NFL Betting: Dolphins Might Be Better with Henne

The Dolphins' offense may be without QB Chad Pennington, so that means guys like Ronnie Brown are going to have to come up big. (AP Images)"]

Sunday's loss to the San Diego Chargers was a double-whammy for the Miami Dolphins, and it virtually assured that this team won't be returning to the playoffs after shockingly winning the AFC East last year.

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.

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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.

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