Baker sat at the locker he has sat for six years, making him the second most-tenured Dolphins player. That gives him the authority to deliver such ideas, considering it means only the longer-tenured Xavien Howard has played more meaningless games than him.
Next Sunday is one of them. Philadelphia, which just suffered its first loss of the season to the New York Jets on Sunday, needs no national introduction in the way the Dolphins do. It played in last season’s Super Bowl. It looks intent on returning this February.
There’s the national angle of the former Alabama teammates and quarterbacks, the Dolphins’ Tagovailoa and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts. There’s the strategic angle of Hill against a Philadelphia secondary with two Pro Bowl talents.
“Looking forward to it,” said Hill, who had six catches for 163 yards on Sunday. I love to compete, baby, so I only want to go against the best.”
That brings up the over-riding angle to next Sunday: The Dolphins get to measure themselves against a top team again. Buffalo is the only winning team the Dolphins have played thus far and, well, the 48-20 margin of loss is the outlier to the season, too. You can connect those dots, if you wish.
With winless Carolina as the latest example, the Dolphins’ five wins are against teams with a combined 5-22 record. No one thought New England, Denver, the New York Giants (who play Sunday night) and Carolina would be such creampuffs. But they are.
That’s not to dismiss beating lesser teams. Ask Philadelphia about that today. Ask San Francisco, the other unbeaten team entering Sunday. It lost to Cleveland. That’s a cue for the ’72 Dolphins to pop the cork.
Back to the ’23 Dolphins: There’s no need to guarding your emotions against the grave consequences of being, “too happy” about their season. Is everyone having, “too much fun,” as some killjoys suggest?
But the garden-variety ooh-ing and aah-ing over Sunday’s offense isn’t anything to have to defend. It’s entertaining. It’s borderline historic — well, for six games anyhow. It’s just time to confirm what has played out against losing teams can play against winning teams, too.
There’s Philadelphia next week, the patsy of New England (that idea never gets old), and then Kansas City in Germany. That’s two games against last year’s Super Bowl teams in the next three weeks.
This big platform, you see, can get bigger with a win or two.
Yeah, that’s the ultimate objective, isn’t it?” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “You do things the right way, and you give reason for people to pay attention to you. You score a couple nationally televised games and hope you earn more.
“I think the bigger thing is that we’re a football team that’s learning to win different ways, finding some balance, and I think a lot of guys are getting better within the respective systems.”
The offense has run over everyone but Buffalo. The defense has had its way with the Giants and Carolina the past two weeks. What does it all mean? Philadelphia is a test in that fashion.
“I think this is a game that a lot of people are going to want to see, given the talent that’s on that side of the ball, the talent that’s on this side of the ball,” Tagovailoa said. “It’s one of those where, okay, we’ve got a lot of good matchups across the board.
“How are these guys going to play us? How are we going to come out against these guys?”
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hands the ball off to running back Raheem Mostert against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert runs with the ball against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert celebrates with wide receiver Braxton Berrios after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throws against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill catches a pass against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill runs for yards after a catch against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill takes a cell phone from a photographer to celebrate after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Fans cheer as the Miami Dolphins take on the Carolina Panthers at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa before a play against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throws against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle catches a pass against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel during his game against the Carolina Panthers at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Fans cheer as the Miami Dolphins take on the Carolina Panthers at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips tries to get around Carolina Panthers tackle Taylor Moton during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle catches a pass against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Salvon Ahmed runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Miami Dolphins running back Salvon Ahmed celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
