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MIAMI DOLPHINS MIND GAMES – WEEK 3 (2012) – Miami Actually Whipped Jets on Field .508 to .468, but Lost on Scoreboard 23-20 in Overtime.
Note from John F Murray: Before each game review, I present the most basic MPI data chart, showing the Dolphin’s total team performance (MPI-T), and performance on offense (MPI-O), defense (MPI-D), special teams (MPI-ST), offensive pressure performance (MPI-OP), defensive pressure performance (MPI-DP) and total pressure performance (MPT-TP). After showing the numbers, I provide the most succinct analysis possible on the team’s performance, regardless of outcome (winning or losing). Read this column regularly, and you will soon realize that MPI scores measure what every coach, fan, player, or broadcaster really wants to know – how the team actually performed in the game regardless of the score or outcome!
Offense .482 Defense .532 Special Teams .526 Pressure Offense .542 Pressure Defense .567 Total Pressure .553
Total MPI Score .508
Offense .435 Defense .472 Special Teams .575 Pressure Offense .453 Pressure Defense .347 Total Pressure .397
Total MPI Score .468
This was one of those rare games in which the better performing team lost! The Miami Dolphins, as you can see in the above statistics, clearly outperformed the New York Jets on the total MPI score (which is the best overall indicator of team performance) .508 to .468, but they lost on the scoreboard 23-20 in overtime. This is perhaps not surprising when you consider that they should have won the game twice, on each of Dan Carpenter’s field goal attempts and that Ryan Tannehill threw a pick 6! But since those bad things happened on just three plays, it gave the Jets just one and then two more chances to hang around long enough and find a way to earn the win. But make no mistake about it, these statistics tell us that Miami played better and should have won.
Miami was better on offense (.482 to .435), defense (.532 to .472) and pressure situations (.553 to .397). New York was better on special teams (.575 to .526) and this was what ultimately decided the game. Whereas New York converted on 3 of 3 field goal attempts, Miami missed on two. I am not saying that Carpenter lost the game for Miami, but he has been one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL and in most circumstances this would have been a well fought Dolphins victory that was earned at the line of scrimmage.
Total yards gained was relatively equal (388 to 381 for the Jets). Whereas the Jets were better in passing (300 to 196 yards) the Dolphins were better in rushing the ball (185 to 88 yards).
Both teams had way too many penalties (9 for New York, 11 for Miami) and teams were even on turnovers (2 each) so this was a very sloppy game overall. Time of possessions was relatively equal.
On the individual level, Santonio Holmes should be credited for his 9 catches for 147 yards and Brandon Fields punted very well with a 58.8 yard average. The quarterback play was relatively equal in terms of passer rating and Ryan Tannehill continues to develop his skills despite a weak corps of receivers, but his careless rookie pick 6 was decisive. Without that one huge error, the final score would have been much more in line with what happened all day out there on the field which is more reflected in the MPI-T scores and the Miami dominance.
In sum, this was a thrilling game for the fans, especially the fans from New York. Remove the two Carpenter misses and the pick six and the final score is now 26-13 for Miami. Of course this is not a realistic world because mistakes do occur from field goal kickers and rookie quarterbacks. But the take home message is that Miami should be encouraged by this performance. They whipped the Jets on the field but lost on the scoreboard.
I hope you enjoyed this article courtesy of sports psychology.
Dr. John F. Murray, described as “The Freud of Football” by the Washington Post, is a South Florida native and licensed clinical and sports psychologist in Palm Beach. He provides mental coaching and sports psychology services, counseling, speeches and seminars. He recently authored his second book, “The Mental Performance Index: Ranking the Best Teams in Super Bowl History,” destroying stigmas about the mental game in sports and showing football teams how to perform better and win more games by enhancing team performance assessments and training. For further information call Dr. Murray at 561-596-9898, visit johnfmurray.com or email johnfmurray@mindspring.com.