Steve Ross beamed widely following the Miami Dolphins’ 29-17 triumph over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, a smile that seemed even more radiant than usual.
- Steve Ross displays a sense of satisfaction after the Dolphins’ victory over the 49ers.
- The win keeps the Dolphins’ slim playoff prospects alive.
- There is concern about potential fan apathy due to repeated disappointing seasons.
- Discussion around key team and player performances and future prospects.
The owner of the Miami Dolphins, Steve Ross, has every reason to feel optimistic. Like the executives and coaches he appointed to oversee his NFL team, Ross likely attributes this 7-8 season to injuries, just as he did in prior years such as 2023, 2022, and 2021.
The Dolphins managed to overcome a formidable NFC opponent, a team that had reached the Super Bowl the previous season, and this win against the 6-9 San Francisco 49ers kept Miami’s faint playoff chances alive. Despite the precarious nature of their postseason aspirations, the proverbial “toe tag” has yet to be applied.
“[This is] huge for us,” remarked cornerback Kader Kohou, who intercepted a pass from San Francisco’s Brock Purdy in the final two minutes of the game, thwarting the 49ers’ potential game-winning drive as Miami held a 22-17 lead. “There isn’t any thoughts in our mind we’re thinking Cancun. Playoffs are still on our mind.”
Fading Enthusiasm Among Fans
Nevertheless, the looming threat that Ross dreads most is apathy. This state of indifference, where people cease to care or pay attention, is precisely where the fan base in South Florida seems to be heading regarding the Dolphins.
Even acknowledging the San Francisco 49ers as one of the NFL’s most storied franchises with a national fan following, the expectation was not for their supporters to rival Dolphins fans for home-field dominance at Hard Rock Stadium, but that was indeed the case on Sunday.
49ers fans were present in club suites and scattered throughout the 100 level of the stadium, traditionally occupied by season-ticket holders. The only way they could have acquired those tickets was by purchasing them from purported Dolphins fans. This occurrence, especially during the home finale, highlights the shift in fan engagement.
Understandably, the holiday season means many people are traveling. However, a subdued home crowd when the team is on defense, especially as the 49ers attempted a fourth-quarter comeback, poses a clear risk.
Challenges and Uncertainties
With the season-ticket renewal period underway, it becomes increasingly challenging to justify a deposit given the franchise’s uncertain future. Doubts linger about whether coach Mike McDaniel’s offense has been deciphered, if quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can secure a significant victory when the stakes are high, and whether Tyreek Hill, who managed three receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown but missed two end zone catches, is past his peak.
The running game appeared to resurface on Sunday as the Dolphins amassed 166 yards on 30 carries, but whether this is a permanent change remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, the offensive line requires another overhaul, the defensive line has only one returning starter, Zach Sieler, under contract, and the team has a solitary competent linebacker, Jordyn Brooks, who suffered a calf injury, while the starting safeties are due for replacement.
Furthermore, the Dolphins face salary cap constraints, exacerbated by over a dozen impending free agents, necessitating contract restructures and player purges merely to reach a baseline level.
Rebuilding and Looking Forward
At the outset of this rebuild, which officially commenced in 2019 with the trade of top player Laremy Tunsil for a bounty of draft picks, the franchise could market young players with the potential for growth into stars. Tagovailoa, who had been a collegiate sensation at Alabama, was perceived as a promising young quarterback, now considered somewhere between Matt Ryan and Drew Brees of this generation.
The challenge lies in the Dolphins’ tendency to shy away from the spotlight. Whether this pattern continues in the final two weeks of the season remains under scrutiny.
A loss in either of the remaining two games would conclude Miami’s postseason ambitions, effectively booking tickets to Cancun. The Dolphins’ playoff hopes also depend on the outcomes of other games, such as the Chargers’ match at New England and the Broncos’ game at Cincinnati.
“This is the time you find success in an adverse situation where most would quit,” stated coach McDaniel. “This is validation of why we’ve been putting so much into this team.”
However, McDaniel added, “[But] No one cares about one win in December or January. It’s about accumulating those.”
Such accumulation is an area where the Dolphins have consistently fallen short, year after year.