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  Dolphins vs Packers Preview
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[ Game Time | Place | Weather | Field Conditions | Standings & Stats | History | Injuries ]
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GAME TIME: 1:00 PM EST on Sunday, Oct 17th. The game will be broadcast regionally on CBS TV, on DirecTV channel 704, on Sirius radio channels 129 and 123 and on XM radio channel 105.

PLACE: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI.

WEATHER FORECAST: Mostly sunny, with a high around 59. Winds are expected to be brisk, out of the north-northwest, with gusts up to 20 mph.

FIELD CONDITIONS: The surface at Lambeau is natural grass and is heated to keep it from freezing, although that should not be an issue. The weather looks decent, so the field should be in good shape.

STANDINGS & STATS: The Dolphins are 2-2, alone in 3rd place in the AFC East. The Packers are 3-2, in second place behind the Bears in the NFC North.

Dolphins       Pts/Game  Rank   Packers        Pts/Game  Rank
Scored          16.5      28    Scored          23.8       8
Allowed         23.0      24    Allowed         17.8       8

Dolphins       Yds/Game  Rank   Packers        Yds/Game  Rank
Total Offense:	 339      13    Total Defense:   317      13
      Rushing:   107      16          vs Rush:   105      15
      Passing:	 232      12          vs Pass:   212      15

Packers                         Dolphins
Total Offense:	 342      12    Total Defense:   299       7
      Rushing:   107      15          vs Rush:   118      21
      Passing:   235      10          vs Pass:   181       4

Sacks		Made (Avg/G)	Allowed (Avg/G)
Dolphins          9    2.2         9      2.2
Packers          21    4.2         9      1.8

Turnover differential:
Dolphins         -3
Packers          -2

Individual Skill Position Stats:
Dolphins                        
QB:   QB Henne:       84-131-9640-5-4-86.2
Rush: RB Brown:               48-226-4.7-1
Rush: RB Williams:            43-176-4.1-0
Rec:  WR Marshall:           27-240-12.6-1
Rec:  WR Bess:               21-245-11.7-1
Rec:  WR Hartline:           11-133-12.1-1

Packers     
QB:   QB Rodgers:    111-168-1233-9-6-90.7
Rush: RB Jackson:             55-252-4.6-1
Rush: RB Kuhn:                29-133-4.6-1
Rec:  WR Driver:             25-276-11.0-3
Rec:  TE Finley:             21-301-14.3-1
Rec:  WR Jones:              15-177-11.8-1

Legend 
     QBs: completions-attempts-yards-touchdowns-ints-rating
     RBs: rushes-yards-average-touchdowns
     WRs: receptions-yards-average-touchdowns

HISTORY: The Dolphins hold a 9-3 advantage in the all-time series, but Green Bay has won three of the last four matchups.

INJURIES:

DOLPHINS: 
Questionable: DE Jared Odrick (ankle)
Probable:     LB Channing Crowder (groin)
              OT Jake Long (knee)

PACKERS: 
Out:          S  Derrick Martin (knee)
              LB Brandon Chillar (shoulder)
              LB Nick Barnett (wrist)
              TE Jermichael Finley(knee)
Doubtful:     LB Clay Matthews (hamstring)
              T  Mark Tauscher (shoulder)
Questionable: DE Mike Neal (shoulder)
              DE Ryan Pickett (ankle)
Probable:     QB Aaron Rodgers (concussion)
              CB Sam Shields (calf)
              RB Quinn Johnson (glute)
              OT Chad Clifton (knee)
              S  Nick Collins (knee)
              DE Cullen Jenkins (hamstring)
              TE Donald Lee (chest)
              CB Charles Woodson (toe)

DOLPHINS' STARTERS:

Offense:		     Defense:
QB -  7 Chad Henne           LE  - 70 Kendall Langford
RB - 23 Ronnie Brown         NT  - 94 Randy Starks
FB - 36 Lousaka Polite       RE  - 98 Jared Odrick
WR - 19 Brandon Marshall     SLB - 55 Koa Misi
WR - 82 Brian Hartline       ILB - 52 Channing Crowder
TE - 80 Anthony Fasano       ILB - 58 Karlos Dansby
LT - 77 Jake Long            WLB - 91 Cameron Wake
LG - 68 Richie Incognito     LCB - 21 Vontae Davis
C  - 67 Joe Berger           RCB - 32 Jason Allen
RG - 74 John Jerry           SS  - 37 Yeremiah Bell
RT - 72 Vernon Carey         FS  - 30 Chris Clemons

K -   5 Dan Carpenter        P   -  2 Brandon Fields

PR - 15 Davone Bess          KR  - 38 Patrick Cobbs
NOTES: Jared Odrick and John Jerry have returned to practice and Jerry, at least, has not been limited. Odrick is listed as limited in practice, so it remains to be seen if he will start. Channing Crowder is listed as participating in full practices, but nobody - including me - is willing to predict whether or not he will start. Also, Benny Sapp missed practiced on Thursday, but the official injury report says that it's not injury related.
PACKERS' STARTERS: 

Offense:                      Defense:
QB - 12 Aaron Rodgers         LDE - 79 Ryan Pickett
RB - 32 Brandon Jackson       NT  - 90 B.J. Raji
FB - 35 Korey Hall            RDE - 77 Cullen Jenkins
WR - 80 Donald Driver         OLB - 58 Frank Zombo
WR - 85 Greg Jennings         ILB - 50 A.J. Hawk
TE - 86 Donald Lee            ILB - 55 Desmond Bishop
LT - 76 Chad Clifton          OLB - 59 Brad Jones 
LG - 73 Daryn Colledge        LCB - 21 Charles Woodson
C  - 63 Scott Wells           RCB - 38 Tramon Williams
RG - 71 Josh Sitton           SS  - 26 Charlie Peprah
RT - 75 Bryan Bulaga          FS  - 36 Nick Collins

K  -  2 Mason Crosby          P   -  8 Tim Masthay

PR - 38 Tramon Williams       KR  - 87 Jordy Nelson
NOTES: The Packers have a lot of injured players this week. As of Friday afternoon, it looks like Aaron Rodgers will start, but he still has to pass the NFL's full neurological evaluation before he is allowed to play. Starting TE Jermichael Finley and LBs Nick Barnett and Brandon Chillar are out, while sack leader Clay Matthews is doubtful.

KEY MATCHUPS:

  1. Dolphins vs Themselves: This will be the number one matchup for every preview for the foreseeable future. Until the Dolphins stop shooting themselves in the foot, they will not win a lot of games.
  2. Packers' LBs vs Ronnie and Ricky: Coach Sparano made the point this week that when Miami runs the ball well, they win. With the Packers' linebacking corps decimated with injuries, Ronnie and Ricky could both have big days.
  3. Brandon Marshall vs Packers DBs: Will Marshall face double coverage or Charles Woodson? Either way, Marshall needs to be productive.
  4. Jason Allen vs Greg Jennings and Donald Driver: Allen has been very inconsistent this season and the Packers like to throw the ball. On the one hand, Allen leads the team with 2 interceptions. On the other, he has made a number of serious mistakes.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Chad Henne is under increasing scrutiny after his 3 picks against the Patriots, but he may not have to throw as much this week. And while Brandon Marshall is still the main weapon among the wide receivers, Davone Bess is getting more recognition after each game.

On defense, the Dolphins may get Jared Odrick and Channing Crowder back this week and if they do, that could boost the entire defense. Cameron Wake continues to provide excellent pressure on opposing passers, but Koa Misi has cooled off a little bit. And Jason Allen is once again under fire for costly mistakes against both the Jets and Packers.

QB Aaron Rodgers is marked as "probable" to start this week, but he still has not officially passed the NFL's required neurological exam for concussion victims. One of his favorite targets, TE Jermichael Finley, is definitely out, however. Former Dolphins' TE Donald Lee will probably start in his place. WRs Donald Driver and Greg Jennings are both very talented, but there are rumors that Jennings is having attitude problems.

The Packers' best pass rusher, OLB Clay Matthews, is doubtful this week and two of their other starting linebackers are out, so backup linebackers Frank Zombo, Desmond Bishop and Brad Jones will have their work cut out for them. 2009 NFL defensive Player of the Year Charles Woodson is one of their starting cornerbacks and it will be interesting to see how the Packers use him.

On special teams, the Packers' Tramon Williams averages 11.6 ypc, which is well above the league's average.

MY ANALYSIS:

The Dolphins face the Packers this week in a game where the Dolphins are in an ideal position to knock off a strong opponent in a weakened state. The Packers are reeling after a tough overtime loss to the Washington Redskins, in which Packers' QB Aaron Rodgers had a concussion and a number of other Packers' starters sustained significant injuries.

Add to this the fact that the Dolphins are coming off their bye week and getting several of their own starters back into the lineup and the Dolphins should have a significant advantage on Sunday.

On offense, the Dolphins will take a step back to a more conservative approach this week, based on their strength of running the ball. Coach Sparano pointed out to the media that Miami wins more games when they have success running the ball and there is no doubt that Dan Henning would like to take advantage of Green Bay's depleted linebacking corps by giving the ball to Ronnie and Ricky and having them run over the Packers' defense.

So look for the Dolphins to work hard at establishing their ground game and pass only when necessary or to take advantage of play-action. The Packers' defense is not particularly strong against the run and the Dolphins should be able to establish their ground game and control the ball.

When the Packers have the ball, a lot will depend on whether or not Aaron Rodgers can play. If Rodgers does play (as appears likely), the Packers will be a passing team. However, without their starting tight end, the Packers will not be able to attack the weakest part of Miami's pass defense and Miami should be able to keep Rodgers and the Packers' offense from moving the ball effectively.

Of course, a lot will depend on Miami's defense avoiding the kinds of mistakes that have plagued them the last two games. They can not afford to give up big plays against the Packers and force the offense to play catch-up in this game. The Packers have a very effective pass rush, even without Clay Matthews, and the Dolphins will need to avoid big mistakes and turnovers to win this game.

So far this year, Miami has played well on the road and they should be in good shape to take on the Packers on Sunday. If they can establish their running game, do a good job covering the Packers' receivers and avoid any big mistakes, they should beat the Packers on Sunday.

PLACES TO WATCH:

To watch the game on TV, you may go to one of the sports bars listed on my "Places To Watch" web page.

To listen to the game live over the Internet, you must now pay the NFL for the privelege. They are charging $9.99 (US) per month or $39.99 for the season for something you used to get for free. If you want to sign up for that, go to the following link NFL Field Pass.

Also, here is a list of some websites that have live scores and updates. Both the Official Website and NFL.com have almost live applications that run in your browser and give you current stats and play-by-play information.

Related Info:
     
   
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