Inside Mike McDaniel’s Quiet Masterpiece — how his obsession with ‘the little details’ and a revived run game has secretly reshaped the Dolphins’ season. A refined, meticulous shift that leaves fans wondering: where does this newfound magic lead next?
Six NFL clubs are currently on win streaks of four-plus games. The first five are relatively easy to peg. They’re all currently playoff teams: Denver (10), New England (10), Houston (5), Jacksonville (4), Green Bay (4).
The sixth? The Miami Dolphins.
Left for dead 50 days ago, Mike McDaniel’s club has turned the season around after a disastrous 1-6 start, winning four straight and five of its past six. It might be too late to make a playoff push, with Next Gen Stats’ probability rating giving Miami less than a 1% chance of making the postseason, but the turnaround has saved the coach from the fire.
McDaniel looked defeated in October. Sad, sullen press conferences. Frustrating sideline outbursts. The coach looked cooked. He seemed like he knew it.
Winning brought the sunshine back to South Beach.
Amid their longest winning streak since 2022, Dolphins center Aaron Brewer was asked about McDaniel’s shifting demeanor over the course of the season, from jokester to morose and back to jovial.
“I wouldn’t say he took a (break), that’s just his character,” Brewer said of McDaniel’s quips. “He’s been still joking around, having his little jokes that he throws in here and there, but it’s just been more of an emphasis on what’s really, really important and what we needed to do. We started off in a bad spot, so we had to turn that all the way around, make a full 180. He’s still being himself but it was just more emphasis on the little details and things we need to tighten up on.”
McDaniel got back to what he does best: design and call a run game that can gash defenses.
Since Week 10, the Dolphins lead the NFL with 192.3 rushing yards per game and 10.5 rushing first downs per game.
Weeks 1-9: 97.2 rush YPG; 4.4 YPC; 0.4 rush TDs per game; 4.9 rush first downs per game.
Weeks 10-14: 192.3 rush YPG; 5.7 YPC; 1.8 rush TDs per game; 10.5 rush first downs per game.
(Quick aside: Since we’re quoting him, I’d like to offer a PSA to note that Brewer deserves more of your Pro Bowl votes. He’s been a stud and a key reason the Dolphins’ running game has been dynamic. As of Monday, he wasn’t in the top 10 of voting among centers. That’s shenanigans. Please consider. Steps off soap box.)
Minimizing the passing game and leaning on De’Von Achane and the rushing attack have not only made the offense more potent but also aided the defense. Miami has allowed 13.3 PPG during its four-game win streak since Week 10 (fewest in NFL) — allowed 27.0 PPG allowed from Weeks 1-9 (T-24th in NFL).
McDaniel and the Dolphins players deserve credit for righting a ship that was half underwater before Halloween.
“I’m extremely proud of the way this team has stuck together,” Brewer said. “We started off not the way we wanted to, but instead of pointing fingers and separating, we all leaned more into each other. We all took accountability. We tried to figure out what each individual player could do better and we just continued to fight. That was kind of the reason for me saying that because I would much rather be a part of a group that leans into each other during times of adversity than not.”
The caveat to the Dolphins’ win streak is that the competition has been lacking. Four of their past five victories have been against teams with four or fewer wins; however, that 30-13 pasting of Buffalo in Week 10 stands.
Miami will have a chance to prove the back half of the season wasn’t a mirage, aided by weak opponents. They finish with 7-6 Pittsburgh on Monday, then 4-9 Cincinnati (3-1 with Joe Burrow), 7-6 Tampa Bay and 11-2 New England.
