If the Miami Dolphins win all three of the season’s final regular season games the franchise will finish with nine wins in 2024.

That’s a winning record in today’s NFL, and would be the first time the franchise has delivered a a winning record for five consecutive seasons since the Dolphins produced a winning record between 1997 and 2003.

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That stretch was three seasons of Jimmy Johnson and of Dave Wannstedt. Unfortunately those can be referred to as the good old days because they were the last time this franchise was really relevant.

So unfortunately, that means if the Dolphins win out and deliver a winner this would be the best shape this franchise has been in for two decades.

The problem with that is, we must ask ourselves if this is leading us anywhere?

Actually, that’s a question team CEO Tom Garfinkel needs to ask owner Stephen Ross when the season review takes place.

And an even better question is, which direction is the arrow headed?

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To answer that question we have to thoroughly analyze what went wrong this season to determine how we got there, and what is fixable. And it’s important that we take it from the top.

Miami lost three games the team played when Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined by his concussion

The quality of the backup quarterback wasn’t good enough. Want proof of this? Skylar Thompson, who beat out Mike White during training camp to serve as Tagovailoa’s primary backup, isn’t even on the 53-man roster anymore. He was released last week and added to the practice squad. Put that mistake on head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback coach Darrell Bevell because they vouched for Thompson and weren’t able to properly develop him. This problem could have been addressed by adding a higher caliber of a backup in the offseason, but there’s no guarantee Sam Darnold would have saved this season like he has done for the Minnesota Vikings.

Offensive line fell apart because of injuries

The Dolphins put very little resources into improving last year’s offensive line, and the team basically got what they paid for. In the six games Miami has played since Austin Jackson sustained his season-ending knee injury the Dolphins are averaging 3.05 yards per carry. Miami struggled last week protecting Tagovailoa because Terron Armstead and Kendall Lamm weren’t healthy enough to man the tackle spots. Even if either tackle returns this week or next, he likely be playing at 70 percent. It’s possible that center Aaron Brewer would be the only Dolphins starter on the field Sunday who starts for more than half of the league’s other teams. That’s a talent evaluation problem.

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Run game has gone from first to second worst

Because of the Dolphins dismal 3.05 yards-per-carry average the offense has managed in six weeks the Dolphins are averaging 3.86 yards per attempt, which is far cry from the NFL average of 4.42 yards per carry. The Dolphins are also averaging 17.7 yards below the NFL average of 119.1 rushing yards per game. To fall this short of replicating last year’s success, (5.1 yards per carry and 135.8 rushing yards per game), shows there was clearly a disconnect with this offensive line. Either the evaluation of talent is off, the coaching didn’t hit home, or both.

Miami’s defense lacks big prowess

Only five teams have created fewer turnovers on defense than the Dolphins (12) this season, and the Dolphins’ negative-5 turnover differential ranks Miami 22nd in the NFL. In fairness to players in Miami’s secondary, which includes the safety duo of Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer, who haven’t pulled down an interception this season, pressure placed on quarterbacks contributes to turnover production. The Dolphins sparingly create pressure, and rarely do it without blitzing. And this is a season after setting a franchise record for sacks in 2023, so clearly there’s a talent shortcoming.

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Special teams has been fairly inconsistent

The inconsistency the Dolphins have experienced from the third phase of the game has virtually made that unit unreliable for the past two seasons. Whether it’s allowing big returns, committing stupid penalties on procedural stuff (or not), fumbling on returns, or lackluster coverage on punts or kicks, missing extra points, or a fake punt being executed at the highest level, it’s always something with Danny Crossman’s unit.