Can the Dolphins Win Back-to-Back Games?

Can the Dolphins Win Back-to-Back Games?

Sunday’s game against the New York Jets marked the high point of the Miami Dolphins’ 2026 season so far. They won 28-25 in their first win of the season and Jeff Hafley’s first victory as an NFL head coach.

But the Dolphins’ impressive all-around performance in Week 7 begs the question: Can they turn one standout game into consecutive victories when the reigning AFC Champion New England Patriots visit Hard Rock Stadium on Nov. 1?

Well, it’s not easy for a team early in a transition year, with a brand-new head coach and front office leadership, to put together back-to-back regular-season wins.

Recent history suggests another win on Sunday will be a tall order, as the Dolphins have struggled to build on momentum after wins in recent seasons. Since the start of the 2024 campaign, Miami has strung together consecutive regular-season wins only a couple of times, and its longest winning streak in that span is four games. That streak came late in the 2025 season, and it ultimately wasn’t consequential considering the Dolphins still missed the playoffs with a 7-10 record.

Plus, the Patriots are clearly a level above the Jets and will almost certainly present a stiffer challenge. Quarterback Drake Maye, one of the best in the business, is a legitimate dual-threat now, and he’ll pose plenty of problems for a young Miami secondary still learning on the fly.

Overall, consecutive wins at this point in year 1 of the Dolphins’ rebuild are possible but ultimately unlikely and far from guaranteed. For the Dolphins to overcome the odds and beat the Patriots at home, Malik Willis must build on his showing against New York, and Miami’s defense will have to limit big plays from Maye, which is, of course, easier said than done.