Miami Dolphins: Is This The New Normal In Miami?

The Miami Dolphins pulled off a late-season upset against the New England Patriots. While the Dolphins season was over, the Patriots still needed momentum going into the playoffs. In the past, it’s been said that the reason the Pats give up late-season games in Miai is they have nothing left to play for. By then they’ve usually won the division and keep starters in just to keep the momentum going.

But this year was different, the final game of the season, and the Patriots hadn’t locked up the division. The Bills were still in control and New England needed to walk away from that game with a win. It usually takes some late-season heroics for Miami to walk away with a win. Remember the Miami Miracle? More often than not lately the Dolphins are winning at home against the Pats in December. Is this the new normal in Miami?

Miami was in complete control of this game. They got out to an early lead after the first drive then a pick-6 gave them some wiggle room, or should we say some waddle room. From then out Miami would never give up the lead. New England went on to make big plays as New England always does, but the Dolphins did just enough to not let it slip away.

More Miami Dolphins: Flores Deserves Coach of the Year

Part of the reason Brian Flores was hired was to bring that winning tradition down to the Miami Dolphins. Winning games in November and December is what counts. Now if the Miami Dolphins could just figure out how to start the season as well as they end it they might be on to something. Flores knows the Patriots just as well as anybody and if it comes down to the playoffs in the future or even the division, it’s wise to have a guy who can win those late-in-the-year games.

With the win against the Patriots on Sunday, Brian Flores gives the Dolphins their first back-to-back winning seasons in 18 years. The Dolphins might not have been playoff bound but this makes a statement for their future. Despite how many people wrote Miami off mid-season, this team wasn’t going to give up. If they can spend the offseason making smart moves they’ll be competitors in the future.