Dolphins Ups & Downs That Led To A .500 Record
The Dolphins season was a letdown for fans, but it beat critics expectations
Dolphins have had more valleys than peaks.
The Miami Dolphins 2018 Season has been a roller coaster ride… for sure.
With only two games left and their playoffs hopes all but gone, a final record of 8-8 seems the most likely scenario.
Anything is possible of course, so 9-7 or 7-9 is on the menu a well.
But, let’s not forget that every betting software for bookies like AcePerHead.com and media outlet predicted the Phins to be at the bottom of the barrel.
While this mediocrity isn’t much of a consolation, worse was expected.
Here’s a recap of the ‘meh’ so far.
Weeks 1-3: ‘New Hope’
Miami started the season on fire with three straight wins. As only 1 of 4 undefeated teams going into Week 4, hope was in full bloom. As per usual for Miami, it was short lived.
Week 4: ‘The Letdown’
Hope died quickly and cruelly in Foxborough. The Dolphins were blown out and given a harsh dose of reality.
Week 5: ‘Gut-Wrenching Collapse’
The Cincinnati road game is my pivotal moment of the season.
Miami had a 17-0 lead late into the 3rd quarter… only to choke the game away. Gase and Tannehill made critical mistakes that cost Miami dearly. However, bad luck really set the plate for disaster. Laremy Tunsil was knocked out of the game and Gase didn’t have a quality replacement. The Bengals smelled blood in the water and teed off on Tannehill, who crumbled under the pressure to the tune of 2 fourth-quarter turnovers. Both turnovers led to defensive touchdowns. Besides losing the game, Tannehill picked up a bum shoulder for the next 5 games. Overall, a pretty sucky game
The Middle of the season started very well… but the good news didn’t last long
Weeks 6-10: ‘2018 Phlatline’
That ‘Tannyless’ 5 game stretch began with a thrilling, but shocking, overtime win against the Bears. Brock Osweiler led the Dolphins to victory and played his best game in a long time.
‘Maybe Brock was the answer’ some fans pondered’?
That question died as fast as it came because Brock went from prince to toad in a week.
The Dolphins stayed true to form and fell flat two weeks in a row against the Lions and Texans. Getting embarrassed in Prime Time continued to be a bad habit for Miami. But the following week, the Dolphins managed to pull out the nosedive with a win against the Jets in a pitiful game from both sides. The Jets lost the game as much as the Dolphins had won it. This was the one where team leader Reshad Jones quit and refused to play.
Then the week before their Bye, Miami went to Green Bay. The Endzone was once again a stranger on the road and another loss was tacked on.
Over the course of this stretch, Osweiler went 2 of 3.
Tannehill’s return began to sound sweeter and sweeter.
Week 11-15: ‘Tannehill Returns To Save The Day‘?
In Tannehill’s return, the Dolphins blew another fourth-quarter lead on the road. This time it was against the Colts on a last-second field goal.
Miami went back home for their next two games against two division rivals in the Bills and Patriots. They won both and had stormed back into real Playoff contention.
The Patriot game will probably go down as one of the most thrilling finishes to a Dolphin regular season game in their history. Whatever happens, going forward, this was a truly epic win. Time expiring victories against a bitter rival on double lateral touchdown don’t come around very often.
At 16-7 overall at home under Coach Gase, home-field has really come to mean something.
But the story turned hard south the following week. With everyone’s hopes on the rise, the Dolphins went out and had their worst performance of the year up in Minnesota.
So after all the extreme highs and extreme lows, we are left with an average record of 7-7.
While we can hope for another miracle that Playoffs happen, the real question is what becomes of this regime after the season?
I think Gase will get one more year to see if he can get this team back to the playoffs. You have to at least like this team’s fight under his tutelage and ability to overcome a ton of injuries.
We are probably going to be stuck with Tannehill because barring any outrageous trade. Love him or hate him, Tannehill is one of the better options out there. But there’s no doubt Gase will need a much better backup. This is without a doubt the top issue that must be addressed in the 2019 Draft.
What are the rest of the Miami Dolphins News fans thoughts about this up and down season so far?
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Regardless of the results of the two remaining games, the Dolphins will not make the playoffs.
Even with a 7-9 or 8-8 record, Gase will get another year and he deserves it. He has the potential to be a successful head coach but he has to change that stubbornness which has caused him problems. If Gase is back in 2019 so will Tannehill. However, a search for a QB will need to take place keeping in mind that 2020 has a better crop of QB talent. Tannenbaum must go. Grier has actually done a good job finding talent especially in late rounds, so I would keep him. Gase needs to have less influence over player selection and he needs to give up play calling. Burke must go. There are other coaching staff that must go as well.
Even though Jimmy thinks QB is the top issue to address in the draft, I respectfully disagree. The Dolphins have way too many holes to fill in the draft to try to move up for a QB. Instead, they must draft DE in first round barring a stud “best player available” and DT/OG in second. Better yet, trade their first round pick for more picks and focus heavily on drafting Defensive Line. My estimation is that at least 50% of the roster must be turned over. Also, pay Xavien Howard, when its Laremy Tunsil’s turn, pay him too, bench Raekwon McMillan and re-sign Ju’wuan James. If Tannehill is still the QB in 2019, the Dolphins should become a running team, although I seriously doubt Gase is going to change from being pass happy. Looking back at the season, it is obvious that when the Dolphins establish and stick with the running game, good things happen.
Injuries were a major issue so there needs to be improved depth in the key areas ie OL and DL.
In conclusion, Steve Ross has some tough decisions to make in a couple weeks. If he is wise, he will sit with Gase and force the changes as a condition for a contract extension. For the Dolphins to ascend from mediocre to relevant, there must be some wholesale changes.
Go Dolphins!
No, Fritz, Playoffs are out. But, for me, 9-7 is just a faceless landmark that shows the ability to reach beyond meh.
He will likely get the extra year, but I’m not sure he deserves it… or that it will help him or this franchise. I am a fan of his… but the undue stress has weakened him and brought bad habits that I think will only continue or be exasperated in 2019. Another problem is this FO and defensive scheme… none of which will change. With a lame duck year and many issues, I just don’t see this team progressing.
Gase had so many opportunities to grow his program and himself as an HC, instead, he doubled down.
Burke will go, but this scheme and the personnel are a greater problem. They must extend Howard, but James I’m not feeling for the extension… but maybe. McMillan won’t be benched if Gase stays. He’ll double down.
YES! Running team is key… only problem is Drake and Ballage aren’t 3rd down backs… their pass protection isn’t good… they MUST get better at it. Running and quality ability at it is the only way Tannehill makes it.
The Phins must get a QB but they can’t sell the farm. They must use their picks and money wisely.
I just don’t see it ending well with Gase and Co. here. Maybe better luck would have helped him grow right, but as it is, he has some strong bad habits and, as you said, his stubbornness has him not seeing the forest among the trees, Fritz…
I don’t know… still 2 games to see something to bring e more hope. I like Gase and see his potential, but just not sure he’ll get out of his own way to let the potential be realized.
After today’s dreadful performance by the offense, I’ve changed my mind about Gase deserving another year. I now agree with you Admin that he does not deserve it. He is inconsistent as a play caller and sometimes seems confused and clueless.
Everything I’m reading says Ross is going to make wholesale changes in the offseason. Surprisingly, some pundits seem to think Grier may be safe. But, one sure thing for me is that Tannenbaum must go. Whether Gase stays or goes, at this point, I could care less. Even though I will remain a loyal fan and root for the Dolphins to win, this team has let me down way too many times.
One more game before we start getting serious about free agency and draft. Go Dolphins!
Sadly, we will reboot… hopefully it’s a full reboot. I think if Gase had been allowed 5 years with a real rebuild, so he could grow with the team and expectations and he didn’t call the plays, things would have been better. Still, the FO would have hampered him even if this happened. The pressure broke Gase and made him act in desperation. Reality is he is great… and now he’ll be another ex coach… we can only hope Tannenbaum and Grier go with him. Have a Merry Christmas and Holiday, Fritz!!!!
Merry Christmas to you too. Keep up the good work!