MIAMI GARDENS – Back in November, Dolphins mentor Mike McDaniel reported Miami’s objective was to play in significant games in December and January.
“When you are in all those months playing meaningful soccer, it is a thing in contrast to any other design of football that exists,” McDaniel reported. “The commencing of the time pales in comparison to that natural environment.”
The Dolphins and the Environmentally friendly Bay Packers will have that form of practical experience when they meet on Xmas Day. Both equally teams are eyeing the postseason, but their eventualities to get there are quite diverse.
The Dolphins (8-6) will make the playoffs if they win their final 3 video games – or just their very last two, in opposition to division foes New England and the New York Jets. Miami has dropped 3 straight, although, and needs to start its playoff push by beating Inexperienced Bay.
Standing in their way is four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers.
“We’re about to participate in Aaron Rodgers, who has been in the league for many years and arguably one of the biggest quarterbacks to at any time perform,” basic safety Jevon Holland explained. “So what extra do you have to focus on? This is a enormous problem, in particular for me. … Playoffs are playoffs. I have by no means been to the playoffs so I wouldn’t know.”
The Packers (6-8) probable have to have to gain their last three video games to make the postseason. Even if they earn out, they’re not guaranteed to make it.
“This is a definitely great football group that we are likely against,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur claimed. “Definitely they are incredibly hungry. They have obtained a good deal at stake. We have obtained a great deal at stake, and it must be a playoff-type activity.”
McDaniel and LaFleur know each individual other properly, possessing worked jointly as assistants with Houston, Washington and Atlanta.
LaFleur mentioned he sees some advantage in playing versus a acquainted mentor.
“I think it prospects to some creative imagination, quite honestly,” he said, “simply because you might see the identical notion that you have that gets ran and it truly is like, Okay, what wrinkle can I toss off of this, so I think there’s pluses and minuses to anything.”
THE GESICKI CONUNDRUM
One particular of the additional shocking stories of the Dolphins’ period is how very little Mike Gesicki, one of the most athletic restricted ends in the NFL, has been involved in the offense.
Soon after getting occupation highs of 73 receptions for 780 yards in 2021, Gesicki has caught 25 passes for 274 yards this 12 months. He has only been focused five situations in the past 4 video games and has just just one capture for 5 yards during that span.
“I have manufactured performs in this league for a extensive time and I have confirmed the player I am,” Gesicki explained. “There is certainly in all probability defensive coordinators that are heading in and viewing our movie and have to put in time – or at the very least applied to have to place in time – to ‘How are we going to influence the sport system with 88 out there?’ In my impression, yeah, I could help, but I am just heading to go about it in the most specialist way I can.”
McDaniel mentioned it can be a “failure to some diploma” that he hasn’t gotten Gesicki far more concerned.
DISAPPOINTING Protection
McDaniel reported Miami’s defense is not taking part in to its capabilities.
“I imagine any man or woman in the locker home and each individual coach on the coaching workers would say no,” he claimed. “Just because they really feel in just about every other.”
The Dolphins rank 27th in opponent third-down conversion share, and they rank near the base of the league in passing protection (27th), scoring defense (26th) and red-zone defense (25th).
A CHEETAH Christmas
Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill has never performed on Xmas Day and has a handful of holiday getaway-themed celebrations planned for Sunday.
“It truly is gonna be a entertaining demonstrate,” Hill reported. “I’m gonna give people something to watch. It can be gonna be extremely entertaining.”
Hill has 109 catches for 1,529 and seven TDs this period.
NIXON’S RETURNS
Inexperienced Bay’s Keisean Nixon wasn’t even the Packers’ most important kick returner at the commence of the period, but he now has eight kickoff returns of 30-in addition yards and a few of 50-in addition yards to guide the NFL in each groups. Nixon has returned at the very least a person kickoff 30-additionally yards in every single of his past 4 game titles, the longest these kinds of streak by any Packer considering that Sam Shields did it in 2010.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged soon after Environmentally friendly Bay’s Monday night victory in excess of the Los Angeles Rams that he need to have manufactured Nixon the most important kick returner earlier in the period.
“In all my 18 several years, I have in no way when, till tonight, found an opposing team’s kicker kick absent from one of our returners on goal,” Rodgers explained after the Rams sport. “Which is fun. That’s pretty incredible.”
Climate Modify
The Packers played Monday night time with temperatures of 15 levels – and the wind chill calculated at 7 – just right before the opening kickoff.
They’re getting ready for a significantly different predicament Sunday, nevertheless it will never be very as heat as usual in Miami. The forecast calls for highs in the mid-50s.
