Miami Dolphins will try to avoid being frozen by the Packers
By Sean Moon
The Green Bay Packers are set to try to freeze out the Miami Dolphins at Lambeau Field this Sunday at 1:00pm. With temperatures expected to be in the mid to high 30’s.
The Miami Dolphins are in for a very cold afternoon and will see the very hot and potent offense of the Green Bay Packers.
The Miami Dolphins (5-4) come into this match up against a desperate Green Bay Packers (3-4-1) team. Both these teams have been fairly inconsistent so far this season and are looking to set a tone for the rest of their season. These two-storied franchises have played each other a total of 14 times throughout the years, with the Dolphins having won 10 of those match ups. Almost every game was a very close and very competitive contest and I don’t expect that to be any different this year. The most recent game was a close 3 point contest in 2014 were the Green Bay Packers came from behind late in the game to beat the Miami Dolphins 27 -24.
The Miami Dolphins are coming off a big victory over the New York Jets, but a lot of questions remained due to the lack luster performance that their offense showed. The good news was the defense, which had been embarrassed the game before against the Houston Texans, showed up to dominate the Jets and proved they are capable of putting it all together while holding up their end of the deal.
The Green Bay Packers were faced with the task of trying to slow down a red-hot New England Patriots team that was very prepared and ready for battle. The Packers hung with them for most of the game but was eventually outscored in the second half. The game was very hyped due to the fact that both Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are arguable the two best QB’s in the game today and have rarely been seen on the same field facing one another. The game did in fact live up to the hype though, but the Green Bay Packers came away with a loss when it was all said and done.
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The Miami Dolphins offense is going to have to prove it can score some points in this game. I think if the team can put up at least 24 points they’ll have a shot to get the “W”. The running attack with both Frank Gore and Kenyan Drake must be utilized better in this match-up because you can run on this Packers defense. Adam Gase was questioned following last weeks game about Kenyan Drakes usage, but I expect Adam Gase will use both his tailbacks equally and often in this one. The Miami Dolphins should use DeVante Parker with his big body the way New England used Josh Gordon, down the field off of play action and let the big man go up and fight for some catches. Green Bay was susceptible to the trick play last weekend a few times and that just happens to be Adam Gases specialty. Unfortunately Albert Wilson will not be on the field but I’m sure coach Gase has a few plays up his sleeve.
If the Miami Dolphins can get their defense to bring the same level of energy and play as smart and effective as they did last Sunday, they can create some turnovers in this game, which can set up some quality field position for the offense. The secondary is going to be tested often with Randall Cobb, Davante Adams and their very talented tight end Jimmy Graham. Those three bring the “G” in-game and know how to play together and get open. The Miami Dolphins are going to need to create a pass rush and get to Aaron Rodgers who is probable the best at evading sacks in the NFL at the QB position and is a master at staying up right while always keeping his eyes down field. If you don’t get pressure on him he will make you pay for it and you will struggle to get the Packers offense off the field.
This is not the same dominate Green Bay Packers team that are normally on the field, this Miami Dolphins team does have a very realistic chance of beating them. This Miami Dolphins defense possesses the talent to really create havoc on their side of the ball and can create problems even for an all pro talent like Aaron Rodgers.
The biggest issue in this match up will be the Miami Dolphins offensive line, which as of late has become a carousel of back up players. They will need to protect Brock Osweiler so the Miami Dolphin offense can move the ball and put up some points. The weather may be a factor as well, as it suppose to be in the high 30’s and that kind of weather could lead to turnovers from a warm weather team like the Dolphins.
So, it could be a (6-4) Miami Dolphins team looking to the future and the playoffs with a legitimate shot, or a .500 Miami Dolphins squad looking at mediocrity again. Buckle up because it should prove to be a great game and there is a lot on the line for both teams, but this game should tell the Miami Dolphins if they have a realistic shot at making the playoffs.