The Miami Dolphins are having an impressive season, as they’re leading the hunt to claim the top spot in the AFC East.
Fans have been long awaiting a season like this for Miami, so when was the last time the team won the AFC East?
When Were the Miami Dolphins Last AFC East Champions?
The last time the Dolphins won the AFC East was 15 years ago, in 2008. Since then, the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills have dominated the standings, as the Patriots took home the title each year from 2009 to 2019, and the Bills have won the last three years.
In the 2008 season, the Dolphins went 11-5. It was their first season under new head coach Tony Sparano.
During the regular season, the Dolphins completed the greatest single-season turnaround in NFL history, as they went 1-15 in the prior season in 2007.
The previous record for most improved team one year after a 1–15 season belonged to the 1997 New York Jets, who went 9–7. The 1999 Indianapolis Colts were the only other team to accomplish a 10-game turnaround, winning 13 games after winning only three in 1998.
In winning the AFC East that season, Miami became the first team in NFL history to win their division after only having one win the previous season. They also snapped the Patriots’ five-year streak of winning the AFC East.
Miami started the 2008 season 2-4 but went on to have a four-game win streak, broken by a loss to the Patriots in Week 12.
Miami then won out the rest of the season as they took home wins against the St. Louis Rams, Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets.
The Dolphins’ season came to an end in the Wild Card round when they were defeated by the Baltimore Ravens 27-9.
Prior to the 2008 season, the last time the team had won an AFC East title was 2000, when they also went 11-5. The 2000 season was the last time the team took home a playoff win, but Dolphins fans are hopeful that they can break that streak this season.
Will the Dolphins Win the AFC East This Season?
The team made a playoff appearance last season with a 9-8 record as they finished second in the AFC East but qualified for a Wild Card spot. They fell to the Bills in a close 34-31 matchup on January 15.
This season, the Dolphins sit at the top of the AFC East standings with a 7-3 record. Buffalo is currently in second with a 6-5 record. After a 21-14 loss to Kansas City in Week 9, Miami bounced back and beat Las Vegas 20-13 last Sunday following the ‘Phins bye week.
In Week 12, Miami takes on the New York Jets in the NFL’s inaugural Black Friday game.
New York’s offense struggled greatly under QB Zach Wilson, who has been benched in favor of Tim Boyle. The former Green Bay Packer gets the start on Friday.
Boyle hasn’t started an NFL game since 2021. He appeared in five games with the Detroit Lions that season, starting three of them, and went 0-3 during that run.
The Jets are looking to snap a three-game skid and get something going on an offense that has produced only nine touchdowns in 10 games.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins offense has thrived under quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The fourth-year QB has completed 69.7 percent of his passes for 2,934 yards, 21 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
While Miami has had a short week ahead of this matchup, the team is favored to emerge victorious against its divisional opponent.
Following Week 12, the Dolphins have a relatively easy slate ahead of them for several weeks as they take on the 4-8 Washington Commanders, 3-7 Tennessee Titans, and the Jets again.
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