mdbw
10-20-2009, 01:12 PM
How are you guys feeling about this matchup? I don't know really what to think. I have a lot of thoughts though:
The Saints are very very very good
Drew Brees is in a class of his own, and might even be better than Tom Brady, but I wouldn't say he's reached Peyton status (yet). He finds receivers in the tightest spots and can (fore)see the field in situations when he is under a lot of stress, and even scarier when he has TONS of time. The Dolphins HAVE to get pressure on this guy consistently.
Darren Sharper is having a Pro Bowl year
Chad Henne, do not throw anywhere near him, please. Thanks.
The Dolphins have a TON of confidence
...and we're at home. The Saints will be wearing their black jerseys in the hot South Florida heat... look what happened to the Bills by the 4th quarter. The Saints are used to the AC in a comfy dome.
Our run game is incredible
The Saints can expect a heavy dose of the wildcat, and a heavy dose of Ronnie and Ricky in general. Our running game is #1 in the NFL, averaging 177 yards a game (14 more than the Jests in 2nd place), and we are third in total rush yards this season (less than 100 behind the leader Giants) and we've played one less game than the two NY teams ahead of us. Wow... that means there are 29 teams who don't have as many rushing yards as the Dolphins and we've played one less game than half of them.
Obviously I don't have to say this, but I will: we have to run the ball down their throats and keep Drew Brees off the field with key third down passing by Chad Henne peppered in. If we control the clock like we did against Indy, we win this game because that was Monday night, this is in the Sunday heat even if it is at 4:15.
Sean Smith MUST cover the biggest WR on the field at ALL times
You saw what Smith's 6'3" frame could do against the Jets on that play against Braylon Edwards when Edwards had him beaten by two steps, but Smith's height allowed him to jump up and knock the ball away (and almost catch it). Marques Colston is 6'4" and Robert Meachem is 6'2". Smith must be on Colston ALL the time unless he's not on the field, then it's Meachem.
Remember that BS pass interference call on Will Allen? Yeah, the call was BS, but also remember Braylon "butter fingers" Edwards DROPPED that pass. Allen was beaten, and he's too small to make up for being beaten. Sean Smith is a rookie, I don't care, match him up against their biggest WR.
Predicition
Obviously every expert on ESPN and everyone out there will pick the Saints to win this game simply because they beat their love child #3, the Giants (Pats and Jets being #1 and #2). Guess what though people, the Giants are a solid team, but they are not as amazing as they've been anointed. Look at who they played before the Saints! Those teams have a combined record of 8-21!!!!! The best team they played were the overrated Dallas Cowboys (love child #4) in a game that Romo threw 3 picks (handing them the game), and Manning STILL had to orchestrate a late 4th qtr game winning drive.
Here's my point: the Saints beat the Giants who have been great over the past couple years, but we're not even halfway through the season yet, who says the Giants don't finish 10-6 or 9-7? That on top of the fact that the Saints were at HOME in a VERY loud dome.
So... Miami gets the black jersey's at home in the heat with a rejuvenated South Florida crowd screaming at Drew Brees and an even more amped up Dolphins team on a week of rest and preparation.
Let's see if this team is for real!
Saints: 21
Dolphins: 23
The Saints are very very very good
Drew Brees is in a class of his own, and might even be better than Tom Brady, but I wouldn't say he's reached Peyton status (yet). He finds receivers in the tightest spots and can (fore)see the field in situations when he is under a lot of stress, and even scarier when he has TONS of time. The Dolphins HAVE to get pressure on this guy consistently.
Darren Sharper is having a Pro Bowl year
Chad Henne, do not throw anywhere near him, please. Thanks.
The Dolphins have a TON of confidence
...and we're at home. The Saints will be wearing their black jerseys in the hot South Florida heat... look what happened to the Bills by the 4th quarter. The Saints are used to the AC in a comfy dome.
Our run game is incredible
The Saints can expect a heavy dose of the wildcat, and a heavy dose of Ronnie and Ricky in general. Our running game is #1 in the NFL, averaging 177 yards a game (14 more than the Jests in 2nd place), and we are third in total rush yards this season (less than 100 behind the leader Giants) and we've played one less game than the two NY teams ahead of us. Wow... that means there are 29 teams who don't have as many rushing yards as the Dolphins and we've played one less game than half of them.
Obviously I don't have to say this, but I will: we have to run the ball down their throats and keep Drew Brees off the field with key third down passing by Chad Henne peppered in. If we control the clock like we did against Indy, we win this game because that was Monday night, this is in the Sunday heat even if it is at 4:15.
Sean Smith MUST cover the biggest WR on the field at ALL times
You saw what Smith's 6'3" frame could do against the Jets on that play against Braylon Edwards when Edwards had him beaten by two steps, but Smith's height allowed him to jump up and knock the ball away (and almost catch it). Marques Colston is 6'4" and Robert Meachem is 6'2". Smith must be on Colston ALL the time unless he's not on the field, then it's Meachem.
Remember that BS pass interference call on Will Allen? Yeah, the call was BS, but also remember Braylon "butter fingers" Edwards DROPPED that pass. Allen was beaten, and he's too small to make up for being beaten. Sean Smith is a rookie, I don't care, match him up against their biggest WR.
Predicition
Obviously every expert on ESPN and everyone out there will pick the Saints to win this game simply because they beat their love child #3, the Giants (Pats and Jets being #1 and #2). Guess what though people, the Giants are a solid team, but they are not as amazing as they've been anointed. Look at who they played before the Saints! Those teams have a combined record of 8-21!!!!! The best team they played were the overrated Dallas Cowboys (love child #4) in a game that Romo threw 3 picks (handing them the game), and Manning STILL had to orchestrate a late 4th qtr game winning drive.
Here's my point: the Saints beat the Giants who have been great over the past couple years, but we're not even halfway through the season yet, who says the Giants don't finish 10-6 or 9-7? That on top of the fact that the Saints were at HOME in a VERY loud dome.
So... Miami gets the black jersey's at home in the heat with a rejuvenated South Florida crowd screaming at Drew Brees and an even more amped up Dolphins team on a week of rest and preparation.
Let's see if this team is for real!
Saints: 21
Dolphins: 23