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The Miami Dolphins have done something they had not done since 2002 - start the season with three wins. Coming off a 27-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons, the Dolphins, and their fans, are excited about the team, and where they could go this season
"I'm more excited about being 3-0," Miami long snapper John Denney said after the game when asked about breaking the franchise record of 130 straight games played, previously held by defensive end Jason Taylor. "It hasn't happened a whole lot in my career and I'm excited to where the team is headed."
Denney is correct, it hasn't happened a lot in his career. In fact, the 2002 3-0 start for Miami was three years before the two time Pro Bowl long snapper signed with Miami as an undrafted free agent out of BYU.
The Dolphins' fast start this year is something no one expected. Back in April, when the NFL schedule was released, the Dolphins' first five games, at the Cleveland Browns, at the Indianapolis Colts, home against the Falcons, at the New Orleans Saints, and home against the Baltimore Ravens, was seen as the hardest stretch of the season. Winning one game was seen as good, and two games possible, but going to be tough. Now, sitting at 3-0, the Dolphins seem to be playing with house money.
Miami is guaranteed to go into their Week 6 bye week with a winning record before starting their AFC East campaign this season.
The win over the Falcons was huge for the Dolphins, and their fans. While the Browns game was tough, and the Colts were seen as a playoff caliber opponent, the Falcons are seen as a Super Bowl contender. All Miami did was beat all three teams.
So, did the Dolphins themselves see the win as a big one?
"I knew we have a lot of potential on this team and we're doing some good things out there," cornerback Brent Grimes replied when asked that question after the game. "We just want to keep it going. We're only 3-0, we have a lot of positives, but we have a lot of work to do.
"It was emotional," Grimes continued. "It was a crazy game, it came down to the home stretch and it was a great win. To win a game against a team who has been good in this league for a while now, that's big. It was our home opener, we're 3-0; it was just a big win."
The fans will absolutely agree. It was a big win.
"We have a special team," wide receiver Brian Hartline told reporters after the game. "We have a lot of talent. We continue to progress and come together as a team on an individual basis. Offense, defense, and special teams all compliment each other. The sky's the limit."
Which is what has the fans excited. What is the ceiling for this team? Could they keep up the winning streak next week on Monday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome? Whatever ends up happening next week, or over the next two weeks, the Dolphins are off to a much better start than anyone really expected.
And that start has everyone excited.
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