down Kansas City in the 2^nd half. The Fins’ D would allow only a FG in the 3^rd quarter and Miami’s offense would score a TD in the 3^rd and 4^th quarters to win the game 38-31.

Chad Pennington lead Miami’s balanced attack on 26/34 passing for 235yds and 3TDs. Patrick Cobbs would rush for 44yds, Ricky Williams 34yds and a TD, Ronnie Brown 32yds, and Ted Ginn Jr added a 31yd TD rush to carry the rushing load for the Dolphins.

The Dolphins now find themselves in complete control of their own destiny. New England won to keep pace with the Dolphins, and the New York Jets lost in Seattle to put Miami in front in the AFC East. With a victory next week over the Jets, the Dolphins will be headed for the playoffs.

The NFL announced the AFC and NFC Pro Bowl teams today and the Miami Dolphins will be sending two players to Hawaii this year to partake in the festivities. RB Ronnie Brown and OLB Joey Porter are heading to the Pro Bowl as representatives of the resurgent Dolphins.

Ronnie Browns joins Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans and Thomas Jones of the New York Jets in the trio of AFC running backs at the Pro Bowl. Ronnie Brown is a somewhat curious choice from a statistical standpoint as he has 827yds and a 4.2yds/carry average and 10 TDs while rookie Steve Slaton of the Houston Texans has 1,124yds and a 4.9yds/carry average with 8 TDs. Brown however has meant more to his team over the course of the season than Slaton has to the Texans. At times Brown has literally willed the Dolphins to victory. Odd choice or not, Brown is certainly deserving.

Joey Porter would have had every right to cry wolf had he been ignored as he has been the heart and soul of the Miami defense this season, playing a critical role in the turn around of the Dolphins this season. Porter has 35 solo tackles with 11 assists, but leads the AFC in sacks with 17.5. Porter has seen his career revived this season with Miami and is the leader of the Dolphins defense this season.

Both players are deserving of their selection to this season’s Pro Bowl. Congratulations to Ronnie Brown on his 1st appearance, and congrats to Porter on his 4th appearance. It will be Porters 4th Pro Bowl, 1st as a Dolphin.

The Miami Dolphins kept themselves in the hunt for the playoffs Sunday with a 14-9 victory over the visiting San Francisco 49ers. The Dolphins used two first half TD passes from Chad Pennington to his TEs to build a lead and relied on their defense to seal the victory and boy did they ever.

For the 3rd straight game the Dolphins’ defense was relentless, displaying a bend but don’t break attitude to make their team’s 2 TDs hold up. The win was Miami’s 7th in their last 8 games and it kept them in a tie for 1st place in the AFC East with the New York Jets and New England Patriots.

Miami’s offense wasn’t particularly potent this week. The Dolphins were outgained 318 - 248yds while gaining only 11 first downs and converting only 1 third down all game, in comparison to 24 first downs and 8 third down conversions for San Fran. Chad Pennington connected on a 61yd TD pass to TE David Martin in the 1st qtr and on a 19yd TD pass to TE Joey Haynos in the 2nd qtr to provide all the offense Miami would need.

Miami’s defense on the other hand was red hot today and wasn’t going to allow San Francisco to steal this game from them. Slowly the 49ers chipped away at the Dolphins lead in the 2nd half and with 2:36 to go in the game San Fran had a 10 play drive going to try and steal the game. The defense would stand tall and stop the 49ers on 4th down deep in Miami territory to preserve the victory.

In allowing no TDs again this week, Miami has now gone 3 games without allowing an opponent to score a touchdown, the first such stretch the Dolphins have had since 1973. Miami’s offense sputtered today and was not particularly effective, but they did just enough and protected the ball, never turning it over. The Dolphins are on pace to set an NFL record for the fewest turnovers in a season.

With the win, Miami remains in a tie for 1st place in the AFC East with the New York Jets and New England Patriots. The Jets, playing at the same time, ran a fumble back for a TD late to survive their game with the Buffalo Bills, and at the moment New England is cruising against the Oakland Raiders, up 42-20 in the 3rd quarter. Miami’s destiny remains in its own hands, win out and you’re in the playoffs. Now it becomes important for Miami to focus on Kansas City next week and not look ahead to the Jets in the season finale.

The Miami Dolphins continue to exceed (by far) the expectations of everyone around the NFL as they defeated the Buffalo Bills yesterday, improving to 8-5 on the season and moving into a 3 way tie with New York and New England for 1st place in the AFC East.

The Dolphins squared off with the ice cold Buffalo Bills in Toronto yesterday and walked away 16-3 winners. A 20 yd TD pass from Chad Pennington to TE Anthony Fasano was all Miami would need as the defense absolutely shut down the Buffalo offense. Dan Carpenter would add 3 FGs, and Buffalo would muster 1 FG in the 1st quarter, but in the end Miami’s defense would keep Buffalo in check.

Miami’s defense was absolutely stifling allowing Buffalo a total net yardage of 163 (79 passing and 84 rushing) getting 4 sacks and 1 INT. Joey Porter continued his strong play this season with 2 sacks and a forced fumble to lead the defense on Sunday.

It is worth noting Buffalo fans were critical of the game being played in Toronto. Buffalo’s hold on their franchise is tenuous as it is literally the mental will of their owner Ralph Wilson keeping them in Buffalo, a small market. Buffalo has played pre season games in the past in Toronto, but this was the first time a regular season game was played there, and it may not be the last. Buffalo fans felt not only robbed of a home game, but robbed of the advantage they would have had with the bitter temperatures and conditions outdoors in Buffalo. Yesterday’s game was played indoors in Toronto. Buffalo was also without their offensive catalyst, QB Trent Edwards.

Backup QB or not, indoors or out, Miami again just got it done on offense and was dominating on defense. Miami’s win, combined with New York’s loss, throws the Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets into a 3 way tie for 1st place in the AFC East. Miami however currently sits at the bottom of this tie as New England has the tie breaker over them, as does New York via their opening week victory in Miami.

The Dolphins have as good a chance as New York or New England to get into the playoffs as the division champ. New England has the easier 3 game remaining schedule with games against Oakland, Arizona, and Buffalo. The Jets have games agaisnt Buffalo, Seattle, and the Dolphins. Miami has San Francisco, Kansas City, and the Jets left to play.

If the Dolphins can get the job done against San Francisco and Kansas City, their playoff destiny can be in their own hands with just a little outside help required. For the Dolphins to get in they need to A) Beat San Fran and KC, B) New England to lose at least once, and C) defeat the Jets the last week of the season. There are many teams out there with more complicated routes to the playoffs, for the Dolphins it’s simple. If they beat their opponents and get help just once in a New England defeat, then the Dolphins are playoff bound!

The return of RB Stephen Jackson was not enough for the woeful St. Louis Rams to beat the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The Dolphins rebounded for a tough rout last week at the hands of the Patriots with a stingy defensive effort and just enough on offense to pick up the win. The win was Miami’s 5th in 6 games and their 7th of the season.

Miami got a touchdown from Ronnie Brown in the 2nd quarter followed by 3 FGs from Dan Carpenter to get their 16pts. The Miami defense would be the story of the day though as they held the Rams to nothing but FGs on the day, never allowing them into the endzone. Stephen Jackson returned for the Rams and rushed for 94 yards, but the Dolphins would shut down the Rams’ passing game.

The Dolphins’ defense held the Rams to 149 yards passing and had 3 interceptions on the day to keep the St. Louis offense in check and out of the endzone. It was a less than impressive game from the Dolphins, especially considering the quality of opponent the team faced. The Dolphins have struggled this year in games against mediocre teams while making an impressive display of themselves against tough opposition.

The victory was important for the Dolphins. Combined with the Patriots’ loss to Pittsburgh this weekend, the Dolphins’ win moves them into 2nd place in the AFC East, one game behind the Jets with a game remaining against the Jets. More importantly, the victory keeps the Dolphins in the hunt for a Wild Card spot in the AFC as well. With 4 games remaining in the season, the Dolphins find themselves still in the playoff race and each game will be critical to their playoff hunt.

Nobody would have guessed ahead of Sunday’s game that the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots would be involved in a shoot out, if anything perhaps a close, low scoring game. Instead, Dolphin fans were treated to a back and forth shoot out Sunday that eventually saw the Dolphins fall short on fire power, losing to the Patriots 48-28.

The first 3 1/2 quarters of Sunday’s game were perhaps the most exciting quarters of football witnessed in Miami in recent memory. The game saw 6 lead changes by the middle of the 3rd quarter as the teams traded blows in an offensive onslaught. New England scored first on a 30 yd field goal in the 1st quarter to make it 3-0 and from there it was one lead change after another. Miami would go ahead 7-3 on a Chad Pennington TD pass to Greg Camarillo, but the Patriots would answer later with an 8 yd TD run from Matt Cassel to go ahead 10-7.

Pennington would answer with a TD scramble of his own to put Miami back in front 14-10, but just before the half Randy Moss caught a 25 yd TD pass from Cassel to take the lead at halftime 17-14. The back and forth would continue though as Miami answered right away in the 2nd half with another Pennington TD pass, this time to Casey Cramer to go up 21-17. Back to back New England touchdowns in the 3rd quarter though would bring an end to the lead changes, as the Patriots went up 31-21.

Miami would make one more run at the Patriots early in the 4th quarter when Pennington threw his 3rd TD pass of the day, this time to Ricky Williams, to close the gap to 31-28. From there however it was all Patriots as they would go on to score a TD, FG, and TD to win by a final score of 48-28.

The loss hurts the Dolphins playoff chances as they fall to 3rd in the AFC East. Barring a collapse of the New York Jets, the Dolphins have little to no chance of winning the division and it is even difficult to see how the Dolphins could climb into the Wild Card race at this point. That being said, the Dolphins have nothing to be ashamed of. The Patriots, like it or not Dolphin fans, are simply more talented than the Dolphins. Too much has changed since the last time these two teams have met. Matt Cassel almost has Patriot fans saying “Tom who?” and their defense is resurgent.

The Dolphins made a good showing of themselves and no matter how the team finishes the rest of the season, they should see nothing but positives out of the 2008 campaign. They went from 1 win last season, to 6 already this season and still have a chance to finish with a winning record. Given the lack of talent at some key positions on this team (WR!), they are proving they can compete nonetheless. Hold your heads high Dolphins, you’re doing just fine.

The Miami Dolphins are rolling as of late, and if they want to continue their winning streak they are going to need to find a way to defeat the resurgent New England Patriots on Sunday. A lot will be riding on Sunday’s game in Miami, and a lot will be different about this encounter.

Miami will enter Sunday tied with New England at 6-4 and 2nd in the AFC East division, one game behind the division leading New York Jets (7-3). If the Dolphins defeat the Patriots on Sunday, they will be keeping pace with the Jets and improving their division record to 3-1 (7-4 overall). A victory puts them that much closer to a possible playoff berth. A win keeps them close in the divisional race and keeps them in the mix for a Wild Card spot at worst. A loss however, and the Dolphins will drop to 3rd in the division and will drop them lower into the mix of possible Wild Card teams.

Circumstances will also be different this time around, much different than when the two teams met in Foxboro back in September. Back then, Miami was 0-2 and given NO chance of winning, while New England was still trying to find its new offensive identity in the post-Tom Brady era. The Dolphins rolled out the Wildcat formation and thoroughly confused and beat down the Patriots. This time though, New England is more comfortable with backup Matt Cassel, and in addition to taking the Dolphins more seriously, they will be looking for the Wildcat formation this time around. Miami also must be prepared for New England to come out firing on all cylinders in an attempt to avenge their embarassing defeat in September.

If ever there was a game Miami could not overlook, this is it. This may arguably be the most important game the Dolphins have played in 2-3 seasons, hopefully the players can use their head coach’s enthusiasm to pull off another crucial victory and keep their streak alive.