It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to look at the numbers from the Dolphins’ first two games and know that things aren’t going well on the gridiron. Being outscored by a total of 102-10 in eight quarters — at home, no less — is just the tip of the iceberg, though. The Dolphins have been largely inept through the first two games of the season, and they’ve been inept in just about every phase of the game. Offense, defense, special teams — you name it. Miami has struggled. But how historically significant is their start? One sports writer set out to uncover the depths of Miami’s despair after yesterday’s game.
Ty Schalter is a writer for Five Thirty Eight, a data driven media site aiming to put numbers and analysis to stories. Boy, did Schalter ever unleash the numbers on Miami’s start to 2019. His chain of tweets on the Dolphins yesterday was eye popping — credit to him for unearthing the depths of Miami’s struggles. To see Schalter’s full rundown, click on the tweet below:
Looking for the Sparknotes version? The Dolphins are on pace to do the following through 2 games in 2019:
- Be the third NFL team to go winless (of course)
- Allow the most points, first downs and touchdowns in NFL history
- Gain the fewest yards, fewest rushing first downs in NFL history
- Allow the most sacks and throw the most interceptions in NFL history
- Allow the highest percentage of third down conversions and defensive yards per play in NFL history
The list goes on. Effectively any measure of success on a football field hasn’t been kind to Miami through the first two games. At this point, Dolphins fans’ only hope is to hang on to the idea that these wounds are largely self-inflicted in the name of the greater good.
Is it 2020 yet?
