Lost on Thursday with the Steelers. Not that Pitt deserved to cover, but the Hines Ward fumble could have been a Steel cover. Starting 0-1:
2* Miami Dolphins +4 -110
Dolphins czar Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano have bred a winning mentality in Miami. Thee Dolphins no longer expect to lose football games, they expect to win. That carried over into a 4-0 preseason record as they continued to learn how to win games. Dolphins lead the NFL in turnover margin last year and that was no fluke. They pressure the QB with early season versions (aka fresh versions) of Joey Porter, Jason Taylor and new comer Cameron Wake. They are super efficent on offense with control freak Chad Pennington. Ronnie Brown is 2 years removed from knee surgery and was the NFLs leading rusher 2 years ago before the injury happened. He looked really good in preseason making sharp cuts. Ted Ginn goes into his 3rd year at WR, and that whole Dolphins team last year was very young overall and they are another year older and in the system for their 2nd year.
Matt Ryan had a terrific 1st season, but there is a reason sophomore slumps exist. The expectations placed on him are high, same for Michael Turner and co. It is going to be tough to duplicate those results with the pressure and expectations placed on this Falcons team.
The Phins always play tight games, and in a game I feel they have a very good chance to win outright, I'll gladly take the 4 points and even more so gladly go against 60% of the public and go with the live dog.
Miami 21
Atlanta 16
2* Miami Dolphins +4 -110
Dolphins czar Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano have bred a winning mentality in Miami. Thee Dolphins no longer expect to lose football games, they expect to win. That carried over into a 4-0 preseason record as they continued to learn how to win games. Dolphins lead the NFL in turnover margin last year and that was no fluke. They pressure the QB with early season versions (aka fresh versions) of Joey Porter, Jason Taylor and new comer Cameron Wake. They are super efficent on offense with control freak Chad Pennington. Ronnie Brown is 2 years removed from knee surgery and was the NFLs leading rusher 2 years ago before the injury happened. He looked really good in preseason making sharp cuts. Ted Ginn goes into his 3rd year at WR, and that whole Dolphins team last year was very young overall and they are another year older and in the system for their 2nd year.
Matt Ryan had a terrific 1st season, but there is a reason sophomore slumps exist. The expectations placed on him are high, same for Michael Turner and co. It is going to be tough to duplicate those results with the pressure and expectations placed on this Falcons team.
The Phins always play tight games, and in a game I feel they have a very good chance to win outright, I'll gladly take the 4 points and even more so gladly go against 60% of the public and go with the live dog.
Miami 21
Atlanta 16
