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In the NFL, each team plays less than half of the league in a given season, so it’s inevitable that some teams’ schedules are easier or harder than others.
As we approach the halfway point of the 2023 season, the Dolphins have one of the league’s best records. At 5-2, they are off to their best seven-game start since 2003.
Take a closer look, though, and their success could be a mirage.
The five teams Miami has beaten — the Chargers, Patriots, Broncos, Giants and Panthers — have a combined record of 8-25. Miam’s first loss came in Week 4 to the Buffalo Bills and its second came Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles. Those teams have a combined record of 10-4.
In their five wins, the Dolphins have outscored opponents, 203-108. In their two losses, they’ve been outscored, 79-37.
In five wins, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has thrown for 1,594 yards (318.8 per game) with 13 touchdown passes. In two losses, he’s only managed 498 yards (249 per game) and two TD passes.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill has been held to 146 yards (73 per game) and one touchdown in those two losses while tallying 756 yards (151.2 per game) and six TDs in Miami’s five wins.
Only one of the Dolphins’ next seven games is against a team with a winning record as of Week 7. That game is against the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 5 in Frankfurt, Germany. In that span, Miami also plays two games against the New York Jets, who currently sit at .500.
The Dolphins’ last three games are against Dallas, Baltimore and Buffalo — teams with a combined record of 13-7.
This begs the question of whether Miami is an actual Super Bowl contender or just the benefactor of an easy schedule. Assuming the Dolphins make the playoffs with that schedule, it may take until January to determine just how good they really are.
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