Can Dolphins QB Malik Willis turn the corner on his season?

Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis looked good in the win over the New York Jets in Week 7. It's the best he's played all season. 

Willis racked up 208 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and a 66.7% completion percentage. While his counting stats may seem underwhelming, the more advanced numbers told a different story. The former third-round pick had a 130.7 passer rating, which was second among quarterbacks in Week 7, and was first in EPA per play among QBs, per Sumer Sports. Even under pressure, Willis played well, finishing 7-of-9 and 138 passing yards (a career high under pressure), per NFL's Next Gen Stats. 

In Week 7, Willis finally looked like the player he was in Green Bay that earned him his three-year, $67.5 million contract he signed with Miami this past offseason. Willis played a very small sample size over his two years in Wisconsin as Jordan Love's backup, but he played well when given the opportunity. Willis passed for six touchdowns, 972 yards and no interceptions, and he completed 79.9% of his passes in three starts over two seasons. 

Now an even smaller sample size, one game, has fans and experts wondering if Willis can turn the corner in 2026 after a difficult start.

Win over Jets was Malik Willis' breakout game

It's important to note that before Week 7's win over the Jets, 2026 was a struggle for Willis. He had five straight losses to start the season, two touchdowns to four interceptions and a 57.6% completion percentage, which was only better than Jameis Winston. Willis struggled, but so did the team around him. Star running back De’Von Achane tore his ACL in Week 3. Miami’s offensive line allowed 16 sacks through six games, while Willis faced pressure on a league-high 44.3% of his drop-backs.

Of course, the Dolphins weren't supposed to be good. Miami cut Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa and was left with the most dead cap in NFL history. It was always going to be difficult fielding a competitive roster while paying out a record-setting amount of money for players not on the Dolphins. 

But coming off the bye week, Miami and Willis looked more than just competent offensively. The Dolphins looked exciting with the one-two punch of Willis and backup running back Ollie Gordon on the ground. This opened up the passing game and allowed the Dolphins offense to succeed last Sunday. 

Granted, playing well against the Jets is different from doing it against the Seahawks or Vikings. Still, Miami showed an offensive formula worth building on, especially with its upcoming schedule.

The Dolphins’ next three opponents are the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions. Those defenses rank 31st, 27th and 26th, respectively, in play-action passing yards allowed this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. This allows Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik to force defenses to respect Gordon's presence on the ground to create openings through the air for Willis. 

Of course, this won't solve everything. Building a competent offense is certainly easier said than done. The offensive line still has to do its job and keep Willis upright, and the early-season struggles can't be wiped away. 

However, Miami has something to build on and a stretch of opponents who could help establish some offensive consistency. Success for Willis and the Dolphins isn't making a postseason run or even winning nine games. This team wasn't built for that. The goal from now on should be giving Miami reasons to believe in Willis beyond just 2026, especially if Gordon continues to find a spark on the ground. 

Week 7 could be the start of a turning point for the Dolphins, and the next step is making last Sunday's win the expectation instead of an exception.