NFL Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins Must Play For Pride Despite Playoff Elimination

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By @CouchGuyRants

Miami Dolphins, Ryan Tannehill

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Even though the Miami Dolphins’ playoff hopes were dashed a week ago, there is still something on the line: a winning season. A win against the New York Jets on Sunday would give the Dolphins a winning record for the first time since 2008 and lend credence to owner Stephen Ross’ decision to bring head coach Joe Philbin back for another season. But whether the team will be able to respond after being bounced from the postseason race is still to be seen.

Newly crowned team MVP Ryan Tannehill will need to galvanize the offense much like he did a week ago in the comeback win over the Minnesota Vikings and have a better performance than he back in Week 13 on Monday Night Football when the Dolphins beat the Jets 16-13. Tannehill completed 25-of-35 passes for 235 yards, but was kept out of the end zone and intercepted once in the first meeting between the Dolphins and Jets. Memories of last year’s epic late-season offensive collapse must be echoing in the young quarterback’s mind.

On the other side of the ball, the Jets’ very simple but very effective, “run the ball, and when in doubt, run the ball again,” gameplan almost beat the Dolphins in Week 13. New York was able to run for 277 yards and held the ball for five minutes longer than Miami, but they were unable to close the door due to the lack of an effective passing game. Expect the Dolphins to load the box and make the Jets throw the ball to beat them, but when a coach has nothing to lose, like Rex Ryan in what has to be his final game as head coach of the Jets, you never know what you are going to see.

When a team has nothing but pride to play for, the real character of the squad is revealed. The strong ones will go for broke and come out swinging, while a team that has been mentally deflated typically has a very underwhelming performance. Time will tell as to what kind of team this is and whether or not positive momentum going into next year means anything to the Dolphins.

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