The loss dropped Miami to 0-3. How hard is it for a 0-3 team to reach the postseason? It hasn't been done since 1998. In fact, since the NFL expanded to a team 12-team playoff format, just three teams (1992 Chargers, '95 Lions, '98 Bills) have reached the playoffs after starting the season with three losses. None of the three made any noise in the postseason, with only the Chargers winning a game.

Do you still like the Miami Dolphins' chances this season?
Get all your NFL futures at Bodog.

Miami's situation was worsened by the news that starting QB Chad Pennington, last year's NFL MVP runner-up, suffered what turned out to be a season-ending injury in Sunday's loss. Reportedly Pennington has torn the capsule in his right shoulder but will see noted specialist Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion before the team makes any news official.

I am here to tell you that losing Pennington, the most accurate passer in NFL history, might make Miami better as soon Sunday's game with the Bills – the Dolphins are +2 ½ on Bodog's football betting odds. You see, while Pennington was very accurate, he never threw downfield. That shouldn't be a problem for new starter Chad Henne, who was 10-for-19 for 92 yards in relief of Pennington against San Diego.

Henne, a 2008 second-round pick out of Michigan, has a much stronger arm than Pennington but obviously isn't as accurate. Thus Dolphins backers on Bodog will have to live with the good and the bad: More deep throws and the chance for big plays, possibly helping open the field for the running game, but also potentially more mistakes — like the interception of a Henne pass returned by the Chargers' Eric Weddle for a 31-yard touchdown on Sunday. Coach Tony Sparano says the offense won't be limited by Henne's presence, and he led the team to 10 points on Sunday in limited action.

The 2009 season is over for the Dolphins from a playoff standpoint, but getting the franchise's future starting QB in there now might benefit this team this year and in the long run.

Get all your NFL football betting at Bodog.
Don't have a Bodog account? Join now!

Chad Pennington was a revelation, coming off the Jets scrap heap to become the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 3,500 yards (3,653) and have seven or fewer interceptions. His completion percentage of 67.4 led the NFL and set a single-season record by a Dolphin, surpassing Dan Marino's 64.2 mark in 1984. He was named Comeback Player of the Year and finished second in NFL MVP voting. Despite this, there are whispers that second-year player Chad Henne might take over at QB this year if the team struggles at all. After all, Henne is considered the future at quarterback for Miami, while Pennington is only signed through this season and doesn't have many years left.

Do you like the Dolphins as this year's Super Bowl contenders?
Then bet on them.
Get your Super Bowl XLIV odds at Bodog.com Sportsbook!

Also watch for rookie Pat White to get a decent amount of playing time this year in the Wildcat package. Who could run that better than White, one of the best dual-threat QBs in NCAA history at West Virginia? However, this team still lacks enough playmakers at wide receiver.

The defense welcomes back Jason Taylor after his unsuccessful stay in Washington. He and Joey Porter should create major problems for the opposing QBs if both can stay healthy. Miami also tried to improve a mediocre pass defense from last season by focusing on the secondary first in the NFL draft.

Did Miami overachieve in 2008? I think yes, and that a step back is coming.

Here is the Dolphins' 2009 schedule, and we'll break it down after:
Sept. 13 at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m.
Sept. 21 vs. Indianapolis Colts, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 27 at San Diego Chargers, 4:15 p.m.
Oct. 4 vs. Buffalo Bills, 4:05 p.m.
Oct. 12 vs. New York Jets, 8:30 p.m.
Week 6: Bye
Oct. 25 vs. New Orleans Saints, 4:15 p.m.
Nov. 1 at New York Jets, 1 p.m.
Nov. 8 at New England Patriots, 1 p.m.
Nov. 15 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m.
Nov. 19 at Carolina Panthers, 8:20 p.m.
Nov. 29 at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m.
Dec. 6 vs. New England Patriots, 8:20 p.m.
Dec. 13 at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m.
Dec. 20 at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.
Dec. 27 vs. Houston Texans, 1 p.m.
Jan. 3 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m.

Strength of schedule: 1st (opponents combined to go 152-104, .594, in 2008)
Projected record: 7-9
Bodog over/under total: 7
Bodog odds to win AFC East: 33/4
Bodog odds to win AFC: 20/1
Bodog odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: 40/1

Get your NFL futures at Bodog.com Sportsbook!

Here's why Miami won 11 games last year: It had one of the easiest schedules in facing the AFC West and NFC West, divisions that produced a combined .352 winning percentage and one winning record. This year it's about polar opposite, with Miami facing the tougher NFC and AFC South divisions, which combined had just one team under .500 last season (Jacksonville).

The Fins do return to prime-time action this season with four games scheduled. Last year was the first in 39 years that the franchise didn't have any national prime-time games. That opening three-game stretch is pretty rough, with all three clubs legitimate Super Bowl teams. Plus Miami will have to face San Diego off a short week thanks to a Monday night game against Indy (it's Miami's first home opener on a Monday night since 1975).  It's never easy to win on a short week while also having to travel across country. San Diego has lost seven in a row to Miami, but that streak ends this year. I see a 0-3 start for the Dolphins.

Miami was an excellent 6-2 on the road last year. That success will be put to the test starting after the Oct. 25 game against the Saints this year, with six of the next eight on the road. Miami's final seven games are against teams that could be called playoff contenders (Miami has never beaten Houston, by the way), culminating in the season finale with the Super Bowl champs.

This team has better talent than it did in 2008, but the record won't show it. But look for the Dolphins to be a possible big-time contender in 2010.

Betting early gives you the best odds.
Get all your NFL futures and Super Bowl odds at Bodog now.

Just about everything went right for Fins last season.

Miami finished is No. 1 in the NFL with a plus-17 turnover differential as it turned the ball over a record-tying 13 times, becoming only the seventh team in league history to average less than one turnover per game.

Meanwhile, quarterback Chad Pennington had the season of his career in his first year in South Florida. He set a Dolphins record by completing 67.4 percent of his passes (for a career-high 3,653 yards) with just seven interceptions in 476 attempts, finished second in the NFL MVP voting and was the NFL Comeback player of the Year. Pennington’s 97.4 quarterback rating was better than all but one of Dan Marino’s seasons in Miami.

Yet there are signs that last year was a bit of a fluke.

First off, Pennington was terrible against the Ravens in the wild-card round. He had four picks, which broke a Dolphin record and was more interceptions than Pennington had thrown in the final eight games of the regular season. In fairness, Pennington was facing a stellar Baltimore defense and was without injured receiver Greg Camarillo, but it brought back all those questions other teams have had about his lack of arm strength.

And if you look at Pennington’s career numbers with the Jets, he never really has put together back-to-back strong seasons. For example, in his best season in New York, Pennington threw for 3,120 yards and a TD/INT ratio of 22:6 in 2002. The following season his rating dropped 20 points with a TD/INT ratio of 13:12, albeit in five fewer games. That is a trend his career has seen, either because of ineffectiveness or injury.

In addition, Miami, which is 45/1 odds to win Super Bowl XLIV on Bodog, faces the NFL’s toughest schedule this season as calculated by its 2008 opponents’ records. The Dolphins have six games in the incredibly tough AFC East, plus matchups against 2008 playoff teams Atlanta, Indianapolis, San Diego, Carolina, Tennessee and Pittsburgh. The Fins probably will be a road dog in all eight away games and a home dog three times (vs. Indy, New England and Pittsburgh).

Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano did an incredible thing in South Florida last season, but the 2009 Dolphins look like a below-.500 club. Also look for Chad Henne to be the team’s new quarterback by midseason. He’s the future and Pennington is in the last year of his contract.

Get ready for football season. Get all your football futures at Bodog.com.

On Friday, after a single day of job searching, it was announced that Pennington had inked a two-year $11.5M deal with the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins who finished last season with a punchline-esque 1-15 record will welcome all the help they can get.

After eight years in New York, Pennington had established a reputation as a hard-working, intelligent quarterback, but his arm strength and ability was never the answer for the franchise that drafted him.

Now in Miami, expect the man to provide support and leadership for a young Dolphins squad as they hope to improve on last year's unfunny joke.

For all your NFL betting needs check out the Bodog Sportsbook.

According to a report from the Chicago Tribune, the Bears could be interested in acquiring Pennington to battle incumbents Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman for the starting gig.

Many forget that Pennington has tremendous pedigree. A former 1st round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, Pennington's 65.6 career completion percentage ranks 1st among all NFL quarterbacks with at least 1,500 pass attempts. In 2006, he was also named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year.

How will the Jets react to all the latest ongoings? If you think you know, head on over to the Bodog Sportsbook for NFL football player props on the likes of Favre, Jericho Cotchery, Aaron Rodgers, and more!