The NFL’s power rankings all had a universal approach to the Miami Dolphins this spring and summer — toss them in the bottom and forget they even exist. The Dolphins stay in the cellar of the power rankings lasted throughout the first month of the season before a competent Dolphins team arrived on the scene and started taking teams like Washington and Buffalo down to the wire.
Fast forward another few weeks and the Dolphins are clear of the bottom four — as the latest NFL.com power rankings are out and Miami ranks 28th on the list courtesy of two consecutive wins against the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts.
Here’s what NFL.com writer Dan Hanzus had to say about the Dolphins:
“That’s two consecutive wins for the Dolphins, who followed last week’s convincing victory over the Jets with a road win over a banged-up Colts team. Ryan Fitzpatrick continues a recent trend of playing within himself (not historically his bailiwick), and the Miami defense continues to improve. The Dolphins have forced five takeaways in their last three games after managing just two heading into Week 8. It’s all a very good look for first-year coach Brian Flores, who weathered the storm of his team’s historically inept first six games and now has Miami playing the role of frisky spoiler in the AFC.” – Dan Hanzus, NFL.com
Miami now ranks ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals, the Washington Redskins, the New York Jets and the New York Giants in the power rankings — an interesting development for what lies ahead this season for the Dolphins. Miami plays the Buffalo Bills this weekend before going on to play each of the Bengals, Jets and Giants before the season comes to a close.
Could a few more wins be on the way? How high could Miami finish the season’s power rankings? That will depend on a lot of variables — but we’re reaching the point where it is safe to assume Miami won’t finish the year where they started: in the cellar.
