Odd Matchup On Thursday Night

The Miami Dolphins are 1-2, not an uncommon state of affairs. The Cincinnati Bengals are 1-2, their poorest mark in five years.
The Bengals have made the playoffs the last five seasons; the Dolphins haven’t been to the postseason since 2008.

Miami has a new coach in Adam Gase, the Bengals an old hand in Marvin Lewis, who’s in his 14th season in Cincinnati.

Much was expected of the Bengals, who have won 10 or more games the last four seasons and then flopped in the playoffs. Nothing was expected of the Dolphins, who last won in double digits in 2008 and have had nine head coaches (two interim) in that stretch.

So which coach is mad at his team? Gase, coming off that first victory, a 30-24 stinker in overtime at home against the Cleveland Browns.

Gase went so far as to pull starting right tackle Ju’Wan Williams from that game and he’s threatening to do more of the same. Here is a guy who isn’t happy to finally win.

“We’re either going to start getting the job done, or we’re going to make changes,” Gase said, hinting that this message had been given to the players more than once.

At least Gase has some fire. The last coach, Joe Philbin, lacked charisma and any sense of energy. One firestorm after another broke out in his locker room. Gase seems to have the right approach, if not enough talent on his roster.

Thursday night games are always a challenge for the road team, and that’s the Dolphins. But sometimes, a little adversity is exactly what’s needed for a 1-2 team aggravating its new coach with its subpar effort.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman