Dolphins - Pats week 1 early discussion

[Brian Fein]

It would not surprise me to see the Dolphins win this game.  If they play 5 times, I think the Dolphins win 2 of them, at least.

I think ("hope") the Dolphins come out on offense and shut them down.  Remember last year - the Dolphins were LEADING 7-0 at the half against the Pats.  And then they completely collapsed in the 2nd half.  I think the Patriots are over-confident and the Dolphins are underrated and have something to prove.

Stay tuned for this one, its gonna be a barnburner!

[Doc-phin]

You spelled both Sparano & Saprano wrong but at least you didn't say Saporno.

Funny!

And yes the Pats are a better team, but I am of the opinion that the gap is closing.  I am not all into blowing kisses Tom Brady's way but he is much better than Henne and until Henne proves he (on an individual level) is closing the gap the Pats will remain the better team.  If you take away the QB position, I could make a solid argument that our team is the better of the two but the QB position is by far the most important as it relates to winning.

[EKnight]

No, the NEP winning of the SB 3 time in the past 10 years is not the reason to pick NE over Dolphins.

1) Your claim that NE has not upgraded in any position is false. 

2) Even if your claim is true NEP was a better team than the Dolphins last year.  Brady is still a better QB than Henne.  BB is still a better coach than Saprono.  This hasn't changed from last year when the Patriots beat the Dolphins twice. 

While it is possible that the fins could win (any given sunday) thinking it is the more likely outcome is foolish. 

3 in ten years... Last of which was seven years ago. Neither of these teams is the same as they were seven years ago. This is exactly what I meant about the "mystique." It's been nearly a decade; get over it already. What positions did the Pats upgrade? I still don't see any. Finally, it has nothing to do with Brady vs Henne. Or Bill vs Tony. I will take miami's pass rush attacking an immobile Brady over the New England pass rush (cough, cough... Non-existent) going after Henne. -EK

[tepop84]

This is going to be a wake up call for all the people who think chad henne is going to be a lot better this year because he did well against a bunch of scrubs playing a vanilla defense.  Having a defense actually gameplan against you and actually attempt to hide their coverage will make chad look as stupid as ever.

[Brian Fein]

^^ And I'm sure you'll be here to highlight every single blade of grass that folded the wrong way under his feet.

[Landshark]

You have no freaking idea what you are talking about Joe!!!!  When has the Patriots ever sat on a lead against us? 

In the 4th quarter at the end of last season.  They called off the dogs.

[MikeO]

Why are they a better team? Because they won a super bowl how many years ago?

No because they were 14-2 last year.

[EKnight]

And they didn't upgrade anywhere, but Miami did. That's why we are talking about THIS year. Not last. -EK

[MikeO]

And they didn't upgrade anywhere, but Miami did. That's why we are talking about THIS year. Not last. -EK

last year wasn't that long ago. Looks like they upgraded at WR and D-Line to most people.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

pats haven't won a playoff game in what 5 years?

Not sure why the playoff records are relevant.  This is an regular game.  NE has lost a week 1 game since 2003.  But if you want to compare playoff records the Dolphins haven't won one this decade and have only played in one this decade. 

No one should expect the NEP offense to be as powerful as it was in 2007, but the defense is better this year than it was that year. 

this is in no way a david and golliath matchup.

Unless Henne has had an incredible metamorphosis during the off-season, it is. 

Any given Sunday is very applicable. 

The team had the single best regular season record last year and didn't lose anyone of note.  The DL, WR, secondary are all better this year than it was at the end of last year.  The last one not because of the addition of players but the return of injured players. 

Could the Dolphins win?  Yes.  Smart bet?  No. 

[EKnight]

last year wasn't that long ago. Looks like they upgraded at WR and D-Line to most people.

WR? Really? Who? Ocho looked AWFUL in the preseason- he just hasn't learned the system yet. D-line? Seriously? You can't seriously mean Haynesworth. 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks last year and he's an upgrade? And didn't he sit out the entire preseason? Not sure who "most people" are, but I don't find those as upgrades, and the general media isn't touting their offseason as spectacular. -EK

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

You can't seriously mean Haynesworth. 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks last year and he's an upgrade?

He may very well be as big of an upgrade to the NE pats Dline as adding Moss was to the WR core was in 2007. 

Haynesworth is a gifted athlete with an attitude problem, who plays when he wants to.  All indications are this year he wants to make a loud and clear statement. 

Moss's stats for 2006:  553 yards, 3 TDs.

[MikeO]

WR? Really? Who? Ocho looked AWFUL in the preseason- he just hasn't learned the system yet. D-line? Seriously? You can't seriously mean Haynesworth. 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks last year and he's an upgrade? And didn't he sit out the entire preseason? Not sure who "most people" are, but I don't find those as upgrades, and the general media isn't touting their offseason as spectacular. -EK

They call it PRESEASON for a reason son

I didn't say the moves were spectacular but they improved their team

[dolfan13]

Not sure why the playoff records are relevant.  This is an regular game.  NE has lost a week 1 game since 2003.  But if you want to compare playoff records the Dolphins haven't won one this decade and have only played in one this decade. 

No one should expect the NEP offense to be as powerful as it was in 2007, but the defense is better this year than it was that year. 

Unless Henne has had an incredible metamorphosis during the off-season, it is. 

Any given Sunday is very applicable. 

The team had the single best regular season record last year and didn't lose anyone of note.  The DL, WR, secondary are all better this year than it was at the end of last year.  The last one not because of the addition of players but the return of injured players. 

Could the Dolphins win?  Yes.  Smart bet?  No. 

when all the marbles were on the table last game for the pats last year, they got knocked in the mouth by an average jets team. no one is scared of them anymore...

the pats have come down from their elite perch in the nfl,  alot closer to the regular nfl teams than they want to admit. 5 years of futility in the playoffs against the true elite teams is proof of that.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

when all the marbles were on the table last game for the pats last year, they got knocked in the mouth by an average jets team. no one is scared of them anymore...

No, when all the marbles were on the table they lost to an 11-5  playoff caliber team that went to the AFCCG for the second year in a row. 

If you want to use anything to point out NE weaknesses last year is they did lose to a game to an 5-11 team.  Hence "Any given Sunday"

the pats have come down from their elite perch in the nfl,  alot closer to the regular nfl teams than they want to admit. 5 years of futility in the playoffs against the true elite teams is proof of that.

NE is one of the elite teams of the NFL.  Dolphins are one of the subpar teams of the NFL. 

NE is not playing the Packers, Steelers, Saints or Jets this week  so your argument that they sometimes lose to elite teams is irrelevant.