Buffalo Rumblings
Like any fan base, Bills Mafia can be fickle at times regarding the outlook of their favorite team. Where they see deficiencies at wide receiver or safety, or a need to find help along the defensive line, fans of other teams might actually view the situation at One Bills Drive as one where the grass is greener.
The Bills, while currently chasing the New England Patriots, have a chance to win their sixth-consecutive AFC East division title — which would add to their current team record of five such titles. The last time the Miami Dolphins won the AFC East was in 2008 under head coach Tony Sparano. What do you remember from 17 years ago? It’s a long look back.
One needs not look back that far to see significant changes in Miami’s football fortunes. When the Bills hit the field against the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon, they’ll face a much different team than the one that began the 2025 NFL season — one that held high expectations. Instead, the current regime is one surrounded by questions and bathed in doubt.
The Dolphins are now 2-7 record nearly mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Head coach Mike McDaniel hasn’t gotten the most out of his football team, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa isn’t playing up to his potential. The question now becomes whether or not a rebuild is in order.
Many observers thought the Dolphins would be major sellers at the NFL trade deadline, yet they didn’t really create a lot of waves. Adding to the team’s bleak playoff outlook was the firing of general manager Chris Grier, both of which seem to open the flood gates for a mass exodus of talent. In the end, the only trade the Dolphins manged was sending edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Certainly, one of the biggest questions Miami faces in the offseason is that of Tagovailoa’s future with the team. His current contract carries a cap hit of $56 million next season, and fans are getting irritated about his on-field work. There is an out in Tagovailoa’s contract, which can’t be leveraged until the end of the 2026 NFL season. That out also carries a $34 million dead-cap hit. Given that the Dolphins are in the same division with quarterbacks Josh Allen and an ascending Drake Maye, it’s important they get it right at the game’s most challenging (and rewarding) position.
To this point, “Tank for Tua” hasn’t paid off. It’s important to point out that Tagovailoa does not and should not shoulder all of that weight. A team can win with Tagovailoa as QB1, as the Dolphins have. However, he has yet to be on the winning side of a playoff game.
For Dolphins fans, it’s probably difficult rooting for the team in 2025, and it may not get better in the near future. Miami’s current salary cap projection for 2026 sees them with only $1 million available....
