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Miami Dolphins Stats, Odds, Standings, Schedule, 2023 NFL Season
The Miami Dolphins finally made the playoffs in 2022 after narrowly missing out in the previous two seasons. They have been gradually building toward becoming a consistent playoff contender, and according to Las Vegas NFL odds the Dolphins might have reached that point. The 2023 season could be defining for the Dolphins, who have done everything possible to improve. Now, they need to show it on the field.
Miami Dolphins’ Last Seasons Performance
Last season, NFL lines did not know what to make of the Dolphins. Heading into the 2022 season, there was evident talent on the roster, especially after they traded for wide receiver Tyreek Hill. His play did not drop off, finishing second in receptions and receiving yards.
The offense took massive leaps due to the addition of Hill, and because Mike McDaniel was named the head coach. The offense looked unstoppable until starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered multiple concussions. His injuries changed NFL odds, with Tagovailoa struggling in the back half of season, missing the final three games, including a playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.
With the offense was lacking consistency, the defense couldn’t make up for it, being unreliable.. That led to a season of streaks for the Dolphins. They won the opening three games, only to lose the next three. After that, Miami won five straight, then lost five in a row. The Dolphins won the season’s final game, securing their playoff spot.
Miami Dolphins Key Additions
The Dolphins’ depth chart is stacked. There is a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, which has led to a high payroll. That did lead to some restrictions on how the Dolphins could manage free agency. Instead of making a splash, Miami used its draft capital to add more talent through trades.
The most significant move the Dolphins made this offseason was trading for cornerback Jalen Ramsey. He has been one of the top corners in the league for a long time, and adding him to any already-deep secondary is a scary sight. That move could lean more NFL picks in the Dolphins’ direction. The additions of linebacker David Long and safety DeShon Elliott in free agency were solid deals. On offense, the Dolphins didn’t make many moves, mainly re-signing their top two running backs, Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr.
In the draft, the Dolphins only had four picks. However, the Dolphins did add corner Cam Smith in the second round, and running back Devon Achane in the third.
Miami Dolphins Key Subtraction
This offseason, the Dolphins were able to avoid any massive losses, which is surprising given how talented the roster is, plus the contracts that were starting to stack up. The biggest loss on offense was tight end Mike Gesicki leaving in free agency. However, his role diminished last season, with 362 receiving yards.
With the additions the Dolphins made in the secondary, they must have felt comfortable cutting ties with corner Byron Jones. He had missed the 2022 season with an injury, and releasing him made the Dolphins’ cap situation a little more manageable.
Miami Dolphins Head Coach Analysis
McDaniel’s first season as the head coach of the Dolphins was complicated. While the team had a three- and five-game winning streak, it also had losing streaks to match them. On top of that, there seemed to be an apparent mishandling of Tagovailoa’s concussions, which did complicate some NFL news headlines.
However, McDaniel was brought in to fix the offense, and he did that. The Dolphins finished 11th in yards and sixth in scoring, making a massive improvement compared to 2021. On top of that, making the playoffs in McDaniel’s first season is a big step, and standing their ground against the Buffalo Bills, losing 34-31, with a third-string quarterback, is even more impressive.
Miami Dolphins Injured Players at the Beginning of the Season
There are some big names on the Dolphins’ injury report right now, with Hill, Ramsey, and Long all listed as questionable for Week 1. However, there is a good chance they will participate through training camp at some point, maybe not preseason, but it should have little to no effect on future NFL spreads.
Miami Dolphins Offense
With McDaniel at the helm of the offense and Hill proving to be a top receiver in the NFL, the Dolphins looked unstoppable at times in 2022. On top of that, the wide receiver duo of Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined for 3,066 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 194 receptions. The two quickly became one of the best receiver duos in the NFL, with Tagovailoa taking full advantage of the offense, passing for 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only eight inceptions.
However, while the passing game flourished, the Dolphins could never find any stable production running the ball. They had the second-fewest attempts and were in the bottom third of the league in yards and touchdowns. Putting a little more effort into the running game in 2023 could be fruitful further down the road.
Miami Dolphins Defense
On paper, the Dolphins should have one of the top defenses. They have an extremely talented roster that improved with the additions of Ramsey, Long, and Elliott. Having Ramsey and Elliot makes an already solid secondary, headlined by Xavien Howard and Jevon Holland, even better.
However, the strength of the defense is the defensive line. Jaelan Phillips started to come into his own last season, leading the team with seven sacks. Bradley Chubb was acquired at the trade deadline, but was underwhelming. This will be Chubb’s first full season with the Dolphins, which should help him return to his usual form. On top of the pass rusher talent, Christian Wilkins, one of the top defensive tackles in the league, anchors the line.
Vic Fangio was named defensive coordinator. He has a long history of having some of the best defenses in the NFL, and with this talented roster, there is a good chance the Dolphins could see a massive improvement compared to being ranked 24th yards and 18th in points allowed.
Miami Dolphins Special Teams
After a down season, kicker Jason Sanders will return in 2023, having made 81.3% of his 32 field goal attempts last season. He was reliable on extra points, only missing 3 of 44. There will be a change at punter, with Jake Bailey taking over, having spent the last four seasons with the New England Patriots.
Miami Dolphins Prediction for the 2023 Season
It would be disappointing after finally making the playoffs in 2022 if the Dolphins fall short in 2023. The defense has more talent, plus a new defensive coordinator with an excellent track record. On top of that, the offense was not an issue last season when Tagovailoa was healthy. If he can stay on the field while McDaniel adds a little more to the running game, Miami should outdo what it did last season.
Miami Dolphins Final Thoughts
The biggest roadblock to the Dolphins making the playoffs again is their division. The AFC East is going to be a battle. The Bills went 13-3 last season, winning the division and the New York Jets have talent everywhere, plus they traded for Aaron Rodgers. Then there are the Patriots, with Bill Belichick, who seems motivated to make the playoffs. On top of that, the AFC is super competitive, so finishing second in the East might not secure a Wild Card spot. That could complicate things, because if the Dolphins miss the playoffs, the year could be seen as a failure.
Miami Dolphins FAQs
Are the Miami Dolphins the “sleepers” in the AFC East?
The Dolphins are “sleepers” to win the AFC East. The Buffalo Bills are a great team, but the Dolphins might have a better overall roster, which levels the playing field.
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The hype around the Dolphins heading into the 2023 season is real. However, they have not shown the consistency to make a legit run at the Super Bowl, having had drastic ups and downs through 2022.
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When was the last time the Miami Dolphins made the playoffs?
Before making the playoffs in 2022, and losing in the Wild Card, the last time that the Dolphins were in the playoffs was in 2016. They also lost in the Wild Card that season.
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How much pressure will Tua Tagovailoa have to perform this season?
There is a decent amount of pressure on Tagovailoa this season. Despite impressive stats, he has graded out as the best quarterback. However, his biggest concern should be to stay healthy because when Tagovailoa is on the field, the Dolphins are a much better team.
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