Dolphins Do Us All a Favre

By Ronn Burner • on September 21, 2010

The Miami Dolphins did the unthinkable by going into Minnesota and knocking off Brett Favre and the Vikings 14-10. If you read my game Preview than you would know that I’m not surprised in the slightest by this, not because I think the Dolphins are that good but because the situation was that one-sided to make me think things will go the other way i.e. Saints at 49ers MNF this week or Chargers at Chiefs last week. Call it the “Vegas Theory” or whatever you want to call it but in the National Football League when one talented team has no chance to win, I really like their chances. No need to re-hash situations so lets get to what really counts and that’s the play on the field.

Defense was the story here and you you can’t talk about the play on the field and not talk about, wait for it… Jason Allen. No, that is not a Jared Allen type-o. Jason Allen played like the 1st Rd. and 16th overall selection we used on him in 2006 amassing 11 tackles, 3 pass break ups and 2 interceptions not to mention another one that was wiped out by by penalty that had nothing to do with the play. Allen has been the biggest surprise by miles on the Dolphins team beginning with his bludgeoning Sean Smith right out of the starting lineup, which is even more impressive when you consider that Smith was seemingly etched in stone as the starting corner opposite Vontae Davis. I am thoroughly convinced that the newly covered in ink Allen owes all of his success to the tattoos. Tats bring swagger, baby! Of course, I only say this because I too am sleeved. Deion Sanders said it best and who could argue?

“You look good, you feel good. You feel good, you play good. You play good, they pay good.”

Speaking of lock down game changing corners, Davis (6 tackles, 2 pass break ups and an interception) moved one step closer to reaching that top 5 at his position potential. Favre himself acknowledged Davis’ abilities by saying

“Number 21, I felt like, was one of the best corners in this league, especially that no one knows about, Number 32 (Allen) is more physical and kind of a safety-type guy. I thought a back-shoulder throw against him with Bernard would be a right play. But just in general, 21 I was less apt to challenge.”

The Dolphins played very well on defense in sort of a bend but don’t break mentality orchestrated by DC Mike Nolan and his band of merry men. The Vikings were inside the Dolphins 27 yard line 5 times without reaching the end zone and on four of those trips they were inside the 15 and the Dolphins still didn’t allow them to score a single point. Spectacular performance defensively and since we’re in the quoting mood how about this gem from the Quentin Tarantino.

“Let’s not start sucking each others #$@&% just yet, fellas.”

The Dolphins won and improved their record to 2-0 with both wins coming on the road despite being dominated statistically in Time of Possession 35:48 to 24:12, Total Yards 364 to 226, First Downs 22 to 12 and Total Plays 72 to 46. Those numbers generally translate into a loss but Miami managed to flip the tables by winning the “Mistake Battle”, which include a +2 Turnover advantage, two huge 4th and 1 and 2 stops and Miami had only 2 penalties for 15 yards compared to the 7 for 44 the Vikings had. One of the turnovers directly resulted in a touchdown when Cameron Wake (5 tackles, 1.5 sacks and this forced fumble) got the edge stripping Favre in the end zone that Koa Misi (2 QB Hurries and this fumble recovery) pounced on for the score.

Other defensive studs for the Dolphins were FS Yeremiah Bell led the team with 12 tackles, Karlos Dansby with 9 of his own and LB Quentin Moses who also contributed 5 tackles and 1 QB hit. Clearly the individual efforts were there but the defensive chemistry was even more impressive. Rallying at the goal line to stop Minnesota on 4th and Goal from the 1 with 2:21 remaining in the game following a Ricky Williams fumble was the second time in the game (Ronnie Brown also fumbles deep in our own territory) that the offense coughed up the football immediately following an Allen interception yet the defense allowed only a field goal, which speaks volumes about this unit.

Offensively there are issues but contrary to some fan believe play-calling is not one of them. I’m a firm believer in “it’s not the play-calling, it’s the execution” mantra. The Wildcat still serves a great purpose for us despite it’s lack of a huge play thus far. It’s essentially still a simple I-formation anyway so why all the fuss? The biggest thing is it causes team to waste their valuable time fearing it. If nothing else, that’s a lot!

How is this for scary? The offense is tied for 21st in scoring and 27th in total yards. Seventh in rushing and 28th in passing. Chad Henne has set a franchise record in futility with his 5 attempts in the 1st half surpassing, I mean failing to surpass the 7 Jay Fiedler threw in Cleveland on Nov. 20, 2005. Henne has only thrown 49 passes this season and Miami is ranked 31st in that category. How the hell are we 2-0?

The lone star offensively has to be LT Jake Long and his phenomenal performance against arguably the best defensive lineman in the league, Jared Allen. Allen leads the NFL in sacks with 72 over the past 6 years but was almost non-existent against Long. Statistically speaking Allen still managed to get a sack that really was the result of Kevin Williams blasting through John Jerry causing Henne to scramble out of the pocket and into Allen’s clutches.

The game eerily had the 2009 Dolphins vibe to it when we lost heart breakers to the Chargers, Colts and Saints after holding late leads only to collapse offensively putting the defense back onto the field until they finally collapsed. This time the Dolphins prevailed and sent a message across the league and the AFC East that they can beat any one, any time and any place.

Next up, our arch nemesis New York Jets come to town for our home opener. No motivation needed here. And to think, the Dolphins could beat in consecutive weeks both teams that played in the Conference Championship Game last season.

A 3-0 start, 2-0 in the division with consecutive wins over two teams seconds from the Super Bowl and I may have to disregard Tarantino’s classic line.