Hopefully this day finds you fat, happy and ready for more football along with a side of turkey. As Miami fans we have a lot to be thankful for.  It was about this time last year that Greg Camarillo caught a slant pass across the middle against Baltimore and raced to the endzone. The outcome of the game was meaningless to the playoff picture. It was meaningless to the NFL pundits and it was meaningless to the AFC East. However, it wasn’t meaningless the thousands of Dolphin Faithful who filled the stadium and watched it on TV.  It was the end of a long, long, l-o-n-g drought and the win brought more joy to Miami Fans than any win in recent history. I can even remember jumping around like we’d just won the superbowl.

       This year has been quite different. Our expectations have been slowly raised as the wins began to out-number the losses. This reached a pinnacle with last week’s showdown between the 6-4 Miami Dolphins and the 6-4 New England Patriots.  With the status of wildcard driver’s seat on the line along with a possible shot at the division title, Miami fumbled.  Miami is now 6-5 and fresh off a beat down by the hated New England Patriots. If that wasn’t bad enough, I suffered my 3^rd straight loss in fantasy football after leading my league for several weeks. It goes without saying that those fantasy losses came at the hands of good friends who have my cell phone number.  It is fair to say this weekend left me with a football hangover the size of Darth Belichick’s ego.

It would have been easy to come on here and complain about everything from the officiating to The Evil Sith Lord’s in-your-face slam dunk at the end of regulation; however, there were some good things that happened Sunday. First, Bill’s self-edifying score may serve as an excellent motivator for these young Dolphins. It might give them that little “extra” to get back into the playoffs and face NE one more time. It also shows exactly how far the Miami Dolphins, and their fans, have come. The expectations of players and fans are back to where they should be. Thanks to good coaching and good management, both the players and fans expect to win.

                Yes, the NE game was a huge disappointment; but, it was far from the final chapter of this wonderful Cinderella Season. The Miami Dolphins still have the ability to write a memorable end to the 2008 Season and there are 5 games left with 4 of them being very winnable. 10-6 whether they make the playoffs or not, will be as sweet as pumpkin pie. The very fact they are even in contention for the playoffs is truly a gift, a miracle of sorts.

                So sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of this great season. Give thanks to God for football, family and friends. Say a quick thank you for the soldiers in harm’s way and remember T-Rock’s family and keep them in your prayers. Finally, cherish every moment that you are able to spend with your loved ones on this Thanksgiving Day. Here’s a parting gift that I hope brings a smile to your face. http://www.dallasnews.com/video/dallasnews/hp/index.html?nvid=306232 Cheers and blessings to you and your family on this great day.

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This Miami squad fought hard for 3 and a half quarters. Now, while I know all of us were infruriated at the way the game ended, including me, think about where we were at this time last season. Think about the last time the Patriots played us in Miami. Think about how far we have come...that's a long way.

Don't be disappointed that we lost. Be proud of the way we fought. We got into the type of match that we are just not built for. This team isn't built to get into, and outlast their opponent, in a shootout. This team is build for grind it out, win it at the end, type football. Unfortunately, our defense prevented us from running the football down the stretch, and our running game, or lack there of, prevented us from keeping our defense off the field.

We fought hard though. It was a great game to watch; from a Dolphin, Patriot, and an NFL fan's perspective. Back and forth for 50 minutes or so? I'll take it.

We were playing a superior team, who had more time to prepare, and who needed this game more. And let's say it; Bill Belichick is the best mind in football. We did a lot of things right, and we did a lot of things wrong. We improved in a lot of areas that need improving in, and a lot of ugly parts of our game reared their ugly heads.

It appears as an L on the box score, yes. And yes, we're at 6-5, the number 8 seed in the AFC. But folks, we've still got football left to play. We've still got plenty of time to catch up to NE, Baltimore, and Indy. There is still hope. While technically, we now officially need some help from other teams to get into the Post Season, can you really say that 11-5 would not be suffice? Of course it would.

This team can still make the Post Season. THIS YEAR! A year after 1-15. To be in this position is truly remarkable. There is still hope. We're not out. Anything but. We play quite possibly the 2 worst teams in the NFL up coming, and play a struggling Bills team, (although they did put up 51 big ones against KC). We play a bad San Francisco team that, while improving, should still be a game that goes in the win column, in the home finale.

Camarillo's injury definitely hurts. Wilford will need to step up, as to be honest, I am as sick and tired as can be about our only "big time off season acquisition," (at least compared to the other players acquired), is inactive week in and week out. Wilford needs to step up, as he has done about as much for us as the Lions have done for their fans thus far. Ginn will need to step up, and become the true number one receiver of this team. Bess will need to step up his game, and London better be contributing on more than just special teams.

This game coming up against St. Louis will be a true test of character; and thank God it is against the Rams! If you have visited the forums recently, you might have seen the thread I posted, about how I believe the Rams are the worst team in the NFL. This should be a good opportunity for some of the guys at the WR position, to step up, and solidify themselves as the number 2, opposite Teddy G. This should be a blow out. There is no reason not go to into St. Louis, and absolutely obliterate a team that has failed to do anything on either side of the ball, all season long. A team that is injury stricken as well...

After a loss like the one Sunday, and the loss of Cam, it is very easy for a young team to get down. Hopefully that does not happen, and they realize that we are still playing for something huge.

GO PHINS!!!