MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins, in seven days, have began a profitable streak.
Sunday’s 34-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Arduous Rock Stadium adopted final Monday night time’s victory towards the Rams in Los Angeles. Again-to-back wins on reverse coasts have them going from the depths of the AFC standings at 2-6 to 4-6 and within the hunt for a attainable playoff spot.
For these Dolphins, they at all times understood, even via two separate three-game dropping streaks and 6 losses in seven video games, it wasn’t a matter of if however when the turnaround would happen.
“I really feel like we had the identical confidence the entire season,” cornerback Kader Kohou stated Monday, because the Dolphins transitioned into preparation for an additional dwelling recreation this Sunday towards the New England Patriots (3-8). “Generally, the ball simply didn’t roll our manner. We didn’t have (quarterback) Tua (Tagovailoa) loads of these video games, however we at all times had our confidence. Profitable these video games shouldn’t be actually a shock for us.”
The Dolphins stay 1 1/2 video games again of the ultimate playoff spot, held by the Denver Broncos, after Week 11. The trail to that No. 7 seed, although, turned extra clear.
The Sunday night time loss by the Cincinnati Bengals (4-7) to the Los Angeles Chargers set them behind the Dolphins. It’s solely Denver (6-5) and the Indianapolis Colts (5-6) in the best way, however complicating issues is that the Colts personal a head-to-head tiebreaker with Miami because of the Oct. 6 end in Indianapolis.
“We by no means counted ourselves out,” stated heart Aaron Brewer. “On this league, you bought to take it one week at a time, and we all know what we received forward of us.”
He stated he might take the occasional gander on the standings.
“It actually doesn’t make a distinction,” Brewer stated. “Solely factor we are able to management is what’s in entrance of us proper now.”
With a win towards the Patriots on Sunday, the Dolphins get inside an earshot of a climb again to .500, which may then be attained with what shall be a tricky check in Inexperienced Bay on Thanksgiving night time towards the Packers.
“Guys put themselves mainly into the playoffs just a little early, in our mindset,” stated linebacker Anthony Walker Jr., who has stored the run protection stout since his insertion into the beginning lineup three video games in the past. “Every recreation is just about coming all the way down to must-win. That’s our mindset.”
Towards the Raiders on Sunday, the Dolphins had an environment friendly efficiency from Tagovailoa, with methodical drives finally resulting in the large play down the sector late to tight finish Jonnu Smith.
Defensively, Miami additionally let Las Vegas maintain drives of its personal. Permitting the Raiders to go 10 of 16 on third and fourth downs will do this.
“We received the sport,” stated security Jordan Poyer, who was in protection on Raiders rookie tight finish Brock Bowers’ landing. “Clearly, there’s issues we may do higher and issues that we need to do higher. However hand over 19 factors, you’re going to have an opportunity. However there’s undoubtedly issues we need to work on in the midst of the season. I don’t suppose there’s one staff that will come out of a win or loss and say there’s issues that they don’t must work on.”
The Dolphins are additionally comparatively wholesome as they get set for 2 video games in 5 days starting Sunday. Operating again Raheem Mostert “got here out optimistic,” in line with coach Mike McDaniel, after sustaining a hip harm early towards the Raiders.
McDaniel stated fellow tailback De’Von Achane’s play merited extra snaps for him than the staff anticipated coming into the sport.
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“We have now the problem of getting a totally tooled backfield,” McDaniel stated. “He has actually made it troublesome, in in-game conditions, final two specifically, to take him off the sector, however we attempt to depart that room for guys to resolve for us in the course of the recreation how a lot guys will play.”
The Dolphins enter the approaching week with a number of gamers they’ll both deliver again onto the energetic roster or at the very least open up their preliminary follow window.
“We do have some guys who’re approaching the readiness, however we even have some stuff to iron out with the roster,” McDaniel stated. “So there’s loads of ‘to be decided,’ and once I say loads, there’s at the very least a handful of fellows.”
Offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn had no setbacks together with his recovering quadriceps and knee in his first week of follow and has seemed good, in line with McDaniel.
“When he comes again, I would like him to remain again,” McDaniel stated of creating positive to not push him too rapidly.
Security Patrick McMorris may even be put via one other week of drills earlier than a roster spot presumably opens for him.
Miami additionally has choices to open up follow home windows quickly for lengthy snapper Blake Ferguson (non-football sickness record) and out of doors linebacker Cameron Goode (PUP record, knee). Goode has been stated, by McDaniel, to be forward of fellow edge rusher Bradley Chubb.
Quarterback Tyler “Snoop” Huntley can also be eligible to return after lacking 4 video games on injured reserve with a shoulder harm, however that will not be a direct want for the Dolphins.
“It’s necessary to have three (quarterbacks) over a protracted stretch of time, however within the quick time period, we’ll modify by the wants of the staff, for positive,” McDaniel stated.
Quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell beforehand stated Huntley and Skylar Thompson could be immersed in competitors for the backup job as soon as each had been wholesome.
Miami enters the second week since cornerback Kendall Fuller’s second concussion this season. Kohou stated Fuller is doing properly and hopes he can return quickly.
