The Miami Dolphins were already NFL gambling underdogs against the Atlanta Falcons, but if that wasn’t bad enough, former offensive line coach Chris Foerster crossed, using a $20 bill as a magic carpet, a line, or three, he shouldn’t have crossed, and his subsequent resignation, while expected and accepted, has nonetheless dealt the Dolphins a major blow, if you know what we mean, and we think you do. We’d post the video but then we’d be in as much trouble as he is. So instead, here’s what Foerster now wishes he had; a guy that would stop him before he does something stupid.
- Date: Sunday, 15th October
- Time: 1:05 PM
- Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- Sportsbook NFL Betting Online Odds:
Dolphins +12 (-110) 46½ (-110) +477
Falcons -12 (-110) 46½ (-110) -650
Straight lines and O-lines
The Dolphins have brought Dave DeGuglielmo back to help replace Foerster. DeGuglielmo was Miami’s offensive line coach from 2009 to 2011 and also filled that position with the New York Jets and England Patriots. Perhaps it was, come to think of it, all for the best. Foerster was very high on the Dolphins O-line but, we now know, it was for all the wrong reasons. Miami averages just 3.2 yards per carry and 74.8 rushing yards per game this season, and the offensive line has allowed 10 sacks. The pressure on Jay Cutler has forced the veteran QB to make early and short throws, which in turn has led the fans to clamor for Matt Moore.
From yesterday's game, when #Dolphins' biggest worry was a bad offense, not a line coach (!) snorting: https://t.co/gQPYDC26QG
— Greg Cote (@gregcote) October 9, 2017
The Dolphins are 2-2 SU and ATS this season. More importantly for bettors, they are 2-0 ATS in wins and 0-2 ATS in losses. Miami is, moreover, 3-8 ATS when playing a team with a winning record but 7-3 ATS in the last 10 games after an ATS win (the Dolphins covered the NFL gambling spread in their 16-10 win over the Titans on Sunday). The Falcons, meanwhile, are 5-1 ATS in their last six games after an ATS loss and 4-1 ATS in their last five after a bye, but are 4-9 ATS in the last 13 games after a straight-up loss as well as in their last 13 games in Week 6.
Falcons Assemble!
The Falcons will return from their bye week at full strength, missing just wide receiver Mohamed Sanu and rookie defensive end Takk McKinley’s lost dreadlock – which, some say, is the source of his strength, but that’s probably only a myth. In any case, McKinley and the rest of Atlanta’s defense should have no problem stopping Cutler and the rest of a Dolphins offense that is pretty much on the other side of the spectrum as that of the Falcons (though one should keep in mind that Cutler tends to play well against Atlanta more often than not; he averages 302.3 per game in four games versus the Falcons – of which he has won three – with six TDs, three picks, and a 99.4 passer rating. He wasn’t, of course, a Dolphin on any of those occasions; Miami has not defeated Atlanta since 2013 and the Dolphins have not been victorious in Atlanta since 1998). The over/under is 2-2 for the Falcons this season, while the Dolphins have yet to go over the rainbow, and considering it’s Miami’s defense that keeps them in games, the NFL gambling total on this one could go under as well.