Patriots finish undefeated regular season

The New England Patriots became the first team to finish a 16-game NFL regular season undefeated. If they go on to win the Super Bowl, I'll comment on where I think this team belongs among the greatest of all time.

Dolphins unable to stop Patriots' streak

The New England Patriots, seeking a perfect regular season, made victim #15 out of the Miami Dolphins, 28-7. Tom Brady thew three touchdown passes, two of them to Randy Moss, to seal the game by halftime.

Cleo Lemon completed just 18 of 41 passes for 171 yards and a third-quarter TD to Greg Camarillo, last week's hero. The Dolphins were outgained, 400 yards to 241, but held a slight edge in time of possession.

With one final game against the Bengals next week, the Dolphins' season mercifully comes to an end.

Bill Parcells joins Dolphins

The Dolphins announced that Bill Parcells will oversee the franchise's football operations, reporting to owner Wayne Huizenga. Parcells will have control over personnel decisions, but he will not coach the team. It is unknown whose jobs are in jeopardy because of the hiring, but it appears that GM Randy Mueller has the most to fear.

Parcells is best known for leading the NY Giants to two Super Bowl victories. He also led the Patriots to a Super Bowl and the Jets to the AFC Championship game. Each team was a rebuilding project, similar to the Dolphins' state right now, so his addition can only help the team.

Dolphins win! Dolphins win!

No more talk of 0-16.

Thanks to Greg Camarillo (who??), the Miami Dolphins won their first game of the season, 22-16, against the Baltimore Ravens in overtime. Camarillo's 64-yard catch and run sealed the victory after the Ravens missed a 44-yard field goal in overtime.

Cleo Lemon started the game and completed 23 of 39 passes for 315 yards and the lone touchdown in OT. With Ronnie Brown, Jesse Chatman, and Ricky Williams all out, the Dolphins relied on Samkon Gado and Lorenzo Booker for their rushing attack. While the pair gained only 60 yards, it was enough to keep the Ravens defense honest.

Bills manhandle Dolphins

It was over by the end of the first quarter. The Dolphins allowed a team record-tying 24 points in the first quarter to the Buffalo Bills en route to a 38-17 loss. Unlike the teams' first meeting this season, Buffalo won handily in all areas of the game this time. Two Bills rushers (Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch) gained over 100 yards each, and rookie QB Trent Edwards threw 4 touchdown passes.

Coach Cameron yanked QB John Beck early in the game (after completing just 1 pass for 6 yards) and replaced him with Cleo Lemon, who was more effective but too late to change the outcome of the game.

If there is any silver lining at all, it's that the Dolphins have nearly clinched the first pick in next year's draft.

Zach Thomas out for season

The Miami Dolphins placed LB Zach Thomas on the injured reserve list, ending his season. Thomas has missed seven games this season with a concussion. He currently plans to return next season (he's been asking to play again this year but the doctors haven't cleared him) and has no plans to retire.

Beck's mistakes doom Dolphins

This was supposed to be the best chance the 2007 Miami Dolphins had of winning a game this season, at home against the 2-9 New York Jets, where the odds-makers had installed Miami as a 1-point favorite. Instead, QB John Beck had the worst game of his short career, and the Jets won handily, 40-13. Beck threw three interceptions and lost two fumbles. He finished with 177 yards on 23-for-39 passing.

Up till this game, I believed that the Dolphins would win at least one game this season. Now I'm not so sure anymore. They play Buffalo next week at Buffalo (always a tough place), home against the Ravens (winnable but unlikely), at New England (could they be fighting to preserve the 72 Dolphins' legacy?), and end the season against the Bengals (winnable, especially if the Dolphins are 0-15 and desperate for a win).

It would be beautiful if an 0-14 Dolphins team went into Foxboro and handed a 14-0 Patriots team their first loss of the season, but New England is so far out of the Dolphins league right now that it would take a miracle.