Miami Has to Win With Speed and Points
De’Von Achane gives Miami a fast way to stress a defense and support its new quarterback. The offense grades 5.3 points higher, leaving the young pass rush very little room to survive empty possessions.
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PFM Archetype
No Clear Weapon
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75.3PFM Team Score
NFL Rank#24No rank change
AFC Rank#12Among AFC teams
QB Stability#20Malik Willis · Prove-It Zone
Season OutlookNeeds More HelpMiami can be competitive but needs more help before it can be trusted as a playoff team.
Coaching Staff Snapshot
Head CoachJeff Hafley
Offensive CoordinatorBobby Slowik
Defensive CoordinatorSean Duggan
Coaching Direction RankNo. 28
Offensive Rating
78.0
Defensive Rating
72.7
PFM Ranking Story
Why Miami Is No. 24
The offense still has a player who can turn a crease into six points in De’Von Achane, and Malik Willis adds another stress point in the run-action game. The problem is everything around that speed: Miami is replacing proven receiver production while rebuilding both lines. Until the offense can protect the quarterback and win without space, the big-play threat will come and go.
PFM Team DNA
Miami Dolphins Team DNA
See how the PFM category ratings shape Miami.
Identity
Core Talent
The Dolphins are trying to win with a motion and run-action offense built around De’Von Achane and Malik Willis’ movement.
Swing Factor
Need More Explosive Plays
Big-play production is the swing factor. More chunk plays would change the ceiling.
What the Ratings Reveal
What Jumps Off the Page
Miami Has More Help Than Its Ranking Suggests
The roster ranks 18th, and De’Von Achane and Chop Robinson and the young pass rush give the team real players to build around. The question is whether the depth holds up after the first answer is taken away.
Game Plan
How This Team Wins — And How It Breaks
The Dolphins win by creating space for Achane, using Willis in the run-action game and keeping the defense from sitting on pure dropback passes.
The Dolphins are most exposed in long obvious-passing situations or physical trench games where Miami cannot win with speed alone. Those games put a spotlight on replacing proven receiver production and rebuilding both lines around a new quarterback.
Schedule Strength
The Road Ahead
Miami's road sits No. 4 in difficulty; opponents average 81.9 in PFM Score, with 8 games against current top-10 teams. Four of those top-10 matchups are away, while the next 5 opponents average 81.0.
Difficulty Rank#4No. 1 is toughest
Opponent PFM Avg.81.9Average across opponents
Next 5 Avg.81.0Upcoming opponents
Top-10 Matchups8Games vs. current top 10
Away games left9
Top-10 road opponents4
at Las Vegas Raiders72.7 PFM · #28
Sep 13 · 4:25 pmAwayBottom 10
at San Francisco 49ers87.2 PFM · #3
Sep 20 · 4:25 pmAwayTop 10
vs. Kansas City Chiefs87.1 PFM · #4
Sep 27 · 1:00 pmHomeTop 10
at Minnesota Vikings78.8 PFM · #19
Oct 4 · 4:05 pmAway
vs. Cincinnati Bengals79.3 PFM · #16
Oct 11 · 1:00 pmHome
Toughest remaining opponent: San Francisco 49ers at 87.2 PFM.
PFM Report Card
QB StabilityB-78.9
Roster StrengthB-79.7
Coaching DirectionC72.5
Recent PerformanceC-68.7
Offense StrengthB-78.0
Defense StrengthC72.7
Franchise DirectionC72.9
ExplosivenessC70.1
League Context
Built Like…
These are the two closest on-field builds in the PFM ratings. The similarities matter, but so do the differences.
Closest PFM Match
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are the closest match because both teams expect the offense to drive the result. The Dolphins lean on a motion and run-action offense, while the Colts lean on a run-first RPO and play-action offense. The Dolphins have more help across the roster.
Second-Closest Match
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals are another close match because both teams trust the quarterback to set the weekly ceiling. The Dolphins get there through a motion and run-action offense; the Cardinals are built around a wide-zone and play-action offense. The Dolphins have the deeper roster.
Division Pressure
AFC East Pressure
Buffalo and New England both offer more roster certainty in the AFC East. A motion and run-action plan gives Miami enough to stay in the race. The remaining problem is replacing proven receiver production and rebuilding both lines around a new quarterback.
Miami Dolphins in the Super Bowl Era
Miami owns 2 Super Bowl titles from 5 trips, with the latest coming in Super Bowl VIII in 1974.
- Super Bowl Titles
- 2
- Super Bowl Appearances
- 5
- Super Bowl Record
- 2–3
- Last Appearance
- 1985 Super Bowl XIX
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