After Trying Week, Dolphins Play on National Stage Again

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It’s been a tough week in Davie for the Miami Dolphins. Particularly challenging in the wacky nature of the NFL. The Miami Dolphins go from a 40-0 scrubbing by the Baltimore Ravens on NFL network last Thursday to a week of trades, accusations and guessing games.

Notwithstanding, the Dolphins will have to piece all of those things together and face Oakland Raiders in prime time on NBC this Sunday at 8:30 PM.

Head coach Adam Gase was usually candid this week about his feeling that certain Dolphin players weren’t preparing like they should to play.  He called his team’s offense the “worst in football” after the loss at the Ravens.

You just don’t see that every day.

The next thing that happens is the Dolphins trade starting RB Jay Ajaayi to Philadelphia. Dave Hyde says it was a locker room issue and it had to happen.

Jay Ajayi last home game as a Dolphin “Source: Charles Bethel, Jr. Football Hotbed”

Was Ajayi the target of the discourse by Gase about players not properly preparing? If so, what a message to send by the head man. And after flirting (reportedly) with trades of other big name players, the Dolphins have now settled in a bit and begun to prepare for Oakland, a team that comes in wobbling at 3-5 in the AFC West.

Did I mention that Jay Cutler has injured ribs?  He practiced all week long, his status is officially listed as “questionable” but we expect him to play.

Gase says he’s going to try to protect him but there’s not a ton that can be done, especially based on how the game progresses.

“You can try to keep him out of harm’s way but at the end of the day, it is what it is and at some point, we’re going to have to drop back and throw it and we’ve got to protect it and get open quick, and he’s got to avoid getting hit.”

What he can’t protect is the narrative going from bad to worse with another loss.  A win, however, and this young head coach can really begin to assert that his leadership style is working.  Winning is always the solution for troubled times in football.