NFL Rumors: Rivals Don't See Dolphins as Super Bowl Threat After 2 Playoff Losses

People around the NFL are waiting for the Miami Dolphins to show it on the field before they can be seriously considered a Super Bowl contender, according to The Athletic's Jeff Howe.

"The league is down on the Dolphins, according to a poll of league coaches and executives that will be released this week by The Athletic," Howe reported Monday. "While they're 20-14 with gaudy offensive numbers in head coach Mike McDaniel's first two seasons, they're also 0-2 in the playoffs. They're fun and McDaniel is doing some innovative things in Miami, but the feeling among rival teams is the Dolphins need to start proving it against higher-quality competition before they'll be viewed as a threat in January."

The Dolphins got a bit of a mulligan in 2022. Their five-game losing streak in the second half dampened the enthusiasm from an 8-3 start. Only losing to the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs by three points on the road with Skylar Thompson seemingly pointed to brighter things ahead, though.

Then the franchise failed to make a clear step forward.

Weeks 3 and 4 of the 2023 regular season summed up the Fins in a nutshell. They drop 70 points and 726 yards in a win over the Denver Broncos, who went on to finish 8-9, and then immediately laid an egg against the eventual AFC East champion Bills.

All year, the general perception of Miami was that it could beat up bad teams and would get exposed against stiffer competition.

The AFC Wild Card Round against the Kansas City Chiefs provided further ammunition.

The frigid conditions certainly didn't help, but Mother Nature wasn't solely to blame for Tua Tagovailoa going 20-of-39 for 199 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Miami didn't get much from its running game to compensate, either, as Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane combined to get 42 yards on 14 carries.

The Dolphins are pretty much running it back in 2024 while Buffalo, their stiffest competition within the division, could take a step backward following an underwhelming offseason. The formula for 10 wins and an AFC East title is there for Miami.

Until the postseason success arrives, the doubts surrounding the team will nonetheless remain.