Dolphins enter bye on a 5-game streak

There was a whole lot of commotion in October over the Miami Dolphins not having the traditional bye week following a game played in London, which the Dolphins had on Oct. 17.

While most NFL teams have historically taken an idle week after the long travel to and from England, the Dolphins instead had a late-season bye.

Miami could’ve really used the time to recalibrate that week after dropping a heartbreaker on a last-second field goal to the Jaguars for Jacksonville’s first win in 20 games. The following Sunday, the Dolphins hosted the Atlanta Falcons, who were fresh off their bye that succeeded a London game of their own, and again Miami lost on a field goal as time expired on Oct. 24.

It appeared then like, by the time the Dolphins finally did have their bye week, the late-season games would be meaningless with the team out of contention. But after five consecutive victories, the latest Sunday’s 20-9 win over the New York Giants, and a reinsertion into the playoff conversation, will they now see the other side of that deal, the reward?

Miami (6-7) will now get a week to rest up before the final four-game stretch of the regular season and push for the postseason.

“A lot was made of that, and I think maybe opinions are different now,” Dolphins Coach Brian Flores said following Sunday’s game. “I don’t know, but like I said then, this is the schedule we have. And we’re just going to play it out, and it’s good to have some time right now for us to reassess, re-evaluate and for the players to get some rest.”

Going in refreshed for the run of games against the New York Jets at home, at the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots back at Hard Rock Stadium in the finale could be key, but some in the organization see it a different way.

Cornerback Xavien Howard said Monday he would’ve preferred an earlier bye week. Howard and fellow cornerback Byron Jones were both playing through leg injuries during that rough October stretch, and the two missed the loss to the Jaguars. Meanwhile, the time off could now halt the Dolphins’ momentum.

“I’d prefer it earlier because we’re on a roll right now, and I want to keep that going,” Howard said. “A lot of guys are probably banged up. We probably need it in Week 14. I definitely wanted it earlier, but we’re on a roll right now. We’ve just got to keep that momentum coming off the bye.”

Even the rookies, whose college seasons in the past would be wrapping up around this time, are ready to go to keep that momentum going.

“I’m ready to play the next game right now. Let’s go!” said Jaelan Phillips after his two sacks on Sunday put him at 8 1/2 on the season, a new franchise rookie record.

Said linebacker Jerome Baker: “It’s a love and hate. We’re winning, but we definitely need that week off.”

Players that missed the game against the Giants — safety Brandon Jones, running back Phillip Lindsay, tight end Adam Shaheen and cornerback Trill Williams — have an extra week to get ready for the Dolphins’ next game.

Players on injured reserve who are eligible to activated once they’re ready also get extra time. That includes wide receiver Will Fuller, who has missed two months with multiple broken bones in a finger, and running back Malcolm Brown. Flores, on Monday, called Fuller’s status this week a “moot point” because the Dolphins aren’t holding any true practices anyway.

Aside from getting healthy, the Dolphins can use the extra time to take a look within.

“I know [fans and media] see it as a bye, but we see it as a week to get better,” linebacker Elandon Roberts said.

Roberts and Phillips both pointed to self-scouting that goes on during the idle week.

It’s also beneficial for Miami players from a mental health standpoint after 13 consecutive game weeks.

“It’s a good chance for everybody to just relax, get away from football and just enjoy life and just spend time with your family and spend time with your friends and just completely get away,” outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel said.

“I think everybody needs that. No matter what job or occupation you have, just a little vacation or a little time off here and there is always a good thing.”

Flores didn’t have an update on Dolphins running back Patrick Laird as of his Monday afternoon web conference after Laird left Sunday’s game in the first quarter and was ruled out shortly thereafter.