COMMENTARY
Every year DolFans get giddy.
"This is the year we break through, this is the year we finally contend -- or at least get to the playoffs," we think. But this year really does feel unique considering the moves Miami has made during the offseason. There's that and, come on, eventually this team has to turn it around.
It has been hard being a Dolphins fan. But one Harvard blog thinks the pain may be near an end.
According to a blog post published by the Harvard College Sports Analysis Collective, the Miami Dolphins are going to win the American Football Conference and go to the Super Bowl.
The post, written by Harvard sophomore Kurt Bullard and appropriately called A Way-Too-Early Prediction Of The NFL Season, no doubt gave many fans a warm fuzzy and plenty more fodder for hope.
And it's bold. The team hasn't been to the playoffs since 2008. It hasn't been to the Super Bowl since 1984. It hasn't won the big game since 1973. It was 8-8 the last two seasons.
Also consider there's that team just up 95, the deflating Patriots. (I had to say that.)
Listen to our report on Bullard's analysis.
How did Bullard come to this conclusion? Well, I never went to Harvard and I'll admit that following his formula made my head spin. Besides, I just wanted to imagine Ryan Tannehill lifting up the AFC Championship trophy. I'll let Bullard better explain his own formula.
And why not believe it? Miami signed Tannehill to a big contract, regardless of the fact he isn't a sexy pick like say Andrew Luck or Russell Wilson. But his stats are better or on par with both of those players.
Miami also picked up wide receivers DeVante Parker and Kenny Stills, as well as tight end Jordan Cameron. And, leaving the biggest for last, the Dolphins made their defense tougher with the signing of Ndamukong Suh.
So why wouldn't this team be excited?
Currently Las Vegas odds makers have the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks with the greatest odds at winning the Lombardi Trophy at 6-to-1. They have the Indianapolis Colts as the favored team out of the AFC with 8-to-1 odds. Miami, according to Vegas, is 40-to-1.
The truth is, and maybe some Dolphins fans will disagree with me, just finishing the season strong and getting to the playoffs this year will be a major victory. You don't agree?
In the last 13 seasons Miami has been to the playoffs once. And every time I hear the number 13 the only thing that crosses my mind is the fact that I still wish cloning technology was up to par to make another Dan Marino.
That's not to put Tannehill down. He might not be the commercial commodity of a Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, but his numbers are solid and improving annually. Maybe what he really needs is to just finally transform into a great finisher. A good defense helps, too.
This year Miami celebrates its 50th birthday as a professional football franchise. In that time they've put quite a few players and a coach into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, won a couple SuperBowls and remain the only team to go undefeated and win the big one all in the same season. Thank you, New York Giants.
Is Bullard from Harvard on to something with this formula? It's only the first year of the report so there are not previous years of results to compare.
Miami once had one of the winningest teams in the NFL. It's been a while since those days, but the league is set so any team can rebuild itself and become a contender. Look at Arizona, Seattle and New Orleans. There was a time when those teams were awful. Each of them has been to a Super Bowl in the last 10 years.
So, why not the Dolphins?
