The scoreboard still shows 0-4, but Dolphins fans are buying into the direction of the rebuild anyway.
That’s the big takeaway as Miami heads into Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals, a team that started 2-0 before dropping its last two and slipping to 2-2. Cincinnati sits last in the AFC North and comes into this one as a seven-point favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook, with Miami trying to spring an upset before its Week 6 bye.
The Dolphins’ record would usually have the fan base reaching for the panic button. Instead, the 2026 version of Miami is getting credit for something more subtle: signs of growth. The league’s youngest roster has taken its lumps, including the Week 4 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but the evidence of development appears to be resonating with supporters.
That shows up clearly in the latest SB Nation Reacts fan confidence survey. Miami’s trust level keeps climbing even while the losses pile up, and this week the Dolphins hit a new high. After 79 percent of respondents said they trusted the team last week, the number jumped again to 87 percent in Week 5.
For a team that tore things down during the offseason and is leaning heavily on rookie and second-year players, that kind of patience is notable. The fans seem to be treating the season less like a referendum on wins and losses and more like a measure of whether the rebuild is moving in the right direction.
Miami Dolphins 2026 Season Fan Confidence Results:
Preseason - 80%
Week 1 - 79%
Week 2 - 63%
Week 3 - 65%
Week 4 - 79%
Week 5 - 87%
In Other News...
Dolphins Rebuild Is Putting These Two Young Guards Under The Microscope
Miamis early-season stumble has only sharpened the focus on the interior of its offensive line, and two young guards are drawing most of the attention. With the team off to an 0-4 start, the Dolphins are treating the development of Kadyn Proctor and Jonah Savaiinaea as part of the bigger rebuild, looking for signs that the group can grow into something sturdier as the season goes on. Both have flashed enough to keep the staff interested, even if the results have been uneven.
Proctor has been the more eye-catching case in terms of raw ability, while Savaiinaea has shown the cleaner trajectory after settling into his second year. The evaluations have not been uniform, but the larger view remains encouraging, with coaches and analysts seeing enough progress to believe both players can matter to Miami down the line, even as the week-to-week scrutiny keeps getting tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Malik Willis Gave Bengals A Read Dolphins Fans Will Hate
The Bengals got a close look at Malik Willis, and Jordan Battle came away convinced there was something in the quarterbacks mechanics that helped Cincinnati sit on passes. Battle said Willis had a tell before releasing the ball, a small giveaway the defense picked up on, and the result was a disruptive afternoon for the Bengals secondary. Miami fans will recognize why that matters, because any hint that a defense can read a quarterback before the throw is the kind of thing that can travel fast.
Battle turned that awareness into production, intercepting Willis twice and helping Cincinnati force three turnovers in the game. The safety now leads the league with three interceptions on the season, which only adds to the intrigue for Dolphins observers who are watching how opposing defenses are diagnosing quarterbacks around the league. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Fans Will Love Whos Bringing The Energy Sunday
Miamis matchup with Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon will have a different feel in the booth, with FOX turning to Eric Collins and Mark Schlereth for the call. Collins, best known as the play-by-play voice of the Charlotte Hornets, has already built a reputation for bringing plenty of energy to whatever he covers, and that has made him an appealing name for fans who like their broadcasts with a little extra life.
Collins also has at least some recent NFL experience, having called a game last season, which only adds to the curiosity around this assignment. He may not be FOXs top announcing duo, but Dolphins fans have already shown plenty of interest in hearing him handle another one of their games, and this one should have no shortage of attention before the opening kickoff. [Read more 🡒]