3 sneaky keys to victory for the Miami Dolphins over the Bengals

And just like that, week four is here. The Miami Dolphins played and won one of the more improbable victories an NFL team has ever earned. Three days ago the Miami Dolphins defeated the 2022 Super Bowl champion Buffalo Bills after they got outgained, got outplayed(number of plays is what I mean here), and out statisticed(new word?). The only place the Dolphins had more than the Bills was the final score. Turns out, that one is rather important.

The Miami Dolphins have been the talk of the league, for a multitude of reasons, since Sunday. But, that is in the past. We’re on to Cincinnati and we’re on to them real quick.

Trap game, letdown game, game where your defense is still dead tired because they essentially played two games on one day. Those phrases are what are being thrown around when discussing the Miami Dolphin’s chances on Thursday against a Bengals team that finally looked like the team that went to the Super Bowl last year. Sure, it was against the Joe Flacco Jets, but their stacked offense looked like it was supposed to.

But Mike McDaniel and the players aren’t hearing any of it.

I love this attitude. I mean, I don’t think there was any chance that we would hear any different But, it still feels good to hear about the team especially when they’re 3-0. Things just sound better when the Miami Dolphins are 3-0.

To get to 4-0 and defy Las Vegas and the odds they’re giving the Dolphins, a lot is going to have to go right. Or, based on what happened on Sunday maybe nothing has to go right. Let’s try not to have a repeat performance of that where the Bengals have 41 extra plays.

We all know the obvious keys to any victory. Those are to dominate up front, establish the run, the quarterback needs to take what the defense is giving him and make the proper throw but also take calculated risks, keep the penalties down, tackle the ball carrier, and be sound on special teams. These things need to happen in most victories.

But to make my sneaky underrated keys to victory list, I needed to delve deeper into the nuances of the game and assimilate what the Dolphins did last week. I think I did that but let me know what other sneaky, off-the-beaten-path keys to victory the Miami Dolphins need to start the year 4-0 and be the talk of the NFL come Friday.

Emmanuel and Jaelan Phillips need to play better and produce more.

This duo, who was expected to be big parts of an excellent defense, have been pretty invisible so far. Ogbah has the only sack between(don’t get weird) them. He also has a few more pressures. So, if you’re making a power ranking between him and Phillips it would be Ogbah one and I guess we’ll go with Phillips two.

Phillips has been a bit of a disappointment thus far. He’s playing a lot but he’s just sort of there. Dare I say, he’s being a JAG.

This isn’t good at all for a guy who had 8.5 sacks last year.

When I see Phillips out there, I see a guy bull rushing and I see a guy bull rushing. What I’m saying is that Phillips seems to be moveless besides brute strength. He needs to develop more moves with his hands and feet.

I wouldn’t hate to see the club/rip/swims or spin moves. Do something out there besides get stonewalled.

The Bengal’s offensive line, that we saw get Joe Burrowed destroyed and demolished all year last hasn’t really improved at all.

This means if there was ever a get-right game for Emmanuel Ogbah and Jaelan Phillips, this is it.

Mr. Perfect, Jason Sanders, has to stay ready which I fully anticipate him being.

Jason Sanders, who has certainly embraced the Mr. Perfect lifestyle who is managed by Thomas Morstead, hasn’t missed a field goal this year. The thing is he has only attempted two field goals all year and he made them both. He also hasn’t missed any extra points this year either.

All I’m saying is that I think he is going to be needed a great deal on Thursday. Perhaps I’m saying the offense will stumble towards the red zone, I don’t know. I just think this game will be very close and that Jason Sanders will be needed to be clutch.

This isn’t to say that Jason Sanders is often not clutch or prepared. We just haven’t seen much of him connecting on field goals this year. That’s nice because it means the offense has been getting in the end zone. But there’s going to be those games where they aren’t clicking as they have been. Then, Jason Sanders will need to put up the points on his own.

I fully trust the combo of Blake Ferguson, Thomas Morstead, and Jason Sanders. That’s a trio I would trust my life with. I also trust them with executing clutch kicks.

As I said, I just have a feeling about Thursday and the need for Jason Sanders. Maybe I’ll be way off.

The #2s on defense have to be prepared not to only play but to hold their ground.

This is not me saying that because the Dolphin’s defense played 90 snaps on Sunday and that the Dolphins are on a short week on the road, that the starters for the defense get a pass for future performance against the Bengals. We’re not Bills’ fans. We don’t make excuses. Remember that.

All I’m saying is that backups on defense need to be ready when their number gets called. Yes, that’s the case no matter what game they are playing but this week especially because I wouldn’t be shocked if some of the defensive linemen get tired a little bit easier than they usually do. Not an excuse, just a potential reality.

Guys like Raekwon Davis, if healthy, Andrew Van Ginkel, Keion Crossen, and Melvin Ingram will play, regardless, of how the starters are playing. They just might be relied on a bit more than usual. I have all the confidence in the world in them to deliver the goods.

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