Before I get to the game this Sunday I would like to comment on the New England game last Sunday.  The Dolphins put it on the line last week emotionally and physically in that game last week and for 3 plus quarters battle New England on even terms.  In the end the talent difference between the two teams caught up with Miami and the Patriots got out of Miami with a big win for them and a lot of bitterness from the Phins.  Towards the end of that game emotions boiled over as Channing Crowder and Matt Light came to blows and Joey Porter was flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Coming off such an emotional game the question I posed in the header and my concern is where is this team from an emotional standpoint?

Miami has already shown a tendacy to play down to the level of competition, see Oakland and Seattle a few weeks ago and now they go on the road to take on a 2-8 St. Louis Rams team that may have Stephen Jackson back today.

We will once again learn a lot about our Dolphins in this game today from a maturity standpoint and leadership standpoint.  Will Joey Porter, Jason Ferguson, Chad Pennington and the other veterans on this team get this team right from a mental standpoint or will they go into this game flat?  If they come out flat they will find themselves in a battle with a team that has little to play for.  If they can put that game behind them and jump on St. Louis early like the Bears did last week they can win this game and get out still in the middle of the playoff picture.

Miami still has a lot to play for and much much more than any of us could have ever thought when the season began.  The playoffs are still very much in reach.  It begins with this game today against St. Louis.

Reality Bites
by Mitch (FINesse)

As hard as it was to swallow that defeat on Sunday sometimes as tough as Reality is to take it is a good thing. With all the improvements made this season maybe a humbling experience was necessary. Even though I call New England depleted it is quite evident that they still are a viable team & as much as we hate to admit it extremely well coached.

We have separated ourselves this year from the also rans , tems like the Raiders , Lions & hopefully the Rams but we still are not at the level of the upper echilon of the league & that is OK because this regime will understand that & make the necessary changes. In the past coming off a season like this we thought we were "close" & would have just made some minor tweaks in an off season only to take more steps backwards the following season. This will not be the case with this current team & all the short fallings that the last game exposed will be addressed.

Now dont fear as you have to be happy with how our schedule looks. With games left against the Rams , 49ers , Chiefs , a strugglimg Bills team on a neutral site & a Jet team that might not need the game this is a very early christmas present. While it might give us a bit of false hope as to who we really are winning these games can only boost the confidence level of this very young team. So with many more winable games coming up I will tell all you bridge jumpers to have faith because when this season is looked backed upon , it is not the quality of the opponents that will be remembered but the strives we made coming back from the dead.

Miami at NCSU
by Dave Blake (Big Dave)

I make no bones about being an NCSU Wolfpack fan. One of the greatest days of my life as a 'Pack fan was last week when opened up a can of "Whoop" on the cursed Tar Holes in their own stadium. It will be short-lived as basketball season is right on college football's heels, but you learn to cherish games like that. Yes Sir.

Anyways, I am working the Miami/NCSU game today in the media box. I make sure all the local media and NFL scouts have network access. It's an easy job as everyone has all ready had this stuff prepared all in advance, so, I pretty much get a great meal and a seat at the window watching a great game. If I want I can walk the stadium and possibly get into the press conference at the end of the game. If they had some "brews" it would be even sweeter. Hopefully my wolfpack will come out on top, but if this much improved team falters it will not kill me as I consider the Hurricanes in my top 5 favorite college football teams.

So, when my Wolfpack spanks you 'Canes fans all the way back to Miami, please don't litter the forum with a lot of kleenex;)

Distribution Map

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