Top 5 Reasons Why the Miami Dolphins Can Make the Playoffs This Season

The Miami Dolphins are coming off a 7-9 season in which they were ranked 30th in the NFL in offense, and their biggest question mark coming into this campaign is at the most important position on the field. I understand the arguments for why this team is stuck in mediocrity, and may not get out soon, but I also see five big reasons why the Dolphins can make a push for the playoffs this season. 

5. The Schedule Is Not Daunting

First of all, let's start by saying the Dolphins had a 6-2 record on the road last season, including going to Lambeau Field and defeating the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, as well as to New York to beat the Jets who made the AFC title game. I know that means any game is winnable, but there are some that are extra winnable.

Six of the Dolphins' 16 games this season are very close to being must win games: Cleveland, Denver, Washington, Oakland, and Buffalo twice. These are all teams that should be competing for the top pick in the draft come April, and teams that a good club would overpower regardless of where the game is played.

Although no game in the NFL is a given, when the schedule presents you with six games against very subpar competition it is imperative to take advantage.  

4. The Dolphins Lost 5 Games Last Year by One Touchdown or Less

The first thing the naysayers will point out is that bad teams are the ones who don't know how to close out the close games.

That may be true, but bad teams also don't find themselves in such tight games against some of the best teams in all of football like the Jets and Steelers. That said, since it is pretty evident the Dolphins have more talent this year, these close games will be the key in flipping last year's record around.

A two game turnaround signifies a 9-7 record, and that will always have a team competing for a Wild Card spot. I am by no means saying 9-7 will get a spot in the playoffs, but I am saying that would mean the Dolphins will be playing competitive, meaningful games in December, which has not been the case the past two seasons. 

3. The Offense Will Be Better Than Last Season

When a team only scores 17 points per game, there really is nowhere to go but up. And through the draft, the Dolphins look to do just that.

The first four picks were on the offensive side of the ball, and all are expected to contribute right away. Also, there's the acquisition of Reggie Bush, who can add a breakaway threat to this offense that was sorely lacked last year. Although the big name, superstar free agent signing never quite happened, its hard to believe this team won't put more points on the board than it did last year.

Chad Henne can not be worse right? And we're not looking at a team that is too far away from where it wants to be, it was just all too often settling for field goals after decent drives.  

2. The Defense Is Top 5 in the AFC

There are only three teams in the conference who can confidently say they have a better defense than the Miami Dolphins: The Steelers, Ravens and Jets. Defense wins championships and this Dolphins group was already very good last year.

This year, they add Kevin Burnett, Jason Taylor, Jared Odrick and ridiculous depth along the front 7. If Sean Smith and Vontae Davis can become close to the shutdown duo they're projected to be, this D has the potential to stifle the best offenses in football, and that alone can win the ugly low scoring games.  

1. The Biggest NFL Parity Statistic

Follow this stat carefully, because it is very indicative of the parity in the NFL, and the best gauge as to why the Dolphins have a legitimate playoff chance this season: For 10 seasons in a row, at least 5 teams that made the playoffs the year before failed to make it again.

Say Kansas City doesn't make the playoffs again. Say the Jets don't sneak in with the luck they had the last few games of last season. Let's say Peyton Manning's injury is severe and the Colts don't make the playoffs. Are the Dolphins good enough to take one of those teams places? I give that a definite, yes. Henne must be better, as anyone who understands football will recognize, but the Dolphins are closer to being a playoff team than many analysts give them credit for, and this stat should be their motivation. There will be plenty of teams to make the playoffs who didn't make it last year. Why not us?