Ever since Adam Gase led the Dolphins to a brief postseason appearance in 2016, the franchise has been in rebuild mode. When the Bills became the first AFC East team to challenge the Patriots in years in 2017, Miami remained irrelevant. And when Brian Flores first took over in 2019, it looked like more of the same, as the Dolphins started the season 0-7 and shipped former first-round safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Steelers in the process.
Since then, however, there have been positive signs of change. Through the veteran leadership of Flores and journeyman quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami finished the 2019 season 5-4, which included impressive wins over the playoff-bound Eagles and Patriots. Very quietly, the Dolphins developed an edge, one that has carried over into 2020. This year's Dolphins have played playoff-caliber opponents tough, coming within one score of both the Bills in Week 2 and Seahawks in Week 4.
While tempted to find the future at quarterback - with Josh Rosen and now Tua Tagovailoa - Flores stayed the course with Fitzpatrick and arguably the least talented group of offensive skill position players in the league. The reward? An infusion of life on offense that led to Miami hanging 43 on the Niners at home this past week.
Fitzpatrick's resurgence will buoy the Dolphins in the interim but it will be up to Flores and Miami's slew of young talent and plentiful set of 2021 draft picks to help them turn the corner.
The next chance at a statement win comes in Week 8 when the Dolphins host the surging L.A. Rams. Aside from that challenge, Miami has an opportunity to scoop up some easy wins - versus the Bengals, Broncos, Chargers and Jets twice - that could keep them in the hunt into the final stretch of the regular season.
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