Jorge’s Hot takes KC 33 @ Miami 27: Pride and Hope for the Future

By: Jorge Hinojosa

I’m changing up the format a little bit this week but after such a performance, after such a strong showing, it was only right to acknowledge it. Where to begin? With a defense that forced three interceptions, four total turnovers and had three sacks off the best QB in the league who by the way had only thrown two interceptions in total in the previous 12 games?
 
With a rookie QB who down 30-10 brought his team back without his top WR, losing his starting TE and without his top-3 options at running back and finished the game within 6 points of the current Super Bowl Champions and #1 team in the conference?
 
With a coach who won’t let his team quit and despite being shorthanded went toe to toe with the most creative and diverse play caller in the league? Everywhere you look in this team there is so much hope and potential, so much belief that they should have won this game and that there are not nearly done, hell they haven’t even started really.
 
The truth is it’s a loss, a game where the opposite team managed to score more points than us and therefore left Hard Rock Stadium with a win that could have stayed with us. It hurts, because it’s a game the Dolphins could’ve, would’ve and maybe even should’ve won, but the pain is somewhat lessened by all how bright the future looks for this team. An elite defense that will only get better as its young players continue to grow: Andrew Van Ginkel is in only his 2nd year as is Wilkins, Needham and Sieler.

Raekwon Davis, Brandon Jones and Noah Igbinoghene are all rookies. Ogbah, Lawson and Van Noy (who we missed today) are in only their 1st year in this system and of course, Josh Boyer our defensive coordinator has been in the job for less than one year. Can you imagine what this defense can cook sixth a full off-season and a regular training camp? Seriously the sky is limit for this unit.
 
The offense is still a work in progress and yet as a unit, they were able to outscore the Kansas City record-breaking offense. Tua was throwing to rookies Lynn Bowden, Jr. and Malcolm Perry by the end of the game and the former college quarterbacks more than held their own but the start of the unit was by far Tua. He is everything that was promised, he brought this team back almost single-handedly and he got guys to buy-in into the potential comeback victory, not an easy task.
 
And a special mention has got to go to Coach Flores.  Should the Dolphins be beating the Chiefs today? No, they have no right to be challenging a team like the Chiefs in year 2 of the rebuild and yet they did. Coach Flores does not care what these Dolphins have a right to, he brings them ready to play for him and for each other and has in less than two full seasons built a real culture.

So, should thee Dolphins be winning this game today? No. But, should the Dolphins be competing with the Chiefs for the conference next year? Yes, they will be and its thanks in a huge part due to Coach Flores. Thank you Coach, thanks to you the future is as bright as ever.