2021 NFL Power Rankings Week 13: Cowboys continue to slide, Packers bounce back

It’s not very often that a team starts out 1-7 and doesn’t just give up. It’s understandable when they do since there’s hardly any chance of doing anything of note. That’s not how the Miami Dolphins saw it, however.

Following a disastrous start that had everyone being questioned from head coach Brian Flores to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins have now reeled off four wins in a row to improve to 5-7. While that record might seem bleak for some teams, it’s really impressive for this club that seemed dead in the water.

This weekend, they scored a victory over the Carolina Panthers at home, and it was a lopsided one. Miami put up 33 while also putting the clamps on Cam Newton. The recently re-signed quarterback had a hot start to his second tenure with the Panthers but then went 5-of-21 with 02 yards and an interception. That led to an embarrassing quarterback ranking of 5.8.

Newton was pulled in favor of P.J. Walker who did little as well. As for Tua, his play was the exact opposite. The Miami signal-caller had just four incompletions in 31 tries and threw an impressive touchdown to Jaylen Waddle — who outshined his teammate thanks to an impressive penguin waddle after the score.

The Dolphins next face the New York Giants followed by the New York Jets, meaning this team has a real shot of getting to 7-7, and if they do, anything is possible.