Why not us?
We've heard the refrain before and linebacker Duke Riley said it again this week as he talked about the Miami Dolphins and their quest to end what is the second-longest active playoff drought in the NFL.
For those not aware, and there probably aren't many who would be reading this, the Dolphins have not won a postseason game since Dec. 30, 2000 when they outlasted Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, 23-17 in overtime.
The only team around the NFL that's been waiting longer for a playoff win is the Detroit Lions, who haven't won in the postseason since 1991.
Since that win, the Dolphins are 0-5 in the playoffs, with losses against the Oakland Raiders in 2000 (27-0), Baltimore Ravens in 2001 (20-3) and 2008 (27-9), Pittsburgh Steelers in 2016 (30-12) and Buffalo Bills last season (34-31).
The two games against Baltimore were at home; the other three were on the road.
The Dolphins haven't won a playoff game on the road since the 1999 season when they came back against the Seattle Seahawks and won 20-17 in what was Dan Marino's final NFL victory.
THE DOLPHINS' NEXT OPPORTUNITY
The Dolphins are in the playoffs for a second consecutive season, which already is a first since around the time of that last playoff win.
Before now, the last time Miami had been in the playoffs in consecutive years came when they went to the postseason five straight times from 1997-2001.
The opponent this time is the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
“It’s just going to be a surreal feeling," Riley said. "We all know that ,,, I don’t know how long it has been since Miami has won a playoff game. But I tell everybody, why not us? Why not be the team that does that? Why not break that cycle?"
Head coach Mike McDaniel is well aware of the drought too.
He also knows what it would mean to the fan base and the organization.
“Well, I’ve been saying a quarter century just because it’s more impactful," McDaniel said this week. "I’ve been saying it a lot, which means it means a lot. It was one of the first things I talked about my first day on the job because you have to understand what the passions that your fan base, the experiences they’ve had, what they’re harboring and then what it will feel like to bring people that joy of rooting for a team for that long and then to not be able to experience at least one postseason win. That’s rough. That is rough.
"Myself and the whole organization want to deliver on ending that and doing right by all those years of passion. I also think it’s something really cool to achieve, so I’ve been leaning on that both seasons I’ve been here. We talked about it in my first team meeting this week when we’re beginning this prep because that is an obstacle, but generally obstacles have — there’s a huge pot of gold, so to speak, when there are obstacles. There’s a saying that I just came up with right now — adversity is an opportunity. (laughter) But that’s why. Because it’s like, wow, how great would it feel to be able to be the team that ends that drought and for a fan base that is very steadfast and hungry.
"We have a lot of love for our fans. So it’s a big deal that you don’t chase directly. You know it’s there. But if you worry about constantly your technique, fundamentals and execution of your job, that’s something that is a reward waiting for a job well done.”
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