Miami Dolphins’ play-offs hopes fading after loss to Bears
The Miami Dolphins and the Chicago Bears kicked off week 11 of the NFL with Thursday Night Football. Unfortunately for Miami, they entered the game banged-up and with their third string quarterback Tyler
Thigpen at the helm. He did not stand a chance against Chicago’s ferocious defence as the Bears shutout the Dolphins 16-0 on Thursday at Sun Life Stadium.
"We didn't want to give up any points. Any time you have a chance that late in the game for a shutout, you might as well try to keep it. They're really hard to get in the NFL," said linebacker Brian Urlacher.
Apparently making his first start since 2008 with the Kansas City Chiefs and trying to get a win on a short week were too much for Thigpen. He was shaky from his first series, fumbling the exchange on
a reverse and throwing an interception to Charles Tillman in the opening quarter.
"Offensively we're embarrassed what we put on the field," said Thigpen, who is now 1-11 as a starter in the NFL. "I put the blame on me."
The few times that Miami did have the ball, they had trouble sustaining drives and staying healthy. The injury bug continued to plague the Dolphins as receiver Brandon Marshall went down with a hamstring
injury and centre Cory Procter hurt his left knee. Both did not return to the game. When asked if the absence of those key players had an impact on Miami’s lacklustre performance on offence, Coach Tony Sparano refused to use that as a justification. "Those
are excuses," he said. "I'm not going to use them. I don't want my team to use them. This is the NFL. The next guy has to step up."
Bears’ kicker Robbie Gould did much of the scoring for the first three quarters connecting on three field goals from 46, 23, 50 yards. Chicago’s running-back Matt Forte punched the ball in from two yards
out to give the Bears a 16-0 led heading into the fourth quarter. Forte gained 97 yards on the ground on 25 carries and helped Chicago’s offence manage the game and keep Miami’s defence on the field for long drives.
The Bears dominated the battle of time of possession and controlled the clock for much of the game. The 7-3 Bears move into sole possession of first place in the NFC North.
Meanwhile, the 5-5 Dolphins trail the New York Jets and the New England Patriots by 2.5 games in the AFC East. The schedule only gets increasingly tougher for Miami down the stretch. They face three fearsome
opponents in Oakland, Cleveland and New York.
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