Miami Football Blog

The first of the Miami Dolphins two intrastate rivalry matchups this season will take place on Sunday in Land Shark Stadium when the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers come to Miami. Though the Bucs own the state of Florida’s most recent Super Bowl trophy, they have had problems finding consistency in the years since, and have had big troubles in head coach Raheem Morris’s first season. This offseason saw the departure of former head coach Jon Gruden and numerous veteran Tampa Buccaneers stalwarts, including Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn, Joey Galloway and Jeff Garcia. The dismissal of offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski days before the season started only added more tumult to this rebuilding franchise.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have started three different QBs this season Byron Leftwich, Josh Johnson, and now rookie Josh Freeman who took home the first win of the season for the Bucs in his first NFL start last week against the Green Bay Packers. This should be an easy win for the Miami Dolphins, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been one of the worst teams in the NFL this season, but Al Pacino fans know what can happen on any given Sunday.

Tampa Bay ranks 28th in total offense in the NFL, as they average less than 96 yards rushing and 178 yards passing per game. With a rookie QB in just his second NFL start, expect the Miami Dolphins to bring pressure at Josh Freeman. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have only given up 16 sacks this season, but with how effective Cameron Wake has been this season in his limited time and how inexperienced Freeman is, I would expect Wake to see much more of the field than usual and a good number of blitzes to come Freeman’s way.

In addition to their offensive struggles, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are ranked 29th in total defense, giving up almost 380 yards per game. Not that the game plan is ever different, but expect plenty of carries and big games this week from Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers give up 163.4 yards per game on the ground, 3rd worst league wide. The Bucs pass defense meanwhile has not been atrocious, as they rank 15th in the NFL allowing 216.5 yards per game through the air. Expect a lot of running up the gut and a fair bit of wildcat from the Miami Dolphins, especially since the Miami Dolphins Tickets Blog expects an early lead to not be relinquished by the teal and orange.

Last minute tickets to the game and to the Miami Dolphins Tickets Blog’s official tailgate party are still available for the Miami Dolphins vs. Tampa Bay Bucs game on Sunday. For those who haven’t been to one of the tailgates they are not an event to be missed. All you can eat BBQ and all you can drink beer, soda, water, hunch punch and margaritas go along with tailgate games, ticket chicks and the music of DJ Supercede. Also you can take part in our Tailgate Olympics, where you can win sideline passes or a gift certificate for Miami Dolphins tickets by competing in Beer Pong, Yankee Horseshoes (ladder golf), Cornhole (bean bag toss), and a chicken wing eating contest. Keep checking in with the Miami Dolphins Tickets Blog and come out to one of the tailgates to meet your blogging crew and enjoy a Fins experience!