The Miami Dolphins got off to a miserable 2-7 start to the 2025 NFL season and appeared to be entirely out of the playoff race. Things may have changed recently, following their wins in each of their past three games, as they enter a favorable Week 14 matchup against the New York Jets. This has one analyst praising their recent performances and suggesting they could be a sleeper this year.
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Miami Dolphins Given Sleeper Potential Amid Winning Streak
The Dolphins seemingly needed to make significant changes after plummeting to a disastrous 2-7 start to the season. All of a sudden, they are quietly 5-7 and in the mix to potentially get back into the playoff race.
Dan Orlovsky recently expressed confidence in their outlook during a “First Take” segment on ESPN. He pointed to what makes them different now and also predicted where they will end up.
“Stop sleeping on the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are going to get to 8-7 … This has become one of the best run games in football… The thing that we’ve said about Miami for years is, when the weather turns, they’re not good enough. That’s different, they’ve completely changed their offensive identity.”
“De’Von Achane has become one of, if not the most explosive runner in football. Just so everybody understands, Tua Tagovailoa is not playing good enough, he’s going to have to play better … but this team is dangerous right now, don’t forget about them,” stated Orlovsky.
🎥 Dan Orlovsky on the Miami Dolphins’s playoff chances: “Stop sleeping on the Miami Dolphins. The Miami Dolphins are gonna get to 8-7… the thing that we’ve said about Miami is, when the weather turns, they’re not good enough – that’s different.” (@FirstTake) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/wNHmPOiVrs
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) December 5, 2025
Miami has an active three-game winning streak, but Orlovsky believes they will double it to six consecutive wins.
This means they will have to take care of business against the Jets in Week 14, followed by two more challenging matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals.
If they can do so, they will surely be in a position to potentially earn a Wild Card spot in the AFC when the NFL Playoffs arrive. Orlovsky pointed to their dominant rushing attack, specifically De’Von Achane, as the reason for their recent success and why they will remain competitive when the weather turns colder.
Achane has been excellent this year, currently ranking third among all running backs in PFSN’s Impact Rankings for this season, trailing only Jonathan Taylor and James Cook. He will likely need to continue his elite production, especially with Tua Tagovailoa checking in as just the 25th-ranked quarterback. Orlovsky acknowledged that Tagovailoa has to improve, but believes Achane can help carry them back into contention.