Crystal Ball - Jan., '26

[stillhardcore]

If I had access to a crystal ball, I think this is what happens in '26:

*Dolphins go 9-8, or 10-7. Of course this is dependent on Tua playing and if we pick up a veteran QB2. (No, I do not think Huntley is the answer. QB3, or practice squad for him if we pick up somebody better.)
*We miss the Wild-card rd. because we are 3rd in the AFC East behind the ever-present Bills and a much-improved Pats team under Vrabel + OC Josh McDaniels.
*Dolphins D gets a few more pieces and Anthony Weaver's unit gets top 5 in most categories.
*Black Monday: Dolphins fire McDaniels. Ross cites 4 years in and no playoff victories with the last appearance in '23. More locker-room revelations contribute to the firing.
*"Teflon" Grier survives again!
*Dolphins interview several HC candidates passed over in '25 and hire Anthony Weaver - new HC of the Miami Dolphins (This is why "Teflon" Grier survives!)

 

[Rick Cartman]

I'm not sure how anyone comes back if we miss the playoffs, or lose a playoff game in 2025, but I think there's enough precedent at this point to create doubt.
It was discussed in another thread, but the idea of bringing in a Shula next coaching cycle would be too big of an opportunity for Ross to pass up, even if that means doing away with his beloved Chris Grier to make it happen.

 

[fansinceGWilson]

I'm not sure how anyone comes back if we miss the playoffs, or lose a playoff game in 2025, but I think there's enough precedent at this point to create doubt.
It was discussed in another thread, but the idea of bringing in a Shula next coaching cycle would be too big of an opportunity for Ross to pass up, even if that means doing away with his beloved Chris Grier to make it happen.

To state the obvious, winning a playoff game depends a lot on the opponent. Squeezing in to the playoffs insures the 1st game is against a top seed (a very good team). Miami blowing 2 games that would have moved up in the playoff rank would have resulted in a more winnable game and, possibly, a playoff win.
Step 1 > stop 'squeezing in' to the playoffs. Win those winnable games during regular season. I'll not beat the 'how to win more games' dead horse

 

[Bob512]

A lot of speculation about McD getting fired after this coming year, but arguably, with Tua healthy or at least not missing 4 games on IR we actually make the playoffs this year, so the margin of being a playoff team is very close despite everything we know occurred

I know many want to move on from him, but I wouldn't mortgage your house betting on his post 2025 demise.

 

[JamesWsenior]

Crystal Ball. Op will be back here in Jan 26 looking to trade in his 25 model for one with better foresight

 

[Rick Cartman]

To state the obvious, winning a playoff game depends a lot on the opponent. Squeezing in to the playoffs insures the 1st game is against a top seed (a very good team). Miami blowing 2 games that would have moved up in the playoff rank would have resulted in a more winnable game and, possibly, a playoff win.
Step 1 > stop 'squeezing in' to the playoffs. Win those winnable games during regular season. I'll not beat the 'how to win more games' dead horse

The only way to ensure we don't squeeze into the playoffs would be to sweep the Bills and/or win the division, if you do that then the winnable games will probably take care of themselves.
If the team doesn't think they have a team capable of beating Buffalo I'm not even sure what we're doing at this point.

 

[gofins60]

*"Teflon" Grier survives again!

 

[BahamaFinFan78]

That is what I fear. As much as people on this site will dog me, we need to lose and lost badly this upcoming season. I think it is the only thing that will get Ross to clean house. Heck, if it's bad enough, he may choose to sell and wash his hands of the whole thing. On game day, I can't bring myself to root for them to lose, but I believe this is what's best for the long term health of the franchise.

 

[Shula Fan]

I don’t see us winning close to 10 games. I think five or six.

 

[Bumpus]

My crystal ball tells me that nobody really cares what you think.

 

[gofins60]

That is what I fear. As much as people on this site will dog me, we need to lose and lost badly this upcoming season. I think it is the only thing that will get Ross to clean house. Heck, if it's bad enough, he may choose to sell and wash his hands of the whole thing. On game day, I can't bring myself to root for them to lose, but I believe this is what's best for the long term health of the franchise.

On the bright side, you won't have to actually wish for Miami to lose... they'll do it on their own. The past has shown that Grier will not magically come up with a good o-line full of healthy, competent linemen, and McDaniel has shown that he's lost when his offense gets disrupted, and beating a top team is an extreme rarity. With a healthy Tua, they still couldn't beat the good teams in 2023, and in 2024 without Tua, they even lost to some bad teams. The schedule in 2025 looks to be much harder than in 2024, so it's likely that they'll lose more games in 2025.

And Grier, after ridding the team of bloated contracts for overpaid and/or underperforming players in 2019, put the team right back in the same position. So, it's not like he's going to be able to afford a bunch of high-priced talented FAs to make the team better. Plus, the odds are high that Tua will miss games again, and knowing Grier and McDaniel, the back-up QB position, like the o-line, will probably not be a priority.

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing a season so bad that Ross sells the team, and the new owner cleans house.... that would make it all worthwhile. I know many fans think Ross is a good owner because he spends money, but that doesn't really count because he's making more money than he spends. And maybe I'm just ignorant of this, but have any other owners built a racetrack around their stadium? WTF? Ross doesn't care about the Dolphins or their fans, he cares only about making more money.

 

[39wildman]

The only way to ensure we don't squeeze into the playoffs would be to sweep the Bills and/or win the division, if you do that then the winnable games will probably take care of themselves.
If the team doesn't think they have a team capable of beating Buffalo I'm not even sure what we're doing at this

Dolphins are not going beat bills. Wasting more yr or buying time in nfl. I give McDaniel credit for making playoff. What plan after we make playoff. I don't know

 

[hab321]

Wash....rinse....repeat.....

 

[MrChadRico]

If I had access to a crystal ball, I think this is what happens in '26:

*Dolphins go 9-8, or 10-7. Of course this is dependent on Tua playing and if we pick up a veteran QB2. (No, I do not think Huntley is the answer. QB3, or practice squad for him if we pick up somebody better.)
*We miss the Wild-card rd. because we are 3rd in the AFC East behind the ever-present Bills and a much-improved Pats team under Vrabel + OC Josh McDaniels.
*Dolphins D gets a few more pieces and Anthony Weaver's unit gets top 5 in most categories.
*Black Monday: Dolphins fire McDaniels. Ross cites 4 years in and no playoff victories with the last appearance in '23. More locker-room revelations contribute to the firing.
*"Teflon" Grier survives again!
*Dolphins interview several HC candidates passed over in '25 and hire Anthony Weaver - new HC of the Miami Dolphins (This is why "Teflon" Grier survives!)

6 wins next year...... and that's the ceiling. I could see 4 wins honestly being a better guess than 9.

We will be worse in 2025 and we won't have the easiest schedule in the NFL again either.

 

[E30M3]

6 wins next year...... and that's the ceiling. I could see 4 wins honestly being a better guess than 9.

We will be worse in 2025 and we won't have the easiest schedule in the NFL again either.

I'm really starting to get your we's confused. You used we as in Tampa in another thread and we here as in Dolphins.... Can you please clarify.