Vic Fangio makes a statement about the Eagles and Dolphins that's perfectly evident, but still eye opening
The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the best teams in football. The Miami Dolphins are not. Doesn't take an analyst or a statistical deep dive to figure that one out. The Eagles are getting ready for their second Super Bowl in three years this week, once again against the Kansas City Chiefs, who clipped the […]
The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the best teams in football. The Miami Dolphins are not. Doesn't take an analyst or a statistical deep dive to figure that one out.
The Eagles are getting ready for their second Super Bowl in three years this week, once again against the Kansas City Chiefs, who clipped the Birds two years ago in Glendale, Arizona 38-35. As such, players and coaches alike are making the rounds at media day in advance on the game.
That includes Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who held the same position last year with the Dolphins. Fangio was asked by Pro Football Network's David Bearman about the difference between Miami and Philadelphia.
His answer, per Bearman, was obvious, but somehow still telling.
“It’s just a whole lot different. The whole organization top to bottom. It’s just different. Not to say one is better than other.” – Vic Fangio via David Bearman, Pro Football Network
It's pretty powerful hearing Fangio talk about the two being so different for him. And it's hard to take anything but negative from that from the perspective of the Dolphins, because the one they're totally different from is playing for all the marbles.
At the same time, it's really pretty obvious and tough to argue against that. The Eagles have built a proven winner, and they've done it from the front office on down. One who was just one play away from a title two years ago. One that's physically and mentally tough. One that's built to dominate on both sides of the line of scrimmage with elite-level players that have been drafted and developed. A head coach who's intense and runs his mouth but also appears to get his players to follow his bold lead.
And then Miami has…well…pretty much the opposite in every respect of what I just listed. The Dolphins are the anti-Eagles. Not tough. Not built and developed in the trenches. Not with a coach who appears to get his players to play with intensity and physicality.
That's not to say the Dolphins are without hope. They were one bad collapse against the Titans from being the AFC two seed in 2023. They would have been in the playoffs with Tua avoiding injury this year. Despite their shortcomings – roster and coaching wise – it's possible to get there. Granted, with a major roster and leadership makeover this offseason, but it can be done.
And Fangio did have supportive words for his Dolphins defense on Tuesday, noting their productivity before injuries took a toll.
Which, indeed, was true, with Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Cam Goode, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jerome Baker and Xavien Howard all out by season's end. It was a stretch of injuries ridiculous even by Miami's own outrageous injury standards.
But even so, it's become apparent after year three of the Mike McDaniel era that this Dolphins team is far, far away from either team playing in New Orleans this weekend. Now it's up to Chris Grier and McDaniel to figure out how to close the gap, and quickly, in the coming months.
National outlet makes a bold prediction that the Miami Dolphins do something that they simply can’t this offseason
A far too optimistic expectation
