Miami Dolphins set to go up against the best defense in the NFL

Written by Matthew Cannata at 8:00 AM EST | Twitter: @PhinManiacs

The irresistible force paradox, best known as when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, will happen today in all phases of the game when the Miami Dolphins, who boast the ninth highest scoring offense in the NFL go up against the Detroit Lions, who have the best defense in the National Football League. 

It will also be the same when the sides are flipped with the high powered Lions offense going up against the dangerous and aggressive Dolphins defense. It’s certainly going to be an interesting match-up with no clear team holding the advantage going into the game today.

“We’re getting ready to play an excellent football team,” Joe Philbin said. “We’re certainly going to have to play our best game of the year. They’re playing extremely well and they’re a well-coached, good football team.”

The primary reason for Detroit’s dominance on defense is because of their front four and the Dolphins have been game-planning for that area all week. Jarvis Landry made sure to point that out when he was asked about going against the Lions.

“Their front four is really good. But at the same time, it’s about us. It’s about if they blitz, we’ve got to hurt them. If they don’t blitz, we have to hurt them. When we get our opportunities just continue to control the ball and make plays. That’s what it’s going to be about.”

Landry also noted that the Lions love to blitz so they have been planning to take advantage when that happens in an effort to throw the Lions off their game-plan and keep them back in coverage.

The anchor of that line is Ndamukong Suh and we’ve spent plenty of time covering him on this site over the past week. If you’ve been reading our articles all week, you know the players have been watching him on tape and have been looking for any type of advantage.

“A lot of times that we watch their defense, and the people that they play because they have a four man front most of the time and what they’re doing,” Jared Odrick said. “He’s, a lot of power, a lot of power that he uses. It’s definitely something you watch and I’m sure the offense is watching just as much as we do.” 

Kevin Coyle echoed those sentiments but also added that everyone on that line is outstanding and when you factor in their three linebackers, they become even more dangerous.

“They’ve got an outstanding defensive line and front seven. I just know that they’re very, very strong up front. They’ve been able to generate a lot of pressure with their front four and not having to blitz a whole lot, that type of thing. They’re one of the stouter groups up front in the league. We’ll have our hands full. They’re number one in a number of categories halfway through the season, that’s impressive. I think in a lot of ways, our total team, it’s a pretty even match in terms of the type of teams facing each other. We’re both strong on defense, both have explosive play ability on offense. I think it’s going to be a heck of a matchup.”

One match-up that we will have our eyes on is Mike Pouncey going up against Suh. Pouncey has said that he’s up for the challenge and Philbin said that a lot of this game is going to ride on Pouncey and those around him on the offensive line.

“He’s (Ndamukong Suh) an excellent football player. He’s strong, he’s quick, he’s athletic, he moves well, he gets off blocks. We’re going to have to play, Mike Pouncey, our whole offensive line’s going to have to play well.”

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