Here's why 8-3 this season ‘feels different' as Dolphins enter home stretch

LANDOVER, Md. — The Dolphins know what the two most important numbers say. They say the Dolphins are today what they were a year ago. They’re 8-3. Period.

Or should it be a question mark? Or even an exclamation point?

Because as the Dolphins head into Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders, they’re convinced not all 8-3 records are equal. Receiver Tyreek Hill went so far as to say that these 8-3 Dolphins are more talented than the Kansas City Chiefs team he was a part of that won a Super Bowl.

In short, there’s a feeling within the organization that this Dolphins team is better equipped to handle December football — and possibly January football or, dare anyone say, beyond that.

“It feels different this year,” Hill said. “We’re on a roll right now. It’s a beautiful thing to be a part of.”

The Dolphins who step onto the field Sunday won’t be facing just the Commanders, but a bit of history. The 2022 Dolphins won five in a row to get to 8-3, then lost five in a row before scratching and clawing to make the playoffs, where they were one-and-done in Buffalo.

“I feel like you now have that experience of knowing how it feels to leave some meat on the bone of a season and not playing up to your fullest potential,” fullback Alec Ingold said. “So I just feel like there’s more of a responsibility. It feels like work. It feels like business. Guys in the locker room understand what’s at stake in December.”

It’s not difficult to find reasons to justify why the Dolphins feel as they do, whether you’re looking on a micro or macro level. Start with the broad view taken by offensive coordinator Frank Smith, who like coach Mike McDaniel is in his second season in Miami.

“A lot of it is just it’s Year 2,” Smith said. “Guys really understand so much more of what we’re trying to accomplish and they can really not spend as much time — maybe they’re seeing the plan.”

There’s no “maybe” to the suggestion that players aren’t just understanding the system better. They’re executing it better almost across the board, in some cases by wide margins.

Defense has made huge jump with Jalen Ramsey

Breaking it down:

Defensively: Yes, it took time for new coordinator Vic Fangio’s system to sink in, but when your biggest off-season acquisition, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, misses two months with a knee injury, is that a surprise? When Ramsey did take the field, the Dolphins D was 21st in the NFL. Today? Seventh. It has allowed 13 points in each of the past two games, albeit against the Raiders and Jets. Miami is getting to the quarterback, although the challenge will be to do so without linebacker Jaelan Phillips, who is out for the season with an Achilles injury.

“Defense is playing (bleeping) amazing,” guard Rob Hunt said.

Even with early season bumps factored in, Miami’s D has improved by an average of 38.2 yards per game over this point of the 2022 season.

Offensively: If that 38.2 stat jumps off the page, there’s another number even larger. Miami’s offense is amassing 43.8 more yards over last season, up to a league-leading 430.5 per game.

Last season’s losing streak was punctuated by the offense’s funk once it lost quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. There were recent weeks in which the team struggled to kick it into overdrive and top 21 points, but the unit may have turned the corner with last week’s 34-13 beat-down against the Jets.

Once again, a closer look is necessary, revealing an omen that could bode well. Despite Hill’s quest for the league’s first 2,000-yard season, Miami’s passing attack actually is off slightly compared to last season at 285.3 yards per game. But: Its rushing attack has taken a massive step forward — 50.4 additional yards per game for an average 145.2, ranking second in the league.

Raheem Mostert is the NFL’s second-leading rusher. He leads in rushing touchdowns. And he has needed to be all that as virtually the last man standing among ballcarriers. Dynamic rookie De’Von Achane, veteran Jeff Wilson and intriguing pickup Chris Brooks have missed considerable time with injuries, but all appear on the verge of being able to make significant contributions again. One need only recall that snow globe game in Buffalo last December to understand how vital a dominant ground game can be.

“It’s like full-team football, right?” Ingold said. “Like it’s starting to come together.”

Mike McDaniel may be getting wish of steady improvement

Dating back to training camp, McDaniel has had one simple request for this team: steady improvement. Build on wins, learn from losses. Don’t be in January what you are in September.

So?

“We’re starting to have a team that’s complementing each other in all three phases,” McDaniel said. “You can’t just show up and say, ‘We’re going to stop this’ or ‘We’re going to beat this’ to beat the Miami Dolphins.”

For Smith, this conjures memories of when he joined Sean Payton’s staff on the New Orleans Saints.

“I got there two months after they won the Super Bowl,” Smith said. “He used to always talk about the Super Bowl is the greatest meal of your life. Every day after that, you’re chasing the taste. You want that steak again. You want that mashed potatoes again. Because nothing else tastes like it. It’s just that drive and it always resonated with me.”

It’s back to the meal analogy Ingold cited. It’s about leaving the table unsatisfied a year ago. Smith could understand it last year, when players were still learning the system. Not so much now.

“You make the playoffs and it doesn’t go the way you want to, but you see how close and what you are,” he said. “That just sets your inner drive and what’s going to push you.”

Jets game showed Dolphins can grind it out

Smith believes he caught a glimpse of the Dolphins taking advantage of that figurative tailwind in the second half against the Jets. The Dolphins put away the game with a 15-play, 92-yard drive that swallowed 9:03. They converted five third downs to set up Mostert’s 13-yard scoring run, which, it must be said, was possible despite an offensive line that has remained stout despite employing 10 different players.

One final difference over a year ago: The 2022 swoon began as Miami played three consecutive road games. After the Washington game, the Dolphins will be on the road for only one of the final five regular-season games. And this time, the tough stretch is in the final three games, against Dallas, at Baltimore and vs. Buffalo.

A steadily improving defense. An offense overcoming countless injuries, yet still able to impose its will in the business end of a game. It’s a recipe the Dolphins are banking on to change the narrative of a year ago and avoid just a cameo in the playoffs.

“It’s kind of like been there, done that, I know,” Ingold said. “There’s no dipping the toe in the water anymore. It’s like we’re going all in for it.”

Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal.

Comparing 8-3 start (of 2022) to 8-3 (this season)

Here's how the Dolphins stack up after 11 games in 2022 and 11 games this season. Stats listed show the value for each category and NFL ranking.

Stat 2022 2023 Diff.

Total offense 386.7 (3) 430.5 (1) +43.8

Passing 291.9 (2) 285.3 (1) -6.6

Rushing 94.8 (28) 145.2 (2) +50.4

Scoring 25.6 (6) 30.8 (2) +5.2

Sacks allowed 23.0 (8T) 18.0 (3) -5

Third dn off. 40.8 (13) 42.3 (12) +1.5

Total D 343.4 (17) 305.2 (7) -38.2

Pass D 233.8 (22) 212.4 (11) -21.4

Rush D 109.5 (10) 92.8 (6) -16.7

Scoring D 23.3 (19) 22.8 (23) -0.5

Sacks 25.0 (18T) 38.0 (3) +13

Third dn D 41.7 (24) 35.9 (9) -5.8

Takeaways 11 (25T) 14 (20T) +3

Giveaways 11 (4T) 19 (23T) +8

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 8-3 again? But this year ‘feels different' to Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins