The Miami Dolphins have won three straight games, and four out of their last five to bring their record to 5-7 on the season after starting a discouraging 1-5. However, against a team led by a rookie quarterback in Tyler Shough, a second-year 7th round wide receiver in Devaughn Vele, and a rookie sixth round running back in Devin Neal, eking out a victory in the way Miami did against the New Orleans Saints didn’t inspire an abundance of confidence in the Dolphins’ fanbase.
Still, a win is a win, and like they say — an ugly victory is always better than a pretty loss.
The Dolphins have a chance to run their record to 6-7 (insert sophomoric joke here) this coming Sunday against the New York Jets, but before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s take one more look back at last week’s wild win over the Saints.
Fins Up
This week’s Fins Up player is rookie defensive tackle Jordan Phillips. Phillips has been a pleasant surprise to many within the Dolphins’ fanbase this season after being selected by Miami in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. On Sunday against the Saints, the former Maryland Terrapin collected four tackles, but it was his ability to absorb double-teams that allowed Dolphins linebackers to flourish.
Alongside fellow rookie defensive linemen Kenneth Grant and Zeek Biggers, the Dolphins seem to have struck gold with the drafting of these meaty men in the middle — with each continuing to learn, grow and get better as the season has unfolded.
Fins Down
This week’s Fins Down player is rookie running back Ollie Gordon II. Gordon has shown flashes of really solid play for the Dolphins this season, but Sunday’s game against the Saints wasn’t his best work as a professional football player.
On a drive late in the fourth quarter, with the Dolphins up by a single score, head coach Mike McDaniel called Gordon’s number on a crucial fourth and short try. The line didn’t get much movement, but the rookie could have tried to bury his powerful frame into the backs of his linemen, churned his legs and fallen forward for the first down, or, at the very least, Gordon could have attempted to dive over the pile. Instead, Gordon stopped his momentum, turned left and tried to take the ball outside only to be tackled behind the line of scrimmage by Saints defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry.
Hopefully he learns from his rookie mistake and makes a better decision next time he’s in that situation.
