Dolphins seek to extend streak, Panthers seek return to .500

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - There's nothing that impressive about a 5-7 record.

That is, unless it comes after a 1-7 start.

This is the mission for the Miami Dolphins this week, to get to 5-7 after losing seven of their first eight games to start a season. They'll try to win their fourth consecutive game when they play host to Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers (5-6) on Sunday.

"I don't really get into losing streak, winning streak, momentum and not having momentum," Dolphins coach Brian Flores said. "I try to stay the same either way and that's the message I give to the players. There's always emotion involved with winning and losing. You try to build on the winning and you try to learn from the mistakes and adversity of not having success. In both instances, there's an opportunity to motivate."

What the Dolphins have done - just getting to 4-7 - is rare. There have been 130 teams in NFL history to start with 1-7 records; the Dolphins are the 11th to reach 4-7. If they win Sunday, they'd be the sixth to go from 1-7 to 5-7.

The 1984 Green Bay Packers are the only team to have started 1-0, then lost their next seven, then won their next four. The Dolphins now have a chance to pull off that same statistical oddity.

"We just stuck together and just try to get better each week," defensive tackle Christian Wilkins said. "One day at a time, one play at a time, one meeting at a time, one lift at a time."

For Miami, 5-7 is the obvious target for the week. For Carolina, though, being 5-7 on Sunday night would be a problem.

The Panthers start the weekend ninth in the NFC, two spots out of the last wild-card slot. A setback now would only make the postseason climb that much steeper.

"We have to play our best game against Miami," Panthers coach Matt Rhule said. "And then we take a week off, I want our guys to recharge, and then we come back and we have five games, four of which are conference games and we need to not worry about anything -- standings, what other teams do. We just need to worry about ourselves and playing good football."

Much like the Dolphins, the Panthers are having a topsy-turvy season. They started 3-0, then lost their next four, then alternated wins and losses since. They're 5-0 when holding teams to 82 rushing yards or less, 0-6 otherwise.

"You hear analytics people say, 'The run doesn't matter,'" Rhule said. "When you're trying to control a game, the run matters."

FACING CAM

Newton, Carolina's expected starter at quarterback, is 3-1 against Miami, including going 1-1 last season when he was with New England. Flores said the Dolphins haven't seen any rust on Newton even though he missed the first half of the season.

"He's Cam. He's going to talk, he's going to compete and we're definitely up for this challenge," Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker said.

FLAG DAY

Penalties are a big area of concern for both teams. Carolina has been flagged 81 times, the most of any team in the NFL, and Miami has drawn 75 penalties.

"Once you get that reputation, it's kind of on you," Rhule said about the Panthers' penalty penchant.

Flores said avoiding penalties is a regular point of emphasis in practice for the Dolphins, one that was reiterated this week.

MCCAFFREY'S ROLE

Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey is expected to play in his fourth consecutive game Sunday after missing six weeks with a hamstring issue. He got 17 touches in last week's loss to Washington, had a touchdown catch - his first TD since Week 2 - and was part of Carolina's two longest plays in that game. He had a 27-yard catch from Newton for the score and was part of a 30-yard gain after a 15-yard run saw 15 more yards tacked on after a Washington horse-collar tackle. He says sustaining drives will be big this week.

"We have to find ways to convert on third down," McCaffrey said.

THE OTHERS

The other teams in NFL history that went from 1-7 to 5-7: the 2020 New York Giants, Carolina in 2004, the 1987 Los Angeles Rams, the 1984 Packers, and the 1974 New York Jets. That's the group Miami will try to join on Sunday.

PAY THE MAN

Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki, who needs a contract for 2022, is lobbying the team for a new deal. Thing is, it's not for him. Gesicki is actively campaigning for TE Durham Smythe to get a new contract from the Dolphins. "I like when people get what they deserve," Gesicki said.