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At the beginning of the season, I said that if we came into mid November at .500, or even just a game lower, we could potentially make a Post Season push at the end of the season because of the favorability of our schedule. Well, heading into an almost sure fire, (hopefully), win against Oakland this Sunday in Miami, we are at 5-4. Above .500, for the first time since 2005. After Oakland we play our biggest game of the season by far, a game that could potentially, (if things play out right tomorrow night), catapult us to first place in the division, at 7-4. First place...that's hard to even imagine right now, but to realize that it is in our grasp, is a very new, and truly amazing one to me. After New England we play 3 games against teams with 2 wins or fewer, and play a Bills team who continues to struggle. O yeah, did I mention that the game is in a dome? Things just keep getting better and better... And then, the finale. The game that will likely decide the division winner. Miami heads to the Medow-Lands to play New York; a game in which could be in Prime Time, as Sunday Night is not out of the question by any means for that match-up. It would be Penny's first trip back to New York since...you know. But let's talk this weekend's game before jumping ahead to Week 17... Oakland is a team in complete disarray, but I do applaud the organization for the move they made when cutting DeAngelo Hall, and his hefty 72 million dollar contract. The Raiders have been improving against the pass, but can't stop anybody from running all over them, (DeAngelo Williams went for a season high 140 last Sunday), which I think will finally get our running game going. Don't let Ricky's 100 yard performance fool you; this is a team that just can't seem to run the football with any consistency. But I guess that is what you get when you have two backs splitting carries; two backs who need to get into a rhythm before they can really do any damage. The Raiders D did do a fabulous job against Delhomme, shutting him down completely, (7-27 passing, 72 yards, 4 INT), making him look as bad as I've ever seen a QB look in a football game. Oakland can't seem to put up points though. They are scoring just a measly, league worst, 12.6 points per game, and have not put one in the endzone in 3 weeks, (also the last time they won a game). The Raiders might be getting number 4 overall pick Darren McFadden back though, and JaMarcus Russell is confident he'll be back in the line-up as well. Russell only has a completion percentage of 48 this year, so stacking the box up and commit to the run, while putting pressure on Russell is what I think you'll be seeing out of your Dolphins' defense. Slow down the 3 headed monster they have over in Oakland at RB, put pressure on Russell and we should be in position to make a lot of plays. This is obviously a very win-able game, and a must win as well. We need all the momentum we can get heading into Week 12's huge match-up against New England. GO PHINS!!! |