The Miami Dolphins (9-3) have claimed the No. 1 seed in the AFC despite a litany of injuries to major stars who play vital positions.
“Next man up mentality, that’s how we have to go about it,” Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard said, per AP News’ Alanis Thames. “This is a tough game and people go down but the next man up.”
The Dolphins have shown that it’s the next “men“ up. Consider that they’ve been winning despite being without these players for long stretches: starting left tackle and team leader Terron Armstead; six-time Pro Bowl CB Jalen Ramsey; emerging outside linebacker Jaelen Phillips; center Connor Williams; rookie running back sensation De’Von Achane; and stud safety Jevon Holland.
Mainstay middle linebacker Jerome Baker went down against the Washington Commanders and special teamer Duke Riley not only stepped in but immediately contributed with seven tackles and made calls for the defense. The Dolphins seem to have a mojo of that it doesn’t matter who plays, they are getting the job done.
The last time Miami finished the season as the top-ranked team in their conference was in 1984. The Phins went 14-2 in Dan Marino’s second full season as a record-breaking quarterback and lost Super Bowl XVIII to Joe Montana’s San Francisco 49ers.
Now, after 14,230 days and thanks to their commanding win on the road against Washington in Week 13, the Dolphins are once again atop the AFC standings. Don’t expect anyone in South Florida to celebrate. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, the hipster disguised as an offensive genius, won’t let any type of noise pollute his head space.
“Call me when it’s a 13-game season,” McDaniel said, per Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith.
It’s true — it doesn’t mean a damn thing, but it could lead to something. The Dolphins play four out of their last five regular-season games at home where they are unbeaten (5-0). Miami controls how this all plays out.
“I think for all of us that have been around the NFL long enough, you get about five games, four games left, and that becomes a lot of the conversation,” McDaniel said, per miamidolphins.com. “And it does take a lot of execution to get there. But it’s kind of one of those tricky things.”
Though many Miami Dolphins detractors point to their record against teams with higher winning percentages (0-3) and QB Tua Tagovailoa’s penchant for not rising to the occasion, it is how the Dolphins have been able to ascend the standings over the past month and a half that gives this team some optimistic momentum.
The Dolphins are resilient and, if they do manage to get a first-round bye plus home-field advantage, that trait should take them to a major game in the postseason.
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