This was a massive upgrade on the 2019 season, where the Dolphins finished 5-11.
Miami performed massively beyond anyone’s expectations in 2020, which helped soothe the pain of failing to make the playoffs.
So what represents success for the Miami Dolphins in 2021?
Tua Proving The Critics Wrong
Miami drafted Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa fifth overall in the 2020 draft, but his rookie season didn’t go to plan.
It needs to be stated that Tua had a career-threatening injury that ended his final college season.
Sadly for Tua, he will always be compared to Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who was taken with the next pick. However, he would go on to win ‘Rookie of the Year.’
Unless Tagovailoa has a successful career, this will similarly hang around him such as in the 2017 Draft, where Mitchell Trubisky was taken ahead of Patrick Mahomes.
Knowing that the team finally has their franchise quarterback would go a long way towards the progression of the Miami Dolphins, led by head coach Brian Flores.
— DolphinsTalk.com (@DolphinsTalk) May 9, 2021
Competing For The Playoffs
The Dolphins have played just seven playoff games in the 21st century, winning a mere two.
The franchise has been deprived of success since the departure of Dan Marino and Don Shula.
Playoffs will undoubtedly be the goal for the Miami Dolphins in 2021 after going so close in 2020. Dolphins fans want to see progression, with an appearance in the playoffs perhaps the expectation after the additions of Will Fuller, Jaylen Waddle, and Jaelan Phillips in the offseason.
The majority of Dolphins fans do not expect a Super Bowl run but want to see the team develop. Therefore, making the Wildcard or Divisional Round will represent a good season for the Miami Dolphins in 2021.
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Getting The Better Of Josh Allen
The AFC East has been very one-sided since the turn of the millennium, with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots dominating the division. Now Brady has left the AFC; there is a new team to beat, the Buffalo Bills.
New England and the New York Jets have improved this offseason, and the Bills have kept all their best players, making some good picks in the 2021 Draft and acquiring Emmanuel Sanders in the offseason.
There is one constant in their side which has given the Dolphins nothing but pain since he was drafted in 2018, quarterback Josh Allen.
Allen, who was drafted seventh by Buffalo, seems to save his best performances when he suits up against Miami. Against the Dolphins, Allen has a 5-1 record and has thrown for over 1,552 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and an average of a 64.3 competition percentage.
If the Dolphins can trouble Allen and the Bills, they have a far greater chance of challenging the division.
Tua should improve yes. But the offense needs to give tua time to throw. I also want to see more of a running game. With Brown and Doaks, I want to see some yards from them as well. There should be improvements on short yardage. I wonder if Cethan Carter will play RB. He’d be ideal in short yardage. Ideally, Long would play TE and not smythe or shaheen.