Predictions for the Dolphins record and why ....

[CF DolFan]

I think we are 8-8 or 9-7 right now but honestly ... I don't know that I have a good feel for how well we are at certain positions. I'm really not sure how the line will come together or if we will have any running game. I read this this morning and for the first time, thought our schedule could turn out to be a good thing.

Miami has a brutal first five games against the @Cleveland Browns, @Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, @New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens. We will find out quickly if the Dolphins are contenders or pretenders.

I think by the time Baltimore comes here a lot of us may want to change our predictions.

[Downunder Dolphan]

Agree with Lil B.  7-9


AT   BROWNS        w
AT   COLTS            L
       FALCONS        L
AT   SAINTS           L
       RAVENS          L
       BYE
       BILLS            w
AT   PATRIOTS       L
       BENGALS        L
AT   BUCCANEERS  L
       CHARGERS     w
       PANTHERS     w
AT   JETS              w
AT   STEELERS      L
      PATRIOTS       L
AT   BILLS            w
      JETS              w

[miamid45]

SEP 8 1:00PM  AT   BROWNS  :   WIN
2 SEP 15 1:00PM  AT   COLTS  :  WIN
3 SEP 22 4:05PM    FALCONS  :   WIN
4 SEP 30 8:40PM AT   SAINTS  :   LOSS
5 OCT 6 1:00PM   RAVENS    :       WIN
6 BYE
7 OCT 20 1:00PM   BILLS   :        WIN
8 OCT 27 1:00PM  AT   PATRIOTS  :  LOSS
9 OCT 31 8:25PM   BENGALS  : WIN
10 NOV 11 8:40PM  AT   BUCCANEERS  : WIN
11 NOV 17 1:00PM    CHARGERS  :  WIN
12 NOV 24 1:00PM    PANTHERS  :   WIN
13 DEC 1 1:00PM  AT   JETS         :   WIN
14 DEC 8 1:00PM  AT   STEELERS   : LOSS
15 DEC 15 1:00PM    PATRIOTS      :  LOSS
16 DEC 22 1:00PM AT   BILLS         :  WIN
17 DEC 29 1:00PM  JETS    :  WIN


12-4...BELIEVE OUR DEFENCE WILL CARRY US MOST OF THE WAY.....feel our passing game will thrive...I know we lost Keller, but Gibson is the darkhorse here...ALOT of upside.  Definitely a wild card season.

[Pappy13]

10-6

1 SEP 8 1:00PM  AT   BROWNS <Win>
2 SEP 15 1:00PM  AT   COLTS <Loss>
3 SEP 22 4:05PM    FALCONS <Win>
4 SEP 30 8:40PM AT   SAINTS <Loss>
5 OCT 6 1:00PM   RAVENS <Loss>
6 BYE
7 OCT 20 1:00PM   BILLS <Win>
8 OCT 27 1:00PM  AT   PATRIOTS <Loss>
9 OCT 31 8:25PM   BENGALS <Win>
10 NOV 11 8:40PM  AT   BUCCANEERS <Win>
11 NOV 17 1:00PM    CHARGERS <Win>
12 NOV 24 1:00PM    PANTHERS <Win>
13 DEC 1 1:00PM  AT   JETS <Win>
14 DEC 8 1:00PM  AT   STEELERS <Loss>
15 DEC 15 1:00PM    PATRIOTS <Win>
16 DEC 22 1:00PM AT   BILLS <Loss>
17 DEC 29 1:00PM  JETS <Win>

[BigDaddyFin]

Realistically, 10-6. 

The first 8 weeks or so are pretty brutal. 

[raptorsfan29]

forgot to make my predictions, 10-6 for me.

[EDGECRUSHER]

I can see 10-6 or 6-10 with the same odds. It's weird to say, but if we don't win next week at Indy then we are in trouble and very likely to start the season 2-3. Our first 8 games are ridiculous with only ONE game we should definitely win, and that's Buffalo at home. Even this game wasn't a gimme considering the Browns defense and a road game.

Week 14 at Steelers is probably not going to be nearly as tough as expected, probably a game we should win now.

If we get through the first 8 games at .500, we have a good chance at finishing 10-6. If we don't, no playoffs.

[Pappy13]

10-6

1 SEP 8 1:00PM  AT   BROWNS <Win>
2 SEP 15 1:00PM  AT   COLTS <Loss>
3 SEP 22 4:05PM    FALCONS <Win>
4 SEP 30 8:40PM AT   SAINTS <Loss>
5 OCT 6 1:00PM   RAVENS <Loss>
6 BYE
7 OCT 20 1:00PM   BILLS <Win>
8 OCT 27 1:00PM  AT   PATRIOTS <Loss>
9 OCT 31 8:25PM   BENGALS <Win>
10 NOV 11 8:40PM  AT   BUCCANEERS <Win>
11 NOV 17 1:00PM    CHARGERS <Win>
12 NOV 24 1:00PM    PANTHERS <Win>
13 DEC 1 1:00PM  AT   JETS <Win>
14 DEC 8 1:00PM  AT   STEELERS <Loss>
15 DEC 15 1:00PM    PATRIOTS <Win>
16 DEC 22 1:00PM AT   BILLS <Loss>
17 DEC 29 1:00PM  JETS <Win>

About what I expected so far, I'll go 11-5 now...

7 OCT 20 1:00PM   BILLS <Win>
8 OCT 27 1:00PM  AT   PATRIOTS <Loss>
9 OCT 31 8:25PM   BENGALS <Loss>
10 NOV 11 8:40PM  AT   BUCCANEERS <Win>
11 NOV 17 1:00PM    CHARGERS <Win>
12 NOV 24 1:00PM    PANTHERS <Win>
13 DEC 1 1:00PM  AT   JETS <Loss>
14 DEC 8 1:00PM  AT   STEELERS <Win>
15 DEC 15 1:00PM    PATRIOTS <Win>
16 DEC 22 1:00PM AT   BILLS <Win>
17 DEC 29 1:00PM  JETS <Win>

[EKnight]

With the remaining games and a current 3-2 record:

7 OCT 20 1:00PM   BILLS <W>
8 OCT 27 1:00PM  AT   PATRIOTS <L>
9 OCT 31 8:25PM   BENGALS <W>
10 NOV 11 8:40PM  AT   BUCCANEERS <L>
11 NOV 17 1:00PM    CHARGERS <W>
12 NOV 24 1:00PM    PANTHERS <L>
13 DEC 1 1:00PM  AT   JETS <L>
14 DEC 8 1:00PM  AT   STEELERS <L>
15 DEC 15 1:00PM    PATRIOTS <L>
16 DEC 22 1:00PM AT   BILLS <L>
17 DEC 29 1:00PM  JETS <W>

Finish 7-9 -EK

[Pappy13]

With the remaining games and a current 3-2 record:

7 OCT 20 1:00PM   BILLS <W>
8 OCT 27 1:00PM  AT   PATRIOTS <L>
9 OCT 31 8:25PM   BENGALS <W>
10 NOV 11 8:40PM  AT   BUCCANEERS <L>
11 NOV 17 1:00PM    CHARGERS <W>
12 NOV 24 1:00PM    PANTHERS <L>
13 DEC 1 1:00PM  AT   JETS <L>
14 DEC 8 1:00PM  AT   STEELERS <L>
15 DEC 15 1:00PM    PATRIOTS <L>
16 DEC 22 1:00PM AT   BILLS <L>
17 DEC 29 1:00PM  JETS <W>

Finish 7-9 -EK

This is heavily skewed towards home/away play. You have them going 0-5 away the rest of the way. You think that makes sense given they are already 2-1 away? Miami doesn't have a home field advantage, in fact I'd say they player better away from home where they tend to get that us against the world attitude. At home they seem to relax more and don't play with the same edge.

[EKnight]

As I mentioned in previous posts, the away games are versus teams that match up favorably to Miami's weaknesses. The Pats are always a tough out, so can we argree not to debate that one? The Bucs are 4th in total D, 8th in points allowed, and 5th in passing D. I think this is a trap game sandwiched between two home games that should be wins. I will concede that I waffled on this one simply because of the QB situation in Tampa. The Jets, Steelers, and Bills are 2nd, 10th, and 21st in yards allowed/game; and the Jets and Bills are 3rd and 5th in sacks. Pitt is 5th in passing D, the Jets are 13th, and the Bills are 18th. None of these teams are going to be scared of Miami's ugly 70 ypg rushing attack, so they will likely focus on stopping the pass. All three games are also in December. Weather for those road games can and does make a difference. I didn't just randomly assign wins and losses. There was a thought process involved. -EK

[Spider-Dan]

With the remaining games and a current 3-2 record:

7 OCT 20 1:00PM   BILLS <W>
8 OCT 27 1:00PM  AT   PATRIOTS <L>
9 OCT 31 8:25PM   BENGALS <W>
10 NOV 11 8:40PM  AT   BUCCANEERS <L>
11 NOV 17 1:00PM    CHARGERS <W>
12 NOV 24 1:00PM    PANTHERS <L>
13 DEC 1 1:00PM  AT   JETS <L>
14 DEC 8 1:00PM  AT   STEELERS <L>
15 DEC 15 1:00PM    PATRIOTS <L>
16 DEC 22 1:00PM AT   BILLS <L>
17 DEC 29 1:00PM  JETS <W>

Finish 7-9 -EK

Your prediction breaks down thusly:

Against teams with a better record right now (read: NE) - 0-2
Against teams with the same record - 2-1 (winning both home games and losing the away game)
Against teams with a worse record - 2-4 (including losses to two currently winless teams)

Still fervently hoping to be able to justify your halftime-of-first-game "Tannehill is a bust" proclamation, I see.

[EKnight]

Your prediction breaks down thusly:

Against teams with a better record right now (read: NE) - 0-2
Against teams with the same record - 2-1 (winning both home games and losing the away game)
Against teams with a worse record - 2-4 (including losses to two currently winless teams)

Still fervently hoping to be able to justify your halftime-of-first-game "Tannehill is a bust" proclamation, I see.

20 people make predictions for the season. ONE is singled out for his picks. As a moderator aren't you supposed to be above this sort of thing? Not that I really need to defend these picks, but recent history has shown Miami to do just the above- they lost last year to the Jets, Cards, Titans, and Bills (all had losing records) and won games against the Bengals and Seahawks, who were both playoff teams. -EK

[Pappy13]

As I mentioned in previous posts, the away games are versus teams that match up favorably to Miami's weaknesses.

On offense maybe. When you look at the defensive side of the ball it's a different story as most all of those teams you mentioned have well below average offenses. Teams that have well below average offenses don't tend to give up a lot of points or passing yards because the opponent isn't pressured to score more points when they are already winning. They tend to focus on running the ball and running the clock which makes the defense look better, but it does nothing to help them win the game. The 1 team that is actually playing well offensively, San Diego you have Miami winning which would seem to indicate you think Miami's defense is pretty good, so how do you expect the Jets, Steelers, Bills, Bucs and Patriots to win, hold Miami to under 10 points? (Sorry Hoodie, but you have to admit that NE's O is putting the O in ordinary these days. Things can certainly change.)

I don't want to get into a big debate about this, you're welcome to your opinion, I just find it going rather against the grain with popular opinion on the relative strengths of the opponents they face.

[EKnight]

On offense maybe. When you look at the defensive side of the ball it's a different story as most all of those teams you mentioned have well below average offenses. The 2 teams that actually have a decent offense, San Diego and Cincy you have Miami winning which would seem to indicate you think Miami's defense is pretty good, so how do you expect the Jets, Steelers, Bills, Bucs and Patriots to win, hold Miami to under 10 points? (Sorry Hoodie, but you have to admit that NE's O is putting the O in ordinary these days. Things can certainly change.)

I don't want to get into a big debate about this, you're welcome to your opinion, I just find it going rather against the grain with popular opinion on the relative strengths of the opponents they face.

San Diego I listed as a win ONLY because it's a 1:00 east coast game. West to East coast early games never work out well for those teams. Miami's defense is its strong suit, but they can't cover a tight end. That's the reason the two Pats games are what they are. With Gronk on the field, NE is a different team and Miami has given up a ton of yards to TE's again this year. Cameron (108/TD), Fleener (69/TD), and Graham (100/2TD)all toasted Miami. Graham is a free pass, because nobody can cover the guy, but I expect the same from Gronk.

I hate to break it to you, but "most of those teams" I mentioned, have BETTER offenses than Miami, which is currently 28th in yards per game and average 22.8 points. The Jets are 14th in ypg, Buffalo is 16th, and Pittsburgh is 19th. PPG, only the Steelers are what I would consider a considerable amount worse (5 ppg difference). The Jets and Bills are averaging 19.6 and 22.4 respectively. The only grain I think I'm really going against is the one amongst Phins fans. Will be interested to see how Vegas handicaps these games. -EK