Prominent national media outlet pegs Dolphins as new AFC East favorite

Monday Night Football just put the AFC East in a bottle and shook it wildly. When all is sorted out, it could be the Miami Dolphins who end up on top. The New York Jets' 22-16 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills was one of the most bizarre games in recent NFL history. Aaron Rodgers […]

Craig Smith — College Football & NFL Trending News Writer

Sep 12, 2023 4:19 PM EDT

Monday Night Football just put the AFC East in a bottle and shook it wildly. When all is sorted out, it could be the Miami Dolphins who end up on top.

The New York Jets' 22-16 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills was one of the most bizarre games in recent NFL history. Aaron Rodgers tore his achilles tendon on his fourth play as a Jet. Josh Allen threw three interceptions to S Jordan Whitehead. Zach Wilson came in and helped lead the Jets to overtime before undrafted free agent PR Xavier Gipson weaved 65 yards for a walk off touchdown to sent the Met Life Stadium crowd into a frenzy.

But, one day removed from the chaos, ESPN's Shannon Sharpe and Steven A. Smith see the Dolphins as the current favorite in the AFC East. Appearing on First Take, both believe Miami's offense makes them very difficult to catch.

"I'm not surprised that the betting favorite to win the AFC East now are the Miami Dolphins because I believe they have the most explosive offense and I believe they have one of the better defensive coordinators. I'm not saying he's a better (defensive) coordinator than Coach (Bill) Belichick, but I believe he has better players. Now that's also without (Jalen Ramsey). (Ramsey) is going to come back at some point in time, then you pair him with Xavien Howard and Christian Wilkins, and they got (Bradley) Chubb and (Jaelan) Phillips. They got guys that can go head hunting. They got guys that can get you on the ground defensively. And with that offense with Tyreek (Hill) and Jaylen Waddle, and Raheem Mostert and Tua (Tagovailoa), that's the best team in the AFC." – Shannon Sharpe, ESPN's First Take

Smith was equally effusive for his praise for the Dolphins, especially on offense. He sees teams needing to score 30 points a game to keep up with the Dolphins, and he projected the Dolphins' two prime targets – Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle – to break 3000 receiving yards combined.

"Clearly, it's the Miami Dolphins and I'm going tell you a simple reason why. Shannon expanded on it, but I'm going simplify it. You've got to score thirty a game to beat Miami. Let's just call that what it is. You've got to score thirty a game. Understand, ladies and gentlemen, I'm standing on national television right now. And I'm telling you right now, two receivers on the Miami Dolphins are going to register 3000 yards this season. Book it. Now, who's put it that way? You're going say because we have to understand something. Minimum 1500 yards for at least one of them. Likely both. On average. I'm talking about when you look at Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle because of how electrifying both of them are. Tyreek Hill runs 24 or nearly 24 miles per hour. Jaylen Waddle was top four in the league last year running it over 21 miles per hour. These brothers are just great. I mean, they're road runners. They're just something spectacular, especially in the case of Tyreek Hill because he's more elusive than a Jaylen Waddle. Jaylen Waddle has got that speed. Tyreek has both the speed and the elusivity. So I'm looking at the both of them with Tua Tagovailoa who has shown us when healthy the brother can just fling the football." – Steven A. Smith, ESPN's First Take

Whether anyone can actually hit 30 points a game, Smith was doubtful anyone in the division would do it. "And by the way, I don't see anybody with the Bills, the Jets, or the Patriots that could give you thirty in the blink of an eye," Smith said. "The Bills are capable of it but not consistently."

The thing Smith apparently didn't realize in the moment was that Waddle and Hill already shattered the combined 3000 receiving yards mark last season. However, if Tua is healthy for a full season, then his proclamation about teams needing to score 30 points a game could be very spot on.

And Miami could likewise find itself at the top of the division in January for the first time since the 2008-09 season and just the second time since 2000.