With one game remaining in subpar season, Dolphins looking to 2015
DAVIE, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins may not be satisfied with where they stand as the 2014 season nears its end, but nevertheless, they have found something meaningful to play for in Sunday's regular-season finale against the New York Jets.
In a season in which a trip to the playoffs, and possibly even a Super Bowl appearance, were both thought to be very real possibilities within the organization, Miami dropped three of its last five games to miss the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.
Yet, as riveting, last-minute victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16 showed, these Dolphins don't plan to roll over in the wake of yet another December collapse, especially as they prepare to face a New York team that spoiled their playoff hopes in a 20-7 upset in the final game of last season.
"It's been a lot of ups and downs obviously, and here we stand not satisfied with where we are," said defensive end Cameron Wake, who was named to his fourth Pro Bowl on Tuesday. "Again, it just continues to show being close, it shows we have pieces of the puzzle that are working and just trying to do whatever we can to change the little things that have slipped through our fingers.
"We've had games that one play could go either way, and if those games had gone our way we would be talking about something different. Just the team, as a whole, going out there and fighting and our character, obviously a game like last week where things weren't necessarily going our way and it could have been one of those games that went the other way, but guys literally drew the line in the sand, came out there, fought and made sure we got the W. I'm expecting to finish the season out in the same way."
Even with a strong finish against the Jets in Week 17, the Dolphins can't erase the mountain of mistakes that they accumulated throughout the season to put themselves in this unenviable position. Missed tackles, dropped balls, blown coverages and a slew of fourth-quarter collapses all played into Miami's stumble down the home stretch.
Yes, even with one game left to play, Miami's 2014 campaign is all but over.
So what is left to play for?
Some will be playing for pride. For others, the allure of progress and the team's first winning record since 2008 is enough.
For head coach Joe Philbin, however, it's time for to play for 2015.
Philbin, who was informed last Sunday that he would be returning for the final year of his contract after a thrilling 37-35 victory over Minnesota, said Wednesday he believes it's never too early to play for next season.
The team has a chance to not only end the regular season with back-to-back victories, but also carry that belief and winning mentality into the offseason and beyond.
"Sure, absolutely," Philbin said when asked if there is potential for a positive carry over from one season to another. "What you hope is, as I've said to our guys many times, is the jersey numbers change many times in the National Football League. Every single team in the league has transition."
What you hope is when you have a good team, a good program is that some of the enduring characteristics of the team, be it resiliency, be it the work ethic, the character, those things live on in the next group even though each schemes change, personnel change, et cetera, et cetera."
Despite the roster changes that are likely to occur during the offseason, Philbin will remain a constant in Miami heading into next year. No longer carrying the burden of a cloudy future, the 53-year-old coach has the luxury of looking ahead.
"This is going to be my 12th season completed in the National Football League," said Philbin. "The day that I don't look forward to the most on the calendar is the day that the players leave the building. I've been lucky to be one time to be on an end where it was about as good as it gets, but it's still kind of an empty feeling when the players leave the building because the finality of the season is over."
As one season ends in Miami, another is already beginning.