Weeks ago, the Miami Dolphins looked hopeless after losing seven straight games.
Their only win was a one-point squeaker against the New England Patriots.
Brian Flores’ crew experienced everything that could go wrong.
But all of a sudden, they started playing great football.
FINAL: Six in a row for the @MiamiDolphins! #FinsUp #NYJvsMIA pic.twitter.com/4aAwCL2zAE
— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2021
They won six straight games to bring their record to 7-7 after Week 15.
That feat gives them the second-longest active win streak in the league behind the Kansas City Chiefs’ seven consecutive victories.
More importantly, they still have an opportunity to make the playoffs after it looked like their season would be over early.
The Dolphins’ turnaround is phenomenal, and it’s interesting to determine the catalysts that allowed the transformation to happen.
Defense Wins Games
Last season, the Dolphins relied primarily on their defense to win 10 games.
Cornerback Xavien Howard led the league with 20 passes defended and 10 interceptions.
They also limited opponents to 21.1 points per game, tied for fifth-best with the New Orleans Saints.
How well has Dolphins D played during 6-game win streak? Look at where these SEASON stats now stand:
*8th in opposing rushing yards per game
*7th in opposing passing yards per play
*7th in red zone defense pic.twitter.com/jTkQeijTEL— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) December 21, 2021
Unfortunately, they lost that identity during the first half of their season.
The Dolphins allowed their opponents to score an average of 31 points per game in their losses.
But the tide started to turn in Week 9 when the Dolphins defeated the Houston Texans, 17-9.
Since then, Miami hasn’t lost for close to two months and have limited their competitors to 13.1 points per game.
Our defense racked up a season-high 6️⃣ sacks during #NYJvsMIA! 😤#FinsUp x @Lexus pic.twitter.com/5gg2hVNKNY
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 20, 2021
They allowed only one opponent to score over 20 points and limited four teams to 10 points or less.
That stark contrast allows the Dolphins to stay in the game and relieve some pressure off their offense.
The Dolphins are not afraid to dial up an insane number of blitzes to keep opposing quarterbacks guessing.
So far, their plan is working to perfection.
Super Rookies On The Rise
Getting the right people via the draft will help any team become solid contenders.
This year, the Dolphins have three rookies who significantly impact their campaign.
Safety Jevon Holland has proven to be a perfect complement to Howard in the secondary.
Once again Jevon Holland's speed on the blitz disrupts Lamar Jackson leading to an incompletion. pic.twitter.com/aI0YZdkp14
— FinCuts (@FinCuts) November 12, 2021
The second-round draft pick from Oregon is impacting both coverage and blitzes.
As of Week 15, he has 35 solo tackles, nine passes defended, two interceptions, and two sacks.
Meanwhile, linebacker Jaelan Phillips leads the team in sacks with 8.5.
Jaelan Phillips gets another sack. He's a monster. pic.twitter.com/FPuxPnCe9u
— FinCuts (@FinCuts) December 5, 2021
The hometown rookie has six sacks in Miami’s last four games, including three against the Carolina Panthers.
Finally, Jaylen Waddle is proving that he’s a menace to cover.
The wide receiver from Alabama leads the team with 86 receptions and 849 yards.
jaylen waddle breaks the @miamidolphins rookie record with this catch. No.85 pic.twitter.com/RxjAn7Ss6V
— josh houtz (@houtz) December 5, 2021
He also has four touchdowns, and going over 1,000 yards in his first year is a matter of when.
These three players are not feeling any rookie jitters, helping the Dolphins embark on their current winning streak.
In Tua They Trust
Tua Tagovailoa silenced his loudest critics during his last five games.
Gone are the talks of him not living up to the hype because he’s running the Dolphins offense efficiently.
He threw five interceptions in his first five games this season.
Since then, he was spotless in three of their next five games while completing over 60 percent of his passes.
🎙 @Tua
Full video drops soon!#FinsUp x @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/eInRqG2Fc5
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 20, 2021
Tagovailoa had a three-game stretch with 81.8, 87.1, and 73.2 percent completion rates.
He has also thrown seven touchdowns in their last four games.
The sophomore player is getting comfortable being an NFL quarterback, and that’s bad news for the entire league.
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