There aren’t enough words for what this means to this Dolphins fanbase. Even with the

fact that Tua Tagovailoa reverted back to his one touchdown form. Even with the fact

that the Dolphins gave up a late safety by kicking a ball directly into a player’s backside,

and introduced the internet to the term “butt punt.” Even allowing for the fact that

Miami’s MVP in this win doesn’t even wear a uniform, as South Florida’s heat and Hard

Rock Stadium’s brutal lack of shade on the visitor’s bench clearly played a massive role

in the game.

It doesn’t matter. Hey, the Miami Hurricanes enjoyed the same element advantage

Saturday afternoon, and had one of the worst performances in their history. Talent wins

in the end, and there is zero doubt now that the Dolphins have finally done what they’ve

been trying to do for four years. Close the talent gap with Buffalo. Consider the gap

closed.

Miami is 3-0. One of only three undefeated teams left in the NFL, and the last one in the

AFC.

What’s more, a real 3-0. One that feels earned. Not a 3-0 because they played a bunch

of rebuilding teams, Joe Philbin 3-0. No, this was three straight wins against elite

quarterbacks, and all on teams that expect to make the playoffs. When the 2022

schedule came out, Dolphins fans wept and cried foul. When the news broke that star

cornerback Byron Jones would miss the first four games, fans would have killed for a

2-2 start. Killed.

Instead, the Dolphins can look ahead. Should Tua even play this Thursday, in a short

week against the 1-2 Bengals? To be clear, that’s not the slight on the young

quarterback that it would have been in prior seasons. Suddenly, this is a team with

much bigger goals to worry about. It can’t just be about the playoffs now. The division. A

high playoff seed. All of it is on the table now. Resting Tua’s back could be the prudent

move.

Particularly given how favorable the schedule gets after this week. The next seven

games after Burrow Thursday night? Jets, Vikings, Steelers, Lions, Bears, Browns,

Texans. Four of those are home games. Miami should be favored in all of those, except

possibly that Vikings tilt. If you’re a believer that 10 wins guarantees you a playoff spot,

you’ll be happy to know Miami only needs to go .500 the rest of the way to make the

playoffs for the fourth time this century. Which should be an easy task for a team that

looks like they could threaten to get off to their best start since the turn of the century.

The defense that looked suspect last week? Dominant again, led by 13 tackles from

Jerome Baker and a 10 tackle, 1.5 sack effort from budding superstar Jevon Holland.

The offense? Still explosive enough to win when needed. Does that offense need to

improve? Absolutely. But do you have any doubt Mike McDaniel, off to the best start for

a new Dolphins coach since Jimmy Johnson in 1996, can make those adjustments?

He’s given you zero reason to do so.

One last play to consider. On a 3rd and 22, Tagovailoa calmly stood in the pocket and

fired a frozen rope to Jaylen Waddle for 45 yards. The reaction? Elation for sure.

Something else also though. Something that hasn’t been the case since Dan Marino

was under center.

Expectation. Belief that Miami’s offense could convert a play like that. Could, and would.

There’s a lot of football left to be played this season. But so far? It’s been the best

football the Dolphins have played in a very long time.