New England 27, Dolphins 17 (Final); Miami falls to 3-5 at midseason

[The latest DOLFAN SATISFACTION METER appears in separate post directly above this. Meantime the latest Canesfan Satisfaction Meter poll results are now official in the post directly below this].

FINAL: Miami stands at 3-5 at midseason after today's 27-17 loss at New England. The difference to me was the two passing games. Tom Brady is a top-tier master in is prime, with one of the NFL's great targets in Randy Moss. Chad Henne is in the midst of on-the-job training, with a mediocre-at-best receiving corps and no reliable deep threat. (By the way, chatty Joey Porter's game did not rise to the level of his mouth, with zero tackles). Today's loss makes it very difficult to realistically imagine a playoff season might still be in store for Miami. A wild-card spot seems unlikely, and the Dolphins now trail New England by three games in the division. 

FOURTH QUARTER: Pats kick 40-yard FG to go up by 10 with just over a minute left and no timeouts for Miami. Miracle, anyone? ..... Dolphins heading to defeat after 4th down pass dropped by Ted Ginn. That was after delay penalty because Henne called a timeout Miami didn't have. ..... Huge 3rd and 4 stop by New England puts Pats in control with 5 minutes and change left. Would have been an interesting spot for a fake punt, but Miami didn't gamble.

THIRD QUARTER: Big loss out of 'Cat as quarter ends. That's problem with Wildcat. When it doesn't work, it really doesn't work. ..... Chad Henne interception negated by roughing-passer penalty. Violent helmet to helmet hit should bring league fine. ..... Randy Moss 71-yard TD pass from Tom Brady, most of it after the catch thanks to a stiffarm to elude Vontae Davis. Then Moss agin on the 2-point conversion catch. Brady again with too much time to settle in the pocket. ..... Miami up 17-16 on Ronnie Brown short TD flip to Joey Haynos out of the Wildcat.

HALFTIME: A close game as I thought it would be (my pick was 31-24 Pats), but Dolphins must get more pressure on Tom Brady to have a real chance. Brady is on a 400-yard pace with way too much time way too often to sit in the pocket and cherry-pick open receivers.

SECOND QUARTER: New England builds lead to 16-10 with FG on last play of half. Tony Sparano irate over apparent home-field advantage by the scoreboard operator to leave Pats 1 second left after incomplete pass. .....  Pats back up 13-10 with FG as 2-minute warning nears. ..... Dolphins knot it 10-10 on Ricky Williams' 15-yard run capping an excellent drive with does of the Wildcat and Pat White. ..... Pats add short FG for 10-3 lead, mid-quarter.

FIRST QUARTER: Vontae Davis leaves game with quad injury. ..... Pat up 7-3 on Laurence Maroney 1-yard run, set up by deep pass to Randy Moss to the 1, on one-handed catch over Vontae Davis. ..... Miami 3-0 on Dan Carpenter 52-yard FG. That kid is very good. ..... Adalius Thomas returns Chad Henne sack-fumble for TD but Miami challenges call and wins. Replay indicates forward motion for incomplete pass. ..... Vontae Davis picks Tom Brady on  deep ball on game's first possession. Kid's beginning to show why he was a first-round draft pick.

PREGAME: Boomer Esiason declares the Wildcat is "done" on CBS pregame show; Dan Marino disagrees. So did 72% in quickie poll. I also disagree it's done, althought I think the threat of a pass out of the 'Cat must  increase. ..... LB Channing Crowder and NT Jason Ferguson both inactive for Dolphins. Uh oh. Then again, Pats missing LT Matt Light could open up some sack opps for the visitors. ..... Jason Taylor's 177th Dolphins start today surpasses Bob Kuecheberg for second most in club history behind Marino's 240.

Original post:

Sorry, Channing Crowder, but with all due respect, ther AFC East does go through New England, certainly this season, and in general. The respect Miami is after takes more than just last season to create. A victory up there today would be a huge help toward that end. I'm on record saying Nuevo England will win 31-24. Think Dolphins beat the point spread but not the Pats. Tom Brady is his old self and very hot, NE's defense is very good, and Bell Belichick at home coming off a bye is a mountain to climb.

Your thoughts welcome here before, during and of course after this afternoon's game.

Join us here for an Unofficial Semi-Live Boutique Blog beginning just before kickoff.

Then watch for the latest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter poll in a separate post at 5 p.m.  

Comments

[FZB]

Cote, since you're sooooo sure the belli-cheaters win today, I have no other choice but to declare the Dolphins the winner, say 27-17

the dolphins OL will show up today , if not is going to be ugly....

In tuna I trust.

[r. duke]

I just heard from Boston's very HOMO-SPORTS INSIDER that Belichick pulled Brady's groin and Brady's status for todays game is painful at best.

[Tom]

NFL Countdown crew just gave the Pats the kiss of death with a unanimous vote to beat our Fins.

[Iron Mike T]

Hey boys, Brady just got picked!

[Tom]

Damn. I leave the room for 5 minutes to go pinch a Belicheat and the bad guys score. Figures.

[Noel]

We're done for. Jason Allen is horrible.

[r. duke]

Hey apparently Brady's groin has responded really well to Belichick's yanking on it. Yeah that Jason Allen is special. Good thing Welker was traded to the Pats. Maroney's really running into a brick wall today. Hey that Miami run blocking, pass protection coupled with Dolphin receivers ability to get open are clearly conspiring to get Henne injured otherwise it's a great game thus far...

[Tom]

Uh oh, the PatCat.

[Noel]

Conventional just isn't for the Dolphins. Nice run Ricky.

[r. duke]

Hmmm apparently Belichick yanked on Vontae Davis's groin but with slightly different results than his pulling on Brady's. I think that's because Brady is used to Coach Genius's aggressive handling of his players.

[r. duke]

What tied?! I should be ashamed of myself. I'm not worthy of the Dolphins. Forgive me.

[Tom]

Someone please tell Dierdork to STFU......please!

[Noel]

I guess Jay Cutler wasn't the answer for the Bears.

[Noel]

Vontae's having a rough day.

[the shadow knows]

folks,

chad henne does not look at more than one potential passcatcher on any particular play, underthrows a lot of balls and the dolphins suffer as a result. for ll his "arm strength", he has had one long TD pass this season to the best of my recollection. and this with a team that runs pretty successfully. pat white has a better arm, and his one overthrow in the season's first game has cost him, as he is not allowed to toss the "pigskin" anymore. it was stated here on draft day that white would challenge for the job, and i still think that next year pat white is ahead of #7 at the end of camp.

[the shadow knows]

men,

mostly no pressure on #12 today and joey porter and jason taylor haven't gotten a call apiece to this point- any sacks by the dolphins today?

[Shark74]

TED GINN SUCKS

TED GINN SUCKS

TED GINN SUCKS

TED GINN SUCKS

GET THE POINT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[the shadow knows]

Shark74,

i am not generally a defender of ted ginn, but that last pass was directly over his head; not saying that if it were thrown in front of him he would have caught it in stride.

[Rick]

We don't have WR's that are above average, bottom line. Henne is in his 2nd year and White is a project. Neither one should be expected to carry this team, by themselves.

BOTTOM line this comes down to coaching. The game planning in the 3rd and 4th is VERY questionable. Our defense gives up WAY too many big plays!

[Shark74]

shadow
what's the difference, over his head, in front of him, low, behind him the fact remains he had both hands on it,shoulda-woulda but nadda. All too common with this clown, bottom line.

TED GINN SUCKS

[naplesjackpatsfan]

Dolphin Nation- A few random thoughts:
#1- fins played better then I thought.
#2- Porter and Taylor did not even need to take a shower after this game. Porter you truely are an ASSHOLE!!!
#3- If this guy Henne is your future, you are in deep trouble.
#4- Vonte Davis has a long way to go, to be a big time db.
#5- Ted Ginn came back to earth today, this pu**ey heard Meriweathers foot steps today.
#6- Porter, 0- tackels, never got to Brady all day, time for this doushbag to just go away. Like Brady says, consider the sourse.

[J.A.T.]

Not having Jason Ferguson and Channing Crowder in the game really hurt the Fins defense. The Pats were able to muster a pretty effective running game which, coupled with the Tom Brady-Randy Moss-Wes Welker air assault, made defending the Pats offense almost impossible. Paul Soliai was getting pushed around all game long and couldn't do much of anything. I know the Trifecta loves Soliai's size, but the kid hasn't shown anything with the opportunities he's been given. As for the Dolphins offense, the problem is quite obvious. The Fins lack playmakers at the wide receiver position. Dropped passes, bad route-running, average play. The Fins need to address this in the off-season because it's unfair to judge Henne considering the lack of talent he has to work with. The Fins need quality receivers and tight ends in the worst way.

[J.A.T.]

For those of you hating on Ted Ginn, let's not forget that Brian Hartline also dropped a pass that would have given the Fins a first down on their last drive. Ginn is never going to be a #1 receiver, please stop getting all upset when Ginn fails to deliver in situations that he clearly is not suited for. Ginn is a dynamite kick returner who should also be seeing time at punt returner. Those are hard to find in this league. Ginn has a place on the Dolphins roster. Just cause that role isn't what everyone expected when Cam "I'm Clearly In Over My Head" Cameron drafted Ginn way too high, doesn't mean he can't help the Dolphins. Stop whining, and try to look at the big picture!

[oscar_g]

I'm sure we are all enlightened by those random thoughts. lol

[naplesjackpatsfan]

Armando, and Darlington both have the fins koseing 24-17. lol, do they pay these guys to cover the game.

[naplesjackpatsfan]

oscar_g- Glad to see you back on the site. LOL

[naplesjackpatsfan]

Loseing, not koseing!!

[r. duke]

Tennis anyone?!

[Iron Mike T]

Hey duke, is Agassssi your fave??

[r. duke]

Serena Williams. Fins could've used her to rush the passer today.

[r. duke]

Dolphins could use Kyra Sedgewick too to finish games...

[r. duke]

Also didn't catch Porter's pre-game remarks but I can't imagine him having much to say given his lack of productivity this year. Really guys don't talk just play and win. Sort of like the Pats...

[r. duke]

...not like the J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!

[Iron Mike T]

Get Serena blocking for Ricky...yeah..that's the ticket.

[Iron Mike T]

A pox on philip rivers

[Tom]

We should get Serena to wrap those thighs around Brady's head and pop it like a pimple.

[naplesjackpatsfan]

FZB- You called the correct score, only wrong team. Your call on your o-line was in reverse also. Jake Long looked pathetic again, Sebastin Vollmer, a rookie lt, schooled porter, and anybody they put on that side.

[the shadow knows]

naplesjackpatsfan,

the patriots exemplify the eli whitney concept of interchangeable parts- they win with whichever player fills in. kevin faulk is one of the truly underrated players (not by me) and is in the 3rd down back hall of fame with preston pearson and ronnie harmon- guys who i never saw drop a clutch 3rd down pass, although k. faulk runs more than the other two.