The Dolphins defense and Ricky Williams won a lot of games for us.
Nothing against Chad, but let's be real. We made the playoffs that year because Tom Brady was hurt for the season and we had an unbelievably easy schedule. We played the NFC West that year when every team in that division was down.
Miami 14 vs Jets (9-7) 20
Miami 10 @ Cardinals (9-7) 31
Miami 38 @ New England (11-5) 13
Miami 17 vs San Diego (8-8) 10
Miami 28 @ Houston (8-8) 29
Miami 13 vs Baltimore (11-5) 27
Miami 25 vs Buffalo (7-9) 16
Miami 26 @ Denver (8-8) 17
Miami 21 vs Seattle (4-12) 19
Miami 17 vs Oakland (5-11) 15
Miami 28 vs New England (11-5) 48
Miami 16 @ St. Louis (2-14) 12
Miami 16 @ Buffalo (7-9) 3
Miami 14 vs San Francisco (7-9) 9
Miami 38 vs Kansas City (2-14) 31
Miami 24 @ Jets (9-7) 17
Miami 9 vs Baltimore (11-5) 27 (playoffs)
Split with the Jets and Patriots, who were a combined 20-12.
Take out those two teams from the remainder and you get:
Combined records of teams beaten by Miami: 43-101 (.298 win percentage), average margin of victory in those games: 6.4 points
Combined records of teams that defeated Miami: 28-20 (.583 win percentage), average margin of defeat in those games: 12 points
So yes, we basically squeaked by a historically easy schedule.
I like Chad Pennington and I think he could be a great coach if he ever wants to go that route, but let's not put him on a pedestal. He didn't turn the ball over against ****ty teams. I credit him for that, but let's not act like he was a world beater.