No team improved its offense more than the Dolphins, who added a top left tackle, elite wide receiver, and a stable of solid NFL running backs. There's really no excuse for Tua Tagovailoa, in his third season, to fail with a supporting cast that includes Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and tight end Mike Gesicki, not to mention veteran tackle Terron Armstead anchoring the offensive line. New coach Mike McDaniel comes from San Francisco, where he contributed to an offense that turned wide receiver Deebo Samuel into a rushing and recei ving star in 2021. Tyreek Hill's production may not sink as far as some might expect with Patrick Mahomes no longer getting him the football. Defensively, Miami boasts a solid unit which ranked among the middle of NFL teams last season in total yards and points given up.
Miami has a four-game stretch at the start of the season and five consecutive games late that will determine its 2022 fate. If the Dolphins can avoid an 0-4 start vs. New England, at Baltimore, vs. Buffalo, and at reigning AFC champion Cincinnati, they have a chance to feast on weaker competition through Week 12. Three straight road games in Week 13 could once again derail their chances, which are followed by a meeting with Green Bay at home on Christmas Day and a visit to cold, likely wintery New England on New Year's Day. It's hard to imagine Miami winning more than two of those five games, which might be necessary to secure a playoff spot in the very tough AFC.
The Dolphins have a playo ff-caliber team in McDaniel's first season, but questions surrounding quarterback play and a tricky schedule might sideline those hopes until 2023. With the relatively easy midseason schedule, a ceiling of 9-10 wins is possible, but anything more will rely on securing wins against some of the league's best teams during the tougher parts of the schedule.
More NFL futures:'SportsLine Projection Model's best bets