Dolphins Win Again, But Questions Remain After Narrow Escape vs. Saints
Don’t look now, but the Miami Dolphins are starting to string some wins together. After a rough 1-5 start to the season, Miami has now won three straight and four of their last five to climb to 5-7. That’s a solid turnaround, no doubt - but Sunday’s narrow win over the New Orleans Saints left plenty of fans feeling more uneasy than excited.
Let’s be clear: wins in the NFL don’t come with style points. But when you’re facing a Saints team led by a rookie quarterback in Tyler Shough, a second-year seventh-round wideout in Devaughn Vele, and a sixth-round rookie running back in Devin Neal, you’d hope for a little more dominance - especially from a team trying to claw its way back into relevance.
Still, a win is a win. And in this league, any Sunday you walk away with the W is a good one, no matter how it looks. Before we look ahead to a divisional matchup with the Jets, let’s take a closer look at what went right - and what didn’t - in the Dolphins’ gritty victory over New Orleans.
Fins Up: Jordan Phillips Anchors the Defensive Front
Rookie defensive tackle Jordan Phillips continues to be one of the most encouraging storylines of Miami’s season. A fifth-round pick out of Maryland, Phillips has been making a name for himself in the trenches - and Sunday was another step forward.
While the stat sheet shows four tackles, Phillips’ real impact came in the way he occupied blockers and freed up his teammates to make plays. His ability to command double-teams helped open lanes for the linebackers, who were noticeably more active and effective behind him.
What’s especially exciting for Miami is the trio forming along that defensive front. Phillips, along with fellow rookies Kenneth Grant and Zeek Biggers, is giving the Dolphins a young, powerful foundation up the middle.
These guys are big, physical, and getting better every week. For a team that’s looking to build a sustainable identity on defense, this rookie class might be laying the groundwork.
Fins Down: Ollie Gordon II’s Rookie Misstep
Rookie running back Ollie Gordon II has shown flashes this season - no question. He’s got the size, the burst, and the vision to be a real contributor in this offense. But Sunday’s late-game decision on a critical fourth-and-short will be one he’ll want to learn from in a hurry.
With the Dolphins holding a one-score lead in the fourth quarter, head coach Mike McDaniel put the ball in Gordon’s hands on a pivotal fourth down. The offensive line didn’t generate much push, but in that moment, Gordon had options.
He could’ve lowered his shoulder, driven into the pile, and tried to grind out the yard. He could’ve even attempted to leap over the top.
Instead, he hesitated, bounced the play outside, and was promptly dropped behind the line by Saints defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry.
It was a rookie mistake - the kind that happens when instinct and experience haven’t quite synced up yet. The hope is that Gordon takes this as a teaching moment.
The physical tools are there. But in the NFL, decision-making under pressure is what separates the good backs from the great ones.
Looking Ahead
The Dolphins now sit at 5-7, with a chance to keep the momentum rolling next week against the New York Jets. It’s a winnable game, and another opportunity to show that this recent surge is more than just a midseason blip.
But for Miami to stay in the hunt, they’ll need to clean up the inconsistency. The defense is starting to find its footing, thanks in large part to a promising rookie class up front. Offensively, though, the Dolphins need sharper execution - especially in critical moments.
If they can tighten things up, this team could make things interesting down the stretch. If not, Sunday’s win over the Saints might end up being more of a missed opportunity than a turning point.
Either way, the pieces are there. Now it’s about putting them together - and doing it fast.