The Miami Dolphins should bank on being measurably better this season in these three offensive categories
There’s a lot of new with the Miami Dolphins’ offense this season. But where will they actually be better than 2025?
New does not always equate to better. But in the case of the 2026 Miami Dolphins offense, there are several phases where it’s probably safe to count on both things being true.
Miami shed high-priced veterans, appears to have embraced a new tone to their offensive style, and will look to grow around a young quarterback in Malik Willis. But the on-field product is where the judgement will ultimately be earned. Play and performance was low for the 2025 Miami Dolphins in these three phases — and we should be looking for things to be better in this regard in 2026.
The Miami Dolphins should bank on being measurably better this season in these three offensive categories
Explosive pass rate
No matter what you think about the Miami Dolphins’ offensive outlook in 2026, let’s sticks with the facts here. Miami’s downfield passing game withered and died the last two seasons. Miami completed just 24 passes that traveled at least 20 yards downfield between the 2024 and 2025 seasons combined.
That’s the worst mark in the league. Two teams, Green Bay and Los Angeles, hit more than 60 such throws. Miami was nearly 10 behind the next worst team in the league.
Between the extended play ability of Malik Willis, a stronger arm to push the ball downfield, and a new offense? They’ll hit some more connections here, even without the prolific wide receivers to throw to.
Negative runs
The Dolphins were tied for 6th in the NFL last season in runs that went for zero yards or fewer. In the four years under Mike McDaniel, Miami ranks 4th over that period of time. It’s a total of more than 400 runs that went for no gain or a loss. Bobby Slowik’s two years in Houston weren’t great in this regard, but they were still better than Miami. Slowik’s first season as the Texans’ offensive coordinator in 2023, for example, saw Houston rank 16th in this statistic.
The Dolphins have invested in their offensive line with a top-15 pick, are shuffling around Jonah Savaiinaea, and have an athletic quarterback to invoke in the run game. I would suspect that all adds to a group that avoids being among the league’s worst in negative run plays.
Interception rate
The Dolphins gave the ball away 18 times in the air last season. That, despite ranking among the league’s lowest in total pass attempts. Here’s one way to put it. Miami’s quarterbacks threw an interception on 3.8% of their pass attempts in 2025. That’s the fourth-highest mark of the last five years, trailing only the 2025 Minnesota Vikings, the 2024 Tennessee Titans, and the 2022 Chicago Bears.
You have to TRY to give the ball away that much. So as we suspect Miami will not be a big-time pass attack this season, I suspect ball security in the air will come a little easier to come by in 2026.
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