Which Dolphins Team Will Show Up on Sunday?

Which Dolphins Team Will Show Up on Sunday?

With every game becoming more and more important — especially with the Miami Dolphins still somehow in the hunt for an AFC playoff spot — this week’s matchup against the Saints carries weight for several reasons. But the real question is simple: Which version of this team will we see? Will it be the ruthless, locked-in squad that bullied the Buffalo Bills a few weeks ago? Or the disjointed, overwhelmed group that got steamrolled by the Cleveland Browns?

No game in the NFL is guaranteed, but the Dolphins should take care of business at home against the New Orleans Saints. Losing this one — at Hard Rock Stadium, to a banged-up opponent — would mark a new season low and yet another classic “so Dolphins” moment.

The game itself will hinge on something simple: running the football — early, often, and with purpose. Miami’s identity shift in recent weeks has been noticeable and necessary. For too long, the Dolphins leaned heavily on timing-based schemes, asking Tua Tagovailoa to repeatedly drop back and force-feed Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. When defenses shut that down, the entire operation unraveled. In contrast, the run-first, ball-control approach we’ve seen lately gives Miami the largest margin for error. It keeps the offense on schedule, controls time of possession, and keeps the defense from being stranded for long stretches.

And this week, the matchup practically demands it. The Saints rank 20th in the NFL against the run — significantly weaker than their 9th-ranked pass defense, according to Fox Sports. This isn’t the game to throw it 40 times. This is the week to get every back involved, grind out tough yards, and make New Orleans defend downhill from start to finish. 

If Tua doesn’t need to light it up and can simply manage the game, that’s perfectly fine — and maybe even his strong suit at this stage of his career. Of course, if he ends the day with 250 yards and three touchdowns, even better. But winning with balance — or even leaning heavily into the run — is exactly what Dolphins fans have been begging for, and it’s the version of this offense that works best.