It may be purely coincidental, but the Miami Dolphins seem to be borrowing a page from the Florida Panthers in their approach to game-planning.
And at least in the past couple of weeks, it’s working.
What is it? It’s a philosophy of adapting a playing style geared toward the playoffs and using it in the regular season. The results may not always be sexy — but the results can be, as the Stanley Cup-champion Panthers can attest.
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Consider Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel a believer.
“I think we had as many 14-plus-play scoring drives last game as we did the entire year previous,” McDaniel said Monday. “And that’s something that we’ve been talking about since the start of the offseason. In conjunction with forecasting, how do we win elimination games? How do you win down the stretch of the season? You have to adjust to what is being presented to you.”
Miami’s quick-strike attack was slowed as the 2023 season wore on by defenses determined not to allow Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to get behind their safeties.
The Dolphins knew that in 2024, they’d have to be able to grind out drives, too.
Result: Three of the longest Dolphins drives of the McDaniel era, in terms of time consumed, have occurred in the past two games. All ate up more than eight minutes. All were enjoyed by Miami’s relaxing defensive players.
After the game, McDaniel joked his eyes were sore from staring at his play sheet all day. But he admits this change in philosophy required him to grow as a play-caller.
“Definitely,” he said. “I think I’m right in step with players. In the National Football League, if you’re not getting better, tick, tick, tick. There’s too much competition. You have to continue to evolve. That includes myself. There’s a lot to learn.”
After starting the season 2-6, the Dolphins began treating every game as an elimination game.
Losing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for a month to a concussion forced Miami’s hand even more. Combine that with three running backs the Dolphins rate highly in De’Von Achane, Raheem Mostert and Jaylen Wright and it’s an invitation for offensive diversity.
It’ll be tested soon enough. After Sunday’s game against the 3-8 New England Patriots, the Dolphins must travel on a short week to Green Bay for a Thanksgiving night game. Depending on how frozen Lambeau Field is, it could well take on the feel of a playoff game. Early forecast for Thanksgiving Day in Green Bay: High of 37, low of 22 with 20 percent chance of snow/precipitation.
The Dolphins are coming off their highest-scoring output of the season, a 34-19 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. The Dolphins had a field-goal drive consuming 8:22 and a touchdown drive of 8:13 Sunday. They also ate up 8:21 on a TD drive against the Bills. This doesn’t even factor in Miami’s 97-yard TD drive against the Raiders, which ate up a mere 7:47.
As if for old-time’s sake, all the grinding was rewarded when tight end Jonnu Smith found himself alone in the middle of the field with three minutes left. Tagovailoa threw what turned into a 57-yard touchdown pass for a 31-19 lead.
“It’s been on our minds since the season ended and it’s good to see a lot of work come to fruition,” McDaniel said.
Playoff chances inch upward for Dolphins
The Dolphins’ first two-game winning streak of 2024 has boosted their playoff chances to 28 percent, according to The Athletic’s playoff predictor.
The predictor rates the Bills and Chiefs as virtual locks at better than 99 percent. They’re followed by the Ravens (95) and Chargers/Texans (94) and Steelers (93).
After that come some of the Dolphins’ major wild-card competition: the Broncos (43) and Colts (29). The Colts are 5-6, including a win over Miami (4-6). The Broncos are 6-5.
We could learn the Dolphins’ future when they visit Houston on Dec. 15 before coming home to face San Francisco on Dec. 22.
