Miami Dolphins: Can They Win The AFC East?

Can the Miami Dolphins win the AFC East?

They say that faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen, and it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. If you’re a faithless, pessimistic and hopeless Miami Dolphins fan then this story is not for you. Please proceed to click the left arrow on the top of your website screen and go back. However, if you’re like me and are one of the few ambitious, confident and spirited Dolphins fans then you are in the perfect place, continue to scroll down.

This may be breaking news to you, but I’ve been saying it since the beginning of the season before the New England Patriots game, the Dolphins are ready for new beginnings and are going to win the AFC East. That last statement might have you saying “Woah, woah, slow down with the AFC East division title talk”, and if you’re thinking that, then I understand, I don’t blame you at all.

For Miami Dolphins fans, it’s simple, our fans have a lot of skepticism. We have suffered for the last TWO DECADES with inconsistent play on the field, terrible personnel decision-making, and awful quarterback play since our legend Dan Marino’s retirement.

There hasn’t been much hope. In fact, it seemed like all hope was lost every season. The Dolphins would play well, and then end up breaking our heart, in fact it’s comparable to torture.

However, the one concept that Miami fans should gain is that we need to start embracing our team more. Unlike the Miami Heat, every time the Dolphins lose a game, there is the same chirping, and same murmuring “Oh the Dolphins suck. Oh the Dolphins can’t ever get it right. Why can’t we ever have a good team.” This year is completely different, and though the ride hasn’t been the smoothest, it has been an entertaining ride to say the least.

This Dolphins team is not like last year and I’m not even talking about “Bullygate.” In case you didn’t know the story, the Dolphins started off 3-0 last year and then lost the next four games and finished the season with an 8-8 record, missing the playoffs.

This season the Dolphins started off strong with a dominant win against the New England Patriots and even thrashed the Raiders in London but people still weren’t ready to believe. Well how about now?

The Dolphins played against the San Diego Chargers and completely dominated them to the point that the Chargers didn’t manage to score a point. The Dolphins ended up stomping the Chargers 37-0 inside of Sun Life Stadium.

None of the starters on the offensive side of the football even needed to play a snap in the 4th quarter with such a dominant lead. Instead of playing quarterback in the 4th quarter, Ryan Tannehill got to relax and enjoy the game for once with a large insurmountable lead. Don’t tell anyone but I heard Tannehill even started throwing back ice-cold Corona Light’s with Joe Rose, since his services were no longer needed. In all seriousness, Tannehill deserved a break because of his dominant performance against the Chargers. Tannehill managed to have one of his best games as a professional, completing 24 of 34 passes, throwing for a season high of 288 yards, and getting three touchdowns while finishing the game with a passer rating of 125.6.

It seems like for the last four weeks I’ve been saying that Tannehill has played his best game as a professional and it only shows the growth as a quarterback he’s finally having. One of the biggest surprises this season hasn’t been the connection between Mike Wallace and Tannehill that I rave about, today it was about the bond between Tannehill and his rookie wide receiver, Jarvis Landry. This season Landry has amazed, and against the Chargers Juice Landry (yes, his nickname is Juice) had five catches for 46 yards and a touchdown. 

Tannehill’s success gets predicated on the efforts of his teammates and the defense of the Miami Dolphins cannot get enough praise. Brent Grimes once again played a crucial role and looks like he needs to start making his arrangements this February to go to Hawaii, the man is a Pro Bowler. Grimes played with extreme poise and a lot of focus because he had two pass deflections and two interceptions against the Chargers, bringing his total to four picks on the year.

Where as one of his teammates in the secondary, Reshed Jones who donned himself as the best safety in the NFL, today played like it. Jones contributed with a huge 4 & 1 stop in the first quarter, and later in the game got an interception. There is no way I could leave out the defensive line. Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon both got a sack, in this game. Phillip Rivers, who has played like the NFL MVP up to this game, couldn’t get time to throw and had no time to execute any offense. Rivers timing was off with his receivers, and his throws were off. The Dolphins defense made Rivers look mortal, look like a below average quarterback. Rivers finished the game completing 12 of 23 passes, 138 yards and three interceptions.

It’s time for Miami Dolphins fans to stop being so pessimistic and revel in the fact that the Dolphins now have a 5-3 record eight games into the season. The Dolphins now share the same record as the Buffalo Bills and are only two games behind the New England Patriots. Both of these teams the Dolphins will face again before their season is over.

Even Omar Kelly, a full time NFL beat writer and columnist for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel recognized that the Dolphins deserve a lot of credit. If the national media won’t give us credit, how about we start believing first and giving our Dolphins credit.

Though we can look forward and see the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos are on the immediate schedule, this win shouldn’t get glossed over or taken lightly, it was a great win.

The Dolphins now have to keep playing this well to supplant the Patriots stronghold on the AFC East.

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