DSFL 6 Week 1 Recap
Upsets galore in a wild opening week in the Dream Season Football League
Mercury Morris scores on a 29-yard catch and run with 18 seconds remaining in the week 1 game at New England. Their failed 2-point conversion attempt on the ensuing play would cost Miami a chance for overtime.
10’s Patriots 22, 70’s Dolphins 20
Foxboro, MA - Don Shula is the winningest coach in NFL history. His 347 combined victories, including the 17 straight during the NFL’s only undefeated season (1972 Dolphins), remains one of the greatest records in NFL history. The only active coach who has a realistic shot as surpassing his all-time win total is Bill Belichick of New England. So, as Don Shula’s 1970’s Dolphins faced NFL legend Bill Belichick and his 2010’s Patriots in the DSFL 6 opener, many expected a chess match between two of the greatest coaches in NFL history. Instead, the game was filled with mistakes on both sides of the ball.
New England commits 3 penalties in the game converted just 2 of their 8 third down attempts. Despite their slow start, the Dolphins were making the bigger mistakes through most of the game. After 3 quarters, the Patriots lead 22-7, courtesy of a Kyle Van-Noy safety and a pick-six from linebacker Rob Ninkovich.
The 4th quarter was controlled by Miami, who make a furious comeback led by Bob Griese. The Dolphins quarterback throws 2 touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including the 29-yard score with 18 seconds to go in regulation. Down 22-20, Griese throws an ill-advised pass on the 2-point conversion attempt to the Patriots’ Jamie Collins who picks him off to seal the game.
New England may have won, but the 1970’s Dolphins have the look of a team with enough firepower to win the AFC East if they can correct the mistakes that cost them in Foxboro. Miami outgained New England by 159 yards on Sunday with 9 more first downs. So, at the very least, this offense proved that they can keep pace with Tom Brady in the week 1 thriller.
Up Next:
The 1970’s Miami Dolphins will play host to the 1990’s Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon. Jim Kelly threw a DSFL franchise-record 4 touchdown passes in the 31-14 blowout of the 1960’s New York Jets in the season opener. That Miami defense, which held Tom Brady in check last week, will have their hands full against the high-powered Bills offense.
The 2010’s New England Patriots visit the 2010’s Seattle Seahawks in their first road game of the season. Both of these dynasty rosters are mostly comprised of the players who suited up for Super Bowl 49. That game was won by the Patriots 28-24 but was best known for the Seahawks refusal to run Marshawn Lynch at the goaline on the final play of the game for Seattle. Russell Wilson’s last pass was picked off by Malcolm Butler to secure one of New England’s three Super Bowls during the 2010’s.