Getting to Know Your Playoff Bound Miami Dolphins

DOLPHINS CLOSE OUT REGULAR SEASON AGAINST NEW ENGLAND

The Dolphins will close out the regular season on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 when they host the New England Patriots at 1 p.m. Miami has defeated New England each of the last three meetings at home, but fell to the Patriots earlier this season in Foxborough, Mass. on Sept. 18, 2016.

The Dolphins are looking to win their fifth divisional game of the season. They have already clinched a winning record against the AFC East this season for the first time since 2009. A fifth win would be Miami’s best divisional record in a single season since the NFL went to four-team divisions in 2002.

THE DOLPHINS ARE HEADED TO THE PLAYOFFS

Miami has clinched a playoff spot and will be heading to the postseason for the 23rd time in the franchise’s 51-year history. The Dolphins are fourth in NFL history in percentage of seasons they have gone to the playoffs in their franchise’s history (45.1 percent). Adam Gase becomes the fourth Dolphins coach (Don Shula, 1970; Dave Wannstedt, 2000; Tony Sparano, 2008) to lead the team to the playoffs in his first season as head coach. He is just the second 1st-time head coach (Sparano, 2008) in team history to lead the Dolphins to the playoffs in his first season as an NFL head coach.

HALFTIME ADJUSTMENTS

Head Coach Adam Gase and the Miami Dolphins have played their best football this season late in games. In the second half and overtime, the Dolphins are outscoring their opponents 214-160. The 54-point margin is the best in the NFL.

 

THE DOLPHINS IN THE PAST NINE GAMES

Miami has now won nine of its past 10 games dating back to Week 6. The run is Miami’s best 10-game stretch since 2008, when the team won nine of its nal 10 contests to win the AFC East. Miami’s 10-5 record is the team’s best mark in 15 games since 2008 when they were also 10-5.

THE BEGINNING OF THE GASE ERA

Adam Gase was named the 12th head coach in Miami Dolphins history on Jan. 9, 2016. Here is a look at all 12 Dolphins head coaches in the franchise’s 51-year history:

NUMEROUS NEWCOMERS

Not only do the Dolphins have a rst-year head coach in Adam Gase, but 27 players, or 50.9 percent, of the team’s current 53-man roster are new faces from the end of the 2015 season.

BREAKING DOWN THE DOLPHINS ROSTER:

Here is how the Dolphins’ 53-man roster breaks down:

1. There are 24 offensive players, 26 defensive players and three specialists.
2. Of the 53 players on Miami’s roster, 19 of them (35.8%) were drafted by the Dolphins.
3. Miami also has eight undrafted college free agents on the roster that began their NFL careers with the Dolphins, bringing the total of 27 of the 53 players (50.9%) that began their NFL careers with the Dolphins.
4. Of Miami’s 53 players, 17 of them (32.1%) were not selected in the NFL draft.
5. A total of 40 of the 53 players (75.5%) are 28 years old or younger.

THE DOLPHINS ROSTER:

UP NEXT: THE AFC WILD CARD ROUND

The Dolphins will return to the playoffs for the 23rd time in franchise history when they play an AFC Wild Card game next weekend. Miami is currently the No. 6 seed in the AFC and is slotted to play at Pittsburgh. If the Dolphins defeat the Patriots and Kansas City loses at San Diego on Sunday, Jan. 1, Miami would earn the No. 5 seed and play at Houston in the AFC Wild Card. This is the Dolphins’ rst postseason trip since 2008.

Next Article: Getting to Know Your Miami Dolphins Offense