Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Focus remains on task at hand
DAVIE — Finally, after weeks of “one game at a time” and “we just want to go 1-0 this week” quotes, the Miami Dolphins can talk playoffs. They clinched their first playoff berth since 2008 late Sunday night when Denver lost to Kansas City.
But it’s tough to tell that Miami will be facing either the Pittsburgh Steelers or Houston Texans in the first round of the AFC playoffs next week from some of the reactions on the team.
Coach Adam Gase was at home Sunday night reviewing video from Miami’s game against Buffalo last Saturday and had the Chiefs-Broncos game on in the background. After finding out the Broncos lost and the Dolphins were in the playoffs, Gase had phone calls with owner Steve Ross, executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum and general manager Chris Grier. And it didn’t sound as though it was a raucous celebration.
“I talked to Mr. Ross last night and Mike and Chris,” Gase said. “We were just kind of talking about our plan going forward this week and really that’s been our big focus.
“We have an opportunity to play after Week 17, but our main focus is this week, and we’re going to stick to the plan that we’ve had this entire season of not looking past the opponent that we have ahead.”
Right tackle Ja’Wuan James went to
sleep before Sunday’s 8:30 p.m. kickoff and found out the Dolphins were in the playoffs “when I woke up this morning.” His reaction? “I was excited for everybody on our team,” James said, “especially the older guys like [defensive end] Cameron [Wake], who have been here a long time.”
Rookie running back Kenyan Drake went to the movies — he saw “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” — and checked his phone periodically in the theater.
On the other hand, safety Michael Thomas watched the Chiefs-Broncos game and engaged in a jubilant group text with his fellow defensive backs afterward.
Right guard Jermon Bushrod said he watched the pregame show and part of the game but stopped after Kansas City took a sizeable lead and he was confident Denver would lose.
“I checked it before I went to bed just to be sure,” he said. “It’s football, and sometimes things like that happen.”
Gase said he’ll likely utilize all of his healthy players for Sunday’s game 1 p.m. game at Hard Rock Stadium as opposed to resting players. He said New England can “embarrass” you if you’re not prepared.
“Our focus needs to be on New England,” Gase said. “If not, you’ll see it on the field Sunday.”
Miami can move up to the No. 5 seed if they defeat New England and Kansas City loses to San Diego. In that scenario the Dolphins would visit No. 4 seed Houston next weekend.
Miami will remain the No. 6 seed if they defeat New England and Kansas City defeats San Diego or if the Dolphins lose to the Patriots. In that scenario the Dolphins would visit No. 3 seed Pittsburgh.
The Dolphins have won their past two games against the Steelers.
The Dolphins defeated the Steelers, 30-15, in October at Hard Rock Stadium. Running back Jay Ajayi rushed for 204 yards and Miami knocked Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out of the game with a knee injury.
And when they played at Pittsburgh in 2013, the Dolphins scored 10 fourthquarter points to record a 34-28 victory in a snowy December game.
If the Dolphins travel to Houston (9-6) for their firstround playoff game the outlook isn’t as rosy.
The Texans lead the alltime series, 7-1. But the Dolphins won the last meeting, a 44-26 victory last season under the direction of interim coach Dan Campbell. It was the second of back-toback victories after Campbell replaced Joe Philbin, who was fired after a 1-3 start.
Gase, however, isn’t looking that far ahead.
When he met with the media Monday he’d just finished talking with his team.
“We just talked about focusing on getting better with our film from the last game,” Gase said, “making our corrections and then focusing on New England when we get back in on Wednesday.”