At one point this season, the Miami Dolphins looked like a team spiraling toward irrelevance. Sitting at 1-6, with injuries piling up and the offense sputtering, it felt like the wheels were coming off.
There was even chatter about whether head coach Mike McDaniel might be on the hot seat. But here’s the thing about the NFL: it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
And the Dolphins are proving just how quickly a season can turn.
Since that rough start, Miami has ripped off five wins in their last six games, vaulting themselves back into the AFC playoff picture. It’s the kind of resurgence that reminds us how thin the margin is between a team falling apart and one catching fire.
And just in time for a crucial Monday night showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Dolphins are getting a major boost in the backfield.
De’Von Achane, who left last week’s win over the New York Jets early, is expected to suit up against Pittsburgh. The team hasn’t offered much detail on the injury, but the fact that he’s trending toward playing is a huge sigh of relief for Miami.
Achane has quietly been one of the most explosive backs in the league this season. At the moment, he ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,126 and sits second in yards per carry at 5.8 - a number that speaks volumes about both his vision and his burst.
Having Achane back in the lineup gives this offense a dynamic edge it sorely needs. His ability to turn a routine handoff into a 30-yard gain keeps defenses honest and opens up the rest of the playbook for McDaniel. And with Miami’s offensive line finding its rhythm and Tua Tagovailoa settling into a groove, the timing couldn’t be better.
The Dolphins are far from a finished product, but they’re trending in the right direction. The early-season struggles are still part of the story - but now they’re the backdrop to a team that’s finding its identity when it matters most. If Achane is healthy and the defense continues to hold its own, Miami could be a real problem down the stretch.
From 1-6 to a playoff contender? The Dolphins are writing one of the season’s most compelling comeback stories - and they’re not done yet.