The Miami Dolphins won their season opener on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. It was a nail biter but a telling victory.
The Miami Dolphins barely pulled off a big Game 1 victory this past Sunday as the Los Angeles Chargers missed what would have been a game-winning field goal with seconds left on the clock. Most of what I’ve read has focused around the fact that a win is a win, but the Dolphins were lucky and this isn’t a good sign. I strongly disagree.
Did the Dolphins look great with a dominance performance? Of course not. However, I view this as a good sign. Good teams find ways to win games when they don’t play their best. This was their first game of the season when everyone else, aside from the Bucs, had a chance to knock the rust off.
It was also Jay Cutler’s team debut after a late summer signing and there was the bizarre Lawrence Timmons saga. They pulled off a win in a hard fought game. A game in the fourth quarter that I expected Miami to find a way to win and the Chargers to find a way to lose.
More from Miami Dolphins
- Miami Dolphins: Jalen Ramsey’s injury not a huge set-back
- Dolphins could turn to other Vic Fangio favorites after Jalen Ramsey injury
- 2023 NFL Season: Evaluation 3 darkhorse MVP candidates
- Vikings to release Cook, Broncos, Dolphins to have interest
- Miami Dolphins: Which Jalen Ramsey will fans see in 2023?
It’s been a long time since the team has started the season with the fanbase expecting them not to be the team to blow it. This is evidence of culture change even since this time last year. Last year in a season opener against a solid team, the Dolphins may not have pulled it out.
Maybe Kenny Stills would have dropped that big touchdown reception allowing the Seahawks, I mean Chargers, to win a heartbreaker. Under head coach Adam Gase you just get the feeling that this team will find ways to break hearts in the close ones, not lose close games.
Don’t get me wrong, the Dolphins have things they need to improve. The linebackers must learn how to cover, as does Byron Maxwell. The offensive line could still use some work, although they played better than I expected. And Jay Ajayi can’t carry the ball 28 times a game.
Next: Ranking 10 undefeated NFL teams by chances at 16-0
Still, I view this victory as a positive, not a negative because of how it played out. Character building wins like that under tough circumstances is a sign of a team that can make a playoff run.