MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Even when he’s doing something no coach ever has before, the Miami Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel refuses to take himself too seriously.
The Dolphins have already broken all kinds of offensive records this year and likely are going to break a bunch more.
But with each one — including the latest, which puts them in the rarest of air — expect McDaniel to shrug his shoulders and put the focus back on the ultimate goal: Bringing a Super Bowl title back to South Florida for the first time in five decades.
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Miami Dolphins Break 1999 Rams’ Yards Record
The latest record claimed by the Dolphins? The most yards gained through five games in NFL history.
After going for 524 yards in their 31-16 victory over the New York Giants Sunday, the Dolphins upped their season total to 2,568 (513.6 per game).
That figure is 41 yards more than the previous best, set by the 1999 St. Louis Rams — an offense better known as “The Greatest Show on Turf.”
The #Dolphins offense has been cooking this season 🔥
Miami passed the Greatest Show on Turf for most scrimmage yards in the first 5 games of a season in #NFL history!
Could this offense be the most dangerous of all-time? 👀
More on #PFN365: https://t.co/UWwR6Sgsx3 pic.twitter.com/xbEVlEdhwc
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 9, 2023
That’s hallowed ground, even if McDaniel didn’t seem to think it was a big deal.
“Mission accomplished,” McDaniel said, tongue firmly planted in his cheek. “We had the whole time, the whole offseason, that was our goal was output after five games.”
After landing his joke, McDaniel got a bit more serious.
“I mean, I think it speaks to what the group is capable of, and you’re honored to be in the same breath for any statistical reason,” he said. “But when push comes to shove, I think it speaks to a lot of deliberate hard work from a lot of human beings, players, coaches, everyone.
“But I think all that means is that people are going to give you their best shot, and you’d better continue to work and progress in your game if you’re going to be satisfied because you’re going to have a bullseye on your back, and that’s kind of what you want in general because you want people’s best shot because you want to be your best and you want to play your best to do that. It’s cool, but it’s like literally, whatever, like five weeks. It’s not that exciting.”
The record itself might not be a big deal, but make no mistake: The Dolphins would not be 4-1 with a -3 season turnover margin without absolutely destroying teams on a down-in-down-out basis.
Dolphins up-to-the minute season stats:
Scoring: 181 (36.2 ppg)
YPG: 513.6 (NFL record through five games)
YPP: 8.3
Passing: 327.8 (10 per attempt)
Rushing: 185.8 (6.9 per attempt)
Tua: 71.7%, 9.7 ypa, 111.9 rating
Achane: 38-460-5
Hill: 36-651-5
Yard differential: +160.4 pg !!!— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) October 8, 2023
The Dolphins’ average yard differential is an absurd +160.4 per game. They won by two scores Sunday despite two interceptions by Tua Tagovailoa and a lost fumble by De’Von Achane.
MORE: 2023 NFL Offense Rankings
“I think that says a lot about the guys that we have on both sides of the ball,” Tagovailoa said.
“In order for us to do that offensively, we’ve got to get the ball back, and in order for us to be able to do that, we’ve really got to all play together. In order for me to pass the ball, the guys got to block, and in order for the runners to run the ball, our guys got to block.
“I think they’ve done a tremendous job up front today, and turnovers happen regardless of what the game is, and I don’t think any of the guys blinked. There was no swing of emotion. I felt throughout the locker room and throughout the guys when we would come to the sideline, it was just, ‘Hey, we’ve got your back, we’ve got your back, and we’re going to go and continue to play.'”