The outright mocking seems a little out of place though. How much disrespect did we get in '02/'03 after our "fluke" '01 campaign? Granted winning the big dance is different but they're essentially the same team as last year that won the division (I'm not comparing them directly to our earlier teams, that would be silly, just the disrespect part.)
I admit to mocking the article, but here is why:
1) They beat us in the 1st match because of an inexperienced Cassel and a gimmick play that we now know how to prepare for.
2) We beat them handedly in the 2nd matchup
3) We played without Brady and it took some time for Cassel to gets going, yet we still tied their division best record at 11-5.
4) We were coming on like gang busters at the end of the season but it was just a little too late. We were clearly better than them at the end of last season even with Cassel instead of Brady. (Note how easily they were dispatched in the playoffs. Do you really think the Pats wouldn't have done better?)
5) Brady is back
6) We have had a better offseason so far than them
7) We have more draft picks than them
8) It is unclear how much impact an easy schedule and taking everyone by suprise with the wildcat had on their success last year. People are ready for that now and their schedule will be harder since they won the division.
9) Before the Brady injury, we were the clear favorite to win the SB and we were coming off a perfect regular season in which our offense had set many records. There was no reason to expect any decline had Brady not been injured.
Above is what makes the "inched ahead" ridiculous.
Still, I give the Dolphins credit where it is due.
1) They are a team on the rise
2) They had the inginuity to use the wildcat to great success last year
3) They didn't lose coaches/FO personel and we did (advantage to them)
4) They did win the division last year. Kudos to them for that. They are the division champs and we must unseat them.
5) They made a great move picking up Pennington when the Jets foolishly dumped him for his majesty Lord Farvquad.
6) I expect them to make the playoffs this season as a wild card team and to give us good competition, perhaps beating us in one of the two games.