Joe Philbin Era Could Come to Screeching Halt If Dolphins Lose in Week 15

For Miami Dolphins fans, a sinister feeling of deja vu is starting to creep up.

Nightmare fuel is slowly being pumped into the consciousness. The principals of last year’s collapse were all brought back for the sequel. The wheels are on the verge of coming off once again.

And this time—if the Dolphins do indeed complete a second straight December swoon that sees them out of the playoffs—coach Joe Philbin could (and should) pay with his job.

Last year, the Dolphins were 8-6 and needed one win in their final two games against the division rival Buffalo Bills and New York Jets to make the postseason. They lost both in excruciating fashion.

Coming off the heels of both that and the BullyGate scandal that rocked both the organization and the NFL, one could have easily constructed a strong argument for Philbin to lose his job at season’s end. But owner Stephen Ross opted to retain Philbin, and the directive was clear: Make the playoffs in 2014...or else.

Well, the 2014 Dolphins have reached a crossroads. After last Sunday’s embarrassing and inexcusable loss to the Baltimore Ravens—one that featured an all-too-predictable fourth-quarter collapse and the team's fifth blown lead of the season—Miami's record sits at 7-6 ahead of a critical game at the 10-3 New England Patriots. 

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

While it's mathematically possible for the Dolphins to still qualify for the postseason if they lose on Sunday to New England, don't get it twisted: This is a must-win game for Philbin's team, and a loss could (and should) expedite his dismissal.

Remember the BullyGate scandal? We'll bet you Ross does. The situation was surely mortifying for the real estate magnate and put a black eye on one of the NFL's proudest franchises. It was yet another disappointment for what's become an increasingly jaded fanbase—one that seems devoid of the bubbling optimism that permeates most NFL enthusiasts. 

In his nearly three full seasons on the job, Philbin has been unable to pull the Dolphins out of the malaise, and it's been spotty game management and off-field leadership that have been the primary culprits.

The BullyGate saga exemplified Philbin's lack of control. As Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman said last year, Philbin's handling of the situation was poor and led to many questioning his leadership skills (or lack thereof).

Well, things don't appear to have gotten better for Philbin in that particular regard. See Exhibit A—Dolphins defensive tackle Jared Odrick screaming at Philbin on the sideline of Sunday's loss to Baltimore.

That ignominious situation led Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald to tweet after the game that players were openly showing their dissatisfaction with Philbin. Because that's always what you want in the middle of a playoff hunt—players openly disrespecting the head coach.

In the poignant words of Dr. Evil: Riiiiiight. 

Earlier this week, Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald wrote that:

"

Odrick’s diatribe was seen by many as a snapshot of a larger issue within the locker room, particularly with another Dolphins season on the brink. Philbin’s coaching style has been questioned by players at various points in the season, and some simmering emotions boiled over with Sunday’s loss.

"

Forget about simmering. It seems like things have come to a boil on South Beach.

Now all would likely be forgotten and everything would be sunshine and lollipops if the Dolphins were to take down the Patriots on Sunday. But even the most positive Dolphins fan surely knows in his/her heart of hearts that isn't a likely scenario, especially considering the team soundly defeated New England in Week 1.

In that Week 1 game, the Patriots were ripe for the picking. Now they look like the best team in the AFC and are playing to lock up home-field advantage. While it's not outside the realm of possibility that the Dolphins could shock the world and pull off the upset, we certainly wouldn't recommend betting the mortgage on it.

Let's say the Dolphins do lose on Sunday, which appears to be the most likely scenario. Then let us also assume—for the purposes of this discussion—that the Dolphins win their final two games (Minnesota Vikings, Jets) to finish 9-7 but are out of the postseason. Should incremental improvement in victories (7-9 in 2012, 8-8 in 2013 and 9-7 in 2014) be enough to save Philbin's job?

Even if you wanted to argue that nine wins should be enough to see Philbin back in 2015, remember that you are not Ross. Ross is the man who tried to hire Jim Harbaugh when he still employed a coach (Tony Sparano) and is clearly desperate to both make a big splash and bring a winner to town.

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Ross might have wanted to can Philbin after last season's dumpster fire, but perhaps he felt that the organization needed some stability. Perhaps he felt that practicing patience was the best tactic, given his swing and miss (and subsequent public backlash) with Harbaugh. Either way, would you truly blame Ross if he did cut the cord with Philbin after a third straight year out of the playoffs?

And remember, Philbin isn't exactly Bill Belichick when it comes to game management. He completely butchered the final moments of Miami's Week 6 loss to the Green Bay Packers, and that's just one example.

How about only running the ball three times in the second half of Sunday's loss to Baltimore, as Bleacher Report's Mike Tanier eloquently described? There are other head-scratching decisions as well, none of which paint Philbin in an especially favorable light.

To anyone who wants to put the majority of the blame on offensive coordinator Bill Lazor for play-calling foibles against the Ravens—kindly remind yourself that Philbin is the head coach and is ultimately responsible. 

So here we are again, Dolphins fans. At the precipice of yet another late-season collapse engineered by the hapless Philbin.

For you, it brings upon all-too familiar feelings. Feelings of helplessness. Feelings of anger not dissimilar to Odrick on the sideline this past Sunday. Feelings of longing—longing for a better coach.

The good news, Dolphins fans, is that you aren't the only ones who feel this way. The smart money is that Ross does as well.

And given his patience last year will likely not be rewarded with a postseason berth; your feeling of deja vu will probably only extend to season's end.

This time when the Dolphins miss the playoffs, the expectation is that Ross will do what he should have done last year: fire Philbin.