Season Averages:
O-PTS
22.4
(16th)
O-YDS
339.9
(15th)
O-PASS-YDS
197.7
(20th)
O-RUSH-YDS
142.1
(4th)
D-PTS
24.0
(25th)
D-YDS
345.7
(19th)
D-PASS-YDS
236.9
(23rd)
D-RUSH-YDS
108.9
(12th)
Miami Dolphins Vs. New Orleans Saints
04:15 PM EASTERN, 10/25/2009, Land Shark Stadium
TV Broadcast: FOX
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Season Averages:
O-PTS
38.4
(1st)
O-YDS
430.0
(1st)
O-PASS-YDS
270.4
(4th)
O-RUSH-YDS
159.6
(4th)
D-PTS
18.6
(9th)
D-YDS
301.2
(9th)
D-PASS-YDS
217.8
(14th)
D-RUSH-YDS
83.4
(5th)
Miami Dolphins
Record: 7-9-0
Division: AFC East
New Orleans Saints
Record: 5-0-0
Division: NFC South
Pregame Breakdown
Offense | Defense
Even though they didn't play last week, the Dolphins maintained their No. 1 overall ranking in this category with an average of 177.0 yards per game and Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have combined for 759 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. As a team Miami is averaging 4.8 yards per carry and Brown, Williams and the rest of the key contributors in the Wildcat formation have made it nearly impossible to stop. This week they hope to ride the momentum of their big win over the Jets on Monday night against a defense designed to stop the run and the Wildcat, by exploiting the Saints' defense.
It's easy to overlook New Orleans' ground game because of how prolific the passing attack is, but the Saints actually rank fourth in the NFL in rushing behind only the Dolphins, New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. They are averaging 159.6 yards per game with a triple-threat backfield of Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush. Thomas owns a 5.9 yards-per-carry average and has three rushing touchdowns while Bell has carried the ball 60 times, but New Orleans is facing the league's No. 3 run defense in Miami and could be slowed down outdoors at Land Shark Stadium.
Second-year quarterback Chad Henne made a loud statement on the biggest stage by completing 20-of-26 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns, including a 53-yard bomb to Ted Ginn, Jr., and showed an ability to make all of the tough throws – touch passes and mid-range passes in addition to the long ball. That performance elevated Miami from 31st in the league in passing to 26th and let opposing defenses know that running the ball was not the only thing the Dolphins could do well on offense, with Ginn providing the deep threat and second-year receiver Davone Bess leading the team with 23 receptions.
Drew Brees is the catalyst behind a passing offense that shredded the league's top-rated pass defense last week, the New York Giants, for 369 yards and four touchdowns. A No. 7 overall ranking is quite deceiving as Brees, who threw for over 5,000 yards last season, has completed 110-of-159 passes for 1,400 yards, 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions. New Orleans is averaging 270.4 yards through the air and Brees has a lot of weapons at his disposal starting with wide receivers Marques Colston and Devery Henderson along with tight end Jeremy Shockey, while the Dolphins have steadily improved their pass defense after a slow start, but this could be the key match up of the day.
The loss of kick returner Patrick Cobbs to a season-ending knee injury will force Head Coach Tony Sparano to shuffle things around a bit in the return game, and Ginn could find himself more in the mix again. Bess has been handling the punt returns and is averaging 8.3 yards per return. Second-year kicker Dan Carpenter has made 7-of-8 field goals with a long of 45 and has made all 13 of his extra points but the Dolphins have yet to return a kick or punt for a touchdown.
Typically, Reggie Bush would be considered among the most dangerous returners in the league but he has been more involved in the offense as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield. He has returned 12 punts with a long of 22 yards, while Robert Meachem has been the most productive on kick returns with six for a 24.7 average and a long of 42 yards. Veteran kicker John Carney, who at 45 is the oldest player in the NFL, has made 6-of-7 field goals with a long of 39.
Dan Henning keeps showing everyone around the league that he has not lost an ounce of creativity when it comes to play calling as he unveiled another wrinkle to the Wildcat, against the Jets by having Brown pull up and throw a 21-yard pass to tight end to Anthony Fasano. He also proved that this proved that this formation is not a gimmick but rather a vital part of Miami's offense by running it 16 times for 110 yards on that Monday night. Henning also showed the confidence in Henne to take off the handcuffs and let him throw the ball down the field with success, and now he will try to keep Brees and company off the field with more ball control and better Red Zone production.
Head coach Sean Payton has had his finger on the button of New Orleans' offense since he took over the team four years ago, but he promoted Pete Carmichael, Jr. to offensive coordinator this season after Carmichael did such an outstanding job with Brees as quarterbacks coach in 2008. Brees threw for 5,069 yards and a franchise record 34 touchdowns, and Carmichael has the Saints on a record pace again, averaging 38.4 points per game and 430.0 yards per game.
Week1
MIA VS ATLWeek2
MIA VS INDWeek3
MIA VS SDWeek4
MIA VS BUFWeek5
MIA VS NYJWeek7
MIA VS NOWeek8
MIA VS NYJWeek9
MIA VS NEWeek10
MIA VS TBWeek11
MIA VS CARWeek12
MIA VS BUFWeek13
MIA VS NEWeek14
MIA VS JACWeek15
MIA VS TENWeek16
MIA VS HOUWeek17
MIA VS PIT
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