2021 Power Rankings – Syndication Server

Dolphins fall three spots in Touchdown Wire’s power rankings after Week 17 loss

The Dolphins have dropped out of the top 15.

After the Miami Dolphins were demolished by the Tennessee Titans 34-3 in Week 17, they have dropped out of the top half of NFL teams in some minds.

Miami’s recent loss, with help from a few other teams, eliminated them from postseason contention with an 8-8 record through 16 games. They’ve guaranteed that they will finish in third place in the AFC East for the sixth time since 2010.

Now, after being the 14th-ranked team in Touchdown Wire’s power rankings after Week 16, they’ve dropped to 17th, this week. Here’s what Touchdown Wire’s Nick Wojton had to say about the Dolphins heading into the final week of the regular season:

“A No. 17 spot in the middle for the Dolphins seems fitting. In their winning streak against some poor competition, Miami got the job done. In their first meeting in a while against a promising side in the Titans, a 34-3 loss was the outcome. Now the focus is on the offseason and what to do with QB Tua Tagovailoa much like the Browns with Mayfield.”

Miami’s last game of the season against New England will really be the last chance for Tagovailoa to prove himself this season before we get another offseason of Deshaun Watson trade rumors. If his struggles carry over into Week 18, those rumors will start spinning again.

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Dolphins continue to move up in USA TODAY’s power rankings after win over Carolina

Miami moved up four more spots after their Week 12 win.

The Miami Dolphins have significantly improved their standing in the football world after their 33-10 victory on Sunday over the Carolina Panthers. Miami’s defense continued to force incompletions and turnovers until Cam Newton was eventually benched in the fourth quarter.

While their defense has definitely impressed, the offense hasn’t fully taken off. They’ve shown flashes, and this Week 12 win was definitely one of their better performances, but the output needs to be more consistent.

The result of four straight wins has moved them up to 22 in USA TODAY’s power rankings, which is a big difference from where they were just a few short weeks ago after seven straight losses.

Here’s what USA TODAY’s Nate Davis had to say about Miami.

“Sweep New York’s teams in their next two outings, and the Fins – once 1-7 – are amazingly back at .500.”

That’s been the goal for a lot of fans. If they can get back to an even record by Christmas, they’ll be in a position to make a push to the playoffs. The team is probably saying the same thing even if they won’t say it publicly.

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Dolphins check in 14th in ESPN’s latest NFL Power Rankings

The 2021 Miami Dolphins will, for the first time under their current regime, be returning a healthy amount of the starting lineup from the previous season — the best look yet at the Dolphins’ ability to build a roster from scratch in three offseasons. With more continuity in personnel comes more expectations, both inside and outside the building. The work must be put in for the Dolphins on the practice field in order for their potential to be realized, but the growth in expectations has become apparent in how the outside world perceives the Dolphins.

As an example, Miami ranks No. 14 overall in ESPN’s latest Power Rankings for the 2021 NFL season; a spot that would have the Dolphins in the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 7 seed based on the teams in front of them in the rankings. Here’s why ESPN feels the Dolphins deserve a seat at the table on that front as things currently stand.

“Player who benefited most from draft: QB Tua Tagovailoa

All of the offseason chatter surrounding the Dolphins was about building around Tagovailoa, and build they did. Adding a speedy wide receiver in Jaylen Waddle, an NFL-ready offensive lineman in Liam Eichenberg, depth at tight end in Hunter Long and a power running back in Gerrid Doaks is key for the maturation of the Dolphins’ offense under its second-year signal-caller. And let’s not forget Miami addressing the potential mentor role, signing backup QB Jacoby Brissett in free agency and declining to draft any competition at the position. This is Tagovailoa’s team, and it’s set up for him to take the Dolphins to the next level.” — ESPN staff

There’s certainly a different sense of energy exuding from the Dolphins than this time last year, when the team was perceived as a lovable underdog after a 5-4 stretch to close the 2019 season to rebound from an 0-7 start. And if fortunes favor the Dolphins on the injury front this season and Tagovailoa gels with his new pass catchers quickly, it will be hard to predict just how high the ceiling is for this team goes.

Washington just misses out on top-10 in USA Today ‘Way too early’ 2021 Power Rankings

With only the QB position holding them back, Washington was listed just outside of the top-10 in early 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

Now that Super Bowl LV is behind us, the 2020 season is officially in the rearview mirror, and we can all collectively set our sights on the offseason, the coming draft, and the 2021 league year.

For the Washington Football Team, this is remarkably exciting, as they will hopefully be more competitive than they have been in years in 2021, assuming that they can get their quarterback position figured out. That’s not just the view from Washington fans, either. According to the ‘Way Too Early’ Power Rankings from USA Today’s Touchdown Wire, Washington just missed out on cracking the top 10 simply because of the questions at the QB position. They were grouped in a tier of ‘honorable mentions,’ all who could make a run at things if they figure out who their passer is going to be this offseason.

Four different franchises just missed out on the top ten, all for the same reason:

They have a huge question to address at the quarterback position.

The Bears, Saints, Football Team and Colts all made the playoffs this past season, and have the pieces in place to make another run. But they have some questions to answer this offseason, starting with the quarterback position. The Bears might trade for Carson Wentz, or the Colts might. The Football Team could make a move in the draft, or try and run it back with the combination of Alex Smith/Taylor Heinicke/Kyle Allen. The Saints have a nightmarish salary cap situation to address, and who knows if Drew Brees is going to retire or not.

If any – or all – of these teams figure out the quarterback situation, they’ll be moving up Power Rankings once the season kicks off.

Washington has been mentioned as a team that will be looking at guys like Deshaun Watson, and Sam Darnold, assuming they are made available for trade. They also could be active in the NFL draft looking for a new guy in the first round, or potentially in free agency as well.

Regardless of who they choose, we saw last season that this roster is on the brink of being really good, led by a dominant defense. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers proved on Sunday night in the Super Bowl that defenses can win championships, so confidence should be high in Washington.

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