There you have it, the Miami Dolphins are now in the driver’s seat as far as improving their chances at making the playoffs. At 6-4, the team rested this Sunday after playing three days ago on Thursday Night Football versus the rival Buffalo Bills. Winning versus the Bills added another turn to this roller coaster type of season. A season where since the Dolphins were overseas have gone 4-2 after beginning 1-2.
It’s going to take winning 4-5 more games to earn a playoff birth. Winning exactly 10 games, however it happens puts the Dolphins in the playoffs for the first time in six years.
Next week, facing the odds, on the road versus an interestingly vulnerable (after loss to the Rams) Broncos team, it seems the Dolphins will tackle their most difficult challenge of the season.
The Broncos not only upgraded their offense by signing former speedy Steeler Emmanuel Sanders, they added to their plethora of talent of by grabbing Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Ware in free agency. Both additions have made the Broncos difficult to shut-down with a superior pass rush followed by an explosive offense.
However, next week, the Dolphins get to showcase their version of an explosive offense versus a Broncos defense that will bring it with their pass rush and a shutdown corner in Aqib Talib.
This week of practice will mark an opportunity for guys in the middle of the roster to show the coaches they can not only play in game situations, but be counted on.
On the offensive line, questions must be answered such as will Dallas Thomas be the pass blocker scouts felt he’d develop into? Will Nate Garner be thrust into playing right tackle in order to keep Ryan Tannehill’s jersey clean?
Can wideout Jarvis Landry come up with another big performance both as a kick returner and wide receiving threat?
Will Ryan Tannehill take advantage of the rarified air and hit Mike Wallace in stride for a deep touchdown pass?
Will the Dolphins jump on the board early if they get the ball first?
Does head coach Joe Philbin have enough fire to fire up his team for six more meaningful games?
These are some the many questions that bear answering this week, versus an AFC opponent that is jockeying for the same position the Dolphins are, to be better than the 8-2 New England Patriots, a team the Dolphins face again in December for the division if all goes as planned.
For the Dolphins, they control every bit of their own destiny and their owner Steve Ross and his cronies are watching closely.
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