The Miami Dolphins came into the 2012 season with analysts constantly remarking on the lack of talent on the team. Three wins was going to be an accomplishment for the Dolphins. They had the worst wide receiving corps in the league. There was nothing head coach Joe Philbin, in his first season as a head coach, would be able to do with this group of rejects, and Reggie Bush.
But, something funny happened when they actually played the games. The Dolphins won. Although they only won seven games, losing nine and claiming their fourth straight losing season, the team turned heads. There were flashes of this team coming together. The Dolphins weren't the worst team in the league. They didn't have the worst wide receivers (cough, New York Jets, cough). They were competitive for most of the season, and they were (technically) in playoff contention through Week 16 of the season.
The Dolphins were not the failures people expected.
So, as Joel Thorman posts SB Nation's Postseason Power Rankings, I thought why not take a look back at where the Dolphins ranked throughout the season.
In his preseason power rankings, Thorman had the Dolphins ranked 27th. Throughout the season they jumped as high as 13th, and fell as low as 32nd.
To end the season, Thorman ranked the Dolphins 20th. Of the team, he writes:
"The arrow is pointing up. Just need some consistency. You can't lose to the Titans one week and then beat the Seahawks the next."
On that point, he's absolutely right. The Dolphins need to find consistency this offseason. Having given rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill every start this season, the Dolphins' should find more consistency just based on the growth Tannehill had throughout the year. The addition of playmakers on both offense and defense this offseason will aid in that as well.
Twentieth seems about right for the 2012 version of the Dolphins. I would like to place them higher, but, after ruling out the top 12 teams, all of whom are playoff bound, that leaves the New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of the Dolphins in Thorman's rankings.
What do you think of the Dolphins' final rankings?