Week 13 GameDay: Miami Dolphins @ St. Louis Rams

The Miami Dolphins are in town this week to take on our St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The Dolphins are 6-5 and two games behind the New York Jets in the NFC East. The Dolphins look to bounce back from an huge emotional loss to the New England Patriots last week 48-28. The Rams at 2-9 are trying to bounce back from two years of horrible football which has made them the laughing stock of the league in 2008. Good thing the Detroit Lions are around.

Miami will feature a two headed running attack with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. Combined the two have rushed for over 1100 yards and 11 touchdowns. Both backs are also very good coming out of the backfield and will pose problems for the Rams depleted linebacker core. Ronnie Brown will also spearhead the WILDCAT offense that the Dolphins will use several times throughout the game. Miami is ranked 8th in the league in total yards per game and passing yards per game so just when you think you need to shut down their running game Chad Pennington will step up and go over the top and kill you with precision passing.

The Rams look to have Steven Jackson, Orlando Pace, and Brett Romberg all in the lineup on Sunday. When Jackson is in the lineup the Rams play with a ton more of emotion. Look for the Rams to try and establish the run and stay out of 3rd and long. The Rams must find a way to block Joey Porter who has 14 1/2 sacks on the season. Marc Bulger must stay on his feet and deliver the throws that he use to be able to make.

I believe the Rams will play much better this week but that is not saying much. Until the defense improves I have them giving up 30 points again because that is what they do. They had a hard time with the simplest running plays from Chicago last week so how will they stop the Wildcat? With Will Witherspoon not expecting to play much or at all this week I look for Anthony Fasano and the Dolphins running backs to kill the Rams in the middle of the field and in the flats. Until I actually see a Rams team that can tackle and a QB that wants to play I can not pick the Rams.

Prediction:

Miami Dolphins – 30

St. Louis Rams -17