The Miami Dolphins have won four out of their last five games, improving from 1-6 to 5-7. According to Sports Illustrated writer Alain Poupart, the Miami Dolphins have “clearly have found a winning formula over the past month or so.” Poupart boiled it down to two things: Running the ball and producing takeaways on defense.
The Dolphins have found success running the football with De’Von Achane, who went over 1,000 rushing yards in Miami’s most recent game. He’s now surpassed 100 rushing yards in three straight games, all of which Miami won.
The 2025 Miami Dolphins
GettyTua Tagovailoa & De’Von Achane
Both of the elements that Poupart mentioned as Miami’s winning formula were nowhere to be found early in the season. In their 1-6 start, Achane averaged 67.4 yards per game. Since then, Achane is averaging 112.4 yards per game and the team is 4-1. Running the ball is a formula that works for this team.
Miami’s run game didn’t magically improve overnight. At 1-6, before the Falcons game, Mike McDaniel decided to use an offensive package that featured six offensive linemen. Since then, Miami has run for over 140 yards in four of their last five games. Their lone loss came when the team failed to reach that mark. During their 1-6 start, the Dolphins never reached this figure.
On the other hand, the Dolphins have produced eight takeaways in their final five games. They produced only six in their first seven games. They’re 5-0 when producing at least two takeaways in a game. Whether the uptick in takeaways is a result of luck, better coaching, players gaining familiarity in the scheme or quality of opponents, is yet to be determined.
For now, as Poupart said, running the ball and taking the ball away is the formula that works for the Miami Dolphins. They’ve done this without getting the best version of their quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa is currently tied with Geno Smith for the league lead in interceptions. All of his passing stats have decreased, and it’s been his worst year since Mike McDaniel took over the head coaching role in 2022.
Miami’s current formula works, but they’ll need better play out of their quarterback in the future if it will amount to any significant wins. For now, Dolphins will have to settle for the team finding an identity that results in winning football.
Miami Dolphins’ Playoff Chances
GettyMinkah Fitzpatrick & Jack Jones
At 1-6, the Dolphins dug themselves in a massive hole. Even despite their hot month, the New York Times playoff simulator gives them less than a 1% chance of making it to the postseason. If they were to make a remarkable run and ride this winning formula to a 10-7 finish, that would simply increase their chances to 14%.
A little too late seems to be the case for the Dolphins. Looking back at some of the team’s early defeats seems inevitable now. How would the season have turned out if they didn’t blow a one-point lead with less than a minute to go against the Chargers, or if they didn’t lose a 17-0 lead against the Panthers, or even what if they hadn’t allowed a kick return touchdown after climbing out of a two-possession deficit against the Patriots?
If Miami finishes out the season hot and misses out on the postseason for the second consecutive year, those games will be tough to forget for all Dolphins fans.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Dolphins Have Found “Winning Formula,” Analyst Says appeared first on Heavy Sports.