Beating the Patriots does not help the Dolphins, but it also doesn’t hurt.
Typically, one extra win could drop us 4 or 5 spots in April’s draft this year, but we do not own that pick. So unless we really hate the Eagles, there’s no reason to win except for pride.
(By the way, let’s hope the 49ers lose and do NOT make the playoffs, because that does help our draft status).
Losing does not alter next year’s schedule either. We are already locked in third place in the AFC East, so we cannot move up or down. The final pecking order in the AFC Central will determine our final opponent next year, but all the other 16 opponents are already known. (We play AT Detroit next year, so it MIGHT be on Thanksgiving, by the way.)
For me, I’d like to see the team win with pride. At the same time, I hate the Bills far more than I hate the Patriots, so “letting” the Patriots win to keep Buffalo from wining the division would not break my heart.
Honestly, I think Tua had a bad game in Tennessee. Doesn’t make him a bad QB. I think he’ll bounce back and find his stride again, especially in better weather. As for our defense, I think that those guys will also bounce back too. The whole game plan was horrible last Sunday, and I hope Flores learned his lesson. 3-man rushes do not work in the NFL any more.
Some pundits are treating the Patriots like they’re 14-2, but they are not THAT good. They had some fine wins this season, but they haven’t pulled away from the pack. As of 4 days ago, we were only 1 game behind them, AND we owned the tiebreaker on them. This is NOT the Brady-led powerhouse Patriots, but rather a decent team who lost to the Dolphins and the Saints in Foxboro, among others.
Interesting article from Barry Jackson, going back to what I was screaming for a few years ago. We tanked incorrectly. We got the first win, guaranteed we wouldn’t go 1-15. RIGHT THEN AND THERE, Flores should have called it a day. Instead, Flores went on to win 4 more games, taking us out of the running for the #1 overall pick that year. https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article256839857.html
If I heard correctly from listening to the radio broadcast this is the first time we’ve swept both games against the Patriots since 2000. Such a good feeling.