Gase’s Dolphins are big underdogs for number of reasons
Associated Press
DAVIE, Fla. — Outscored. Outgained. And in the playoffs? The numbers don’t add up for the Dolphins, who’ve overachieved to earn their first postseason berth since 2008. They have allowed 17 more points than they’ve scored and have been outgained by 798 yards, more than all but three other teams in the NFL. Their defense ranks 29th after giving up a franchise- record 6,122 yards, and their offense ranks 24th. They’re a modest plus- 2 in turnover differential.
Yet somehow the Dolphins managed to go 10- 6 to earn the AFC’s last wild- card berth and a first- round matchup at Pittsburgh on Sunday.
“It’s interesting to look at our numbers,” offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen said. “You really don’t see an explanation. It has kind of been funny.”
Oddsmakers aren’t amused. Without glittery statistics — and without injured quarterback Ryan Tannehill — the Dolphins are 10- point underdogs, the biggest margin of the wild- card weekend.
“That has been our MO,” safety Michael Thomas said. “That’s how we lived this season. It’s not surprising to us that we’re 10- point underdogs. It doesn’t faze us. We prefer it. We’re going to do our thing.”
The Dolphins’ thing has been to win close games. When the margin is seven points or fewer, they’ve won eight in a row. Their eight victories in such games are a franchise record for a season; the 1972 Dolphins won six one- score games en route to the NFL’s only perfect season.
Miami has scored winning points in the fourth quarter on a run, pass and field goal, and on kickoff and interception returns.
“It’s about winning games; all the statistics really don’t matter,” coach Adam Gase said. “What this league’s about is who’s going to be in it in the fourth quarter, and then who can make a play. We’ve been in that situation so many times this year, and it has gone in our favor quite a bit.”
Even so, the Dolphins are the first team since 2012 to win at least 10 games while being outscored.
And that’s with a soft schedule. They’ve beaten only one team that finished the regular season at .500 or better: the Steelers.