Another major step forward

The 2020 season will end up being viewed as an undeniable success for the Dolphins, no matter the outcome of the final two games

- Alan Poupart

There was something beautiful about the Dolphins pounding the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on the third Sunday in December, and certainly a lot of it had to do with the Dolphins being the team that officially ended the ridiculous 11-year playoff run for Bill Belichick’s team.

More importantly, it was how the Dolphins put together that victory that was so impressive and what it meant in the big picture.

The game was yet another example of the Dolphins finding a way and doing what was necessary in a particular week.

Unlike teams like Kansas City and Green Bay that ride their great quarterback play week in and week out, it’s always been something different for these 2020 Dolphins.

Against the Patriots, missing practically every major ingredient in the passing game, the Dolphins turned to a running game that had been among the worst in the NFL and methodically grinded out a victory that kept them in the thick of the AFC playoff race.

The Dolphins controlled their playoff fate heading into the final two weeks of the regular season, but the reality is that the future of the franchise appeared all kinds of promising no matter how those final two weeks of the regular season would play out.