Open-and-shut case: For Dolphins, winning on opening day may be more vital than you think

MIAMI GARDENS — The word is out among Dolphins players. It’s not enough to be on time to meetings, which in Brian Flores-speak means arriving early. Players also have to hit the ground running once they sit down, because coaches aren’t going to waste time with warm-up platitudes.

“Whatever the goal of the day is, we’re right on it, as soon as we get into the building,” receiver Albert Wilson said. “That’s starting at 7:30.”

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There is a logic to this beyond making Starbucks richer. In Flores’ first season, 2019, the Dolphins opened the season with seven consecutive losses. In his second season, the Dolphins began 0-2, then ended up missing the playoffs by a hair.

“Those games could’ve been the ones that put us in the playoffs,” safety Eric Rowe said.

The point being, the Dolphins think what happens at 7:30 a.m. during the week will affect what happens at 4:25 p.m. Sunday, when Miami opens the season at New England.

It doesn’t take much to prove this theory. Just check out the winningest teams in the first month of the season since 2011: New England, Green Bay, Kansas City, Baltimore, Dallas, Seattle and Buffalo. Combined, they account for 44 playoff berths and 10 Super Bowl appearances.

“Our coaching staff made it a point as soon as we came in the offseason,” linebacker Jerome Baker said. “We want to start fast no matter what we do.”

Dolphins once dominated in openers

They want to do what this organization hasn’t done in a long time. Since 2000, the Dolphins are a mere 10-11 on opening day. Just don’t get the idea it has always been this way. It hasn’t. There was a time when the Dolphins were unbeatable out of the gate and, surprisingly, we’re not talking the 1970s (when Miami was 5-4-1 in openers).

Rather, from 1992-2002, the Dolphins led the league by going 11-0 on opening day. So when the 2003 rolled around, the Dolphins were touted as possible Super Bowl contenders. Then, opening day came and the Houston Texans, 14-point underdogs, came to town and beat Miami 21-20.

"I'm stunned, shocked, disappointed, amazed," defensive tackle Larry Chester said. "No one could have told me we were going to lose, not with this team."

Need we say what followed? The Dolphins finished 10-6, out of the playoffs, in coach Dave Wannstedt’s last full season.

Belichick tops among active coaches in openers

Naturally, every season begins with hopes that it will end with a playoff berth. Throughout their history, the Dolphins have lost their first game yet rebounded to make the playoffs only six times. Conversely, while starting 1-0 doesn’t assure anything, the Dolphins have reached the playoffs 16 times after such starts.

Which brings us back to what will occur at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, when the Dolphins will look across the field and see Bill Belichick, whose 18 wins on opening day are the most among active coaches. He’s as tough to beat in the first game of the season as he is the last one.

“You always want to start fast,” said Flores, a former assistant under Belichick. “I think it’s all about preparation. If we’re ready to go and we prepare, it gives us the best chance to execute.”

Consider the message received.

“Our coaches do a great job of hammering that home,” Baker said. “We just have to follow up.”