Dolphins sing redemption song in comeback win against Bills

By Hugo Guzman  |   Monday, October 27, 2008  |  Comments( 8 )

Miami Dolphins
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When it wasn’t Ted Ginn, it was Joey Porter. When it wasn’t Joey Porter, it was Chad Pennington. When it wasn’t Chad Pennington, it was the Miami Dolphins’ secondary.

Wait a second -- is it possible to mention Miami’s secondary and the word “playmaker” in the same breath? Apparently so.

The Dolphins overcame a rash of costly penalties and miscues in the first half as well as a demoralizing Bills touchdown drive to open the second half, scoring 18 unanswered points en route to a 25-16 victory Sunday. It was a key victory for Miami, helping it to keep pace in what is now a wide-open AFC East.

One of the underlying themes of the game was redemption. There were multiple examples of much-maligned players getting chances to show their worth.

The most obvious was Ginn. Pennington got the second-year receiver involved from the onset, hitting on a 46-yard completion on the first play from scrimmage, and continued to connect with the former No. 9 overall pick throughout the game. Ginn finished with seven receptions for 175 yards, temporarily silencing critics who have prematurely placed the “bust” label on the former Ohio State standout.

Cornerback Jason Allen was another reclamation project who made good. Starting in place of the injured Michael Lehan, Allen held his own in coverage all afternoon. He also made several solid special teams plays, including a fumble recovery in the waning moments of regulation. Hopefully for Allen, Sunday's game will prove to be a turning point for a player who has shuffled back and forth from cornerback to safety throughout his three-year career.

Then there’s Porter. His is an ongoing redemption after a subpar 2007 campaign that left many wondering if Porter was washed up. But instead of fading away into NFL oblivion, Porter has staked his claim for defensive player of the year honors. On Sunday, Porter tallied two sacks, one forced fumble, one recovered fumble and a safety. He was also instrumental during Miami’s goal-line stand early in the first quarter.

Last but not least, there’s Pennington.

Cast aside by his longtime team -- the Jets -- in the preseason, then forced to endure calls for his benching as recently as this past week, Pennington put together another brilliant performance on Sunday. He silenced critics who questioned his ability to stretch the field by hitting Ginn on two downfield throws and managed the game effectively, finishing with 314 passing yards and a touchdown on 22 of 30. Despite certain fans' desire to see rookie Chad Henne, it’s Pennington who is quietly leading the team back to relevance.

At 3-4, Miami is still far from being a playoff contender; with every win, though, the Dolphins take another step toward true redemption. Soon, it will be time to credit front-office head Bill Parcells as the Bob Marley of the NFL, singing his redemption song for yet another beleaguered franchise.

(On another note: Though not as significant in light of other performances, kicker Dan Carpenter had a mini-redemption of his own. After having his first field goal attempt blocked, Carpenter came back strong with three clutch field goals in the second half. His contributions were overshadowed by the aforementioned marquee names, but he deserves praise just the same.)
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About Hugo Guzman

Trying to bring an objective approach to NFL analysis.
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