Tag Archive for: Miami Dolphins

5 things to watch the Miami Dolphins Preseason Game 2

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After finishing their first preseason game with a sloppy victory over the Atlanta Falcons (20-13), the Miami Dolphins are still making adjustments to their roster while suffering injuries during that game and in practice, and having notable players – like Jaelan Phillips – return from injury. Positional battles still remain, and star players who didn’t play a week ago, could be in play for a number of reps against the Washington Commanders this Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.

 

Here are 5 things fan should look forward to seeing in Preseason Game 2:



1. Is it Tua Time?

Starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa didn’t play in the first game, but there is a good chance he may show his face in the second game. Based on his history with Mike McDaniel, Tagovailoa has played in the second preseason game each of the last two years. And after signing a significant extension to become one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league and the face of the Miami Dolphins franchise, fans will be eager to see their quarterback step on the field.

 

Tagovailoa has lost weight by cutting out sugar from his diet in the hopes that this will make him more mobile to extend plays, avoid sacks, and scramble for positive yardage. Saturday will be Dolphins final home game of the preseason, and their last chance to show off their franchise quarterback to the home crowd before the regular season begins.

 

 

  1. Battle of the Backups – QB’s

 

Neither Mike White nor Skylar Thompson have looked particularly impressive throughout camp, and that showed in the Fins preseason opener last Friday.

 

Reports are that the two passers who are battling for the number two quarterback spot are “neck and neck” in the competition. Each of them have had their moments in camp, but not enough to flash or demonstrate any consistency. Thompson appears that he has grown since last year’s camp, while White is still seen as the wise veteran, but hasn’t established any dominant footing to claim the job.

 

Last Friday, Thompson through a bad interception while under pressure, but rebounded and ended the half strongly by engineering some scoring drives and a touchdown pass. White nearly had a bad interception himself, and could only muster one drive for a field goal.

 

Thompson started in the opener; lets see if McDaniel puts White in ahead of Thompson in this one.

 

 

  1. Who will emerge as team’s 3rd receiver?

 

This is one of the closest battles in camp. If I had to pick who the Dolphins 3rd best wide receiver in camp—I’d probably pick River Cracraft. He’s experienced, been on the team since McDaniel took over, good run blocker and route runner, comes through when his name is called upon…

 

But there are too many other receivers in the mix. Braxton Berrios described the competition as “neck and neck”.

 

Odell Beckham Jr. is still on the PUP and McDaniel says he’s not even day to day, he’s “week to week”. So don’t expect OBJ to be suited up for Saturday. But if he’s healthy, most expect he would be the Number  3.

 

Berrios is a scrappy player that the Dolphins like, but it seems they are looking for something more.

 

Malik Washington is a rookie, coming along, versatile, having his moments in practice, but not flashing enough to overtake either Cracraft or Berrios.

 

Erik Ezukanma  who was struggling to learn the playbook his rookie year in 2022, then suffered a neck injury in 2023,  returned to practice this week. He’s an intriguing prospect, but Dolphins need to see if he can put it all together.

 

Willie Snead is a name, but not one that inspires hope due to his last few years of limited production in the league. He’s had a lot of drops since coming to Miami.

 

Other players in the mix are Braylon Sanders, Anthony Schwartz, Je’Quan Burton, Kyric McGowan, and Mike Harley Jr.

 

  1. What will the offensive line look like?

 

With so many injuries lately to the offensive line, one wonders what it will look like on Saturday.

We know who the projected starters are for 2024: Terron Armstead, Isaiah Wynn, Aaron Brewer, Robert Jones, and Austin Jackson.

But the Dolphins would be hesitant to play Terron Armstead given his injury history, the fact that retirement is coming down the road, and that he is the staple left tackle until rookie Patrick Paul succeeds him.

 

Isaiah Wynn is still on the PUP, Aaron Brewer has a hand issue and could miss Week 1, and Kion Smith went on IR after tearing his ACL in last Friday’s matchup against the Falcons. The Dolphins pretty much know what they have in Austin Jackson and Robert Jones. So the Dolphins may avoid Jackson and Jones in order to avoid risking injury that seems to be befalling the line, as it always does. The Fins may add Liam Eichenberg to that list, seeing as they like his versatility, and Fins played him as backup center to Brewer following Brewer’s injury.

 

This leaves 2nd-round rookie Patrick Paul to suit up and provide another strong showing at Hard Rock stadium. Other notable linemen to watch and evaluate for depth are Lester Cotton, Jack Driscoll, Ryan Hayes, Kendall Lamm, and Sean Harlow amongst others.

 

 

  1. The Dolphins Backfield

 

The run game was the most effective offensive weapon for the Dolphins last week. The Dolphins racked up 144 yards on the ground compared to the Falcons 81. The Dolphins backfield is in line for more work on Saturday versus the Commanders.

Rookie 4th round selection Jaylen Wright put on a show versus the Falcons and demonstrated burst, power, and speed. After bobbling a pass, he took a broken play in the backfield, scrambled to the opposite side, and took off for a first down. In total, he had 10 carries for 55 yards, and a touchdown. Brooks had 12 carries for 40 yards, and Wilson didn’t do much on the ground but was tied for the receiver with the most catches that day with 3, one of them being a touchdown.

I doubt fans will see Raheem Mostert due to his age and him being the leader of this backfield or De’Von Achane. But Saturday will provide more glimpses of what Wright’s talent, and the depth the Dolphins have in their backfield.  

Miami Dolphins Training Camp Week in Review (Week 3)

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August 5, 2024
A light practice begins with Quinton Bell in orange.  Bell has had a very good camp so far, and is well positioned to get a snap count going forward on the edge.  Jaylen Waddle and Jalen Ramsey are here, but are not participants today.  Jordyn Brooks, and Anthony Walker Jr. are also dealing with “something”, and are not practicing as well.  Tua Tagovailoa misfires on a deep ball to Tyreek Hill with Ethan Bonner in coverage.  Tua then hits Tyreek with a dime over Storm Duck and Jevon Holland.  That was pretty much it for the 11v11 highlights.
Later on in practice, a fascinating situation came up, where Quinton Bell was isolated in the flat with Alec Ingold, and Ingold turned his flat route up, created separation and caught a pass from Tua for a big gainer.  The situation (I can’t reveal the coverage) showed some of the rules the defense will operate under based on the coverage /which hash the play was run from, and I can tell you, that the execution was good, but the result was not.  Bell was clearly fooled by the Ingold improvisation, or the play design.  David Long Jr. had a PBU on the goal line on a Tua to Malik Washington zone beater.  His activity against the run was noticeable, and his play in the short zone area was very good.  He gets the nod on this day.  The Atlanta Falcons come into town for Tuesday and Wednesday joint practices.
3YPC Player of the Practice:  David Long Jr.
August 6, 2024 (Atlanta Falcons Joint Practice)
Duke Riley shows up in the orange, and it is well deserved.  I had given the practice MVP to David Long Jr., but it makes perfect sense that a team that excelled in short zone coverage, would have one of it’s LB’s get the nod.  Jaylen Waddle, Jordyn Brooks, and Anthony Walker among those not practicing.  The joint practice moves on to 1v1’s and the turkey shoot begins, and I zone out a bit, as I find them to be pretty useless.  So I move on to 1v1’s that are a bit more interesting.  OL v. DL.  I saw three reps from Patrick Paul that were very good, including one rep where he rode Lorenzo Carter completely out of the play.  The rookie is beginning to stack good practices.
That Paul is coming on a bit, is a good development since this day saw poor play from Kendall Lamm, Kion Smith, and Ryan Hayes.  All on the left side.  As 11v11 begins, a brawl starts after Ethan Bonner and Drake London get entangled.  Several players move toward the scrum, look like they are going to do something, but nothing happens.  We move on.  The Dolphins defense dominates to start and at one point, the Falcons offense led by Kirk Cousins gains 8 yards on 8 snaps (Michael Penix was not very good early on, but finished up strong in the redzone).  Tua Tagovailoa’s offense gained 68 on their 8 snaps.  The play of the day came when Tua on play action, finds Tyreek Hill on a 49 yard deep ball TD, that beat Falcons corner Mike Hughes.  Hughes later picked off Tua with a fiving interception, as Tua tried to hit Cracraft on a glance route when the Falcons sent a blitz.  Great idea, poor execution.  Intercepted.  The Dolphins OL had problems picking up blitzes, but you can chalk up the win on this day for the Miami Dolphins overall.  River Cracraft converted three third downs, scored a TD, and was open on the glance route that got intercepted (poor pass) so he could have had a monster day.  The defense was very good, but the wealth was spread out.  Tyreek Hill cannot be covered, but we expect that.  Cracraft continued his good camp, and earns my “player of the practice.”  Both offenses drove for FG’s on their situational to end practice.  Both started at their own 35 yard line, and the Dolphins kicked a 50 yarder, as the Falcons kicked a 47 yarder.
3YPC Player of the Practice: River Cracraft
August 7, 2024 (Atlanta Falcons Joint Practice)
This was as uneventful a joint practice as you can have since it was stopped several times for skirmishes/pushing matches that stopped play for several minutes at a time. Then, a serious injury for Atlanta Falcons WR Rondale Moore cut practice short.  The Miami Dolphins in the end did not get any benefit of a simulated portion of practice, which is what they run in the last half hour.  The Falcons however did get one simulated drive that started at their own 40, and ended at the Dolphins 19 yard line with a fumbled shotgun snap by Kirk Cousins that Edge rusher Chop Robinson recovered.
As for he play otherwise, TE Kyle Pitts made some plays against Dolphin safeties Marcus Maye and Elijah Campbell.  Skylar Thompson had some success running the goal line portion of practice, and Mike White found success throwing it deep, along with one absolute dime to Malik Washington.  Tua Tagovailoa and his 1st team offense did not find too much success, and neither did Kirk Cousins or Michael Penix for that matter.  Miami’s offense with Tua in, had a nearly 5 to 1 Run/Pass ratio, and the emphasis seemed to be on squaring away the run game install for this practice.  The issues with the pass protection continued, but were mitigated by crafty pocket work by Tua Tagovailoa as he found open receivers by maneuvering in the pocket.  Aaron Brewer left the field with an apparent right hand injury.  Not ideal.  Also not ideal is that Liam Eichenberg is now pressed into duty at two positions, center and guard.  Later on, we learned through Jordan Poyer’s wife Rachel Bush that Poyer’s absence as of late is due to a thumb injury and it is not believed to be serious.  Odell Beckham seems closer to a return as he has ramped up work as of late.  Malik Washington gets the nod today due to his execution of the playbook, and the splash plays that seem to be a regular occurrence lately.
Friday’s game will be one of the most interesting 1st preseason games to watch in recent memory.  Rookie’s Malik Washington, Patrick Paul, Chop Robinson, Mo Kamara, and Jaylen Wright all figure to play prominent roles, and get plenty of playing time.
3YPC Player of the Practice: Malik Washington
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Tyreek Hill stands with head coach Mike McDaniel during practice

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel wants to ‘do right’ by Tyreek Hill

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2024 is the year of the Wide Receiver for the NFL. All around the league, teams are rewarding their quarterback’s best friends with massive contracts that blow the numbers of years past away. The Minnesota Vikings gave their star WR Justin Jefferson a 4-year, $140 million dollar extension that makes him the highest annually paid WR in the league.

Amon-Ra St. Brown signed a 4-year, $120 million dollar deal with the Detroit Lions, A.J. Brown signed a 3-year, $96 million dollar extension to stay with the Philadelphia Eagles. And of course, right in South Florida, the Miami Dolphins rewarded their homegrown talent Jaylen Waddle with a 3-year, $84.75 million dollar extension which begins in 2025 after Waddle’s 5th-year option plays out.

But even with all these contracts, there are still more players seeking their massive paydays, and they’re all watching these negotiations play out with keen interest. Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb is going to be looking at Jefferson’s detail as the basis for his new contract, as is Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase.

And now, during an interview with WSVN Sports Anchor Josh Moser, renowned sports agent Drew Rosenhaus revealed that his client Tyreek Hill is looking at all of these new contracts and using them as a means to express his desire for more money as well.

Miami Dolphins fans will recall a back in 2019, when cornerback Xavien Howard originally signed a 5-year, $76.5 million dollar contract, which at the time made him the highest paid cornerback in the league. Then, as the market usually does, prices went up as other players signed their deals based on Howard’s deal in 2020.

Then in July 2021, Howard requested a trade from the team because he felt underpaid in spite of the fact he had just signed a brand new deal that was higher than anyone else at the time of signing. Ultimately, Miami decided to give in to Howard’s demands and gave him a reworked contract that made him the highest paid cornerback in the league, again. Fast forward three seasons later, and the 30-year old Howard is a free agent looking for a new team, and the Dolphins have an additional $18.5 million in cap space.

Giving Howard a new deal instead of trading him in his prime had pros and cons for Miami. However, in the case of Tyreek Hill, the Dolphins would benefit from keeping him on the roster for as long as they can afford him. Mike McDaniel’s offense is heavily-based on utilizing Hill’s speed and agility in ways that defenses struggle to adapt to.

One can make the argument that Tyreek Hill isn’t necessarily the best overall WR in the league, but it’s hard to think of someone who’s a deadlier weapon. On the boundary, Hill beats any one-on-one coverage going deep. In the slot, Hill finds openings that wouldn’t be there for any slower receivers, making Tua Tagovailoa’s job much easier.

There are some different factors to consider this time around. Unlike Howard, Hill isn’t going public with any sort of displeasure about his current deal. During an interview with the media at the start of mini-camp, Hill expressed that in spite of wanting a reworked deal, he isn’t looking to cause a controversy over it, and being greedy won’t help the team.

“I’m gonna let my agent do his job. That’s his job … We’re gonna make sure it benefits both sides, I wanna be able to help the team as much as I can, and that’s as much as I can say about it.”

This season, Tyreek Hill counts for a little over 12% of the team’s salary cap, with a cap hit of over $30 million. In 2025, financially speaking, the Dolphins would benefit from releasing Hill in the same way they did Xavien Howard. Designating him a post-June 1st cut would save Miami nearly $23 million, while only costing $11 million in dead cap space.

Once again, there are things Tyreek Hill can do that no other receivers in the league can. Not only that, he and Tua Tagovailoa have established a rapport that is difficult to replicate even in today’s pass-centric NFL. Since coming to Miami, Tyreek Hill has had two consecutive career years, and a lot of that has to do with Mike McDaniel’s offense.

“Tyreek Hill has been unbelievably valuable to my coaching career, this franchise, we set out to do some ambitious things from the onset.” McDaniel said on Tuesday. “On top of the fact he wanted to take his game to another level but also be a leader, he’s tremendously important, we’ve always prioritized him that way. For him and I, we stay in our lane with our relationship, and the organization will always do right by players.”

There is a lot to consider with the Tyreek Hill situation. He’s entering the 2024 season having just turned 30, he has lingering off-the-field concerns due to his past mistakes, and the Miami Dolphins will be looking to find money to use in the coming seasons with Tua Tagovailoa’s impending extension, as well as those of Jaelen Phillips and Jevon Holland.

But there can be no question how heavily Miami’s offense leans on Tyreek Hill for its explosive capability. On the day he does lose a step, he’ll still be one of the faster wide receivers in the league, which speaks to how wide the gap is.

Hill has already stated that he wants to retire in Miami. Clearly, Mike McDaniel would love to see that wish granted for both their sakes.

“He’s a big part of everything that we’re doing.” McDaniel said. “I think Tyreek wants that, he’s made that explicit. I think me, as a competitor, I want to make that happen. In terms of the Miami Dolphins embracing Tyreek Hill, I think that is an understatement. We look forward to continuing to grow in our relationship for sure.”

Luis Sung has been covering the Miami Dolphins for over nine years and is the host of Pulse of Fins Nation for the Five Reasons Sports Network. Follow him on Twitter @LuisDSung

Chris Grier isn't a perfect general manager, but he does not deserve to be fired.

Who will the Miami Dolphins pick in the first round?

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We asked some of our Miami Dolphins contributors at Five Reasons Sports to make their predictions for the first round of the NFL Draft, and more.

Catch our coverage on Five Reasons YouTube on Thursday starting at 7:45pm.

 

*****

From @LuisDSung

With the 21st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select Xavier Worthy, wide receiver, Texas.

This pick is made with the idea that the Miami Dolphins will, at some point, need to move on from Tyreek Hill. It may not happen within the next couple of years, but a succession plan is a good idea. In the meantime, Worthy is – pun intended – more than worthy to be the team’s 3rd wide receiver in a scheme that values speed and separation ability above all else.
With that said, Miami’s selection of a WR in round one means that it is absolutely imperative that the Dolphins select a guard in the second round, whether they make a trade in the process or not. If I had my choice, Christian Mahogany out of Boston College would be the selection for that slot.
*****
From @OLCoachSmith63
In the first round, the Dolphins take Laiatu Latu, edge, UCLA.
Miami’s roster today needs help getting to the QB. Latu is my #2 edge player and provides help now as well as a runway to move on from Chubb when Phillips gets his big deal. Coleman is my top receiver after the big 3 and was a no-brainer at pick 55. I used future picks to come back into the 3rd round for a versatile, aggressive safety in Bishop to pair with Holland and allow Poyer to be a situational player. After a long break in picks, Bortolini and Jackson are players who line up athletically with Chris Grier’s past picks and provide depth/competition to positions where it’s needed. I wrapped up the draft with a speed receiver in Tulu Griffin who could spell Hill/Waddle while maintaining the timing of the offense. He could also challenge Berrios for the return role.
*****
From @HussamPatel

Dolphins trade down with Arizona to get the #27 pick and receive pick #71 and #162

With the 27th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select Duke OL Graham Barton. Barton a versatile OL has played Tackle, Guard, and Center. GM Chris Grier stared he loves versatility and Barton can do just that. Barton projects as a Guard at the next levels and fills in a need. If called upon Barton can fill in as a Tackle and Center spots if Armstead/Brewer do get injured. Protecting Tua Tagovailoa is important considering how the OL was decimated by injuries at the end of the season which directly affected the offense later in the season.

*****
From @MikeHernandezDD

OT Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma:

I’ve seen some mock drafts listing the Miami Dolphins taking a passrusher at No. 21 overall, but I’m not buying it. 

The Fins need help on the edge with Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips both expected to miss the start of the season with their major injuries. However, Chubb is on a big-money contract with a major dead money cap hit that doesn’t come down for a couple years, so he’s expected to remain in Miami for the foreseeable future unless a trade happens. And based on general manager Chris Grier’s comments and enthusiasm regarding Phillips recently, the Dolphins are going to exercise the 5th-year option on their 2021 1st-round selection. 

And with Shaq Barrett signed, Cameron Goode returning, and perhaps the disappointing Channing Tindall getting a look at edge duties, Miami should have enough to create a degree of pressure on teams until Chubb and Phillips return to the lineup. 

With all that being said, I’m predicting that Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel select an offensive tackle in the first round. One that still has the ability to play on the left side before the dropoff happens and only right tackles remain. 

Enter Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton – 6’8, 322lbs, and 34 inch arms.

Guyton is young at 21 years old, but has coveted tools and athleticism that many project can get better with time and more experience. He is a good pass protector (Zero sacks allowed on 335 pass-block snaps in 2023), and can move in space as a lead blocker – two things that McDaniel would cherish in his offense. 

Current left tackle Terron Armstead is on the verge of retiring, and has never played a full season. Guard’s Robert Jones and Isaiah Wynn are penciled in as starters for now but are being paid spot-starter/backup money. Combine that with Grier’s April comments about Armstead and “having a two-year look into the future”. Is it possible the Dolphins could play Guyton at left guard (something Miami did with OT Laremy Tunsil during his rookie season in 2016), until he is ready to become Armstead’s eventual successor? Or at least have Guyton waiting in the wings in case of the likely Armstead injury? 

The Dolphins and star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa are looking to get a longterm contract done this offseason, but we all know Tua isn’t likely to keep up the statistical success if he doesn’t have adequate protection. Protecting your franchise quarterback should be the next item on the list after locking him up. Guyton could be the future solution. 

Mel Kiper links Guyton to the Cowboys in his Mock Draft, and if there is anything we know about the Cowboys, it’s that they know how to find offensive lineman. Ravens writers also have their eye on him. The Dolphins can snatch Guyton before the Cowboys or Ravens have a chance to grab him. 

If you are worried about Guyton being too raw or inexperienced, that’s a valid concern. But remember that Miami’s Austin Jackson was once drafted as a raw OT prospect in 2020, and he developed into a solid right tackle and signed a 3-year extension with the team. So there is hope in that area.

Here are some evaluations on Tyler Guyton:

“Ascending tackle prospect with the traits and tape to project a bright future as a high-level pass protector in the league. Guyton has battled injuries and had limited reps coming over from TCU after the 2021 season, but his flashes have been complemented by increasing consistency. He plays with a high center of gravity and needs to get stronger, but leveraged hand strikes can help overcome those concerns. He should continue to get better as a run blocker but might never shine in that department. Guyton’s value comes with his pass protection, as he has the length, feet and body control to become a human roadblock. He should become a talented starter at either tackle position.” – Lance Zierlein, NFL Analyst.

“Overall, Guyton is a higher-level athlete with the elite physical tools you look for, showing snapshots of dominance with his technique and easy, fluid movement in the run game and pass protection. Guyton glided out of his two-point stance in pass protection with an efficient and comfortable kick slide. He has the balance, body control and range to close down the edge, yet he also has the firm base to anchor and control the speed-to-power pass rush. Guyton is a strong prospect, but you must understand his lack of experience position will likely mean that he needs coaching and development before he can become a full-time starter. Given that Guyton has only one year of starting experience and given his size, length and movement, it would not surprise me if NFL teams saw him as a LT.” – Greg Cosell, the 33rd Team

 

 

State of the Fins: Where Miami Dolphins stand with just 3 games left.

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In the wake of Monday night’s devastating collapse against the Titans during prime time, the Miami Dolphins faced a critical crossroads heading into their next matchup against the Jets: succumb to a potential repeat of last year’s December meltdown by continuing to lose, or regroup, rebound, and return to the dominating Dolphins football seen throughout the season with a bounce back win.

 

In an impressive display of resilience, the Dolphins chose the latter path, securing a resounding 30-0 shutout victory at home against the Jets despite a significant absence of key players, including WR Tyreek Hill, CB Xavien Howard, S Jevon Holland, S Deshon Elliot, G Robert Hunt, C Connor Williams, T Isaiah Wynn, OLB Jaelan Phillips, and LB Jerome Baker.

 

Describing this performance as merely resilient would be an understatement. It was a testament to the team’s fortitude amidst a blend of crucial injuries, numerous prevailing narratives circulating throughout the NFL media, and the broader context of rebounding from their most disheartening loss of the season thus far.

 

Amidst numerous narratives, the spotlight landed on Tua Tagovailoa, Mike McDaniel, and the offense grappling with the challenge of functioning without the league-deserving MVP, Tyreek Hill.

 

Fans were banking on the Jaylen Waddle show after the hope for the Cheetah’s appearance against the Jets faded abruptly as the inactive list revealed Hill’s unexpected absence – the first game he would miss in his short Dolphins tenure.

 

8 receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown against a solid Jets secondary is what Jaylen Waddle racked up in the absence of Hill. Putting to sleep all doubts of whether he could be a reliable WR1 for the Fins, Jaylen Waddle emerged as a standout force. Simultaneously, his performance effectively buried any uncertainties surrounding the potency of this Dolphins offense without Tyreek Hill.

 

However, it would take a fool not to notice the inevitable adjustment in McDaniel’s game plan sans the Cheetah. Coach McDaniel was tasked with devising a strategy considering Hill’s potential absence. The resultant offensive game plan was notably more conservative, lacking, to an extent, the usual arial prowess, explosiveness, and chunk plays—expected when the most explosive wide receiver in football is sidelined.

 

Coach McDaniel and his staff opted to play to their strengths, adapting to the circumstances by leveraging the available resources. Despite injuries, they still possessed a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback and a decent arsenal of weapons, albeit an ailing offensive line. They crafted a game plan that was relatively conservative yet remained effective.

 

How effective was it? Well, Tua Tagovailoa’s first incompletion didn’t occur until 2:50 left in the first half, a testament to the precision and efficiency of the adapted game plan.

 

Where do the Dolphins stand with 3 games remaining?

 

The bad news? The Buffalo Bills seem to have found their groove, securing a solid two-game win streak by triumphing over the Chiefs and Cowboys. Their path ahead seems relatively smooth, facing a far less challenging schedule until their pivotal clash with the Dolphins in the regular seasons finale, potentially dictating the divisional outcome.

 

But for the Dolphins, it’s tough. —an uphill battle against one of the toughest remaining schedules in the league. The objective remains crystal clear: winning is non-negotiable. Sweeping the table against the Cowboys, Ravens, and Bills secures Miami the coveted top seed in the AFC. Yet, a stumble or two could place the AFC East crown within Buffalo’s reach.

 

In the final three weeks of the regular season, much will be learned about this team. The Dolphins are still nursing injuries to key players while facing formidable opponents. To challenge the narrative and stand tall against top-tier teams, they’ll need to operate within their strengths, fortify the formidable defense, and ride Sunday’s momentum without allowing the magnitude of the moment to overwhelm them.

Quick Takeaways from Dolphins’ Collapse vs. Titans

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We’ve seen it all in December.

We saw a 9-2 team, surging and blessed after Leon Lett’s unforgettable Thanksgiving faux pas, drop its next five, giving up 45 in one and 47 in another, and losing in overtime in the clincher.

That was 1993.

We saw a 9-5 team, finally stabilized after the return of Jay Fiedler, fall apart in Minnesota (Cris Carter doesn’t catch a touchdown) and New England (when they stopped running Ricky Williams).

That was 2002.

We’ve seen too many other collapses to count.

So will this be another, following an inexplicable 28-27 home defeat against the Tennessee Titans, a 14-point underdog that made several seemingly game-sealing mistakes prior to the Dolphins’ meltdown? Will we remember this fourth loss of an otherwise entertaining and at times exceptional season, to be the beginning of another untimely end?

Will we all jump off the nearest precipice?

Tua Tagovailoa tried to reassure scarred, scared Dolphins fans that this time, at last, will be different.

“I don’t think this is the same Dolphins team that everyone thinks about,” said Tagovailoa, who played below his season standards against Tennessee. “We’ve got really good players, we’ve got really good coaches, and it’s one loss (at) home this year. It’s not like the world ends because we lost this game. We’re human, we’ll continue to get better from this. This is the NFL. No one’s perfect. So that’s that.”

But Dolphins fans are human too.

They can remember.

And that’s why they’re all spasming in fear at the thought of another massive meltdown.

Here are 5 things that need to change, for these not to be the Same Old Dolphins:

 

1. Mike McDaniel needs to stop getting so cute. The former 49ers run-game coordinator, who has worked wonders on the Dolphins’ rushing attack with almost interchangeable running backs and offensive linemen, is absurdly reluctant to run inside the red zone. When he finally did it, with the Dolphins on short fields following Titans miscues, Raheem Mostert had no trouble finding the end zone. We understand tendencies play a part in the trickery, but this team can do the Old School football thing. No need to be a genius there. McDaniel said after that he understands “I deserve to be second-guessed.” But this isn’t just the second or third or even fourth time.

 

2. Figure out the center-quarterback exchange. This is the most fundamental act in football, yet it’s been an issue all season. It was with Connor Williams, who is adept at everything else and now may be lost for the season with a knee injury. And it’s certainly been with fill-in Liam Eichenberg. Tagovailoa took responsibility for a drive-killing fumble, yet another in the red zone. But he also said it’s because he doesn’t work with Eichenberg much. This week he will. Get it fixed.

 

3. Stop feeling yourselves. We love the personality of this team, after more than a quarter-century of dull Dolphins atmospheres. We love Hard Knocks. We love the collective swagger and the creative celebrations. But as our Chris Kouffman of Three Yards Per Carry pointed out, the Dolphins have played their two worst games after arguably their two best games. They appear to handle adversity better than prosperity. Well, they have some now.

 

4. Get whole. Well, some of this is beyond their control. But it also seems like there’s some load management at work, and it’s too late for that now. Could Jevon Holland and Terron Armstead have played through nagging injuries? Perhaps. Would it have helped? Likely, especially more offensive linemen (Connor Williams) and defensive backs (De’Shon Elliot) started falling. Now Tyreek Hill has tweaked his ankle, somewhat significantly (he said he thought his ankle was “gone” when he did, and that his wife told him to “get the hell back in the game”). If he misses the game with the Jets, it would be nice to have some reinforcements return.

 

5. Get healed (emotionally). They can’t let this linger. So they might want to stay off social media, which is likely to be particularly lovely this week. McDaniel said players were looking inward, without pointing fingers. If they start the latter, with four challenging opponents upcoming (even the Jets will test them), we can start pointing back to past flameouts, and start pointing to an early, ignominious exit.

5 Takeaways from Dolphins’ 45-15 win over Washington

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Despite playing away from home, the Miami Dolphins’ offense revived shades of their early-season dominance witnessed in home games. Notably, their explosive 70-point triumph over Denver in Week 3 was a standout performance. While Sunday’s victory didn’t replicate the 70-point spectacle, it showcased the Dolphins’ offensive prowess and their renewed ability to dissect defenses, a quality that had been less prominent in recent matchups.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa saw limited action after the initial possession of the second half, primarily navigating conservative play calls centered around runs. Nevertheless, Tagovailoa managed to deliver two touchdowns, both in collaboration with Tyreek Hill, who amassed a remarkable 157 yards on just five receptions. Hill’s current pace hints at a ridiculous 2,098 yards for the season, which would be an all-time record.

 

Andrew Van Ginkel shines in the absence of Jaelan Phillips

 

When the Miami Dolphins needed a hero in the absence of the sensational Jaelan Phillips, enter Andrew Van Ginkel. Known for his earlier standout performances, Van Ginkel faced big shoes to fill in for the injured Phillips. Yet, in Sunday’s game, he stepped onto the field with sheer determination. His stats spoke volumes: 2 QB hits, 5 tackles, and a game-changing pick-6. Not to mention, he came close to blocking a punt. Van Ginkel’s impactful contributions in the Dolphins’ win reflect a ‘next man up’ mentality.

 

Did the Vic Fangio defense really hold the NFL’s leading passer to 130 passing yards?

 

Washington QB Sam Howell faced a daunting challenge against the Vic Fangio defense this time around. Despite Howell’s reputation for aerial dominance (in terms of yardage), Fangio’s formidable defensive strategy posed a considerable obstacle. Miami’s defense, notably performing at a high level in recent weeks, has had to overcome hurdles due to injuries to key players like Jaelan Phillips, Jevon Holland, and Jerome Baker. Their resilient ‘next man up’ mindset remained evident. Washington’s offense struggled to find its footing against the tenacious Fangio-led defense, failing to establish any real momentum or success during the game.

 

Tua Tagovailoa: The best QB “In the (World)?”

 

That’s what the Cheetah seemed to imply in a tweet following Sunday’s victory. Sunday’s game further bolstered Tua’s MVP candidacy. He consistently delivered on crucial third downs, notably launching a 78-yard bomb to Tyreek Hill in the first quarter. What stood out was Tua’s ability to avoid sacks throughout Sunday’s game. While credit may go to the offensive line, Tagovailoa’s adeptness at navigating the pocket, evading defenders, getting the ball out quickly, and extending plays was evident.

 

Magic number 3?

 

The Dolphins are on the verge of clinching a second consecutive postseason berth under Head Coach Mike McDaniel. With the magic number at 3 wins to clinch, the Dolphins can taste the postseason. However, their aspirations surpass mere qualification. Miami eyes the division title and a potential first-round bye, lofty yet achievable objectives. Yet, looming over them is the persistent challenge: dispelling the narrative that they struggle against top-tier opponents. As they face formidable teams like Dallas, Baltimore, and Buffalo in upcoming matchups, the Fins aim to rewrite this narrative as the conclusion of the regular season nears end.

Unease Amid Dominance: Miami’s 34-13 Victory Over Jets

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On the heels of Thanksgiving, the NFL debuted its first-ever Black Friday showdown at MetLife Stadium between the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins. The holiday feast may had concluded, but the Dolphins exhibited an insatiable hunger to get back to 8-3. As soon as Miami won the coin toss and elected to defer, confidence soared among fans for good reason. The Dolphins’ defense, statistically superior to the struggling Jets’ offense in every aspect on paper, promised an advantage. This was because the Jets were starting undrafted free agent quarterback Nick Boyle who was thrown into the starting QB role after QB Zach Wilson was benched the week prior. And when the Dolphins defense forced a punt on the Jets’ first possession, Dolphins fans knew that New York’s offense would be the least of their problems throughout the game.

 

And things were going well for the Dolphins, that was until Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa threw his second pick-six of the season with under 2 minutes left in the first half when the score was 10-0. And the narrative that the only thing that could stop this Dolphins team was self-inflicted wounds resurfaced in the classic Dolphins way. Miami would go back on offense with under a minute left in the half after throwing that pick-six, in a half where they should have shut out the Jets. Nevertheless, clinging to a narrow 10-6 lead (Jets missed the PAT, lol), they fervently sought a redemptive offensive drive, with under 60 seconds in the second quarter; aiming to head into halftime without a sour taste in their mouth. 

 

It only took a couple of first downs, up to midfield, with seconds to go when Tua threw his second interception in under 60 seconds. The Jets would take over on their 49-yard line with 2 seconds left in the half.

 

And if it weren’t for the Jets being the Jets, or perhaps Jevon Holland channeling his inner Wide Receiver from his high school days in Oakland, California, the Dolphins would have carried a ‘disappointing’ 10-6 lead into halftime (at best). But Dolphins safety Jevon Holland had other plans. The Jets weren’t content with trailing merely 10-6 heading into halftime; they craved more. This led the coach of an underwhelming team, failing to meet season expectations, to resort to a Hail Mary attempt from midfield, seeking to spark some unforeseen magic.

 

And boy, did that plan backfire.

 

Tim Boyle dropped back and executed the Hail Mary, sending the ball soaring into the end zone where Holland positioned himself perfectly, waiting for the ball to descend right into the breadbasket. And from the Dolphins’ one-yard line, Jevon Holland snatched the ball and dashed 99 yards in the other direction, with the clock hitting zero seconds as he raced down the field.

 

The Dolphins entered halftime with a 17-6 lead in a defensively charged game. As some fans reveled in Miami’s longest interception return since 2002, others remained uneasy with the offense’s performance and their quarterback, who had already tallied two interceptions by halftime, a marked difference from the 2022 season where he threw only eight interceptions the entire season.

 

But in the second half, Miami’s defense took full advantage of every opportunity against the Jets’ offense. Only managing to secure a single touchdown in garbage time, the Jets struggled as the Dolphins defense flexed its muscles. With 7 sacks and 3 turnovers on the day, including one resulting in a touchdown, the Dolphins’ defensive performance clearly dictated the course of the game.

 

However, fortune favored the Dolphins only until the moment 3rd year standout LB Jaelan Phillips was carted off with an Achilles injury in the fourth quarter. Phillips, who had been delivering a season akin to an All-Pro, will be a monumental loss for the Dolphins defensive as his injury likely means he’s done for the season.

 

So perhaps it was the Phillips injury that left fans unsettled despite a double-digit win over a division rival on the road. Still, it’s worth noting that Miami outscored any other team against the Jets this season. Notably, both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined for 200 yards, while running back Raheem Mostert scored two touchdowns on the ground.

 

Perhaps it’s worth extending some leniency to the Dolphins’ offense. After all, they had to contend with one of the league’s elite defenses, despite facing a Jets offense that ranks among the bottom five in the NFL.

 

However, it’s evident that there’s room for improvement. Whether it was Tyreek Hill’s dropped touchdown on fourth and 1 at the beginning of the game or Tagovailoa’s two interceptions, one of which resulted in a pick-six, these are the areas that demand refinement.

For the Dolphins to realize their deep postseason aspirations, one thing remains clear–they must address these concerns while also managing to mitigate injuries to key players.

Tua Tagovailoa will miss the Dolphins' game at New England and possibly more.

NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Dolphins at #2

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Another week of the NFL season can be crossed off as we enter the month of November in what seems to feel like a season that has been flying by. 

 

While some teams don’t want the season to go by, others are desperately praying to get it over with because things have not been going well at all. 

 

The Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots, just to name a few, are teams that fall under the category of wishing there was a skip button to the end of the season. 

 

The Cardinals hold the league’s longest losing streak after they lost their fifth game in a row against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday but after starting out their season 2-1, all of a sudden, the Packers have lost four-straight games and are 2-5. Green Bay’s quarterback, Jordan Love, has really struggled trying to fill Aaron Rodgers’ shoes as he completed just 24 of his 41 passes for 229 yards and an interception in the loss to the Vikings. 

 

The Bears and Giants are dealing with quarterback injuries and are forced to play their second and even third string quarterback which, most of the time, doesn’t end well. Chicago got blown against the Chargers 30-13 and the Giants lost a heartbreaker to the Jets in an extremely ugly game for both teams. 

 

Have the Titans found their quarterback of the future? Will Levis got his first career start on Sunday and it looked like he was playing against high schoolers. The rookie out of Kentucky threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns while allowing star receiver Deandre Hopkins to finally have his best game in a Titans uniform. Hopkins had four catches for 128 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-23 win against the Falcons. 

 

Minnesota’s injury woes continue as they lost quarterback Kirk Cousins for the rest of the season due to a torn achilles he suffered against the Packers. It is absolutely devastating for Minnesota because they looked like a team that finally found their groove after beating the 49ers last week and then going into Lambeau Field and making a statement. Cousins was also having a very good year throwing for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns. It will be interesting to see how this Vikings team will fare going forward. 

 

The San Francisco 49ers have completely fallen off the face of the Earth. What has happened to them? They started out the year 5-0 and have now lost three games in a row. Quarterback Brock Purdy all of a sudden looks like “Mr. Irrelevant” and that Niners defense that is often highly praised has completely disappeared. Don’t look now but the Seattle Seahawks are in the lead in the NFC West division and if San Francisco doesn’t get it together, their hopes for a division title can easily get out of reach. 

And now we can talk about the fastest team on the planet. The revamped ‘Greatest Show on Turf’. The 6-2 Miami Dolphins. 

 

The Dolphins hosted the Patriots on Sunday in what some feared to be a trap game for Miami as they would face the Chiefs in their next game in Germany. But, Miami looked locked in from the get go. 

 

Tua Tagovailoa continued to make his case for the MVP as he threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle each had over 100 receiving yards. Hill had eight catches for 112 yards and a touchdown while Waddle caught seven passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. 

 

But even with all the noise offensively, the story of the day was the return of All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. In his Dolphins debut, Ramsey recorded an interception and showed how much of an impact he can make on this defense for Miami. 

 

Oh, and Tagovailoa is 6-0 in his career against Bill Belichick. So yeah, there’s that. 

 

Below are my power rankings for Week 9.

 

  1. Arizona Cardinals (1 – 7) 

Last Week: 31

Result: Lost vs. Ravens 31-24

 

  1. Green Bay Packers (2 – 5)

Last Week: 30

Result: Lost vs. Vikings 24-10

  1. Carolina Panthers (1 – 6)

Last Week: 32

Result: Won vs. Texans 15-13

 

  1. Chicago Bears (2 – 6)

Last Week: 27

Result: Lost at Chargers 30-13

 

  1. New York Giants (2 – 6)

Last Week: 25

Result: Lost vs. Jets 13-10

 

  1. Washington Commanders (3 – 5)

Last Week: 26

Result: Lost vs. Eagles 38-31

 

  1. New England Patriots (2 – 6)

Last Week: 24

Result: Lost at Dolphins 31-17

 

  1. Indianapolis Colts (3 – 5)

            Last Week: 23

Result: Lost vs. Saints 38-27

 

  1. Los Angeles Rams (3 – 5)

Last Week: 19

Result: Lost at Cowboys 43-20

 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (3 – 5)

Last Week: 21

Result: Lost at Lions 26-14

 

  1. Houston Texans (3 – 4)

Last Week: 16

Result: Lost at Panthers 15-13

 

  1. Tennessee Titans (3 – 4)

Last Week: 29

Result: Won vs. Falcons 28-23

 

  1. Denver Broncos (3 – 5)

Last Week: 28

Result: Won vs. Chiefs 24-9

 

  1. Atlanta Falcons (4 – 4)

Last Week: 17

Result: Lost at Titans 28-23

 

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3 – 4)

            Last Week: 18

Result: Lost at Bills 24-18

 

  1. New Orleans Saints (4 – 4)

Last Week: 22

Result: Won at Colts 38-27

 

  1. Los Angeles Chargers (3 – 4)

Last Week: 20

Result: Won vs. Bears 30-13

 

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (4 – 3)

Last Week: 13

Result: Lost vs. Jaguars 20-10

 

  1. Minnesota Vikings (4 – 4)

Last Week: 15

Result: Won at Packers 24-10

 

  1. New York Jets (4 – 3)

Last Week: 14

Result: Won at Giants 13-10

 

  1. Cleveland Browns (4 – 3)

Last Week: 9

Result: Lost at Seahawks 24-20

 

  1. San Francisco 49ers (5 – 3)

Last Week: 5

Result: Lost vs. Bengals 31-17

 

  1. Seattle Seahawks (5 – 2)

Last Week: 12

Result: Won vs. Browns 24-20

 

  1. Buffalo Bills (5 – 3)

Last Week: 10

Result: Won vs. Buccaneers 24-18

 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (4 – 3)

Last Week: 11

Result: Won at 49ers 31-17

 

  1. Dallas Cowboys (5 – 2)

Last Week: 8

Result: Won vs. Rams 43-20

 

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (6 – 2)

Last Week: 6

Result: Won at Steelers 20-10

 

  1. Detroit Lions (6 – 2)

Last Week: 7

Result: Won vs. Raiders 26-14

 

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (6 – 2)

Last Week: 2

Result: Lost at Broncos 24-9

 

  1. Baltimore Ravens (6 – 2)

Last Week: 3

Result: Won at Cardinals 31-24

 

  1. Miami Dolphins (6 – 2)

Last Week: 4

Result: Won vs. Patriots 31-17

 

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (7 – 1)

Last Week: 1

Result: Won at Commanders 38-31

Week 8 NFL Power Rankings: New team at the top

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Week 8 of the NFL season is already here and some teams have emerged as championship contenders while others might be headed towards the list of pretenders. 

 

Who would’ve thought that the Jacksonville Jaguars were going to start their season 5-2? They came through with a big win against the Saints on a short week and Travis Etienne has shown that he is one of the top running backs in the league. 

 

How about the teams in the AFC North? The Browns, Steelers and Ravens all came out with wins on Sunday. 

 

The Cleveland Browns have arguably the best defense in the league and put it on display after forcing four turnovers against the Colts in their 39-38 victory. Despite their problems at the quarterback position, they are off to a 4-2 start. 

 

The Steelers went on the road (not really) and beat the Rams 24-17. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren each had rushing touchdowns and wide receiver George Pickens caught five passes for 107 yards. 

 

But the team that has emerged as a legitimate contender is the Baltimore Ravens. They put everyone in the league on notice after completely annihilating the then 5-1 Detroit Lions by a score of 38-6. It looked like Lamar Jackson was playing on easy mode as he threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns while 36 yards and a touchdown on the ground. It’ll be interesting to see how this loss will affect the Lions moving forward. Was this just a bad game or were the Ravens just too much for them to handle? They host the Raiders next week on Monday Night Football. 

 

Speaking of too much to handle, the Chiefs routed the Chargers on their home turf 31-17 to move to 6-1 on the season and it seems as if Taylor Swift’s presence is taking Travis Kelce’s game to a whole other level. The tight end had 12 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown. But also, don’t overlook Patrick Mahomes’s 424 passing yards and four touchdowns. 

 

Bill Belichick got his 300th regular season win after his Patriots beat the Bills 29-25 in a game in which the New England offense finally woke up. Mac Jones threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns while Ezekiel Elliott and Kendrick Bourne found their way into the end zone. 

 

Alright and then there are the Dolphins. Miami went on the road to Philadelphia in a prime time game with the Eagles and had trouble moving the ball early in what would turn out to be a 31-17 Eagles victory. 

 

Was the officiating lopsided? Sure. Was Miami missing starters on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball? Absolutely. But there has to be credit given to Philadelphia and the amount of talent they have on both sides of the ball. 

 

The Dolphins just couldn’t get any traction through the ground game and because Miami was missing multiple starters on their offensive line, Tua Tagovailoa had no time to throw and was sacked four times. 

 

On defense, the Dolphins couldn’t figure out how to contain Philadelphia’s receivers. 

 

A.J. Brown had a huge night with 10 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Dallas Goedart had five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. Yes you can say the Dolphins were missing their best two cornerbacks in Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard but again, the Eagles are an elite football team. 

 

With the loss, the Dolphins fall to 5-2 and the narrative surrounding them is if they can beat good teams. Their five wins have come against the Chargers, Patriots, Broncos, Giants and Panthers who have a combined record of 8-25. Can Miami win the big games? As the season unfolds, we’ll have our answer. 

 

Below are my power rankings for Week 8. 

 

  1. Carolina Panthers (0 – 6) 

Last Week: 32

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Arizona Cardinals (1 – 6)

Last Week: 30

Result: Lost at Seahawks 20-10

  1. Green Bay Packers (2 – 4)

Last Week: 25

Result: Lost at Broncos 19-17

 

  1. Tennessee Titans (2 – 4)

Last Week: 26

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Denver Broncos (2 – 5)

Last Week: 28

Result: Won vs. Packers 19-17

 

  1. Chicago Bears (2 – 5)

Last Week: 29

Result: Won vs. Raiders 30-12

 

  1. Washington Commanders (3 – 4)

Last Week: 20

Result: Lost at Giants 14-7

 

  1. New York Giants (2 – 5)

            Last Week: 27

Result: Won vs. Commanders 14-7

 

  1. New England Patriots (2 – 5)

Last Week: 31

Result: Won vs. Bills 29-25

 

  1. Indianapolis Colts (3 – 4)

Last Week: 22

Result: Lost vs. Browns 39-38

 

  1. New Orleans Saints (3 – 4)

Last Week: 21

Result: Lost vs. Jaguars 31-24

 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (2 – 4)

Last Week: 19

Result: Lost at Bears 30-12

 

  1. Los Angeles Chargers (2 – 4)

Last Week: 15

Result: Lost at Chiefs 31-17

 

  1. Los Angeles Rams (3 – 4)

            Last Week: 18

Result: Lost vs. Steelers 24-17

 

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3 – 3)

Last Week: 14

Result: Lost vs. Falcons 16-13

 

  1. Atlanta Falcons (4 – 3)

Last Week: 23

Result: Won at Buccaneers 16-13

 

  1. Houston Texans (3 – 3)

Last Week: 17

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Minnesota Vikings (3 – 4)

Last Week: 24

Result: Won vs. 49ers 22-17

 

  1. New York Jets (3 – 3)

Last Week: 13

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (4 – 2)

Last Week: 16

Result: Won at Rams 24-17

 

  1. Seattle Seahawks (4 – 2)

Last Week: 12

Result: Won vs. Cardinals 20-10

 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (3 – 3)

Last Week: 11

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Buffalo Bills (4 – 3)

Last Week: 8

Result: Lost at Patriots 29-25

 

  1. Cleveland Browns (4 – 2)

Last Week: 9

Result: Won at Colts 39-38

 

  1. Dallas Cowboys (4 – 2)

Last Week: 7

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Detroit Lions (5 – 2)

Last Week: 4

Result: Lost at Ravens 38-6

 

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (5 – 2)

Last Week: 6

Result: Won at Saints 31-24

 

  1. San Francisco 49ers (5 – 2)

Last Week: 3

Result: Lost at Vikings 22-17

 

  1. Miami Dolphins (5 – 2)

Last Week: 1

Result: Lost at Eagles 31-17

 

  1. Baltimore Ravens (5 – 2)

Last Week: 10

Result: Won vs. Lions 38-6

 

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (6 – 1)

Last Week: 2

Result: Won vs. Chargers 31-17

 

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (6 – 1)

Last Week: 5

Result: Won vs. Dolphins 31-17