Titans Vs. Dolphins: A Weird But Satisfying Game For Miami

The Miami Dolphins hosted the Tennesse Titans and won 29-17 in Week 10 of the 2010 NFL regular season.

Could you believe it?

A fake punt, by these Miami Dolphins?

A flea-flicker, called by Dan Henning?

Chad Henne having the ability to actually take shots down the field?

Scratch that, Chad Henne being able to play in the game!

A victory at home, no scratch that, a two score victory at home.

With as many touchdowns as field goals!

A well coached game by the Dolphins, including Dan Henning.

I'm pretty gobsmacked right now. Up is down, down is up, black is white, and Tyler Thigpen might be our quarterback of the future.

I need to make sense out of all of this, and I'm sure all of you other Dolfans feel the same way, so I'm using a slideshow to do just that!

Chad Pennington: Potential Season Savior?

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - AUGUST 21: Quarterback Chad Pennington #10 of the Miami Dolphins attempts a pass during the preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on August 21, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty I

If you look through my archive, you'll see that I never once believed that. I thought that Henne just needed a true chance, with the team taking shots down the field.

I lambasted the team for benching Henne for Penny, calling it out as a "CYA" move.

Yet I'll admit, between Chad's best Rabbit impression from Friday, and the way he carries himself, I'll admit I felt a little bit safer and a little bit better about the Dolphins chances with him as quarterback.

So much so that in Fantasy, I started Brandon Marshall, who's had exactly one great fantasy game.

Chad Pennington: Same As It Ever Was.

Marc Serota/Getty Images

MIAMI - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Chad Pennington #10 of the Miami Dolphins is hit against the Tennessee Titans at Sun Life Stadium on November 14, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Hello Chad, nice to see you again...

Goodbye Chad, thanks for coming.

Who knew it would take one play to end the "Chad Pennington: Miami Dolphins Starting Quarterback Era" for the second time.

He had a nice little completion to Lousaka Polite, but after that, he was done for the day.

Possibly the season.

Possibly, *gulp* for his career.

Chad Henne: Welcome Back

Larry French/Getty Images

BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 7: Chad Henne #7 of the Miami Dolphins looks for a receiver during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 7, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Dolphins 26-10. (Photo by Larry Fren

So thanks to Pennington's injury, we went with the wildcat for a little while, but here I understood the purpose: at least get positive yards until we know for sure what the situation is for Pennington.

Once we knew, Henne was back in the game. After a few anemic drives, the Dolphins did something that I never thought they would this season.

They took a risk, flea flicker. That lead to a 54-yard pass to Brian Hartline.

Longest Dolphins play from scrimmage.

Of course it lead to a game tying field goal, but it seemed to give Henne some confidence, he kept going down the field more.

However it did lead to an interception with less than 2:00 left in the 2nd quarter. 

However, Henne would continue to play well, even threw for another touchdown, a pretty 13-yard pass to Patrick Cobbs.

But it wouldn't last...

Another Chad Bites The Dust

Marc Serota/Getty Images

MIAMI - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Chad Henne #7 of the Miami Dolphins is helped on the field against the Tennessee Titans at Sun Life Stadium on November 14, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Dolphins leading 20-17, 1:13 left in the 3rd quarter, first and 10 from the Dolphins 35.

And Henne goes down, his return, questionable.

Thigpen was listed as the emergency quarterback, meaning if he went in in the 3rd quarter, Henne couldn't return, even if he was healthy enough to go. 

He was not, but it mattered not. For the first time all season, the wildcat had some wildness back to it. 

First Ricky runs to the left for 14 yards, then runs to the left for another 23.

End of 3rd quarter....

Tyler Thigpen: Future Savior?

Marc Serota/Getty Images

MIAMI - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Tyler Thigpen #16 of the Miami Dolphins passes against the Tennessee Titans at Sun Life Stadium on November 14, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Then Thigpen would come in. He'd only command the Dolphins for two more drives.

Two drives that did end in scores. First a field goal by Carpenter (easy, anyone can lead to that), followed on the next series by a touchdown pass to Fasano (wait, he can catch, what's going on here?)

The Dolphins D meanwhile, was stout in the 4th quarter, as the Titans had two drives, and were stopped on both. One was a punt, the other ended with a coming out party for Reshad Jones.

How big of a coming out party was it? He had two tackles, his first sack, and his first interception, all on the same drive.

He pretty much saved the game for the Dolphins. 

But Thigpen is now looked at as the savior.

What Do We Take From This Game?

Marc Serota/Getty Images

MIAMI - NOVEMBER 14: Patrick Cobb #38 (L) of the Miami Dolphins celebrates a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans at Sun Life Stadium on November 14, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

As a fan, I'm half-tempted to just be happy with a 12 point victory over a team that has been a good team in the AFC and was right in the thick of the AFC south race until losing to the Dolphins.

But believe it or not, it created more uncertainty.

Who's the starting quarterback this Thursday Night? Will Henne be ok? What if Henne isn't ok?

Is Thigpen really the answer for both the short and long term?

Is Pennington's injury that severe?

I was impressed by the Dolphins coaching staff though, yes, the same coaching staff I twice advocated should be fired and later mocked earlier this week, as they did something that I and the rest of Dolphins fans have been imploring them to do all season long: be ballsy.

The fake punt was stupid, but letting Henne throw deep wasn't, even if one of those passes wound up being a pick.

Had the Dolphins played this game the way they had played their previous efforts, they would've probably lost, but by taking chances, they not only won, but they gave a box score illusion of dominance.

As for the Titans, I think they'll be fine. Collins wound up getting hurt which thrust Young into action, and Young was fine up until the final drive despite the fact that his ankle was noticeably bothering him.

I'm done talking about the Titans, this is Dolfan Diaries after all. 

But where do the Dolphins go from here?

Usually after a 12 point win against a legit AFC contender at home, you know.

But this time, I don't. I don't know who does.

I doubt even Sparano knows.

But at the very least, it looks like the Dolphins are going to make it more fun to find out. This was, to me, the best Dolphins game of the season.

Let's hope they have more like this, but hopefully only one quarterback will be needed.

This was a Dolfan Diaries entry. Thomas Galicia is a Miami Dolphins Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report who also writes about the Chicago Cubs, Miami Heat, Hurricanes Football and Professional Wrestling. For more of his sports musings in 140 characters or less, follow him on twitter, @thomasgalicia. What did you think of the game and what do you think the future holds for the Dolphins? Leave a comment!