Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Post-Super Bowl 53 wrap-up for 32 teams

By Peter Panacy

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady #12 celebrate at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady #12 celebrate at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 33
Next
FOXBOROUGH, MA – SEPTEMBER 30: Adam Butler #70 of the New England Patriots sacks Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Gillette Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – SEPTEMBER 30: Adam Butler #70 of the New England Patriots sacks Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Gillette Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

. Miami Dolphins. 32. team. 59. . 7-9 record

Despite finishing just one game below the .500 mark in 2018, the Miami Dolphins kick off these NFL power rankings in the last spot.

There are a few reasons why.

First, there’s the questionable firing of head coach Adam Gase, which led to the team hiring Brian Flores as head coach.

Flores is inheriting a mess, combined with a lack of playmakers on both sides of the ball and an aging cast of contributors. Cornerback Xavien Howard is a nice player to build around. But defensive end Cameron Wake is getting up there in age, and running back Frank Gore shouldn’t be viewed as a linchpin in the offense any longer.

Now, the Dolphins are reportedly going to try moving quarterback Ryan Tannehill this offseason.

Tannehill isn’t the answer, so a move makes sense. But in a weak free-agent and NFL Draft class at quarterback, doing so is only going to compound the problems the Dolphins will have in 2019.

They’ll be much worse, record-wise, in 2019 than they were last year.