Miami Dolphins 2021 NFL Season Analysis

In The 2021 NFL Season of the Miami Dolphins, the bipolar character of this team predominated. Although they had a brilliant end to the campaign, a catastrophic start ended any hope of the team to enter the Playoffs. The quarterback position remains a mystery, heads have rolled and a new era is upon us for the South Florida franchise, all thanks to a wildly inconsistent year.

The 2021 Dolphins Season

Miami came from a 2020 where they had finished with a 10-6 record and missed the Playoffs just in the last week of the regular season. After a 2021 NFL Draft that included two first-round picks, and the acquisition of offensive weapons for a quarterback fresh from his rookie year, this team was expected to make the leap in quality by reaching the postseason, however, although once more were close, they did not achieve the task.

The Dolphins’ campaign started off on the right foot. In Week 1 they pulled off an unusual feat, defeating the New England Patriots 17-16 at home in Foxborough. However, it would be the only victory they would know in two months. After this victory, Miami looked unrecognizable and they were in charge of doing everything to lose seven games in a row at the hands of QB Tua Tagovailoa and QB2 Jacoby Brissett, who was forced to take charge of the offensive between the week 2 and 5 due to a rib injury to Tua.

Thus, a series of consecutive setbacks against Buffalo, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Atlanta and once again Buffalo, seemed to have buried the 2021 of some Dolphins that generated too many doubts. There was more talk of Miami for a possible trade with Houston in exchange for QB Deshaun Watson, who for his performance on the field. However, the narrative would change.

For Week 9, with another injury to Tua now with a broken finger, Miami (1-7), led by Brissett, received the Texans (1-7) in a duel where at that time the loser would be enshrined as the worst team in the AFC. Finally, the Dolphins prevailed and from there they turned their campaign in a surprising way: they would not know defeat again for two months and the team could dream of postseason, something that seemed impossible.

A string of wins against the Texans, Ravens, Jets, Panthers, Giants, Jets once again, and Saints, returned Miami to a record over .500. However, it would only be a matter of one match for everything to come crashing down again. In Week 17 they were massacred in Nashville by the Titans, and thus the Dolphins, despite a spectacular turn of the year, were eliminated from the postseason by losing their eighth game of the campaign.

To decorate the standings and in an act of pride, in Week 18 Miami beat New England to close the season with a sweep of its division rival for the first time since 2000. However, by now the team had already become the first in the history of the NFL to win and also lose seven games in a row in the same season; Said inconsistency and having stayed on the brink of the Playoffs for the second year in a row ended up costing HC Brian Flores his position in a move that very few saw coming.

QB Tua Tagovailoa. Miami dolphins

Miami’s 2021 Season MVP

Jaylen Waddle – WR

The Alabama alum, who came to the Dolphins as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, quickly became the deadliest weapon in the team’s offense. He finished the year with 1,015 receiving yards and 6 TDs on 104 receptions, breaking the NFL’s all-time record for most receptions in a season by a rookie, previously held by Anquan Boldin, who had 102 receptions in 2003.

In the honorable mentions, coincidentally two other rookies also stand out: LB Jaelan Phillips, who recorded a total of 8.5 sacks, and S Jevon Holland, who did everything on the field: he accumulated 2.5 sacks, 2 INT and 10 passes defensed; excellent in area coverage and also in blitz, The specialty of the house. With the 3 players previously mentioned, everything indicates that in Miami there is a good future ahead.

The best moment of the 2021 Dolphins season

Thursday Night Football of Week 10 against Baltimore. The Dolphins (2-7) arrived as clear victims against the Ravens (6-2), however, Miami prevailed by a final score of 10-22 thanks to an exaggerated dose of blitz that disconcerted QB Lamar Jackson depriving him of his mobility.

That day WR Albert Wilson (4 rec, 87 yards) and Isaiah Ford (4 rec, 84 yards) shone; both recorded their best game of the campaign. In addition, CB Xavien Howard, who is the best at his position in the NFL, had the game-ending touchdown early in the fourth quarter thanks to a pick six 49 yards.

The worst moment of the 2021 Miami Season

The Week 2 shutout they suffered against the Bills 35-0 at home could be a good nomination. However, within their deplorable streak of seven consecutive losses, the Dolphins in Week 6 were defeated in London 20-23 by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had just lost a total of 20 games in a row, the third worst losing streak in the NFL history. When they couldn’t beat former HC Urban Meyer and company, that’s where Miami bottomed out in 2021.

What is expected of the Dolphins in the 2022 Season?

It is not easy to answer. Owner Stephen Ross decided to sever working relationships with Brian Flores so, surprisingly, the Dolphins now have a head coaching vacancy available. Who will take it? That is unknown, but whoever the new head coach of the team is, they should know that by 2022, if they do not make it to the Playoffs, the season, like this year, will be considered a resounding failure.

Additionally, Miami fans hope that San Francisco’s participation in the Playoffs will be short-lived, as the Dolphins own the 49ers’ first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. In addition, it is a good omen to know that, via Over The Cap, the team will have $73.68 million in cap space available for the upcoming offseason, the most in the NFL. What urgently needs to reinforce Miami? Yes or yes, the offensive line; that is the vital point to change if the franchise wants to be relevant next year.

Read the rest of our 2021 Season NFL team reviews here:

A.F.C. East A.F.C. North A.F.C. South A.F.C. West
Bills Bengals Colts Broncos
Dolphins Browns Jaguars Chargers
Jets Ravens Texans Chiefs
patriots Steelers Titans Raiders
NFC North NFC North NFC North NFCWest
Cowboys Bears Buccaneers 49ers
Eagles Lions Falcons Cardinals
Giants Packers Panthers rams
WFT Vikings Saints Seahawks

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Miami Dolphins 2021 NFL Season Analysis