Miami Dolphins beat Patriots, are early faves to win AFC

NFL scheduling for the 2023 common season resulted within the Miami Dolphins having to open their season with two consecutive highway video games — on two totally different coasts. They beat the Los Angeles Chargers in southern California in Week 1, after which traveled to Massachusetts for a Week 2 Sunday Evening Soccer matchup in opposition to the New England Patriots.

The Dolphins have come out of that stretch 2-0, following a 24-17 victory in opposition to the Patriots. For as nicely as they’ve performed the primary two weeks of the season, nothing about their two wins was overpowering. Their offense is the quickest within the NFL, however the truth that — per a Sunday Evening Soccer anecdote — they’ve gamers with elite pace arguing over high-school 100-meter-dash occasions, isn’t any magic carpet experience to the franchise’s first Tremendous Bowl look since Purple Rain was launched.

Their protection didn’t maintain up its finish of the discount in a shootout in opposition to the Chargers in Week 1. Nevertheless, it did get better to largely include a Patriots offense that had outgained and tallied extra first downs than the Philadelphia Eagles throughout a Week 1 loss. With two highway wins in opposition to robust opponents salted away, the remainder of the Dolphins’ schedule presents a pathway to the highest seed within the AFC.

Of all of the groups presently sitting at 2-0, the Dolphins have performed probably the most tough schedule.

And while the Miami protection made much more performs in opposition to the Patriots than it did in opposition to the Chargers, through the second half the Dolphins discovered themselves scrambling to stymie drives. The referees have the authority to say there was clear proof to overturn the primary down initially known as following Mike Gesicki’s lateral to Cole Unusual within the fourth quarter, however that doesn’t imply they have been proper. The Patriots have been marching down the sphere to tie the sport.

Each of the Dolphins’ 2023 opponents are 0-2, but additionally have had reputable probabilities to win in consecutive weeks. The Chargers and Patriots will possible be preventing for a playoff berth all 12 months, however no matter how slender the Dolphins’ victories have been, Miami is now in prime place.

They simply performed in opposition to a cold-weather rival every week after touring to the west coast. These are two disadvantages they brushed apart on the most opportune time. The Dolphins don’t journey out west the remainder of the 12 months, and the earliest they may possible play in winter chilly is their Nov. 24 matchup in opposition to the New York Jets — sans Aaron Rogers. They play the Washington Commanders the next week and end the season with 4 of their final 5 video games at Laborious Rock Stadium in south Florida. No January AFC East snow, and the one likelihood of coping with frigid climate throughout probably the most essential weeks of the NFL season is a New Yr’s Eve matchup in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens.

The Dolphins have pace, a protection that shall be much more stout with the return of Jalen Ramsey come winter, and two early wins of their pocket with a schedule that ought to largely spare them of late-season snow and windchill.

A yellow brick highway has been laid for a Dolphins playoff run, largely because of some early season resilience away from residence. There’s a actual likelihood that the AFC Championship this season will run by Miami Gardens.