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The Miami Dolphins had high hopes entering this season. They just missed out on making the playoffs in 2020, despite finishing the season 10-6. However, they fell flat on their face early in the year. They started the season 1-7 and were left for dead. After dominating the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football, the Dolphins have now won seven straight games are the current #7 seed in the AFC standings. If the playoffs started today, Miami would be in.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Miami Dolphins are the first team in NFL history to have a seven-game winning streak the same season they began 1-7.
The Dolphins have won seven straight games after starting 1–7. #FinsUp
That is the longest single-season win streak in #NFL history by a team that was six games below .500 at the start of the streak.
— Elias Sports Bureau (@EliasSports) December 28, 2021
The run is completely unexpected, as Miami played like a 1-7 team to start the year. They were hammered by the Buffalo Bills twice, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Indianapolis Colts. They even lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Yet, here they are currently holding a playoff spot.
There have been 232 7-game losing streaks and 198 7-game win streaks in a season, all-time.
The 2021 Dolphins are the 1st to do both in the same season (h/t @EliasSports). pic.twitter.com/Ue82Q43Qkb
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 28, 2021
The biggest difference has been the Dolphins defense, led by Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard. During the winning streak, Miami has held their opponents to 82 total points. That is just over 11 points per game.
However, the teams the Dolphins beat during that stretch leave plenty to be desired. Miami beat Texans, Ravens, Jets, Panthers, Giants, the Jets again and the Saints. Those teams are a combined 36-69.
In order for Miami to make the playoffs, they will have to probably win out. They step up in class this week against the 10-5 Tennessee Titans before finishing the season against the New England Patriots.
