Rich Eisen: Why the Miami Dolphins Should be Favorites to Win the AFC East | The Rich Eisen Show

Rich Eisen explains why Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins should be the odds-on favorites to win the AFC East.
Tune in to the Emmy-nominated Rich Eisen Show live for FREE on The Roku Channel at go.roku.com/thericheisenshow and also streaming on Audacy, Sirius channel 161 and XM channel 206 (Online channel 998) weekdays from 12--3 PM ET!
Showcasing insightful sports expertise with an offbeat mix of humor and pop culture, The Rich Eisen Show attracts the most recognizable names in sports and entertainment.
Subscribe here to keep up with the internet's best sports and pop culture commentary, interviews, and much more!
------ SUBSCRIBE HERE:
bit.ly/2VjWSBC
FOLLOW US HERE:
/ richeisenshow
/ richeisenshow
/ richeisenshow
/ thericheisenshow
www.audacy.com/richeisen/listen
#richeisenshow #nfl #miamidolphins

[@uptownjoka5974]

Our offense has to be fast because the dolphins refuse to fix the o line

[@1ZZ1_1ZZ1]

That 2.5 second pass offense is necessary because Tua can't be hit. He's has a surgery on each ankle, a hip and three concussions. He's one hit away from ending his career.

[@Drewswaggy]

@@1ZZ1_1ZZ1exactly and he wants 50 mil a year

[@uptownjoka5974]

@@1ZZ1_1ZZ1the exact reason why trenches need help so he doesn’t get hit and has time to process

[@thelaseringtrespiker4006]

@@1ZZ1_1ZZ1that’s not even close to true 😭 he’s far enough removed from ANY of those injuries to even be concerned about them anymore and atp it’s a agility issue not a durability issue.

[@DavidLongo22]

LOL! GMTA (saw yours too late).

[@mt_baldwin]

My condolences to Dolphins fans, your team has just been hit with the "Rich Eisen says team X should win their division" curse. The Raiders still haven't recovered from it two seasons ago and last season Rodgers popped his achilles on the fourth play of the year...

[@wisewolftony]

Meh it's the Dolphins were cursed enough so this is nothing. Honestly I think I'm the curse and no fans will see a playoff win until I drop dead. Became a fan in 2001 and since then the team has gone 23 years without a playoff win last time they did was in 2000 the year before I became a fan. Have yet to even witness a playoff game that I watched past the midway point of the 3rd quarter. 2001 think they were down like 17 by that point was only 11yrs old so hard to remember just know my dad shut off the TV in anger. Then in 2008 down 20-3 halfway into the 3rd so stopped watching that game. 2016 it was 30-6 halfway into the 3rd. And then last year even though it was just 19-7 so was the first time it was a at least a two score game halfway into the 3rd. I still stopped watching as knew no way they were putting up two scores in negative like 27 degree weather and didn't have faith that the defense missing it's four top pass rushers 2 LB second best CB and best Safety was gonna keep the Chiefs at 19 for the rest of the game.

[@8Kobe24Steph30]

Dawgs the Dolphins have been cursed since 2000

[@ZacharyJohnG]

They read this on the air 😂

[@uptownjoka5974]

Everybody talks about tyreek but who’s gonna block for Tua? Real fans are waiting to see

[@jamesdelaney3797]

I see you haven't been paying attention to dolphins free agents and draft picks

[@TrumpTrain911]

Why would we make Tyreek block for Tua he’s small and fast he will get injured doing that let the bigger tight ends and running back or full backs block for Tua so we can get waddle hill and obj get open

[@jamesdelaney3797]

@@TrumpTrain911 if your name isnt hill or waddle, you ain't getting the ball

[@robertgrady9020]

@@jamesdelaney3797 They need to change that philosophy

[@jamesdelaney3797]

@@robertgrady9020 I agree but with tua, gotta get rid of the ball fast or its mike white time after he get smashed to the ground

[@zampya]

remember Rich, Raiders were supposed to win AFC west 2 years back 😂

[@matiasj4327]

our offensive line is still suspect

[@DaSilentHitman]

So is your QBs contract

[@HighTide_808]

Our? You work as a janitor in the locker rooms?

[@matiasj4327]

@@HighTide_808 no, tf? The team i root for, which happens to be the subject of this video.

[@matiasj4327]

@@DaSilentHitman i hope we trade him or let him go in free agency

[@DaSilentHitman]

@@matiasj4327 I don’t think he’s worth what he’s asking for. But I also think you can do worst at the qb spot.

[@optimisticosfan4371]

Ravens fan here. Keep disrespecting the Bills. They're not going to drop off, they're going to be neck and neck to win the division.

[@aarronvanburen8612]

You're drunk off of natty bohs to make this statement dude. The bills have the weakest roster since Allen was drafted

[@dougr188]

They SHOULD be favorites. Unfortunately it might get cold, or the wind blows, or the sky is partly cloudy, and the other teams might play defense.

[@thebourg]

Lol yes

[@Seeker794]

Might turn an ankle on a crunchy leaf...

[@MJP80]

Dony forget about teams with winning records!!! They can't beat anyone over .500

[@pkspecial2196]

I don't know but whenever Rich talks about the dolphins I always have a big grin on my face.😅

[@gmotsjr13]

Miami doesn’t have an Home Field problem. People will say this is an excuse, but they have Star Power Injury problem. At the end of the year, they are completely different team. Especially on the defense.

[@rickjames5791]

Kendall Fuller and Jordyn Brooks were also added to the dolphins in the off season these are huge upgrades

[@dolphin1346]

There's a lot of nice looking names on the roster. At the end of the day you went in the trenches and if this offense can be run to perfection it's built for the winter.

[@ralphrex9118]

Thank for the Finlove Rich, I appreciate you anyway but this is great.

[@OldManInternet]

I haven't looked forward to a season this much in a while. There are a lot of narratives, and a lot of people who think they know how things will play out. It'll be interesting to see how many of them are right.

[@fredbishop9434]

The whole afc is unbelievably stupidly stacked with great teams! Any of the top 4 at the end of the season will be totally capable of winning the Super Bowl.

[@scruffd0g193]

Their offense is built on speed in the sunshine of Miami. Their weakness is they have no physicality to play against good teams in the cold.

[@islandguy2535]

As a Dolphins fan as long as Miami can’t beat buffalo consistently home or away then they won’t be favorites to win anything

[@JasonSmith-np8sb]

Me being an Oceanic Mammals die hard fan from KS.. I’m 47.. been a fan since I was 4 years old..i agree if my Phins have a shot .. win an AFC East title and host a home game

[@mizer9510]

As a Dolphins fan we have a saying, "That's so Dolphin". They never fail to disappoint. Until they can prove they can beat good teams I'm not convinced. Probably make the wildcard again and lose in the first round. It's just what they do.

[@alinaro3955]

God, I hope they do something this year. I have been waiting my whole life for a Super Win from them and I was born the year they won their first, but too young to remember any of it.

[@knockout9446]

Still need a QB and HC. Maybe in another forty years.

[@wisewolftony]

Well at least would imagine you have seen a playoff win. Became a fan in 2001 when I was 11yrs old and have yet to see them win a playoff game.

[@junglejim2290]

lmaoo he confused TF outta me when he said Jared Cook.. Then I realized he was talkin bout Jonnu Smith!!

[@Avvura]

Nice try but I heard the same thing last year and they absolutely choked it away

[@jamesdelaney3797]

Injuries

[@brody1999]

“If New England is a playoff team” 😂

[@jamesdelaney3797]

😅

[@laihowkable]

Dolphins Fan here. I'm not really used to this kind of overwhelming praise, coming from this show since the show's members are diehard Jets and Patriots fans. Anyway, I wouldn't mind seeing Dolphins going to Super Bowl. I haven't seen it since Dan Marino and I'm getting too old to wait another roster like this. LOL

[@michaelmaccini]

Great to see you talking FOOTBALL Rich and crew. I think 2024 is going to be an adventurous year! And sorry Rich: Jets only win half their games and Rodger’s misses 4 game due to him getting creamed on a Sack. Sala does not have the tools to be an NFL head coach.

[@stolve8847]

It's true the Phins need a home game bad, but not because of the weather. It's because their system doesn't work nearly as well with loud road crowds. You look at the games they played on the road in December last year without engaged crowds (Washington and the Jets) they had no problem. Won both those games by 30 points. But going on the road vs good defenses with crowd noise that hinders their presnap orchestration they run into big problems. That's what happened in Philly early in the year, and in Germany vs the Chiefs and in Baltimore to a degree --Baltimore was more of an injury story. Anyway without the ability to do what they do presnap the whole system kinda falls apart. They can't just line up and play offense because they don't have the o line to block for that in the run game or the pass game.

[@ogJbizz]

Josh Allen is 10-2 against the dolphins

[@jaystank3777]

You can only scheme so much with an O-line that routinely misses assignments and puts pressure on a 5 10 QB known for concussion issues. Great regular season team but will never progress in the playoffs with this roster.

[@user-qb3vl7ru9f]

6'1**

[@beermeBrow]

Bengals offense, Lions offense. Baltimore & Chiefs.

[@305heezy]

dude said, "... they gotta go to New England, they gotta go to Denver, wherever....they're not built for that type of environment". How do you "build" a team for weather? And to some of the comments about the O-line issues; agreed. It's hard to be consistent when you have a small, not-so-athletic QB that has to launch the ball in less than 3 seconds or else it's an easy sack/fumble.

[@clyderuhland8538]

The Dolphins are built for September- November, football season starts in January…

[@sal4856]

Rich forget Allen 10-1 against dolphins lol

[@jonathanmuldrow8458]

Hawk-Tua Tagovailoa gonna find away to mess it up somehow especially when it gets cold out

[@ickdon7999]

😂😂😂

[@angelcanez4426]

Tue is 7-14 vs teams with winning records. So if the non conference schedule is against teams like the Panthers, & falcons they could probably win the division

[@smiconsulting8434]

Although we lost against the Panthers at home last season 🤯

[@olinroux6702]

@@smiconsulting8434 No we beat Carolina last year. Although that first quarter had me worried.

[@ChibiTheEdgehog]

Hopefully, injuries won't derail Miami for a 3rd year. The Defense is finally deep enough to withstand some injuries as long as they dont all happen on on position like last year and the year b4 when they were down to walk ons at the Pass rush and Db positions

[@obarbeito]

Why mention O'dell Beckham, he hasn't been a factor for almost 10 years..

[@richardbarrera1159]

With all the running backs on roster just run the ball and have Tua play a jay Fiedler/ Chad Pennington role

[@randywilson1578]

I hate the crap they get for losing to the chiefs, with 11, ELEVEN starters out, and it was negative 40!!!! Fans literally lost fingers from the game, the chiefs didn’t light it up exactly, but I guess we will see right?

[@ericatkinson4477]

Ah yes, the annual "the Phins are the best" chatter...I expect this to continue through the first 2 months of the season as it typically does...we all know what happens after that.

[@ericatkinson4477]

The only thing the Tua led Phins have consistently proven is that they can beat up on lesser teams when the weather is nice...Outside that, what have they ever done to earn the respect they get each year?

[@josharnoldy6833]

Lol Rich trying to be considerate to Brockman about the Patriots only for him to respond with “oh no it’s okay we suck” 😂

[@michaeldowling6259]

How the hell has everyone forgotten about the bills the AFC east is ours you better recognize

[@tonysoprallen]

This all wont matter unless Tua starts to show up in december and o-line will be at least average (depends on Armstead's health) And how will be run defense without Christian Wilkins Unless proven wrong, it still Buffalo's division. Do not disrespect Joshua Patrick Allen. "Transition" season for Mahomes resulted in 2 SB wins in a row, Allen could do the same

[@smiconsulting8434]

But can the O line hold up?

[@nickd2296]

Damn, Rich! Have some confidence in the Jets.

[@imsquidward5187]

Dolphins underperform against good teams in December and January with this roster. I wouldn’t say they’re the favorite until they actually start winning big games late in the season

[@xvxRoAcHxvx]

If New England is a playoff team he said 😂😂

[@user-zd4tb6eo4y]

Fix the offence line, then it's,OVA!💥🐬🏈.

[@brianbarros7099]

He obviously doesn't watch when they play the Bills.

[@1ZZ1_1ZZ1]

Been a Dolphin fan 54 years. There's three reasons why they won't win the East. 1) If you bottle up their WRs and force Tua to hold the ball it's a broken play, fumble or a turnover almost every time. It's predictable. 2) 3/4 of the roster comes from a warm weather college / team. How can they win in AFC E in December? This makes no sense. 3) They have focused almost 100% on skill players and their offensive trenches are suffering.

[@thelaseringtrespiker4006]

almost like separate play makers on an offense like TEs and RBs exist to make the WRs and QBs jobs’ easier. 🤔 And the “warm weather college” thing is impractical thinking + purely coincidence for the most part. Teams like the Lions that play indoors or niners who are in a coastal state have good enough regular season success where it doesn’t matter how well they perform in december because january is already locked up for them. speaking of which, Tua as a starter is 9-7 in the month of december throughout his career so it’s really the team as a whole that needs to get better, it’s not always about him as an individual

[@unionash1]

There’s one reason and one reason only JOSH ALLEN

[@zacharyharkness8780]

Wats funny to me is we play vs 3 UP NORTH TEAMS in OUR DIVISION IN COLD WEATHER & Win.

[@bobby13900]

Finz up !!

[@AudleyDean]

I would hope Miami defense is gonna be better than last year.

[@silviavanegas4024]

If it wasn’t for Tua the Dolphins would be Anchovies !!!

[@jordanjmdjmd74]

Or you could just get stronger and win on the road

[@Mike-cp1ft]

Forget the division, learn how to beat Josh Allen first.

[@ferp26]

Dolphins defense should be way better now that we don’t have a DC who was dying to get to another team.

[@HaiKarate718]

A good defense beats a good offense no matter where they play.

[@theliverpoolking2259]

The Dolphins' offense put up 30+ points twice against the Jets with and without Tyreek and one of those in only 3 qtrs lol.

[@TheFifapro44]

Yet got clamped by Philly who had a horrible secondary and LB core (Eagles fan)

[@poonus21]

​@TheFifapro44 you kidding me bro? Not going to talk about the home cooking? those refs were so bad they got banned from the playoffs.

[@theliverpoolking2259]

@@TheFifapro44 They didn’t get clamped by Philly. Tyreek dropped 2 sure fire TDs and the refs gave a flag count of 10-0 that game. Stop it.

[@mathewfullerton8577]

Why do all these talking heads try to use Vegas odds as the gospel for a teams expectations? The odds are set to entice betting. The opening line is calculated to attract bets on both sides. If too many people start betting one team the odds for that team drop. It reflects the betting not some great expertise about who will actually win.

[@tristancooper3174]

Because Vegas is often right in their predictions.

[@roguebossa]

Miami can win in cold weather and can win big games, they've done both over the last few years but haven't put it all together. They're at a disadvantage in cold but after playing at KC last year and reminding them, don't suppose they can't win in cold and under the lights now.

[@user-zd4tb6eo4y]

This season phins will stun, the NFL.💥🐬👍🇧🇸, no joke.

[@dominickalbanese855]

achane 📈📈📈

[@pluckpluckpass]

9-8 just miss the wildcard 2nd in east

[@tyronegarcia7254]

Believe the past always comes to an end

[@Drewswaggy]

Dolphins know that Tua will get hurt this year… it’s why they aren’t paying him…. And giving I’m the dreadful 5 yr option to franchise tag path

[@DavidLongo22]

They'll need to be fast since nobody can block.

[@roguebossa]

As a Dolphin fan I hope that's not true this year but yeah, that's a real sweet way of putting it

[@DavidLongo22]

@@roguebossa I just understand why they never seem to get that great teams are built from the inside out.

[@JianoJoel]

GLAZE US !!! FLORIDA PANTHERS AND NOW DOLPHINS BABY !! WE HERE

[@davidsawyers8754]

I love how people say Miami sucks in the last 2 months. That was last year, after they lost half their starters. Remember, how Miami would lose the first 2 months with Flores and win out the back end, and everyone was like, they are going places. If Miami didn't lose that Titans game, they would most likely win at home in the playoffs, even with the weaken team.

[@RC-yd3hx]

The team with Josh Allen at QB is always favourite for the AFC East and I’m a Dolphins fan

[@besmorpheous]

Didn’t Brock say the dolphins weren’t gonna make the playoffs 😂

[@joefried6604]

Fins to win

[@LaRuta-sk8rr]

The division will be won by the team that stays healthy.

[@J-E-T-S_Paulie]

The fish can’t beat teams with winning records or games when it’s cold, the AFC East winner will be Jets or Bills.

[@trublazer933]

The last Jets head coach with a winning record was Todd Bowles (2015) .. let that sink in.

[@tuat.mvpformallybigd.2635]

Do you not remember them beating the Cowboys and what about that huge comeback against the Ravens. They had several key players hurt towards the end of the season.

[@spiderman2786ify]

Jets lol Tua is your daddy just like Allen is the dolphins. It’s bills all the way until proven otherwise

[@tuat.mvpformallybigd.2635]

@spiderman2786ify You talking about the Bills that fall short every year, lol

[@spiderman2786ify]

@@tuat.mvpformallybigd.2635 they do but we fall even more

[@EyeBelieveSo]

The team refused to protect Tua who is injury prone so I’m expecting the same results as last season.

[@user-ny7ki8yo6g]

Fins up 🧡🩵

[@skaria007]

🐬🔥

[@MagicMark-yz9xq]

Even as a Dolphins fan, I dont think Miami is a favorite. They should be though

[@dylanmartino7975]

They wasn’t a faster offense last year in KC made them look like the panthers 😂 I also don’t like because the coach is way too friendly with his players. You gotta put your foot down at some point. They have way too many divas on their team. cheetah, Odell, waddle, Ramsey etc. + being in Miami that’s trouble.

[@Davis_Jr]

Bills own Miami

[@thebourg]

The Dolphins are not "set". Every single year we have this same conversation how Miami is the new pick to win the division and Every season they fall flat on their face. They are a September team that gets figured out every season by December. That will continue this year. Book it. 4:02

[@B-ROB803]

Phinz UP

[@asacloutier7530]

God help miami if the temp ever drops below 40 degrees.

[@natureredux1957]

Ah, that would be a Big No.

[@BillyBatsonMarvel]

Our 🐬”TD & Culler” Collapsed @ home. Injuries are no excuse for not winning the divisional title game last season. Tua was healthy and Tua is all we need to be champions. The 🐬 go as Tua goes, according to the Tua faithful. 2024 is the year I expect Tua to be pulling his Alabama shenanigans. 🙏🏾 We came short of clenching the division last year and that was still an ascending step towards becoming the Kings of the AFC East. 🐬🆙

[@brandoncheever1897]

Favorites? The Bills still run the division. Miami’s defense hasn’t been good and still isn’t great. They couldn’t stop KC or Buffalo in playoff games or to win the division. Tua has consistently underperformed in the big moments to step up and win the game. Nobody thinks Miami’s offense skill positions aren’t in the top 3 of the NFL, but they cannot make up for a guy who just isn’t it.

[@tuat.mvpformallybigd.2635]

Lot's of people thinks they'll be the team this year. Quit hating.

[@AHomelessDorito]

Bills are even younger now and more hungry. Every other team is still living in a delusion they can win with what they have which is why the bills sent poyer to Miami.

[@OldManInternet]

@@AHomelessDorito The Bills got younger, but they also got less talented. There's no denying that the Allen and Miller contracts are hurting that roster, so it'll be on Allen to do even more this year than he has in the past just to keep them in the conversation.

[@Opethianaut]

They start off hot and choke down the road. There’s still a question mark at QB.

[@joselopez-pv7nc]

So what you guys took a week off, I was miserable the whole week finally. Ps did rich loose weight??

[@yourwrong6861]

I love Rich Eisen (and of course, here comes the "but", when I do really love Eisen), but...when are these media honks going to finally recognize that Miami will always be limited with Tua. His lack of mobility and throw velocity (real things) simply is not a good mixture for success in the current NFL...and the reason why Miami struggles to beat good teams. How can you pick a Tua quarterbacked Dolphin team, to win the division, when Tua teams fade and cant beat good teams? Buffalo ended the season last year with 4 starters out on defense. Miami enters this year with two huge question marks at BOTH defensive end positions. Diggs is not nearly the loss for Buffalo, that everyone seems to just assume he is. Diggs completely faded in the second half last year, during a time when Buffalo ran the table, vs the toughest part of their schedule. Go look at his last 7 games logs. And Diggs (in his last 6 playoff games in Buffalo), went for over 60 yards only ONCE, with ZERO TDs. And people who point to "Diggs hogs up dbl teams for the rest", Diggs was in the UPPER half of all WRs last season, who faced single coverage...and even the best WRs in the league only get dbled around 10-12% of the time, which works out to 3-4 dbl teams per game. Gabe Davis is easily replaced (as Jags fans will find out, as they scream "why are we paying this guy 13 million a year??!!". He was never this so called "#2' WR. Buffalo has to make up only 6 catches, 67 yards a game with Diggs gone. That's it. And, again, Diggs disappeared the last 7 games in 2023, as well as Gabe Davis during most of that span (when they went from playoff dead to the #2 seed). Buffalo literally rolled with Khalil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid during their run the table stretch...and now they have add Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman, Claypool & Valdes-Scantling. Claypool hasnt had a top level QB since Ben. He now has one again. Not to mention, Brady gets to now completely scrap Dorsey's 2 TE garbage and predictable passing scheme. People don't comprehend, Buffalo will have a much stronger WR group this year. They also don't comprehend how good Dalton Kincaid is. It took Dorsey getting he boot after 11 games, to finally make Kincaid a legit middle of the field, downfield threat in Buffalo's passing offense...and again, down the stretch last year, it was basically just him & Shakir. Not to mention that Tua has ONE win in his career vs Buffalo, a 2022 heat wave where Buffalo had 10 starters either not suit up, or leave during the game. To me, predicting Miami to "dominate the division", is the equivalent of all these media guys/gals picking the Mavs in 5 or 6 over the Celtics. These guys cover way too many topics, and the bottom line is, they don't really know much beyond the surface of what they talk about, and their predictions are based on what will get them views or clicks...or simply a false reality because they are relegated to highlights and narrative. Too many of these guys aren't "sports smart", but rather just really good at interviewing people and quick on their feet behind a microphone. Again, I love Eisen.

[@CaseyMcGeorge]

We all know the dolphins will win the division and a playoff game because all of their meetings are at 24 minutes past the hour…

[@boldtaa]

With Joe Brady as OC, Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman, LBs getting healthy, and James Cook now in his prime? Hell nah. Bills got this again.

[@Tyler-hf4uc]

Dolphins had a three string QB in Buffalo in December and could have won.

[@gregsousa8377]

we taking that division this year ! It's been a long time coming ! Fins up!🐬

[@cameroncook3863]

LETS GO !!!

[@jamesmadison6369]

Buffalo wins AFC East.....FOR FUN.....mic drop.

[@ickdon7999]

Miami just can’t get it done.

[@angeldustlyrics]

Dan Marino? Yeah, the curse started with his first major injury or? It started with his last game ever. A playoff loss 100 to nothing against jacksonville lol

[@joec8942]

Rich, have you seen the fins play against good teams? Have you seen Tua play against good teams?

[@Seeker794]

The dolphins in Miami aren't like the rest, they're exothermic. This warrants further scientific study.

[@Giantsfan5-f9r]

Dolphins

[@johnschreckengost2847]

The Dolphins will miss Christian Wilkins real quick.

[@frozenharold]

Not as much as people think. Still have Sieler, who had more sacks than Wilkins last year. Calais Campbell was a (literally) huge addition. Kamara is looking like he could prove to be a major addition. The LB group has been upgraded as well.

[@thomashartmann2891]

Turncoat. I thought you were a Jets fan.

[@carlhenry3201]

So the weather is going to affect our speed like in KC but Hill had no problems while in KC. Hmmmm what’s the difference. Ooohhh the QBs. So our system isn’t predicated on having great conditions. It’s just Tua that needs the great conditions. Stop insulting MMD and keep it G. Tua is limited not the system

[@kevinsantiago9665]

Jets are for sure better

[@roguebossa]

Yikes but who knows?