The Fins regular season finale against the Patriots on Sunday, December 30th, has been moved from 1:00pm to 4:25pm.

Read more here.

I predicted an 8-8 season for the Miami Dolphins, long before the season kicked off.  At the time, that was a brave pick for a team that was the joke of cable tv on HBO's "Hard Knocks". 

Former Jacksonville QB David Garard was expected to be the starter over a rookie named Ryan Tannehill who was supposed to be a project player...someone who might have taken three years to develop into a full-time starter in the NFL. 

Many of my co-workers laughed at my prediction, and said that an even win-loss record would make me happy, because I knew this would be a rebuilding season. 

We know this:

The Fins are not going to the playoffs.

The Patriots are a much better team, and Miami plays them in New England on Sunday.

Ryan Tannehill still has room to grow.

But, overall this Miami team has seen growth this season and the quarterback looks pretty good.  Hey, we could be the New York Jets! 

The Dolphins winning two games in a row, against the Jaguars and the Bills, means they have just one game left to close out the year and a win would get the team to my projected 8-8. 

That would mark the first time in a few years that the Fins will not have a losing record.  It's also 2 games better than the team finished last season. 

Beating Tom Brady and the Pats is no easy task, especially when New England is home and they are still working on securing a first round playoff bye.  But, we played them tough a few weeks ago.

Joel Malkin

The Miami Dolphins will be missing several key players, once again, when they take the field for their final home game this season against the Buffalo Bills. 

Place kicker Dan Carpenter (who missed some major fgs earlier in the season, but has since been pretty good) has been placed on injured reserve with a groin injury.  He could actually be the biggest cog missing, since the Fins often have to settle for field goals, but former Charger Nate Kaeding has been picked up to replace Carpenter in the final two games (and maybe the playoffs...didn't you hear, Miami is ACTUALLY still alive mathematically). 

Of course that's not going to happen, after the Bills game, the Fins head out to New England to play the Patriots, who may still be bucking for a playoff bye week, meaning Tom Brady will be front and center...not on the bench, like you'd prefer. 

Despite the injuries, Miami was able to go out and dominate the Jaguars, who are just a crappy team.  The Bills aren't much better, but they'll put up a bigger fight. 

Miami Dolphins 23 - Buffalo Bills 17

Okay, let's not get too excited.  The win on Sunday WAS against the 2-win Jacksonville Jaguars, with our cast-off QB Chad Henne at the helm. 

Truth be told, I did not watch much of this game, as with a new baby girl in the house, along with my mother for the weekend, everybody busy with jobs, etc, I was dragged out to the mall on Sunday. 

Still, I watched the final Dolphins' TD drive and see that they only punted once the entire game. 

That is a change of pace, for sure, from what we had been watching over the past few games. 

Of course, the talent on teams like San Francisco and New England cannot be compared to the players on the Jags' staff. 

Bottom line: The Fins beat a team they SHOULD have beaten, and they beat them the way they SHOULD have beaten them, by 3 touchdowns (24-3).  Rookie Ryan Tannehill took that knee brace off at halftime and was able to move around a lot better and looked more like the quarterback we saw during the first half of the season.  I can't wait to see how he grows in his second NFL season next year.  Before then, however, he faces two more opponents: Buffalo in Miami this Sunday and the Patriots in New England to finish the 2012 season.  My original pick of 8-8?  It's still possible. 

Joel Malkin

Joel Malkin's Pick:

As you've read here, LT Jake Long is on injured reserve, gone for the rest of the season.

Wow! My 8-8 prediction at the start of this year is looking tougher and tougher to match, considering this week could give the Fins their 8th loss already, and they'll have three more games left, including another matchup with the Patriots...IN NEW ENGLAND!

I could see Miami's defense making a couple of plays against the young Niners' QB, but that San Fran Defense is just too much for the lackluster Dolphins.

I'll say....closer than you think, but not good enough for Miami.

49ers 26 - Dolphins 17

And since I'll be on vacation next week, I'll give you the Miami-Jacksonville game right now:

The Dolphins BETTER beat the lousy Jaguars at Sunlife!

Let's see if Chad Henne makes a positive difference for his new team. I don't think so.

Fins 20 - Jags 10

I'll be back for the 12/23 game featuring Miami going to Buffalo for a rematch with the Bills.

Left Tackle Jake Long, a No. 1 overall pick just a few years ago, hasn't been playing up to his all-star best this season.  Maybe it was a lingering injury, just waiting to get worse.

Long's season ended Tuesday, when Miami placed him on injured reserve because of a torn left triceps. 

He'll be eligible to test the free agent waters during the upcoming off-season, and there is question as to whether the Fins will try to keep him.  Long has been called for more penalties than anyone else on the offensive line this season and allowed four sacks. 

There are also reports that Miami has shifted to a different blocking scheme than they were using when he was picked up back in 2008.  That was one that better fit his size. 

Click Here for more on this.