Coach Killers, Week 7: The Miami Dolphins Need a 2007 Do-Over

Every week, NFL FanHouse hits the lowlights from Sunday's action, looking at those players who did the most to move their head coaches that much closer to returning to the Bed and Breakfast business.

Miami Dolphins
That's right, for the first time in Coach Killers' short history, an entire organization earns the top spot. And they definitely earned it.

I understand the Dolphins are rebuilding, even though it's mid-season, but did everybody forget that they had a game Sunday? Want an example of how quickly things got out of hand against the Patriots? Here are Tom Brady's first half stats: 16 of 19 for 291 yards and FIVE TOUCHDOWNS. He finished with six for the day, and 27 for the year. There's a real chance he gets 100 by Christmas.

The Dolphins are now 0-7, and they truly have nothing to play for this season. Everything is about 2008 and beyond. Knowing that, it was encouraging to see Derek Hagan and Ted Ginn combine to haul in seven passes for 93 yards, and Ronnie Brown looked good until ... he left the game with an injury. Yeah, God has smited the 2007 Dolphins.

Silver lining: Joey Porter got his first sack of the season!

Jeff Garcia, Buccaneers
It's kinda unfair to put Tampa Bay's loss squarely on Garcia -- he still hasn't thrown an interception this season, and he was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league coming into Week 7. But Garcia had two huge fumbles: one midway through first quarter that led to a Lions touchdown and 10-point Bucs deficit; the other, during the first drive of the fourth quarter, that also led to seven Detroit points and widened the difference to two-touchdowns.

Who knows if Garcia was haunted by playing in the town where he once ran for his life as the Lions quarterback, or if Roy Williams got into his head with his comments from earlier in the week. Whatever the excuse, Garcia struggled for the first time this season, and now the Bucs are a half-game back in the division behind the Vinny Testaverde-led Panthers.

In less depressing news, the newest Buc, Michael Bennett, ran the ball three times for 22 yards, and Ernest Graham went 19 for 92.

Brian Billick, Ravens
You could argue that just about everybody on the rosters warranted this distinction, but Billick runs the show, so the buck stops with him (two clichés in nine words -- that's a new personal record!).

Quarterback Steve McBoller McNair is still nursing a sore groin, and in his absence, Kyle Boller assumed the starting duties. Boller has been consistently mediocre this season, but that's more than you can say for either McNair or Billick. For a perfect example of Billick clearly being out of touch with the whole play-calling concept, consider the Ravens' last series of the game:

2-1-BUF 49 (1:59) (Shotgun) 7-K.Boller pass incomplete deep right to 87-D.Williams. Thrown behind receiver at BUF 30.

3-1-BUF 49 (1:52) (Shotgun) 7-K.Boller pass incomplete short left to 89-M.Clayton (98-L.Tripplett). Pass tipped at line.

4-1-BUF 49 (1:49) (Shotgun) 7-K.Boller pass incomplete short right to 32-M.Smith. Overthrown, receiver in flat at BUF 47. Pressure on QB: A.Schobel.

And in case you missed it, Willis McGahee was available, healthy, and had already rushed for 114 yards on 19 carries. Apparently, Boller trumps all of that.

Honorable mention: return dude Yamon Figurs, who had already muffed two punts, called for a fair catch on the Bills final punt of the game ... with no time left on the clock. Predictably, he muffed it.

Chad Pennington, Jets
New York led Cincinnati 23-10 at the half, and I was all set to award the Bengals' defense the Coach Killer honor. And then the Jets happened. Before the last few minutes of the game, the Jets defense had been Coach Killer-ific, and then Chad Pennington happened.

Head coach Eric Mangini was set to pull Pennington if he got off to a slow start, and all the former first-round pick did was come out and throw a 52-yard bomb to Laveranues Coles. He would finish the day 20 of 31 for 272 yards, three touchdowns and one very costly interception.

But before the pick -- which extended Cincy's lead to 15 points with 1:44 to go -- Pennington lost a fumble early in the fourth quarter, and seven plays later, the Bengals stretched their lead to eight points.

Looking for a bright spot? If you took the Jets and the points, thanks to Pennington's last-second touchdown toss to Jerricho Cotchery (by way of Brad Smith), and the ensuing two-point conversion ... you still didn't cover the six-point spread. That, folks, is why Pennington is a Coach Killer.

Marc Bulger, Rams
You know, it doesn't really matter who quarterbacks the Rams. Last week, Gus Frerotte's mug showed up in this space, and next week, don't be surprised to see head coach Scott Linehan (assuming he still has a job).

Bulger, who took a forced leave of absence in Weeks 5 and 6 to heal up for the stretch run, played like he never left. He finished the day 21 of 40 for 225 yards, with no touchdowns and three picks. The Seahawks defense threw in seven sacks for good measure.

The Rams are now 0-7, and at this point in the proceedings we can hope for two things: first, that Bulger doesn't get killed in the pocket; and second, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will tweak the schedule so that the Rams and Dolphins can play in the Loser Bowl. Two teams shouldn't go through the season without a victory. Trust me, Rog, it's the right thing to do.