Dolphins-Saints South Beach Showdown

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The Dolphins and Saints battle it out in Miami this Sunday, in what will hopefully be an exciting game. A little history. If it weren't for the Dolphins, the Saints would not have Drew Brees, and could possibly still be the 'Aints, or even in San Antonio. However, the Dolphins passed and allowed him to sign with the Saints. So Saints, want to do us a favor and lose this game? You don't need it and have a huge game next week. You owe us.

Odds are that won't happen. So how can the Dolphins win? Well for one, the defense needs to play better then it did against the Colts. We may have a similar gameplan here. Problem was, we got flustered and the offense couldn't make the comeback in the final minutes. We are a few plays/mistakes away from being 3-2, or even 4-1.

That brings me to my next point. They've learned from that mistake. Against the Jets we were down late in the fourth, and marched all the way down to win the game with a few seconds left, against their talented defense. Chad Henne did not get rattled, making key third down completions. He doesn't get nervous, hence the robot nickname.

Fujita is hurt and will not be playing in this game, the Saints are going with someone who never started before. Miami will need to exploit this hole in their defense. We have the talent to do so.

Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown have led the Dolphins to have the top Rushing offense in the NFL, even with some teams having an extra game on them due to their bye last week. They could both pass 1,000 yards this season so hopefully they keep that going. I don't see why they wouldn't. The Dolphins expensive, young, talented O-Line has helped greatly, and will also hopefully give Henne enough time to throw.

Continue to convert key 3rd and sometimes 4th downs. The Dolphins lead the league in this category.

Defensively, the secondary will need to step up more. The three headed monster of Taylor, Porter and Wake will hopefully force a turnover and bring their A game this week. Especially Porter who has been quiet.

The Dolphins have a Wildcat on their side. It has been a huge success for them this season after having an offseason to work on it. I hope to see more pass plays from it, we haven't really used that much yet. I'd like to see Ronnie throw again, he found an open receiver against the Jets and of course threw for a TD against the Patsies last season.

There are other factors. The fact that it's outdoors in the Miami heat and not the climate controlled dome. The Dolphins are coming off a bye week. The Saints had an emotional game last week and have another even bigger one next week. However, the Saints and their fans are not underestimating the Dolphins it seems.

A tropical storm has Miami in it's path, and if it does hit hopefully only brings rain, as a mud bowl would lean into the Dolphins favor.

The Fins are honoring the 1982 & 1984 AFC Championship teams which will hopefully fire up the players. You know the crowd already will be, unless the storm puts a possible damper on that. And the Saints are 5-0, and nobody plays undefeated teams as well as the Dolphins do. Let's get those champagne bottles popping, '72ers.

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