Critics Jumping on Dolphins Bandwagon
Sep 15, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) gestures to the sidelines during the second quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
This game felt different.
Never in my life have I seen the Miami Dolphins score touchdowns on drives that lasted around two minutes. Never before. That ability to score quickly — because of the emphasis on the pass—is something this team has lacked, well, since Dan Marino.
That being said, raise your hand if you thought Miami Was going to blow it on Sunday? I know I did. I was convinced that Andrew Luck, king of the fourth quarter, was going to take over and beat a Dolphins defense that gave him virtually all day to throw on Sunday.
Boy was I pleasantly surprised.
The Dolphins held their lead and quarterback Ryan Tannehill orchestrated drives of up to eighty yards and he did it with ease. That being said, after getting off to a hot start Tannehill and the offense stalled, allowing the Colts to score 14 unanswered points.
Despite the concern in the middle, the defense bookended a strong offensive start and Tannehill remained composed, not forcing the ball into tight spots.
So the Miami Dolphins beat a 2012 playoff team, a team they lost to last season because of a fourth quarter comeback orchestrated by Luck. This time, the Dolphins came up with a big time sack from Phillip Wheeler. Wheeler had a big time game leading the team with 12 tackles, a pass deflection, and the game sealing sack.
And you know what happened after the Dolphins won? The media began jumping on our bandwagon. A couple weeks ago I complained because the critics were not sold on Miami. The Dolphins were ranked 24, 23, and 17th by the national media. Basically no one was hot on the aqua and orange, but we knew better.
All it takes is a few W’s.
Peter King of SI put Miami fifth in his fine 15. FIFTH!! Yeah you read that correctly, and most of us would say that’s a little high considering the Patriots were ranked 13th on that list, but hey: “if we win, they will come”. Ha, see what I did there?
Anyway King wasn’t the only one hot on the Dolphins, SportsCenter actually stopped talking about the rest of the NFL for a second to acknowledge Miami as a surprise 2-0 team. Hey, it’s a start. It should also be noted that Miami is ranked 12th in SBNation’s poll. Fox sports had the Dolphins moving up NINE spots to number 13.
ESPN’s weekly ranking as the Dolphins listed at 12, up five spots from last week’s 17 ranking.
Now can you imagine if the Dolphins can protect their house and beat the Atlanta Falcons — a team many people have going to the Super Bowl?
Oh buddy image the national media love then…