Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - What kind of a season has it been for the Miami Dolphins?
This was an assessment of the 2-7 Dolphins in a recent article in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:
"This team is a disaster. This season is a disaster. The win now mentality that took over in 2022 failed. And the win with youth and draftees movement that started this season is failing. A much needed rebuild is coming in 2026."
It was less than two years ago the Dolphins were playing a home game with a chance to clinch the AFC East. I'm sure you remember since they were facing the Buffalo Bills in that Week 18 matchup in the 2023 season. Miami was 11-5 and the Bills were 10-6.
The Bills won that game and Miami still made the playoffs, but lost in the Wild Card round in Kansas City, the Dolphins got obliterated in the cold, and it has all gone downhill since.
There are a number of reasons for this season's complete collapse for the Dolphins, which led to the firing of general manager Chris Grier last week.
Injuries have been a key factor, especially on offense. Starting right tackle Austin Jackson and right guard James Daniels have both been out since Week 1, making an already questionable line even shakier.
Miami is also starting a rookie at left guard and Jonah Savalinaea has struggled along the way.
The big injury occurred in Week 4r when Miami lost their big play wide receiver Tyreek Hill for the season. They still have another playmaker at the position in Jaylen Waddle, but Hill demanded constant attention from opposing defenses and, at times, double teams.
Tight end Darren Waller came out of retirement and was playing well before he went down in his fourth game.
On defense, the secondary took a major hit when, arguably, the best cornerback, Kader Kohou, was injured in training camp. Miami also lost cornerback Storm Duck.
This would help explain why the defense has just one interception in nine games.
There is only so much head coach and play caller Mike McDaniel can do. His offense has been bad, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is part of the problem.
Tagovailoa has thrown a league-leading 11 interceptions, and there's speculation in South Florida that a bad game against the Bills on Sunday could lead to his benching. Tagovailoa is averaging only 197 passing yards a game.
De'Von Achane is the Dolphins' only threat in the backfield. He leads the team in rushing and is averaging 5.0 yards per-carry.
The next best back is Ollie Gordon, but he's 500 yards behind Achane.
By the way, Achane is one of the top threats in the passing game too. He leads the team in catches and is second in receiving yards.
With Hill out, Waddle is now the go-to guy in the wide receivers group. He is just behind Achane in receptions, but does lead the team in receiving yards with 586 for a healthy average of 14.3 yards per-catch.
Malik Washington is next among receivers with 28 receptions for 183 yards, while their top tight end is Tanner Conner with nine receptions for 91 yards.
Miami's offense is in the bottom-10 in league rankings in a number of statistical categories, including points per-game (26th), total yards per-game (27th), rushing yards (25th). passing yards (23rd) and first downs (30th).
Based on the personnel in the front-seven, you can definitely make a case that the Dolphins defense has underachieved. That front-seven includes the likes of Zach Sieler, Bradley Chubb, Chop Robinson and 2025 first-round rookie Kenneth Grant.
But Miami's defense is tied for 24th in points per-game. They are ranked 30th against the run (hello, James Cook!), 25th on third down, 28th in passing average and 30th in percentage of passes intercepted.
The Dolphins have given up 30-or-more points in four of their nine games. Opponents have scored, at least, 27 points in seven of the nine contests.
That is a problem when your offense is only averaging 20 points an outing.
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks is the exception, though. He leads the Dolphins in tackles and tackles for loss, and he has 2.5 sacks.
Former Bills linebacker Tyrel Dodson has the most sacks with three.
Jaelen Phillips also had three, but was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles last week, so the Bills don't have to worry about him.
The lone interception by the defense belongs to safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, but he is no longer making game-changing plays.
Former Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas is tied for the team lead in passes defended with five.
With Jason Sanders injured, Riley Patterson has been handling the place kicking duties and has done a good job for Miami. Patterson has connected on all 19 extra point attempts, and is 13-for-15 on field goal attempts.
However, he only has one attempt of 50-plus yards, which he missed.
The Bills' punt coverage team needs to be ready to go, because Miami is third in the league in returns thanks to Washington. He's averaging 16 yards a return and has a 74-yard touchdown this season.
Bills notes:
- The Bills have beaten Miami in each of the last seven meetings, and the last 14-of-15 contests.
- The Bills have won five of the last six games in South Florida.
- Josh Allen is 14-2 all-time against the Dolphins, including the playoffs.
- The Bills have scored 30-or-more points in 12 of the 16 games with Allen under center.
- James Cook is second in the NFL in rushing, only behind Indianapolis Colts running backJonathan Taylor. Cook has played one fewer game due to the bye.
- Dalton Kincaid leads the Bills in receiving yards (411) and is on pace for 998 yards this season. He is averaging a career-best 15.2 yards per-catch, which is third-best among NFL tight ends with, at least, 10 receptions.
- The Bills have scored 68 points in back-to-back wins over the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs. This after managing only 34 point in back-to-back losses to the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons.
One other note that I found very interesting: If the Bills win on Sunday, the all-time series with Miami will be all even at 62 wins apiece. That's pretty impressive when you take into account the Bills went the entire decade of the 1970s without beating the Dolphins (0-20).
From 1966 (Miami's inaugural season) through 1986, the Bills were 7-34 against the Dolphins. Since 1987, the Bills have gone 54-28 against their division rival.
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