Phin Phanatic
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Miami Dolphins facing odd parallels to the 2001 NFL season

By Brian Miller

PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA - FEBRUARY 2: Groundhog handler John Griffiths holds Punxsutawney Phil after he saw his shadow predicting six more weeks of winter during 128th annual Groundhog Day festivities on February 2, 2014 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day is a popular tradition in the United States and Canada. A smaller than usual crowd this year of less than 25,000 people spent a night of revelry awaiting the sunrise and the groundhog's exit from his winter den. If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his den. Early spring arrives if he does not see his shadow, causing Phil to remain above ground. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA - FEBRUARY 2: Groundhog handler John Griffiths holds Punxsutawney Phil after he saw his shadow predicting six more weeks of winter during 128th annual Groundhog Day festivities on February 2, 2014 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day is a popular tradition in the United States and Canada. A smaller than usual crowd this year of less than 25,000 people spent a night of revelry awaiting the sunrise and the groundhog's exit from his winter den. If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his den. Early spring arrives if he does not see his shadow, causing Phil to remain above ground. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) /
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The Miami Dolphins are not stuck in a rotating 2001 episode of “Groundhog Day” but the similarities between that season and this one are somewhat odd.

Are the Miami Dolphins fighting a history that can be re-written or is this simply a big coincidence provided by the “Football God’s”? When I say that the seasons are oddly similar, I’m actually not kidding. Here is a look at the 2001 season as it compares to the still young 2018 season.

The Miami Dolphins opened the 2001 season against the Tennessee Titans. Just like they did this year. The results were the same with the Dolphins winning both games. In the 2001 game they won by eight points and seven in week one this year. The other difference in what may be a turning tide of fate? Miami opened in Tennessee instead of at home.

In week two the Miami Dolphins did not play the New York Jets but they did play the Oakland Raiders at home in Miami the result was a three-point win as the Dolphins jumped to a 2-0 record that season.

In New England things were not looking good for the Patriots. New England dropped their first two games of the season and had a 1-2 record heading into week four against the Miami Dolphins in Miami. The Patriots lost that game to go to 1-3 which is exactly what they will be this year should they lose today’s week four game.

Across the country something else took place this week that hasn’t happened since 2001. The Los Angeles Rams who were then located in St. Louis, has opened the season 4-0 for the first time since 2001. The Rams were the best offensive team in the NFL in 2001 and through four weeks of football it is hard to argue that they are not the best offense in the NFL today.

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In 2001 the Patriots started 1-3 but they clawed their way back into the division and after rattling off six consecutive wins to close the season, they won the division, ran through the post-season and won the Super Bowl on the arm of sixth round draft pick Tom Brady.

That same year the Rams who lost only two games the entire season would lose the Super Bowl to the Patriots. It would be a few years later when everyone realized that the Patriots were accused of filming the Rams walk-through practices.

Could this be Karma’s way of re-writing the history of 2001? Did the Patriots pull off their miracle season with camera’s and inside information or are the starts simply aligning one more time with a flipped axis?

By 4:00 p.m. this afternoon the Miami Dolphins fans will know if this team is 4-0 or 3-1. Will the Dolphins knock the Patriots back to the same record they did in 2001? Will the Patriots be able to climb out of that hole without the assistance of camera’s?

Who knows but it is odd that the 2001 and 2018 seasons have these similarities. If nothing else it’s at least fun to talk about and if the Dolphins win today, it will be a lot more fun to talk about.

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