Dolphins Deke Eagles on the Way to Another Win

Published on 2-Dec-2019 by Biff BoJock

Football - NFL    NFL Daily Update

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Dolphins Deke Eagles on the Way to Another Win

Maybe Miami coach Brian Flores is finally learning to make chicken salad outta the ingredients he was given in his first year of being an NFL head coach.

The Dolphins were definitely built to tank this season, and they spent a couple of months proving it.

Flores himself has had to endure a shaky learning curve, but it seems like he's navigating an emergency landing outta what was a sure crash-&-burn situation.

 

Since picking up their first victory on Sun 3 Nov, Flores has directed his rag-tag crew to a 3-2 record.

The latest was a stunner, defending their home turf against the mighty Philadelphia Eagles with a 37-31 performance that could damn near be considered as a step toward actual respectability.

It's impressive that Miami racked up 37 points, thanks in part to the Eagle D resembling a football version of the Washington Generals.

 

The 'Phins needed every trick in the book to get there, and one of them was beyond brilliant.

Who'd ever expect a kicker to catch a TD pass from his holder?

 

It happened late in the first half, with Miami trailing, 13-7.

Dudes started a drive on their own 25 and found themselves marching steadily downfield before stalling on the Eagle 1. What to do?

The vanilla response is to send out the field goal team. However ...

 

Dudes shifted into the ol' swinging gate formation. Philly coach Doug Pederson said later that he didn't call a timeout because his crew was ready for anything.

Famous last words:

 

That may be a first-time happening in the game's history. Thus, Jason Sanders and Matt Haack have become answers to a new trivia question.

It gave Miami a 14-13 lead and just possibly the confidence that they could stay with a team only two seasons removed from their Super Bowl championship that included their own creative moment.

 

The Eagles being ready for anything but that meant that they blew a shot to tie for top spot in the any given Sunday sorta mediocrity that is the NFC East.

The 'Phins have two tanking competitors of their own in that division, and who knows? There's still hope they can eke out the losses required to jump below them and get that coveted top draft pick next spring.

It might be tough.

They'll have to grind out defeats somewhere in their next three games against the Jets, Giants, and Bengals before receiving a certain beatdown against the Patriots.

 

Just possibly, though, Flores & Co have decided that any of the top five or six picks would be just dandy, too.

After all, New England found the unspectacular but fundamentally sound Tom Brady in 2000's sixth round while SEC super-standout JaMarcus Russell went first overall in 2007.

Maybe it's more fun to win what you can and let the chips fall where they may.