Can the Dolphins catch fire and get to the top of the AFC East?

Written by Luis Sung | Twitter: @FLSportDebater
The Miami Dolphins are in a really good position right now, possibly the best position they've been ever since 2008. With players returning from suspension and injuries thanks to the early bye week, and coming off a great win in London against the Oakland Raiders, the Dolphins have a really good chance to jump to the top of the AFC East.

The Patriots are starting to show weaknesses and the Jets are struggling with major quarterback problems. The only team that seems to truly have the Dolphins number in the East is the Buffalo Bills, who have their own problems. But that doesn't mean things are perfect with the Dolphins. One thing people are concerned with is the early bye week and how it's going to affect the team going up against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, but Joe Philbin really isn't concerned with it.

“Well, it’s funny. That question has kind of gotten tossed around here before. It really depends how you look at the season. Do you consider the season the start of the regular season? Do you consider the season the start of preseason games, the start of camp?" Philbin said. "There’s a lot of different ways to look at it. I think, for us as a team, it came right on time."

As for the AFC East seeming to be ripe for the taking with the Patriots struggling recently, Philbin doesn't necessarily see it that way, and it's not affecting his viewpoints.

“It’s hard to say balancing out. Crazy enough as it is, you look around the league and any given week the teams that are in this division can play to the top of their game, they beat teams all around the league." Philbin said. "Every time we play each other, there’s no homecoming game, it’s not like we play the Jets or the Bills, New England, it’s not going to be a stat game or whatever guys are going to call it. It’s going to be a game where you have to go out there and play your butt off."

Philbin seems determined to make sure the team has the mentality that nothing is different from any other game, and that everyone needs to always execute with whatever task they're given. Is the AFC East up for grabs? Absolutely. Will it be easy? Absolutely not. It's going to be up to Joe Philbin to make sure his team is ready to go every week. 

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