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The Miami Dolphins pulled off the upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers this past weekend, finally finding both an offensive and defensive rhythm for the first time this season. It was a complete game, and it was a great feeling to see what the Dolphins could be if they can play like that each week.
Was the performance enough to start getting some respect in the various NFL Power Rankings around the internet?
SB Nation
Week 7: 24
Last Week: 29
Comments: The Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, and San Diego Chargers didn’t have much room to move up either when all the teams around them won too.
Fox Sports
Week 7: 25
Last Week: 30
Comments: One week after getting blown out by the Titans, the Dolphins do the exact same to the Steelers. Jay Ajayi carried Miami to its second win of the season as the defense surprisingly shut down Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. The offense still lacks explosiveness, but it’s noticeably better when Ryan Tannehill has time to throw, as he did on Sunday.
USA Today
Week 7: 28
Last Week: 31
Comments: Where did that come from Jay Ajayi? He rushed for 204 yards Sunday after totaling 304 in his first 12 career games combined.
Yahoo!
Week 7: 29
Last Week: 30
Comments: Between his promising two-game debut last season and Sunday’s 204-yard outburst, Jay Ajayi had 215 yards on 69 carries in 11 games — a 3.1-yard average. He’ll get more chances to prove his big game Sunday wasn’t a fluke.
CBS Sports
Week 7: 27
Last Week: 30
Comments: They showed some life against the Steelers, and also a nice running game. Now comes a tough division game with Buffalo.
NFL.com
Week 7: 26
Last Week: 31
Comments: Jay Ajayi didn't think Jay Ajayi would run for 204 yards on the Steelers. Holy crap. More on that in a minute. The Dolphins received a hefty boost in this week's Power Rankings, mostly for decimating the Steelers. Don't sleep on the improving offense, though, which has averaged 474 yards and 30 points per game over the last three outings.
ESPN
Week 7: 27
Last Week: 29
Comments: Ryan Tannehill has been sacked at least five times in three games this season, one of two quarterbacks with multiple games with that many sacks (Colts QB Andrew Luck is the other). The Dolphins lost all of those games, but are 2-1 in the other three games in which Tannehill was sacked a total of one time.
PFF
Week 7: 23
Last Week: Not listed
Comments: No Comments.
Bleacher Report
Week 7: 30
Last Week: 31
Comments: Go ahead and judge Jay Ajayi for what he just did for your fantasy team.
I'll judge him by the real, tangible balance he brings to this Dolphins offense. Pittsburgh attacked Miami the way any other team would by setting its safeties back and anticipating the pass. That can no longer happen if Ajayi's punishing runs keep coming.
Credit the five guys blocking in front of him too. Yes, the Steelers played without many healthy impact defenders (Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt, Ryan Shazier). But this is the first time we've seen Adam Gase's Dolphins offense as the bully and not the bullied. It suits the team well.
Byron Maxwell's coverage ability was another welcome sight. An injured Ben Roethlisberger tossed dead ducks up for grabs; No. 41 capitalized. Miami needs this version of Maxwell at corner going forward.
Sports Illustrated
Week 7: 27
Last Week: 30
Comments: Counting Sunday’s upset of Pittsburgh, the Dolphins now have won their past six games when they’ve scored exactly 30 points, dating back to the 2002 season. In fact, Miami is 26–5 all-time as a franchise when hitting that number on the nose. You have your goal for each game, Ryan Tannehill.
Niners Nation
Week 7: 27
Last Week: 31
Comments: No comments.
Forbes
Week 7: 25
Last Week: 31
Comments: Jay Ajayi was a monster for the Fins on the ground against the Steelers. He [became] the first running back to eclipse 200 yards on the ground this season. Meanwhile, the defense shut down Pittsburgh’s powerful offense. Even with Roethlisberger hobbled, it was a great performance by Miami’s defense.
Averages
Week 7 Average: 26
Week 4 Average: 30
Change: +4
Highest Ranking: 23 (PFF)
Lowest Ranking: 30 (Bleacher Report)