Miami Dolphins: Schedule, record prediction, X-factors for 2021 NFL season
By Tadhg Flynn
The Miami Dolphins begin their 2021 NFL season against the New England Patriots in Week 1. But how will the year go for this roster on the cusp of great things?
The Miami Dolphins should be feeling positive about 2021. Head coach Brian Flores heads into his third season leading the team, and last season has set a benchmark for what the team could achieve. The strength of their defense propelled the roster to a 10-6 record, finishing with the league’s sixth-best points per game allowed ledger.
Success in the year ahead will be decided by whether or not the offense can come up to match the output by the defensive unit. Hopes rest on the shoulders of Tua Tagovailoa as the 2020 NFL Draft’s fifth overall pick heads into his sophomore season in the league. Fans of the franchise will be hoping for a breakout year to silence his doubters, but can the team elevate their performances further after a very promising 2020?
Before their season opener against the New England Patriots on Sunday, we preview the team and how their season might play out in 2021.
Miami Dolphins 2020 season and 2021 offseason recap
The 2020 season was one of the Dolphins’ better seasons over the past decade. They finished with a 10-6 record, largely on the back of their excellent defensive unit. Only five teams allowed fewer points per game than the Dolphins, a fantastic standard after a 2019 campaign where they had the league’s worst record in the category. The team holds the NFL’s current longest streak of games in a row where they have recorded a takeaway (standing at 22 games), a fine example of just how stubborn a team they are to face.
Their defense was a prominent factor in their scoring opportunities as well, as the 29 takeaways that they forced gave the team more quality chances to score in good field positions. The unit was led by cornerback Xavien Howard, whose performances were rewarded with a Pro Bowl appearance and a deserved contract extension in the offseason. If Flores can continue to coach this team to be difficult to score against, they have every chance of success in 2021.
The front office would have recognized the stellar work of the defense in 2020, and they went about addressing team needs in the 2021 offseason. A priority for team building was strengthening the offensive firepower available for their young quarterback. Fairly or unfairly, Tua Tagovailoa is under a huge amount of scrutiny thanks to his high draft status. However, the options he had last year were proven to be limited in their output.
Miami had the 22nd ranked offense for total yards, with their best receiver total coming in at under 800 yards (793 for DeVante Parker). The team cannot expect to compete at the desired level in the NFL if they do not have better output. Luckily for Dolphins’ fans, reinforcements have been brought in.
Their biggest free agency move saw Will Fuller signed on a one-year deal after five years with the Houston Texans. The signing should be a huge boost to the wide receiver options, as he averaged 11.7 yards per target in 2020. Not only has the front office elevated the receiver corps immediately through the signing of Fuller, but they also targeted the position in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Top-ranked Alabama wideout Jaylen Waddle was taken with the No. 6 pick, further improving the teams’ offensive options. Waddle has dynamic athleticism and electric speed, qualities that were conspicuously absent from the receiving corps for the Dolphins last year. With the addition of both these talented receivers to a group alongside DeVante Parker, the Dolphins will now strike fear into the hearts of opposition cornerbacks each weekend.
After addressing the offensive needs of the team, GM Chris Grier and the franchise’s coaching staff will need quarterback Tagovailoa to produce in a do-or-die season for the young Hawaiian. If he can deliver on the hype of his college performances and the evidence of his obvious talent, the Dolphins could be in for a transformative period of success.