Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
The Miami Dolphins still have a shot of catching the New England Patriots and making the playoffs.
The Dolphins will play the Patriots twice over the next five weekends, including Sunday in Gillette Stadium.
But in between those meetings, Dolfans -- even Mercury Morris -- could find themselves in an awkward position of rooting for the Patriots to win.
In Week 12 at the Superdome, the Patriots might represent one of only three credible opponents to derail the New Orleans Saints' undefeated season and prevent them from making a run at perfection.
The 1972 Dolphins proudly are the last team to win the Super Bowl without suffering a loss along the way.
Too soon to start talking about a perfect season, you say?
Consider this: The Saints own the NFL's weakest remaining schedule. Their opponents are a combined 23-41 for a .359 winning percentage.
The Big Easy, indeed.
Between now and their game against the Patriots, the Saints will play the Carolina Panthers (3-4), St. Louis Rams (1-7) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7).
After the Patriots leave New Orleans, the Saints' remaining schedule includes the Washington Redskins (2-5) and rematches with the Buccaneers and Panthers.
But the Saints also would need to navigate past the Atlanta Falcons in Week 14 and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15. The Saints beat the Falcons on Monday night in the Superdome and will get the Cowboys at home.
So I can see how Dolfans might be a little torn the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Their team could desperately need a Patriots loss to help the Dolphins remain in the playoff hunt. But if the Patriots do lose that game, then the Saints are that much closer to matching one of the most cherished feats in sports, an accomplishment Dolfans treasure as uniquely theirs for nearly four decades.
The Patriots also could be the first team to knock off the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10. But the Colts have a much tougher road than the Saints. The Colts' remaining schedule consists of opponents with a combined 38-29 record, a .567 winning percentage.
The Miami Dolphins still have a shot of catching the New England Patriots and making the playoffs.
The Dolphins will play the Patriots twice over the next five weekends, including Sunday in Gillette Stadium.
But in between those meetings, Dolfans -- even Mercury Morris -- could find themselves in an awkward position of rooting for the Patriots to win.
In Week 12 at the Superdome, the Patriots might represent one of only three credible opponents to derail the New Orleans Saints' undefeated season and prevent them from making a run at perfection.
The 1972 Dolphins proudly are the last team to win the Super Bowl without suffering a loss along the way.
Too soon to start talking about a perfect season, you say?
Consider this: The Saints own the NFL's weakest remaining schedule. Their opponents are a combined 23-41 for a .359 winning percentage.
The Big Easy, indeed.
Between now and their game against the Patriots, the Saints will play the Carolina Panthers (3-4), St. Louis Rams (1-7) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7).
After the Patriots leave New Orleans, the Saints' remaining schedule includes the Washington Redskins (2-5) and rematches with the Buccaneers and Panthers.
But the Saints also would need to navigate past the Atlanta Falcons in Week 14 and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15. The Saints beat the Falcons on Monday night in the Superdome and will get the Cowboys at home.
So I can see how Dolfans might be a little torn the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Their team could desperately need a Patriots loss to help the Dolphins remain in the playoff hunt. But if the Patriots do lose that game, then the Saints are that much closer to matching one of the most cherished feats in sports, an accomplishment Dolfans treasure as uniquely theirs for nearly four decades.
The Patriots also could be the first team to knock off the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10. But the Colts have a much tougher road than the Saints. The Colts' remaining schedule consists of opponents with a combined 38-29 record, a .567 winning percentage.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Tim Graham
Graham joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Miami Dolphins for the Palm Beach Post. He previously spent eight years at the Buffalo News, where he was an award-winning NHL and boxing writer. The Baldwin-Wallace College grad also has worked for the Las Vegas Sun and Boston Herald.