As we approach Miami’s Week 10 bye week, the Dolphins sit at a very interesting spot among the NFL landscape. Most would consider a team with a record of 6-3 “contender-worthy”, but some prefer to get more technical when examining how to classify the Dolphins up to this point. Through nine weeks, The Miami Dolphins have a 6-0 record against opponents .500 or below, and an 0-3 record against teams above .500. Does this mean the Miami Dolphins are, indeed, “frauds”? Probably not, and here’s why:
According to the NFL’s Media Research Department, the Dolphins entered the 2023 season with the second-hardest strength of schedule (behind only Philadelphia). Miami’s week one victory over the Los Angeles Chargers – who, while they have been disappointing this year, are coming off a playoff berth just last season – is being brushed off as an insignificant game. Ever since Justin Herbert’s rookie season, the Chargers have been crowned “next up” in the AFC contender pool by NFL media and sports analysts everywhere (excluding Emmanuel Acho). Beyond that, the Chargers were one of the few teams that was able to stop Miami’s high-powered offensive attack last season. However, when the Dolphins take them down in a shootout, it’s not considered a quality win. Makes sense. What about the New England Patriots? According to certain media talking heads (looking at you, Chris Simms) and a fair number of fans on social media, Mac Jones was supposedly the superior quarterback to Tua Tagovailoa. This is the same team that sports personality Stephen A. Smith declared would finish above the Dolphins in the AFC East standings; a team that boasts possibly the greatest coach in NFL history. The Dolphins have since swept the season series against their divisional rival.
While the wheels have seemingly fallen off for the New York Giants, they were a playoff team last year. The Dolphins beat them, too. Just because some of the teams Miami has played haven’t lived up to their own expectations, it should not be contorted in a way that discredits the Dolphins for beating them. That’s lunacy.
All that said, Dolphins fans are not blind to some of the concerns surrounding their team. The team’s three losses this season have come against the Buffalo Bills (5-4), Philadelphia Eagles (8-1), and Kansas City Chiefs (7-2). It can be argued that the Dolphins seem to struggle against the top tier of teams, teams that they may have to face on their path to a possible Super Bowl. While this is a cause for concern, it is not the kind of thing to overreact to. Good teams adapt. And now having three of those games under their belt, you can bet that the Dolphins will know what they need to improve upon if a rematch were to come around.
The NFL regular season consists of 18 weeks and 17 games. Compared to other sports, like the NBA for example who play an 82-game regular season, single losses are not as impactful against your record. In the NFL, however, it is important to get every win you can. While some may view Miami’s six wins as “unimpressive”, the Dolphins are taking care of business. Good football teams beat bad football teams, they don’t play with their food. The Buffalo Bills, who are considered Super Bowl contenders and a “good team,” have lost to teams such as the 2-7 New England Patriots and the 4-4 New York Jets; what makes them any more of a contender than Miami? Adding another loss Sunday night to the resurgent Cincinnati Bengals means the Bills have losses against both good and bad teams. It truly is quite funny how the goalposts move when fans and the media scramble for ways to discredit the way Miami has performed this season.
You play the teams that are on your schedule, have to take care of the teams you are supposed to beat, and compete with those that stand in your way of the ultimate goal of the Lombardi Trophy. While the Dolphins have teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, and Buffalo Bills still remaining on their schedule, they also still have five games against teams below .500 that they need to take care of. Remember, it doesn’t matter who you beat to get to the end, as long as you get there. It’ll be interesting to watch as the Dolphins continue to get healthier and adapt to their coaching schemes – especially defensively –how they will fare against the remaining contending teams on their schedule. It is important that a team trying to win a Super Bowl gets experience beating some of the better teams in the league. With eight games remaining, it will be fun to watch as the Dolphins push for their first playoff win in 24 years. Until then, why not just enjoy the process?
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