Dolphins move past Raiders in rebuilding
Flores started later than Gruden, but he’s surpassed Vegas coach
Coach Brian Flores started the rebuilding process in Miami a year after Jon Gruden did the same in his return to the Raiders.
Both coaches traded away big-name players for premium draft picks and reshaped the roster in hopes of reviving onceproud franchises. While Flores arrived a year later than Gruden, he has the Dolphins well ahead of the Raiders in the rebuilding process.
Surprising Miami (9-5) heads to Las Vegas (7-7) on Saturday night in playoff position, but with little room for error in the top-heavy AFC in an impressive one-year turnaround for a team that lost its first seven games in Flores’ debut season last year.
“Since day one, there was never a doubt in my mind after I met Coach Flores and got around the organization that we could do some good things,” defensive tackle Christian Wilkins said. “But I just hope that good things can continue to keep happening for us, but it’s all about putting the work in, putting the work in each and every week and just keeping moving. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”
The Dolphins can clinch a playoff spot with wins against Las Vegas and Buffalo in the final two weeks as the rebuild has happened quicker than expected.
The Raiders had hopes of being in that position just a few weeks ago when they had a 6-3 record. But they have lost four of five games and are on the brink of being eliminated for the third straight year under Gruden and for the 17th time in the past 18 seasons.