Holding My Breath (Underwater)

The Dolphins are on the brink of destruction, and this Saturday morning’s news did ease anyone’s minds. Tua Tagovailoa was downgraded to doubtful in a must win game for Miami. Not what they wanted to hear this morning. The Dolphins remain on the bubble and need a multitude of teams to lose along with their wins, but a doubtful Tua is not good. Miami has won three out of their last five games, but they have looked vulnerable in numerous games this year. Dropping games to the Cardinals, Titans, and Colts was unexpected for such a high-powered offense. That offense has been lacking all season, but they’ve been able to up more points over the last three weeks. Tyreek Hill finally recorded a TD last week, but he’s going to need more of those if Miami wants to win this game. Pair that with De’Von Achane, who is having a spectacular season, and Jaylen Waddle, and the Dolphins are always scary on paper. They just need to show people again why they’re scary, and I think they can against a battered Browns team.

Cleveland has lost one of their last seven games. They got absolutely beat up by the Bengals last week, and the Chiefs and Steelers beat them up in the weeks prior. They need to turn their offense around a little bit. A lotta bit. Dorian Thompson-Robinson will be making his second straight start, and after having a rough first start last week, going 20/34 for 157 yards and 2 INTs, he will need to step it up. The problem is the Dolphins have the 6th ranked best defense.  A tall task for your second start. Jerome Ford will certainly get involved, as he finished with 92 yards and a TD last week. They could basically put the Dolphins out of the playoffs with a win this week, but I don’t know how motivating that will be for this team. I believe in Miami here.

POSTGAME:

The Dolphins just narrowly avoided a loss to the Browns. It wasn’t super close, but it was too close for a team competing for a playoff spot. Especially, when playing a non-playoff team. I don’t know what Miami needs to do, but they will not be getting into the playoffs if they don’t win next week, (and then have the Broncos and Bengals lose.) Tall order here, and it’s an order they will have to fill because they’re the ones who wrote it. Don’t ask for an excavator for the hole you dug yourself in with a shovel. They got the Jets next week, which should be a win, but divisional games always get messy, so not as wrapped up as they would like. Tough look for Cleveland again. Just got to regroup come the offseason, draft well, and find a new QB.