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By: Brandon Liguori Prior to the start of the contest Monday night at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, Brian Flores’ Miami Dolphins, riding a six-game winning streak, were in a phenomenal spot, as Sean Payton’s New Orleans Saints were missing 21 players and four members of the coaching staff due to COVID-19 protocols, including both Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian. Miami’s ferocious defense, which totaled eight sacks and two interceptions, including a Nik Needham pick-six to open the scoring, paved the way, extending Miami’s winning streak to a season-high seven games in convincing fashion, 20-3. Why was Monday’s win significant? If postseason play were to begin today, Flores’ crew, once opening the season 1-7, would be in for the first time in five seasons. “I think this team stuck together really the entire year. I think obviously we dealt with a lot of adversity early in the year and I think it revealed a lot. I would say it revealed the character of the guys in our locker room,” Flores said after the game.  It’s the first time Miami has won seven straight games since Nov. 10, 1985 to Dec. 22, 1985. “Credit Josh (Boyer) and the defensive staff. They had a nice game plan- mixing coverages, mixing the fronts. They did a good job stopping the run, which was a big emphasis,” Flores said.
Tua Tagovailoa, appearing in a Monday Night Football game for the first time in his brief, two-year career, put together an important performance, throwing for 198 yards and a touchdown to rookie Jaylen Waddle, who continues to showcase his talents on a week-to-week basis. Tagovailoa threw a questionable third-quarter interception on a ball intended for Mack Hollins, but the left-handed quarterback explained after the game exactly what occurred on the play. Waddle did not play in the Dolphins’ 31-24 victory Dec. 19 because of COVID-19 rules, but finished Monday with a game-high 10 receptions on 12 targets for 92 yards. Waddle’s touchdown gave the Dolphins a 14-point cushion in the third quarter and his 92 yards Monday now puts Waddle at 941 through 16 weeks of play, surpassing Chris Chambers for the most receiving yards by a rookie in Dolphins history. “I’m not a genie, so I’m not going to say that I did foresee that in Jaylen’s future, but I knew that he had a lot of potential of course just being able to play with him at Alabama and then also the OTAs that we’ve had together and leading up into training camp, he’s done a really good job,” Tagovailoa said. So, the formula is very, very simple: If the Dolphins secure victory in their final two games of the regular season against the Tennessee Titans and a home contest vs. the New England Patriots, the team is in the postseason and in order for Miami to accomplish that feat, which would result in a nine-game winning streak to close the campaign, two individuals stand in the way: Ryan Tannehill and Bill Belichick. Grab a large box of popcorn, Dolphins fans
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By: Hussam Patel
With the NFL season almost ending and the Miami Dolphins playoff hopes on the line in the next three games, my Christmas wish is for the Dolphins to eventually make the playoffs.
Although most of you know me by now to be a big NFL Draft nerd, I’ll be making the three players I want in a Miami Dolphins uniform next year. OL Charles Cross– OT, Mississippi St. At 6’5 305lbs, Charles Cross is a DUDE. He had a breakout season in 2020 under a quick, pass-happy attack built by Mike Leach. In 2021, Cross has established himself as one of the top offensive tackles in this upcoming draft class. Cross fits the ideal scheme of the Dolphins, primarily because Miami operates out of a zone blocking scheme. Cross’ strength lies in the same scheme. 
His ability to play in space is because of his pad level and excellent balance to maintain body posture. While Cross may lose his leverage at times, he is able to bounce back and execute moves that he is still able to block defenders.
Cross has really good hands. His punches are consistent, well timed with different punch moves to slow defenders’ momentum. In the run game, Cross’ hands can initially get outside of his frame but he works to reset them on the inside of the defender's frame.
The Bulldog prospect is an athlete for an offensive tackle in part of his lean frame. However, this becomes an issue especially generating power. In the run game, Cross can get initial contact off the line, but cannot maintain it through the block. It may become a long-term issue in the NFL, as defenders are bigger, stronger and faster.
His lean frame does help in pass protection. It may serve Cross to be playing as the blindside protector where his primary role is to protect the passer.
The Miami Dolphins have an impending need at the both tackle spots, Charles Cross fills that void nicely. If selected, Cross has the potential to be a franchise left or right tackle for the foreseeable future. Dolphins fans should be over the Moon if Charles Cross is the pick.
RB Zach Charbonnet– RB, UCLA At 6’1 220lb Charbonnet was a Michigan transfer in 2021 that erupted onto the scene with the Bruins in 2021. Under Chip Kelly’s zone scheme, Charbonnet has compiled around 1,140 yards on 202 touches and 13 touchdowns. Couple that with 24 receptions and close to 200 yards.
Charbonnet is an extremely physical and violent runner which the Miami Dolphins have been actively missing.
He has great contact balance which explains why it takes more than a few tacklers to bring him down. Charbonnets’ feet are actively moving to push for more yards; furthermore, his off-hand is very active leading to numerous stiff-arms.
Zach Charbonnet has really good vision behind the line of scrimmage and the second level. He’s quickly able to diagnose holes to run through and follows blockers and leverages to win low.
Charbonnet has the strength and IQ to pass protect against LB’s, he’s already such a physical back that it will help QB’s to stay in the pocket a little longer. His wide base allows him to take on powerful LB’s.
The only thing I worry about is his home run ability, he’s got a good bursts in space but not enough momentum to carry it in cutbacks and juke abilities.His physical nature makes up for this at the college level but the lost momentum will be a problem in the NFL.
Overall, Charbonnet will greatly impact the Dolphins RB room if he is indeed picked. Miami will have a power back that can churn the pile, pass protect and at times catch out of the backfield. WR Drake London– WR, USC Miami may not need another WR in the first two rounds of the draft, but I would not rule out a possibility of them drafting one. Drake London's biggest characteristic as a WR is his size. At 6’5 210 lbs., London is a grab and get contested catcher.
When London is in the air, he’s special. His size and arm length threatens defensive backs as he plucks the ball away. London knows with his body type, he will get hit and hit hard. He’s willing to make these catches outside the hashes and over the middle.
Tracking the ball along with mind bending body control are high-level traits for Drake London. He’s able to make adjustments on the fly with such a big frame. Body control on contested catches is a dominant trait where London can use his body to create bigger throwing lanes for his QB.
Drake London is a fluid mover up the field, ease of direction comes to him instinctively. This ability to fly up field coupled with a high football IQ allows London to find soft spots in zone coverage and create separation. His awareness of the optimal areas maximizes his availability as an open receiver.
He has proved that he can beat press coverage, threaten defenses vertically, and can win consistently on slants and back shoulder fades in the red zone. However, there are some questions play speed and ability against man coverage on intermediate routes.
The Trojan product plays with a high pad level. It’s not noticeable in college but can be issues against press coverage in the NFL as it impacts route running ability
London's draft stock may have fell as he had a season ending injury. Injuries during the draft evaluation period are highly scrutinized. The Dolphins took Jaylen Waddle who also had a season ending ankle injury.
Not to mention, London’s run blocking ability is a criminally underrated part of his game. He’s got a strong base and long arms to take on safeties coming downhill and linebackers on the outside. London projects as a big slot, as he can play inside and outside.
Will Fuller has only had 4 catches while spending most of the time on IR, he’s on a one year deal. Preston Williams has been on the field for a limited amount of snaps. Devante Parker has his ups and downs depending on his hamstring. Waddle and Hollins, yes Mack Hollins, have been reliable. Adding another Body to the WR room does not hurt. Adding Drake London certainly would not.
These three players make my NFL Draft Christmas Wishlist as they fill priority areas of need for the Miami Dolphins. An OT that can become a franchise protector, a RB that can pile on yards in short situations and put the game to bed, and a big body WR that can give defenders fits in the passing and run game. By: Jason Sarney The 7-7 Miami Dolphins come off their sixth straight win after defeating the Jets on Sunday and look forward to a Monday Night matchup against the 7-7 New Orleans Saints. This is a very rare matchup as there have only been 12 games between these two franchises in NFL history. In case you are wondering, the series record is a dead-heat at 6-6. As he continues to prove, head coach Brian Flores heats up as the weather cools, as he is 18-7 in games after Halloween, with a 10-3 mark in November and an 8-3 record in December. Miami heads into Monday as the all-time leader in MNF appearances with 85. Their current record is 42-43. A win would pull their Monday Night Football record to .500, and their seasonal 2021 record to a winning one, for the first time since Week 1. The Dolphins have played on Monday Night Football the most times in NFL history, as Monday will be their 86th. Followed by: DAL- 83 SF- 79 PIT- 76 DEN - 75 WFT- 75 You can say a lot is at stake for this game including and most importantly the Dolphins’ playoff lives. You can clearly tell the second half of the season is a different team in production, and while the first half saw an under-performing defense, since Week 9 the unit has been a revelation. MIA DEF NFL Rankings since Week 9: Sacks - 1st w/ 25 Red Zone DEF -2nd at 31.3% OPP Passer Rating - 2nd at 60.3 Total DEF - 2nd w/ 272 yards per game Yards Allowed Per Play - 2nd w/ 4.4 Scoring DEF - 3rd w/ 13.2 3rd-Down DEF 4th at 32.6% Passing DEF- 5th w/ 184.3 ypg In Weeks 9-15, MIA's offense ranks well within the Top-10 in several categories: Red Zone Off - 3rd at 66.7% 4th Qtr scoring T-5th w/ 9.3 4th Qtr Passer Rating 6th w/ 113.1 3rd-down offense - 7th w/ 44% The Dolphins will also get rookie wide receiver Jaylen Waddle back, who was activated off the Covid List earlier in the week. Waddle is still on pace to hit an NFL rookie record of receptions. He is tracking to catch 104 balls, which would break Anquan Boldin's record by 3 catches. In what would hope to be 16 games. In just 13 games played, Waddle has already put up Miami's 5th best receptions mark in a single season, tied with Brandon Marshall and Mark Clayton, who each caught 86 passes in their full seasons. More News, Notes, and Nuggets: -Miami local boy out of Norland High School Duke Johnson, was signed to the Dolphins practice squad on Oct. 26, 2021. Johnson made his first NFL start for his hometown Dolphins, in his 7th year in the NFL at his hometown stadium last week vs. the N.Y. Jets. Johnson had a career-day, totaling career highs in carries (22), rushing yards (107) and rushing TDs (2).  -Tua Tagovailoa is completing 69.9 percent of his passes this year, which is a single season Dolphins record and the best mark in the NFL this year at the moment.
-Miami has limited opponents to 250 total yards or less in three consecutive games, which the team hasn't done since Oct. 16, 1994 to Nov. 6, 1994. -The Dolphins have limited opponents to less than 200 passing yards in three consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 11, 2007 to Nov. 26, 2007 and have held opponents to less than 300 passing yards in 7 consecutive games for. -They have held opponents under 400 yards of total offense in nine consecutive games, it's longest streak since Jan. 1, 2017 to Nov. 5, 2017. -Emmanuel Ogbah has 10 passes defensed in 2021. It's a career-high for Ogbah and the most by an NFL defensive linemen since 2017 (Cameron Jordan). He also had a sack and a fumble recovery against the Jets Sunday. -In his 3rd NFL season, Christian Wilkins has totaled 64 tackles (36 solo), 3.0 sacks, 3 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. He also caught a touchdown lined up at fullback in the Week 15 win vs. the N.Y. Jets. His 64 tackles rank fourth among all NFL defensive linemen in 2021. Andrew Van Ginkel has recorded a QB Hit in 9 Straight Games. 2.5 sacks in his last 6 games and has 8 QB pressures in those last 6 games. He had 3 Pressures against the Jets Sunday with a sack. Zach Sieler had his 1st sack of the season against the Jets, however, this run stopper and pass disruptor is key to Miami’s defensive line. Sieler has 45 tackles this season and has forced a fumble and recovered a pair this year so far. The last 6 games Michael Palardy has placed 14 punts inside the 20, 6 inside the 10-yard line and 2 inside the 5-yard line. Nik Needham played every defensive snap on Sunday against the Jets. Filling in for Jevon Holland in a primarily single-high free safety role, Needham played phenomenally. Believe it or not, this was the first time he has ever played free safety in his football career. The Dolphins look to get to 8-7 on Monday Night, against a team who just beat Tom Brady and his Buccaneers. It is only Wednesday, but is everybody ready for some football? By: Brandon Liguori Welcome back to South Florida, Duke Johnson. It was not pretty, but in fact nail biting, as Brian Flores’ Miami Dolphins extended their season-long winning streak to six games after their tight 31-24 victory vs. the New York Jets this past Sunday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium. Having last played on Dec. 5, an 11-point win vs. the New York Giants, Tua Tagovailoa and the offense came out flat, trailing by as many as 10 without Jaylen Waddle, who was inactive Sunday because of COVID-19 protocols. “We’re just trying to take it one day at a time. Get better. That’s the approach we’ve taken the entire season. These guys, they play hard for one another,” Flores said at the conclusion of the game. Not only were the Dolphins minus Waddle, but rookie Jevon Holland, also on the COVID-19 list, was absent on the defensive side of the football. Johnson, a former Miami Hurricane, had a memorable first start for Flores’ crew, totaling 107 yards on 22 carries, including two important touchdowns, as well. With his magnificent performance Sunday, Johnson became the first Dolphins running back to eclipse over 100 yards rushing in a game this season.  “It meant a lot. Like you said, growing up in the area, just being able to play football and just play well here, it meant a lot but it meant even more because we got the win, so that helps,” an ecstatic Johnson said.
Johnson also mentioned how hearing the Hard Rock Stadium chant “Duke!” within his first few touches as a Dolphins gave him flashbacks during his collegiate football years. “It just reminded me of college. It felt like my college days again. Definitely enjoyed it,” Johnson said. Jets rookie quarterback Zach Wilson would most certainly elect to forget his second-half performance, after jogging to the locker room at intermission with a seven-point lead in his pocket. Miami’s defense, led by Jerome Baker’s two sacks, sacked Wilson six times. “Yeah, I thought they did some good things in the second half that made it tough on us. You know, we just got to keep going, try to execute, and, you know, just get going really I think is all it was,” Wilson said. Sunday was the first time Wilson faced the Dolphins, after veteran Joe Flacco took the first-team snaps during Miami’s 24-17 victory over the Jets in Week 11. Winners of six-consecutive games, Miami (7-7), welcoming back both Waddle and Phillip Lindsay, will battle the Taysom Hill-led New Orleans Saints (7-7) next Monday night at the Caesars Superdome.
By: Jason Sarney
-The Miami Dolphins are on a 4-game winning streak & host the New York Giants at Hard Rock Stadium, Sunday at 1 p.m. Miami has never beaten the Giants at Hard Rock Stadium, dropping all 3 meetings at the venue. The last Dolphins win in the series came on 10/5/03 at Giants Stadium. Miami is 2-7 all-time against the Giants.
-This will be the first meeting between Flores & NYG Head Coach Joe Judge. The two served as assistants on the same Patriots staff from 2012-18. A win on Sunday, would match the team's longest winning streak under Brian Flores, a 5-game streak from Oct. 11, 2020, to Nov. 15, 2020. -This season, MIA beat 2 teams with who they have historically had a lot of difficulties against...the Texans & the Ravens. On Sunday, they face the New York Giants, a team they have their 2nd WORST franchise winning percentage against all-time at .222 MIA is 2-7 against NYG. -MIA has already faced 4 of the NFL's top 7 teams. In MIA's 12 games, their opponents (BUF 2X) have a combined average winning % of .495, half w/ winning records. In MIA's remaining 5 games, NYG, NYJ, NO, TEN & NE have a combined average winning % of .485. 2 winning records. -During this 4 game winning NOV, Jevon Holland has become his own island. Targeted against 10 times the last 4 games. Opponents caught 4 balls & in 2 games no one had a catch in his area. He has 2 INTs & a sack as well in NOV, & QB passer ratings against him of 40.64 & 15 tackles. -In the 1st quarter of games this season, the Dolphins have outscored opponents 69-46. The +23 point differential is 7th in the NFL this year. -Since Week 6 Tua Tagovailoa has completed 40/53 passes (75.5%) for 467 yards 4 TDs & 2 INTs in the 4th qtr. His 467 4th-qtr passing yards are 5th in the NFL since then while his 75.5 completion % leads NFL. His 8.8 yards per attempt ranks 4th & his 111.1 passer rating also is 4th. Tagovailoa also has 2 fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns since Week 6. -Rookie edge rusher, Jaelan Phillips had a 90.0 grade last weekend from PFF against the Panthers in his 3-sack performance. He has had four straight games with at least half of a sack. 
-MIA leads the NFL in passes defensed (69) & QB hits (90). MIA is tied for 3rd in the NFL in fumble recoveries (9) & is tied for 6th in takeaways (19). MIA is 5th in the NFL in 1st down success rate w/ just 46.4% of opposing 1st-down snaps gaining 4+ yards.
-Jevon Holland's 45 tackles are 6th among NFL rookies. He led all NFL rookies with 5 passes defensed in the month of November and also intercepted 2 passes in the month. -Though streaky, punter Michael Palardy is 3rd in the NFL with 21 punts downed inside the 20 this season. He is tied for 4th in the NFL with 8 punts downed inside the 10-yard line and 3 punts downed inside the 5-yard line. -4 Miami Dolphin defenders have registered at least a... Sack Tackle for loss QB Hit INT Pass defended with either a forced or recovered fumble: They Are: Jerome Baker Elandon Roberts Jevon Holland Nik Needham. -Mack Hollins has 12 receptions 3 TDS 8 special team tackles a tackle on offense following a turnover Several downed Punts.... 0 Haircuts. -Miami is 4-0 this season when leading after the 3rd 5-0 when holding opponents to under 20 points. -The Dolphins allowed 3 100+ rushers in the first 4 games of the season. They haven't allowed one since. -Durham Smythe has a catch rate in 2021 of 80% and since Week 2, zero dropped passes. 10 of his 25 receptions created a 1st down Smythe also had 2 rushing 1st downs against the Panthers. Mike Gesicki is kvelling somewhere. -Miami has 86 points in the 4th quarter this season. In the 2nd and 3rd quarters combined this season, they have scored 76. -Jaylen Waddle has 25 more catches than any other NFL rookie this season. He is slightly ahead of pace to break the NFL rookie receptions record of 101 by Arizona WR Anquan Boldin in 2003. If he continues his pace per game he'll have 103 after Week 17. It would be within 16 games. -Waddle's MIA record countdown: Receptions - Jarvis Landry had 84 in 2014. Waddle needs 8 more as he is at 77 Yardage - Chris Chambers had 883 in 2001 with 7 TDs, both MIA rookie records. Waddle is 125 yards away and needs 4 receiving TDs to break Chambers' records in both stats.
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