Dolphins imploding through first quarter of the season

The original idea for this post was to put together a first quarter grade for the Miami Dolphins, looking back at their first four games with a summary of their perfomances and an idea of where they go from here. The problem is, there is no way to give Miami a grade other than F at this point. The team has failed to score, they have failed to stop opponents, they have failed to run the ball, they have failed to do just about anything a football team needs to do to succeed in the NFL.

They have made it to each game in tume and all in the correct uniform, so I guess there is at least something going right.

In 2014, the Oakland Raiders fired their head coach after losing to the Dolphins in London in Week 4. That same scenario could be getting ready to happen this year, but with Miami the one doing the firing. It has been that miserable a start to the 2015 season for the South Florida franchise celebrating its 50th annuversary season.

The season started with the Dolphins pulling out a win against the Washington Redskins and, while the come-from-behind victory was not the manner in which Miami was supposed to win, the team had least had gone on the road and pulled out the victory. Then, in Week 2, the Dolphins were expected to blowout the Jacksonville Jaguars, establishing themselves as an AFC power. Someone forgot to tell Jacksonville the plan, as the Jaguars connected on a game-winning field goal in the final minute of the contest and sent Maimi to 1-2 on the year.

Week 3 began Miami's 2015 AFC East campaign with the Buffalo Bills visiting the Dolphins in the newly renovated Sun Life Stadium. Everyone knew it would be a tough game, but Miami should have been able to get the win in their home opener. Instead, the Bills blew the Dolphins out of the water, winning 41-14 and cementing fan frustration for a franchise that appears to be regressing at an incredibly fast rate.

This past weekend, facing the hated New York Jets in London, there was none of the normal animosity and hatred for the game featurin two huge rivals. Dolphins fans seemed to exoect Miami to once again lay an egg, and that is exactly what they did. Wide receiver Jarvis Landry tried to will Miami to the win late in the game, but no one else seemed to have the same level of determination, and Miami now heads into their bye week at 1-3 and on a three game losing streak.

Today, owner Stephen Ross is expected to make a decision on the future of the Miami coaching staff, potentially firinnhead coach Joe Philbin, defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, or any combination of head and assistant coaches. The once proud franchise has sunk back down to the drudges of the NFL, and Ross has to make a move to shake it up.

The first quarter of the season is now behind the Dolphins, who imploded their way through it. Will the other 75-percent of the year be any different?