Dolphins must stop Bills from running away with win

By Anthony Bialy  |   Friday, November 09, 2007  |  Comments( 6 )

Miami Dolphins
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You youngsters out there might not remember, but there was a time when Dolphins/Bills games were actually, you know, significant. Football fans everywhere would take a break from talking about that week's intriguing episode of 90210, put on an ostentatious pair of Zubaz, open a Crystal Pepsi, and watch two acrimonious enemies battle for conference supremacy. Now, it seems that this game has more regularly become a negligible struggle to see who can maybe overtake the Jets for second-best in the AFC East.

The rivalry seems to have diminished along with the elite status of both teams, and, even worse for the Dolphins, they face a Bills team that's on a minor roll, one that has evened its record halfway through its slate. Craving a chance for a wild-card slot, Buffalo is undoubtedly focused on beating a current NFL bottom-feeder. Specifically, they'll be hoping to set loose rising rookie back Marshawn Lynch against a run defense that stops about as many opponents as the wind.

Miami shouldn't fear Lynch because of his 139.6 passer rating, achieved after he successfully completed a halfback option pass against the Bengals; for the record, his 8-yard touchdown throw gives him a 100 percent career completion rate over one attempt. Instead, they should be quaking over the 29 rushes for 153 yards he had in the same game.

Lynch has attained 690 yards rushing at season's midway, and his astounding slipperiness, the way he seems to relish contact, and the determination he has displayed while gaining extra territory on virtually every carry are factors which are undoubtedly causing dread among Miami defensive players and coaches who have seen backs total impressive numbers against them habitually.

The Dolphins concede 160.5 yards a contest, a single yard better than league-worst Denver. That's at a rate of 4.5 per carry, a dismal average good for 25th overall. Most tellingly, it indicates teams are willing to continually pound the ground in order to beat the Dolphins, a strategy that has usually worked.

The only teams Miami restrained from rushing excessively were Houston and New England, and those were games where the running aspect was rendered irrelevant by quarterbacks accumulating fantastic passing numbers. Matt Schaub managed 294 yards passing against the Dolphins, while the basically unstoppable Tom Brady threw for 354 yards; the only reason neither team ran the ball much was because they didn't have to.

Every other offense they've faced has had a single back gain at least 89 yards, except for Cleveland, which split carries between Jason Wright and Jerome Harrison (59 and 57 yards, respectively) in the absence of the injured Jamal Lewis. Squads that have set about to conquer the Dolphins by repeatedly handing off the ball have essentially done as they've pleased.

So how can they stop Lynch? The best hope would be to crowd the line of scrimmage, but the problem with that tactic is that they also have to shade a safety toward Buffalo's A, B, and C deep receiving threats, all of whom are wideout Lee Evans. J.P. Losman is starting at quarterback for the Bills this game, and he and Evans go together as well as whiskey and sweet vermouth.

The pair has great chemistry, and Losman's arm strength along with Evans' blistering speed create a dangerous combination that opponents must respect. Therefore, the defense has to be constantly vigilant for the emerging receiver's whereabouts in addition to having to stuff the Lynch-led running attack. It's going to be tricky, and the 0-8 Dolphins better figure out that balance if they want to stay competitive in this game and help restore the luster to this rivalry.
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About Anthony Bialy

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CommentsComments: 6  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
WeAreMarshawn		09:12 AM
11/09/2007
You got that straight. The dolphins must pick there poison, its either Lynch who has been there best player or the deadly duo of...
No.2
abacus		10:32 AM
11/09/2007
I actually think that this game could end up being a track meet. The Bills offense isn't a powerhouse, but Miami's defense makes...
No.3
Squishedfish		06:18 PM
11/09/2007
Home-field advantage... in miami... did u mean For Buffalo who is going to fly in the rich/cold/contest winner fans and then cart...
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