Whenever you’re feeling down Green Bay Packers fans, remember this: It could be worse. We could be Dolphins fans.
Like the Packers, the Dolphins had it really good for a really long time back in the day. Super Bowl titles, an undefeated season, Hall of Fame coaches, and Dan Marino, one of the best quarterbacks of all time.
For a long time, the Dolphins were right up there with the Packers when it came to franchise greatness.
Then the post-Marino era arrived, and while the Packers’ mystique continued rising with more Super Bowls, more playoff appearances and more great quarterbacks, the Dolphins have been submerged in terribleness.
Check out this list of stiffs who have played quarterback after Marino: Jay Fiedler, A.J. Feeley, Gus Ferrotte, Joey Harrington, Cleo Lemon (huh?), Chad Pennington, Chad Henne, Matt Moore and Ryan Tannehill.
Can you imagine how miserable all of us Packers fans would be if we had to endure even two of those guys suiting up in the green and gold and trying to succeed Brett Favre? I love the Packers and always will, but even my Packers’ loving heart would have a hard time loving Cleo Lemon if he was under center at Lambeau Field.
Here’s hoping the Packers go easy on the Dolphins this afternoon. Maybe beat them by three touchdowns instead of seven. They’ve had it rough since their star quarterback left.
Here are five reason why the Packers will extend the Dolphins 14 years of post-Marino misery by at least one more week:
Ryan Tannehill
Tannehill is one of those quarterbacks who seems like he should be good, but he isn’t. He can run, he’s got a good arm, he seems to be a bright kid and a hard worker. But when you add it all up, you get….Ryan Tannehill. The Packers secondary, mixed in with some blitzes from Dom Capers, and Tannehill is a QB the Packers should be able to handle.
Linebackers
Pop quiz: Are the following players Dolphins linebackers or UPS deliverymen? Phillip Wheeler, Koa Misi, Jason Trusnik and Jelani Jenkins. If you guessed Dolphins linebackers, you win. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, this lackluster linebacker crew hasn’t helped them win much of anything.
Packers offensive line
Don’t you get the feeling that it’s all finally starting to come together for the Packers offensive line. The Dolphins defensive line will be a big test, but the Packers o-line has kept Aaron Rodgers clean for two straight games and showed signs of life in run blocking against the Vikings.
Defense
Led by an underrated secondary, the Packers defense has held three straight opponents under 20 points. They’re also forcing turnovers and getting after the quarterback. That said, everyone still thinks the Packers defense stinks. The Dolphins’ muddling offense will be another stepping stone for a defense trying to prove itself.
Ha Ha and Morgan
Oh what a difference a year makes. Gone are Jerron McMillian and M.D. Jennings. A healthy Morgan Burnett and rookie Ha Ha Clinton-Dix have turned the safety position from a game-breaking weakness into a strength for the Packers. Burnett might have played the best game of his career against the Vikings. Now, let’s see if the duo can keep it up.
Even a lowly franchise with a rotating carousel of rotten QBs can win a game every now and then, even against the Packers. If the Dolphins somehow manage to win today, don’t panic. Remind gloating Dolphins fans (do any Dolphins fans care enough about the Dolphins to gloat about anything?) that the Packers followed one hall-of-fame QB with another one. Anyway, here’s how the Dolphins could sneak away with a victory.
The usual formula
By now, it’s no secret how to beat the Packers: Get after Rodgers will four pass rushers, play two high safeties and dare Mike McCarthy to try and run it. The Packers might not see constant two-high safeties from Miami, but the Dolphins have the type of defensive line that usually drives the Packers bonkers. Cameron Wake is more than capable of completely throwing off the Packers offense all by himself.
Adam Czech is a a freelance sports reporter living in the Twin Cities and a proud supporter of American corn farmers. When not working, Adam is usually writing about, thinking about or worrying about the Packers. Follow Adam on Twitter. Twitter .
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I strongly doubt this game will be a cakewalk for the GBP as you imply. IF and that’s a big IF, the Packer defense plays well then this will likely be a relatively low scoring and close game. Maybe 23-21. Too close to call but take MIA and the points.
Is MM a good HC?
(1) Good HC hire good assistant coaches.
Are the Packers’ assistant coaches good? Campen, Slocum, Moss….need I say more.
(2) Good HC wins the games they should.
Does GB beat the weak and mediocre teams? For the most part, yes. But I would attribute that to #12. In fact, I’d go as far to say that #12 wins DESPITE MM’s bad game plans, bad play calling, bad tactics/strategy with penalties, TOs, trick plays, and end-game strategy. On a good day, MM is probably worth negative 7 points.
(3) Good HC win games they shouldn’t.
Virtually never for MM except for that brief run at the end of 2009/2010 season.
(4) Good HC win their share of tough games against other top teams.
MM has been unable to defeat the better teams in either Conference for a long time now.
Is MM a good HC?
See above.
I said before, I’ll repeat – you are such pessimist!
Croat – he’s a Bears troll, that’s why he is such a pessimist. Go Pack! Thanks, Since ’61
Thanks for the info…
Archie, your endless, mindless prattle wears thin. You’re the dude standing around during a golden age pissing and moaning about how yellow everything looks.
How convenient, you left out Capers, whose unit has shown improvement this season, especially the secondary. You also DID mention Campen, who is far from bad: best left guard in the league, rookie center who has basically taken over and secured the starting spot when it’s been a revolving door for years and let’s not forget Bakhtiari last year. McCarthy knows Slocum isn’t great, that’s why he hired Ron Zook. Don’t forget to bring the facts with you to the party, dude!
The outcome of this one rests heavily on McCarthy. After the big win and mini-bye, will he have his guys back on point, ears pinned back, ready to smack some folks around? That’s what’s made the difference against Chicago and the Queens and would be well-advised against the Fins. Take a big lead early and make the Fins play uphill neutralizes the weather concerns.
I would like to see a hungry pack of meat-eating dogs playing the Dolphins on Sunday. I always have my doubts about MM’s ability to get these guys to play at that level, but hope that the team is learning to have some dog about them. I don’t want to see them get b-slapped by the Dolphins just cuz their heads aren’t where they need to be going into this.
What amazes me is how the Las Vegas Sharps are all on the Dolphins. You would think that the Packers are a horrible team with a lousy quarterback. Wait a minute! That’s the Dolphins. Two weeks ago BEFORE beating the JV Raiders, Joe Philbin was on the “Hot Seat” and he would not give a vote of confidence to Ryan Tannehill as his starting QB. Because they soundly beat the hapless Raiders the Dolphins are even being touted in some circles as better than the Packers. Reasons…Packers can’t stop the run, Packers will be affected by the heat, Joe Philbin has “special info” on Aaron Rodgers. Anything can happen in the NFL but I will stick with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers over Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins.
The Las Vegas Sharps are on Miami and the 3.5 pts not the Packers losing outright…big difference.If the line was 2.5 they’d be all over the Packers…its about making money not fan love. 🙂
And now you know why their called Sharps…fans get to cheer and they get lots of money.