Pats Pulpit
While the New England Patriots are preparing for the NFL playoffs, the Miami Dolphins are heading into an uncertain future. Currently at 7-9, they failed to qualify for the tournament and as a consequence will extend their postseason win drought to 25 years.
Naturally, the disappointing nature of the season will lead to plenty of speculation in the offseason. However, uncertainty also reigns supreme heading into Sunday’s game. So, in order to find out more about the Patriots’ Week 18 opponent, we spoke with Kevin Nogle of Pats Pulpit’s sister site The Phinsider, the SB Nation community for all things Dolphins.
Here is what he told us about the upcoming game and opponent.
1. The fight Mike McDaniel’s team has shown at times this season has been really impressive. Do you believe he’s the guy for the Dolphins?
I could see McDaniel staying with the Dolphins in 2026 and I could see the team deciding to move on from him. My concern is, I think he is a good coach who is still learning the full role of the head coach. This could be a case where the Dolphins decide to move on, then he re-emerges as a really good head coach somewhere else. I am not saying he is a future Bill Belichick, but it could be similar to Belichick with the Browns right now.
Don Shula was the Dolphins’ head coach for 26 years. The only other coach to ever make it to a fifth season — and he didn’t complete that year — was Dave Wannstedt. George Wilson: four years. Jimmy Johnson: four years. Nick Saban: two years. Cam Cameron: one year. Tony Sparano: four years. Joe Philin: four years. Adam Gase: three years. Brian Flores: three years.
And now McDaniel is finishing out his fourth season. There may be something to keeping some stability — and I know Dolphins fans will hate that idea. It will likely come down to how they play on Sunday and whatever the team decides to do with their vacant general manager position. Does the new GM want to keep McDaniel? Does he have a coach he wants to hire?
Personally, I like McDaniel and think he has the chance to be a very good coach in the NFL — but he has to learn and grow quickly. If the Dolphins move on, I understand that decision as well.
2. How has Quinn Ewers looked since replacing Tua Tagovailoa? Could he be a long-term answer for Miami?
He has looked like a rookie trying to get used to the game’s pace. There is definitely a group of Dolphins fans who want to declare him the savior and see him as the future of the position for Miami, but he has not shown that at all. Last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was better than Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, so hopefully that is a sign that he is growing and could become an effective player in the NFL.
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