The Miami Dolphins, 13 days after toppling the New York Jets on Monday Night Football, get a crack this weekend at the 5-0 New Orleans Saints.
On paper, the Saints should win. But there's a sense that the Fins could pull off the upset.
Naturally, Miami linebacker Joey Porter agrees with those who think the Fins can pull it off.
"Our goal is to knock them off the high horse and try to bring them
down," Porter said Wednesday, per Mike Berardino of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "They've been out in front of every game. They've scored a touchdown on every opening drive they've had.
"Our goal is not to let them start fast by any means. We've got to slow
them down to make them work for everything they get out there.
Hopefully that's not much. We can't let them get in that comfort zone
to where their offense is wide open. We've got to try to put them in a
situation to where they're not out in front and able to do everything
they like to do."
To make that happen, the Dolphins are looking closely at the game the Saints played last month against the Bills.
"We've been studying that Buffalo game a lot," Porter said. "I think
they got to [Drew Brees] three times and made him fumble. Made Reggie Bush fumble the ball a couple times. For the long part of the game, that was a close game."
Maybe Porter should study that Buffalo game a bit closer. The Saints scored 27 points, and won by 20. Also, Brees was sacked only twice. Bush didn't fumble once.
Still, Porter's general idea is on the money. Executing that plan is another matter.
Later today, we'll unveil our PFT Picks for Week Seven, with the answer to the question whether we like the Saints or the Dolphins in one of the better games of the weekend.
Joey Porter wants to knock Saints "off the high horse"
Posted by Mike Florio on October 22, 2009 11:36 AM ET
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40 Comments 
Latest stories in: Latest News and Rumors, Miami Dolphins, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, New Orleans Saints, Top Stories
Latest stories in: Latest News and Rumors, Miami Dolphins, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, New Orleans Saints, Top Stories
For someone who sits permanently on a "high" horse, that's the pot calling the kettle black... and gold.
Miami is on a roll since Pennington went down. Henne is a better QB with a better arm. The Dolphins will be heard from in the AFC East.......much more than the Jets or Bills.....
BUT....Joey Porter is and always will be a mouthy douchebag
I'd like to hear what Joey has to say after the Saints destroy the Dolphins.
I love Joey Porter. He's just the right amount of crazy.
But seriously, how difficult is it to make Reggie Bush fumble? 16 fumbles in 3 1/3 years? I'm sure Porter's got loftier goals than that.
I don't see henne keeping pace with brees score for score after the giants were steamrolled last week.
Planning to win by forcing fumbles, eh? There is a reason you don't hear this strategy very often.
UMMMM I'M pretty sure who the better team is here PFT. If you all are having any doubt' let's just recap last week's beat down. If you don't think the Saints are going to win this you all are Smoking.
P.S. Puff Puff Give.......PFT
Porter has to shut his mouth and SACK PEOPLE!!!! That speaks more than words of his mouth!
So far he hasn't done sh*t! Cameron Wake looks better than him. MATT ROTH IS BACK !!!!
Should be fun! GO FINS!
I do wish Porter would just shut up in the media. If you want to mouth off to the opponent in pregame warm-ups or across the line of scrimmage, that's fine. But all this media talk does is make you look like a loud mouthed loser. Keep the shop talk in the shop.
As for the game, the only way the Fins win this one is if Sparano and Co. worked some Wildcat type magic with the secondary. Otherwise, it's going to be a repeat of the Colts game. Our rookie corners both need to have a HUGE game to pull this one off.
GO FINS!
Whole game depends upon Fins putting pressure on the Saints passing game, keeping their time of possession over 40 minutes, and scoring td's when in the red zone.
Go Fins!!
His response was appropriate, even if he doesn't completely know what he's talking about. At least he didn't go guaranteeing a win and making himself and his team look foolish (ala dumbass Anthony Smith in 2007 when the Pats destroyed the Steelers) or come out being a disrespectful smartass.
i think the point he's trying to make is prior to the bills being blown out in the 4th quarter that game actually was close.
henne is good, but keeping pace with brees will be borderline impossible.
brees is far superior, and the dolphins secondary sucks something else
"Planning to win by forcing fumbles, eh? There is a reason you don't hear this strategy very often."
Wow. Ever heard anyone say that forcing turnovers is the key to the game?
The Dolphins need to out-physical the Saints.
The Dolphins game plan has to be "control the ball." The Dolphins need a large advantage in time of possession. Instead of allowing big pass plays as in the Colts game, the Fins must slow prevent explosive plays and force the Saints to punt.
By 6pm ET this game will be done, with Brees destroying that secondary over and over again. Who are those slow Miami linebackers going to cover see Dallas Clark, and i am sure Shockey is a tad bit faster than Clark. And where is Miami going to get that pass rush Porter (what has he done lately) or Old man Taylor. Dont even mention Roth because that New Orleans-Line will hold them in check ALL DAY
Raider have a better chance of upsetting the Saints. Take away the passing game and the saints are below average...
Of course the Raiders blow at defending the run so Bush alone will probably be able to win that game (as bad as that is).
not only did the Saints beat the Bills by 20, the Bills only managed to score with a gadget / trick play...
OOOOOhhhhhhh. now i see...
should be a good game.
One thing that the Saints aren't good at is covering kickoffs and punts. They allow some of the highest average return yardages in the league in both categories.
Don't bother trying to pass on the Saints. Their pass defense is deadly. Their running defense is above average but perhaps beatable for a team like the Dolphins.
It's gonna be a very tough game for the Fins to win, but not impossible. If it rains it becomes MUCH more even.
Too much gets made of these comments. When he actually says them (on TV), they don't sound bad.
I doubt Roth plays this week. Prior to this week he hadn't practiced since May. He's going to be out of shape and rusty. And he is not a pass rusher anyway. What Roth does is set the edge on first and second down and completely takes away the run on the right side. In that regard, the Saints would not hold him in check. Nobody does. Roth is dominant against run game.
Saints have to be the favorite this week. Miami should be able to keep the score down a bit with their patented ball control. But until proven otherwise, the big play will kill that defense repeatedly.
# DolFan Dan says: October 22, 2009 12:43 PM
It's gonna be a very tough game for the Fins to win, but not impossible. If it rains it becomes MUCH more even.
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I hadn't even thought of that angle. A torrential Florida storm would go a long way to keeping things grounded, pun intended.
I'll have to get out my rain dance attire Sunday morning.
Thanks for giving Payton the heads up on your game planning there Peazey.
i have to admit i wish joey would not talk so much.
although you have to remember the last time he did talk about doing damage to another team on the field, it was early in the season last year against the patriots.
he delivered that time. maybe porter will actually deliver again? one can only hope, but the odds are seriously on the saints side here. dolphin fans have no disillusions about which team is better, we're just hoping to pull the upset.
"Maybe Porter should study that Buffalo game a bit closer. The Saints scored 27 points, and won by 20."
Ew, do I really have to say this? I agree with Joey Porter. He said "for the long part of the game, that was a close game". He didn't say that it ENDED a close game.
The fourth quarter started with the Bills down only 10-7. That's a close game.
In fact, the Saints don't score until more than five minutes into the fourth quarter to go up 17-7, which is still pretty close by the Saints' standards this year.
With three minutes left in the game, the Saints score a field goal. It's still a two-possession game at that point, and again, a close game for the Saints' standards. The Bills are forced to go for it on 4th and 23 from their own 14, don't get it, and the Saints tack on a garbage touchdown.
If the Dolphins are looking to keep this game close, they're better off looking at the Bills or maybe Jets game than they are at the Lions, Eagles or Giants games.
Take it easy Porter...Don't be flapping your jaw like Calvin Pace from the Jets.
It's funny how you clowns don't even give the Fins a chance. That's just how we like it. Come in here with that overinflated ego. You may be going back to N.O. with your tail between your legs.
I'm not saying that the Fins are going to definitely win, but I do think that they have a shot if they can run the ball and not turn it over.
The most talented team doesn't always win.
As if Brees needs any more motivation to beat Miami, he is already miffed about Saban passing on him 2 years ago.
That being said, the Fins can win. But not only do they have to play their ball control, physical style offense, keeping Brees on the bench for long stretches; our young secondary (Smith and Davis) need to have the best games of their young careers.
Patrian says:
October 22, 2009 12:40 PM
Raider have a better chance of upsetting the Saints. Take away the passing game and the saints are below average...
Watch a Saints game or look up some stats before making a comment based off of what you saw in the past. Saint's are #4 in rushing. Just 20 yards less a game than the Dolphins. Won 2 out of 3 games without Brees throwing a touchdown.
Love the way Joey plays but hes got to learn to at least get his facts right if hes gonna quote some game tape
Porter needs to actually do something this year before he starts talking smack. The Saints don't strike me as a team on their "high horse". This guy is just a complete idiot.
Patrian says: Take away the passing game and the saints are below average...
Um, you do realize that the Saints have the 4th best rushing offense with nearly 160 yards per game and a league leading 9 TD's on the ground, right? BAL and JAX also have 9 TD's, but they have played six games to the Saints five. Since when is 4th in yards and 1st in TD's considered below average?
I am fairly certain Payton was looking for something...anything...to help motivate the Saints after the win against the Giants and before next week's showdown with the Falcons.
Joey Porter provided just the edge Payton needed. You can bet your ass that quote is framed and sitting next to every locker in the Saints locker room.
"You can bet your ass that quote is framed and sitting next to every locker in the Saints locker room."
yup. and there's two copies next to Reggie's locker.
Is this the same thing Porter had in mind at the blackjack table in Vegas?
LISTENING TO PORTER....
Kinda sounds like the other article on here...how blurry the line is between the NFL and WWF...
Porter is a Jackass....
Prediction
Saints 48
Dolphins 24
no chance, saints are best team in football all day...and thats tough to mouth with my beloved purple being 6-0......brees is best in football right now.....and he will embarass porter and rest of the Phins.....aw shuks, cant wait
Matt's right (about Porter and Anthony Smith). Joey wasn't disrespectful. He just talked about what it will take to beat an undefeated team. (And that Buffalo game was close until the 4th, just as he said. You're having an off day, Mike.) If the Saints need this for the bulletin board, they're not as good as they look.
Yeah, sometimes Joey talks too much, but I'd rather have his passion than players who roll over (a la the Titans v. the Pats). He's not wearing the black & gold anymore (did you miss that, Hap?) but I still love him.
As for Dolphins v. Saints: Any given Sunday.
Deb has a point. Porter *does* talk a lot, but he rarely flat-out disrespects a team like that.
his comments last year were that the patriots weren't as good without tom brady. fact. he said they would throw everything but the kitchen sink at the patriots. fact.
so he makes comments about how important it is to put pressure on brees? well that is more common sense than anything. as far as the "high horse" talk, i think that is more the press's doing than the Saints.
I will never slam the saints or talk mess. i like & respect them. It's not their fault that the press has such a hard-on for them. but GOOD for the saints, seriously. they deserve their chance to shine. i'm not going to poop on that.
good luck saints, but not this sunday. ;)
Joey, Joey, Joey....just play and let the people with the brains game plan. Why do you have to shoot your idiot mouth off every chance you get? The Saints are on a high horse? Really? Are they strutting around like peacocks? Are they talking trash like you? Not a SINGLE Saints player has ever opened their mouth in an arrogant way all season because they are a CLASS team from the back-ups all the way to the coach. Call them finesse...they smash you in the face. Say they can only pass, they kill you with the run. Talk about their defense being "adequate" and they let their defense dismantle you like C3P0 in Star Wars. Indy beat the Fins possessing the ball for 15 minutes. Drew Breees needs even less time. Swallow this. The Saints average 38 points per game. The fins average 20. And as for ball control? The Saints can play that game too...their 4th in the league rushing. DO THE MATH JOEY. Better yet, SHUT THE "F" UP and DO ANYTHING ON THE FIELD YOU WASTE...Thanks for the bulletin board material moron.
vtopa says:
October 22, 2009 6:03 PM
Joey, Joey, Joey....just play and let the people with the brains game plan. Why do you have to shoot your idiot mouth off every chance you get? The Saints are on a high horse? Really? Are they strutting around like peacocks? Are they talking trash like you? Not a SINGLE Saints player has ever opened their mouth in an arrogant way all season because they are a CLASS team from the back-ups all the way to the coach. Call them finesse...they smash you in the face. Say they can only pass, they kill you with the run. Talk about their defense being "adequate" and they let their defense dismantle you like C3P0 in Star Wars. Indy beat the Fins possessing the ball for 15 minutes. Drew Breees needs even less time. Swallow this. The Saints average 38 points per game. The fins average 20. And as for ball control? The Saints can play that game too...their 4th in the league rushing. DO THE MATH JOEY. Better yet, SHUT THE "F" UP and DO ANYTHING ON THE FIELD YOU WASTE...Thanks for the bulletin board material moron.
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Little worked-up there, eh pal? What are you expecting Porter to say in the situation where the media comes up to him and asks about the game?
Reporter: "Joey, tell me - what are you guys doing to prepare to play the Saints? Are you guys doing anything different this week?"
Porter: "Well, there's a good chance we're gonna get our asses kicked Sunday. So, we, as a team, got some iced mochas with whipped cream yesterday at Starbucks and chatted about this. Based on that discussion, we've collectively accepted the fact that we're going to be going home with some bruised-up asses after the game, ya know - from the massive ass kicking that we'll be receiving. So, yeah, we're like, ready and stuff, ya know?"
The "high horse" comment doesn't necessarily mean arrogance on the part of the Saints, as you've spun it. They're undefeated, and there's probably some confidence and excitement building within the team. Porter's conveying that he hopes he can put a halt to that. Chill out.