There's no such thing as a 3-year plan.

[dolfan13]

this is the nfl, and not college football. you really have no clue how good or bad a team is going to be before the season starts (maybe the lions are an exception  )., much less how good a team is now versus 3 weeks from now. this isn't texas with florida atlantic university on its out of conference schedule. you can't look ahead and say, "oh thats a win, thats a loss", it doesn't work like that in the nfl.

winning 10 plus games in the nfl is a hell of a season, to which the casual fan shrugs their shoulders at. winning by one point, or winning by 40 is just a win. there are no "style" points, no random guy "voting" on ranking. you don't get a bigger super bowl trophy if you stomp the bills, or an asterisk next to your name because of barely squeaking by with inches to spare like the rams.

the nfl model rewards teams that are consistent, disciplined, able to persevere, lucky to a certain extent, etc... and not necessarily the "greatest" team of the year. look no further than the patriots last year, coming from a dolfan that despises the pats, that is probably one of the best teams ever.

like bill parcells says, you are what your record says you are.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

We lost those two games, and we're still in playoff contention.

That was kinda my point. 

I think the biggest adv sucking has is not next years schedule but the early draft picks.  Not just in the first round but every round. 

[bsfins]

We lost those two games, and we're still in playoff contention.

I think the point still stands: any decent coaching/management staff should be able to get a team within playoff contention (tiebreakers) by their second year.

Making my point more Valid...

New England Lost both of those games....Having to play the Colts and Steelers....
The Jets Won both of theirs,Against the Titans,and the Bengals....(but Blew 2 conference games against Broncos,Raiders,or the Chargers (choose 2)
The Dolphins Lost our 2 to the Texans,and Ravens...Hence our Last place,easier Schedule helps us out.....We didn't have to play a Colts,Titans or Steelers

[NADS]

I'd rather play the Colts than Ravens--at least this year.

[dolfan13]

the colts aren't that good right now, and the titans are slipping...

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Making my point more Valid...

New England Lost both of those games....Having to play the Colts and Steelers....
The Jets Won both of theirs,Against the Titans,and the Bengals....(but Blew 2 conference games against Broncos,Raiders,or the Chargers (choose 2)
The Dolphins Lost our 2 to the Texans,and Ravens...Hence our Last place,easier Schedule helps us out.....We didn't have to play a Colts,Titans or Steelers

Help me out with this one....lets assume we replace the texans and ravens games with the harder colts and steelers games.  How does this hurt the dophins? fin lose by a larger margin? odds are the fins record doesn't change one iota. 

[bsfins]

OK We still Lose,Do you think the Pats, would Beat the Texans,or the Ravens? It all depends on when you schedule them...It's a whole what if game then.....We Got the Advantage of playing the Lesser teams,based on last years schedule..See you're trying to just flip one,you have to look at the entire picture...These two games are big reason why All three teams are tied for the Division,It's the reason why We have to win the division to make the playoffs...With all the Tiebreaker scenerios...

Sure I'd rather played the Colts earlier in the year,when they were banged up...Just like playing the Pats early in the year,soon after Tom Brady went down.....

Modified to add,Why is this posted in the Dolphins section and not the Around the NFL....

[Spider-Dan]

OK We still Lose,Do you think the Pats, would Beat the Texans,or the Ravens?

Well, they lost to the Chargers, who we beat.

You can play what if all day long, but the point is, the maximum number of unique games (based on your record) that you can win or lose is two.  We lost both of them.  We're still in contention.  That's what I'm getting at.

There are not enough record-specific games on a team's record to explain failing to qualify for the playoffs.  A team with a good coach and GM can make the playoffs even if they lose their unique games.  Furthermore, in this particular discussion, there really is no argument to make; if you are a team that is getting new management, one of two things are the case:

1) you are already a playoff team that is trying to get over the hump (see: Gruden at TB), in which case you damn well better make the playoffs
2) you are a crappy team that is trying to become competitive, in which case you almost certainly have a third- or fourth-place schedule