When the Miami Dolphins started this season 1-6, it was thought to be a completely lost season for them, especially as it looked like head coach Mike McDaniel was on the hot seat.
But they responded with a 34-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8, and after losing to the Baltimore Ravens the following Thursday, they pulled off a huge 30-13 upset of the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. They were able to limit the damage Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen did, and they now have at least a trickle of belief after improving their record to 3-7.
Linebacker Bradley Chubb said that the players believed they could defeat the reigning MVP and his team, even if it meant having some irrational confidence.
“It didn’t matter. We just showed up to work,” Chubb said after Sunday’s game, per ESPN. “Everybody had that same mindset, and that’s why I used the word ‘delusional’ because nobody on the outside’s going to believe it. But all of us in there knew and came out and showed it today.
“It’s just about the belief, man, everybody there believing in each other, believing in the process, believing in how we’re going to take the field, and that’s what worked.”
Chubb also made mention that the Dolphins team is “delusional” enough to make a run and potentially turn their season around for a playoff push. Though that is highly unlikely, crazier things have happened in the NFL.
When a team is struggling, as the Dolphins have, it does take a bit of delusion and irrational confidence to get back on track, even when that team has the type of talent the team possesses.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has struggled this year and given his critics plenty of ammunition, and although he threw two interceptions versus Buffalo, he completed 15 of 21 pass attempts and threw two touchdown passes. Running back De’Von Achane has quietly been having a strong season, and he exploded for 174 rushing yards, 51 receiving yards, and two touchdowns.
Chubb contributed on the other side of the football with three total tackles (two solo), one sack and four quarterback hits. In all, Allen was sacked three times by Miami.
There were plenty of trade rumors swirling around Miami prior to Tuesday’s trade deadline, and Chubb was one name that often came up. But the Dolphins made just one trade that sent out linebacker Jaelen Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles for a third-round draft pick in 2026, and the lack of acquisitions was a big disappointment for their fan base.
But now, they will have a somewhat manageable schedule the rest of the way. They will host the Washington Commanders this coming Sunday, and after their bye in Week 12, they will play the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets before they see Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 15.
Miami’s chances of making the playoffs seem slim to none, but if its players are delusional enough, perhaps they can give themselves an outside shot of doing so.
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