How the Miami Dolphins can win the AFC East in 2020

Brian Flores’ Miami Dolphins made strides by the end of the 2019 season.

From speculation that the team wasn’t trying to win in 2019 to a strong finish and a program headed in the right direction. This past season, the Miami Dolphins looked miserable early on but first-time head coach Brian Flores and the organization was determined to change the culture. Slowly but surely, the club made strides and it could pay off this season.

A year ago, the club cleaned house by dealing away a number of prominent players to obtain a slew of draft choices. From left tackle Laremy Tunsil, wide receiver Kenny Stills and defensive end Robert Quinn to quarterback Ryan Tannehill, running back Kenyan Drake and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Flores and general manager Chris Grier had a plan and when it was all said and done, the Dolphins owned three first-round picks in April and used the first on Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Is he the immediate future or will the team rely on Ryan Fitzpatrick again this season?

Hence, it’s the final installment of an eight-part series that looked at each club that finished last in their respective division a year ago and now looks to move up to the very top. All told, it’s not uncommon for a team to finish in fourth place and a season later wind up as a division champion.

It happened twice in both 2017 (Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars) and 2018 (Houston Texans and Chicago Bears). So how can the Miami Dolphins win a division title for the first time since 2008?