Dolphins - AFC East Division Champions!

There are going to be lot's of stories written about this amazing comeback all over the internet. Add mine to that list. Like a lot of other Dolphins fans, I woke up this morning wondering if it had really happened. I spent yesterday like a kid on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa to arrive. Well, Santa did arrive, with a number 10 on his jersey. Chad Pennington played Santa for the Dolphins fans. He has been doing it all season, managing the game, controlling the ball, and being the leader on the team. We have all been waiting for this, and after going through Jay Fiedler, Brian Griese, Daunte Culpepper, Ray Lucas....I can't even remember them all, we finally have a quarterback.

Honestly, I thought I would have been happy with 6 or 8 wins this season. I never expected to be looking online to order my own AFC East Champs Dolphins cap. I just wanted to be able to hold my head high as a Dolphins fan. (Detroit Lions fans, I feel for you.) Being in the running for a playoff spot, and then for the division title, was almost to much to handle! (I'm handling it, don't worry!) Just look at what happened yesterday. A team that was the laughing stock of the NFL last year, comes back and in the final game, wins the division title AND keeps the Jets and the Patriots out of the playoffs!

I am sure if you watched the coverage after the game that most of the media was all over Brett Favre. We just have to put up with the fact that he is the media's darling, and be happy that it might be the last time we have to see it. Oh I am sure there will be coverage all throughout the post season about what he will do, but lets just be happy with what he didn't do. I fully expect him to opt out of the Pro Bowl again, like he did last year. I am sure he will blame his shoulder for missing it. If he does skip it, I hope that Chad Pennington gets the nod to go. No one is more deserving of that honor. Pennington has better numbers than Favre in every catagory, except touchdowns, and he only trails by 3 there. (Chad 19 - Brett 22) One stat where he clearly beats Favre is in interceptions. (Chad 7 - Brett 22) Favre threw three of those yesterday, one returned for a touchdown.

Next up, a HOME PLAYOFF GAME! The Ravens visit Dolphins Stadium for a rematch. They were the only team the Dolphins beat last year. They played in the regular season this year, in week 7, with the Ravens winning 27-13. The Dolphins head coach last year, Cam Cameron, is the Ravens Offensive Coordinator. This would be a sweet victory, and put the Dolphins 2 games closer to the (dare I say it?) Super Bowl.

That's all I have for now. Head on over to the Dolphins Fanatics Online main site and forum and join in! Share your opinions there and meet some other Dolphins fans!

Dolphins Beat The Chiefs

Another Sunday, another win for the Miami Dolphins. It makes last season seem like a bad dream. The Dolphins are 10-5 and one win away from clinching the AFC East division title. If they lose though, they are done. The good news is that the last game is against the NY Jets, who lost in a snowstorm to the Seatle Seahawks. Brett Favre threw 2 interceptions, was sacked 4 times and didn't get a touchdown out of the Jets offense. It is clear that Favre is getting tired, and probably is rethinking his decision to come out of retirement. Chad Pennington will be going to New York with a chip on his shoulder, and stats that are better than his replacement with the Jets. The Dolphins can still set the NFL record for the fewest turnovers next week if they continue their ball control. They did have two against the Chiefs, but it was extremely cold, and hard for anyone to hang on to the football with numb fingers. It was the coldest game the Miami Dolphins have ever played, so mid 30's for next weeks game will seem like being back in Florida.

So, it was all good news yesterday, and could have been even better if the Dolphins-Jets game had been selected for the prime time game Sunday night. However, the league decided that a matchup for a division title between the 8-7 Broncos and the 7-8 Chargers would draw more viewers. They apparently didn't buy in to the storyline of a 1-15 team bringing in Bill Parcells, letting two of their stars leave (Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor), bringing in Chad Pennington after the Jets cast him off for Bret Favre and the improbable turn around that has happened with the Dolphins. But, I guess that's ok, because we will all be able to see the Dolphins play the following weeks in the playoffs!

Pro Bowl - Pennington Snubbed?

The Pro Bowl selections came out on Tuesday. The quarterbacks for the AFC are Peyton Manning, Jay Cutler and Bret Favre. Now, if you look at the stats, records and overall leadership of the quarterback who should have really gotten the honor? Chad Pennington.

Of AFC Quarterbacks so far this season lets compare stats and see how they rank

---------------------Pennington--------------------Favre
Yards--------------5th - 3,218-----------------7th - 3052
QB Rating---------2nd - 95.1------------------7th - 86.5
INT (Least)---------1st - 6----------------------16th - 17
TD-------------------8th - 14---------------------4th - 21

Their team records are the same, and the only reason that Favre leads in touchdowns is because the Jets are a more one dimensional offense. The Dolphins are on pace to set a record for least amount of turnovers in a season (10 after 14 games, record is 14) which shows that Pennington is controlling the ball and the game.

So, the Pro Bowl voting has shown that it is simply a popularity contest. The NFC did vote Eli Manning in, and he should have gotten in for the way the Giants have played this year, and it seems to be a late honor for last season. Kurt Warner guided the lowly Cardinals to a division record for the first time since....well, most of us can't remember that far back. Drew Brees got in based simply on stats, total passing yards to be exact, despite the fact that their team is in last place in their division.

So, the best way for the Dolphins to show everyone that Pennington should have gotten in is to beat the Jets and win the division!

Dolphins are 9-5

The Miami Dolphins are the talk of the NFL again this week after another win. How many owners in the NFL are looking at their coaches wondering why "rebuilding" is taking so long when the Dolphins turned things around right away? It has raised a lot of eyebrows for sure! The Dolphins didn't score a lot of points, but the two touchdowns they did get were beautiful plays. The first one to tight end David Martin was well placed for a 61 yard score. The next one probably took the 49ers by surprise, since it was the first catch as a pro for TE Joey Hanos.

That is probably the thing that has impressed me the most about the Dolphins this season. There is not one player on the offense with flashy stats. Instead the offense has used a lot of different players to get it done, which makes it hard to defend. Chad Pennington is controling the ball and the team is still on pace to set an NFL record for turnovers. The record is 14, the Dolphins have only 10, with two games left. In my opinion, Chad Pennington should be going to the Pro Bowl, and have MVP consideration for the leadership he has brought to this team. However, the only Dolphin that I see actually making it to the Pro Bowl is Joey Porter. His 17.5 sacks is a career best for him. He sealed the win with a critical sack at the end of the game with the 49ers.

Next up, the Kansas City Chiefs, who have a record of 2-12. Their GM, Carl Peterson just resigned, putting the entire coaching staff in limbo for next season, which it probably was anyway. A General Manager shouldn't have any affect on a game, but it has to be a factor for the team mentally, seeing their franchise fall apart this year. The Jets have to travel to Seattle, another team that has not been very good this year. Let's hope the Seahawks can get one more win this weekend! Brett Favre has been trying hard to put his interception record out of reach for anyone else, so the Seattle Defense might get to score some points. Favre leads the league again this year in INT's.

Don't forget to stop by the Dolphins Fanatics Online forum! Share your comments and opinions there!

Dolphins Playoff Hopes Are Still Alive!

The Dolphins got another win against a division rival last Sunday, putting them in a postion to win the division. If the Dolphins win their next three games, they will be the AFC Champions. Last year that seemed like it wouldn't be possible to even think of that scenario for at least a couple seasons, but after the amazing turnaround they have experienced this year, it is a very likely possibility.

There was an article this week about Chad Pennington and how he should be considered for MVP. No, he doesn't have the flashy numbers of Drew Brees or Kurt Warner, but he has already thrown for over 3,000 yards, and has lead this team like no quarterback has since the days of Dan Marino. Brees has great numbers, but he also has a team in last place in their division. Pennington is leading a Dolphins team that is on pace to set a record for least amount of turnovers. That says they are controlling the ball, and limiting mistakes.

I have been a bit worried about the play of the 49ers the past couple weeks, but then maybe it wasn't so much them as it was the two teams they played. The Bills have not been good, losing 6 of their last 7, and even though the Jets started out hot, they have been looking rough, and perhaps Brett Favre is getting tired. Of course I want the Bills to have a good game today, since they are playing the Jets, and that would greatly help the Dolphins in their quest for the division, but if the Dolphins can beat the 49ers today, and the Chiefs next week, then it is all down to the game with the Jets the last week of the season. It would help if Pittsburg beats Baltimore today, opening up the AFC Wildcard a little bit. (Indy is playing Detroit, so no help there.)

So, it looks to be a great day of football. Enjoy the games!

AFC East battle

It was a great day for Dolphins fans. First of all, the Dolphins beat the St. Louis Rams. The Bills lost to the 49ers, the Patriots lost to the Steelers, and the first place NY Bretts lost to the Denver Broncos! I became a huge fan of Jay "My arm is better than Brett Favre's" Cutler for a day. It would have been an even better day if the Colts and Ravens would have lost, but overall it was still a great day.

Now, what is the chance of the Dolphins getting into the playoffs? Well, first they have to beat the Bills, who are having some struggles and a possible quarterback change this weekend because of injury to Trent Edwards. Then they need to get wins against two underperforming teams, the 49ers and the Chiefs. If this happens, then it comes down to the game against the Jets for the division championship. Even if they lose that game, they still have a shot at the wildcard, depending on how the other teams in the AFC play of course.

In any case, it has been a wild year. If the Dolphins get a couple more wins, they end up over .500 for the season, which is a drastic improvement over the 1-15 record last year. I have confidence with the people running the team now, for the first time in years. I expect smart signings in free agency and a good draft. However, we might not get a great pick in the draft if we go deep into the playoffs! That is just fine with me.

Dolphins - Rams

The Dolphins fall to the Patriots, and fall to 6-5, while the other three teams in the AFC East all get wins. It's still anyone's division though, and the Dolphins could still take it if they can get wins against the Bills and Jets. At the very least, they still have a good chance of a Wildcard spot, with three teams coming up that have not shown much this year. The first one is on Sunday, against the Rams.

Rams quarterback Marc Bulger suffered a concussion in Sunday's game against the Bears, and is questionable for the game on Sunday. If he can't play, Trent Green will get the start. Ironically, Trent Green is the last person you would expect to be coming in and playing because of a QB getting a concussion. Green is one more hit to the head away from a drool bib. He suffered season ending concussions while playing in Kansas City, and last year while playing for the Miami Dolphins.

After the game with the Rams, the Dolphins have matchups with the 49ers and Chiefs, who have won 4 games between them this year. So, the Dolphins have an excellent chance of getting above .500 for the year, and even if they don't make the playoffs it is a huge turnaround from the disaster that was last season.

Wide receiver Greg Camarillo, who was having a breakout season, is out for the rest of the season with a Knee injury. It's time for Ted Ginn to start showing some consistency and start making all of those balls thrown to him catches! He has such great potential, and has shown he can do it with some big yardage games and Randy Moss like catches in the end zone.

Don't forget to visit the Dolphins Fanatics Online Forum!

Dolphins - Patriots The Rematch!

This Sunday is one of the most important games of the season for the Dolphins. If you are like most Dolphins fans, you are probably stunned that the team has 6 wins at all this season, let alone the fact that they are in the hunt for a playoff spot.

The Dolphins easily handled the Patriots last time in a 38-13 rout where they showed off their Wildcat offense for the first time. This time around the Patriots should have some defensive schemes ready when Ronnie lines up behind center. However, with the success that the Dolphins have had offensively, I wouldn't be surprised to see Chad Pennington have a career game, along with receiver Tedd Ginn. Ginn has been showing his stuff lately, and with his speed he should be able to beat the defense when Pennington has the ball in his hands. I could see some pitches from Ronnie Brown back to Chad from the Wildcat offense and some big gains in the air.

Now, I am far from a great NFL mind, but from what I have seen the coaching staff do so far with the Dolphins, I don't expect them to come out with the same offensive looks and let the Pats defense dominate them. I would imagine that they have some new plays to run that they have been saving just for this game.

If the Dolphins do win this game, then it could come down to a one game playoff with the Jets in week 17 for the division title.

Dolphins open a can of Whoop Ass on the Patriots!

Wow, what a game. I didn't get to watch it here in Minnesota, but I did watch the highlights on NFL.com about 3 or 4 times. (ok, it was more like 11 or 12 times.) Now, I am not ready to get behind the wheel of the AFC East Champions bus yet, but I do have some confidence in the coaching staff. It was nice to see them take some chances and be aggressive. No more Mr. Nice Guy! The Dolphins are back and are doing what it takes to win.

I am not a great NFL Football mind, but I did think the play of the receivers was much improved. It was all a matter of just spending more time with starting quarterback Chad Pennington. The Dolphins have shown they can run and pass now. Pennington had 226 yards passing, and on the ground the Phins gained 216 yards. Don't forget Ronnie Browns 19 yard TD pass! I think anytime an elite team like the Patriots give up 461 total yards of offense, it shows that the Dolphins are a force to be reckoned with!

I haven't even talked about the Defense! Joey Porter - 3 sacks. Enough said!

Next up, a bye week, which gives the offense even more time with Pennington. After that, the San Diego Chargers. They looked good against the NY Bretts on Monday night, but they do not have the week off so hopefully the Dolphins can be rested, healthy and ready to throw some more wrenches at the Chargers defense like they did to the Pats!

One more thing. I know this is supposed to be a daily blog, but that is a hell of a lot of work. Let's just settle for a weekly post for now.

A New Quarterback in the AFC East

Perhaps you have heard of the new Jets quarterback. It's a guy named Brett Favre (pronounced Brett Crybaby Interception King Fahrrrrrvvvvvvvuh). I live in Minnesota, so have had to put up with him for several years in the NFC North. Now he comes to the AFC East so my favorite team, the Miami Dolphins, get to play against him twice this year. Oh yeah, they still get to play Tom Brady twice. Now, if the Buffallo Bills could just pick up someone like Peyton Manning, then I could just give up for another season.

I'm really not too worried though. The Jets still suck.

Bill Parcells wasn't kidding!

Cleaning house. I think Bill Parcells wants to win. Nothing will stand in his way. Zach Thomas went, Jason Taylor is gone now. The only reason he is keeping Ricky Williams is because he has no trade value. I am sure he wants to get everything he can out of a player, whether that is trade value or playing value. It will be exciting to see the quarterbacks in training camp soon because I am sure that Sparano is not going to make any promises and the starting position will be open to anyone who shows they can do it. (My money is on Henne, but who knows!)

It should be a fun season! This is what it is all about.

Welcome to all our Second Life friends! If you haven't joined yet, check the link on the main page of Dolphins Fanatics Online.

Cam Cameron is done.

It's not like we didn't see this coming. Now the search is on for a new head coach, again. I have a little more confidence that things are going in the right direction. Bill Parcells is making a clean sweep in the top positions. New GM, new head coach, new coaching staff. The front runner seems to be Tony Sparano from the Dallas Cowboys, who both Jeff Ireland and Bill Parcells know very well. However, the interviews have to happen with several candidates, so don't expect a decision to be made, or announced soon.

There was a surprise yesterday with the Dolphins. Ricky Williams had his contract renewed for the 2008 season. Logically, the only other option was to cut him loose. He doesn't have much trade value at this point, and after the last season he could only help.

One last thing, Happy Birthday Coach Don Shula!