MIAMI GARDENS — It’s hard to believe that the low-profile 2025 Miami Dolphins might have a more effective running game than the star-studded 2023 squad, but it’s true.
The 2025 Dolphins are 7-3 (.700) when they rush for 100 or more yards; the 2023 Dolphins were 6-5 (.545) when they rushed for 100 or more yards.
A deciding factor in the debate could come Sunday when the Dolphins’ run game ventures to New England. The challenge — deliver a late-season road victory against a playoff-caliber opponent in frigid weather.
The run game is why the Dolphins, a 10-point underdog, might have a puncher’s chance of pulling the upset at New England, where the temperature at kickoff is expected to be 23 degrees.
But the Dolphins might have to try to defeat the Patriots without running back De’Von Achane, the team’s MVP and the league’s No. 5 rusher with 1,350 yards. Achane, who is battling a shoulder injury, wasn’t seen at Friday’s practice and hasn’t practiced all week.
For various reasons, the Dolphins have stumbled greatly in late-season cold weather road games under coach Mike McDaniel, compiling a 1-6 record.
If the 2025 run game can lead the Dolphins (7-9) to a huge upset against New England (13-3), it would cement this year’s unit as having the better run game over the 2023 crew.
This year’s run game and offensive line have shown that they’re reliable, versatile and capable of winning games. That’s why there’s an argument to be made that his run game is preferable to the 2023 run game.
McDaniel didn’t take a side in the 2025 run game vs. 2023 run game conversation. But he contends the 2025 run game’s success starts with the offensive line.
“I think we’ve been more consistent based upon the players really going after it, owning it and believing in what we’re doing and they have the will for it,” he said. “This group of people really likes the feeling of when they’re controlling the line of scrimmage.”
The 2025 run game has sent mixed signals as to whether it’s effective in late-season, cold weather games, a true test for any run game.
The Dolphins rushed for 239 yards in a 34-10 victory at the New York Jets on Dec. 7. The following week, the Dolphins were held to 63 yards rushing in a 28-15 loss at Pittsburgh.
Offensive coordinator Frank Smith said this year’s offensive line is more adept at run blocking than the 2023 crew.
“In 2023, we had some variables of we had a lot of different guys moving in the lineup at different points in the season,” Smith said, “where (this year) you’ve seen consistency of guys being able to play together.
“I think when you get the consistency in the line group, that’s the big thing that allows for them to build the understanding of where guys are going to be, how they’re going to fit things, how they’re going to be able to play.”
The 2023 run game, led by Pro Bowl running back Raheem Mostert, Pro Bowl fullback Alec Ingold, and Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead, remains a gold standard of recent years for the franchise, and it has qualifications to suggest it remains better than the 2025 group.
The 2023 run game ranked No. 6 in the league at 135.8 yards per game; the 2025 Dolphins run game ranks No. 10 in the league at 123.8 yards per game.
The 2023 run game averaged 5.1 yards per carry. The 2025 run game averaged 4.9 yards per carry. The 2023 run game had 27 touchdowns, tied for the league lead; the 2025 run game has 14 touchdowns, tied for 19th.
Still, a few things hint that the 2025 running game is better than 2023.
Achane, who was a rookie third-round pick in 2023, when he rushed for 800 yards, leads this year’s running game. He’s now a third-year veteran who ranks among the league’s best at his position.
Another measure of success for the Dolphins’ run game this year is that it’s effective despite opponents knowing that it’s coming.
“The art of the NFL is there’s always production that you can get on an opponent with some surprise,” McDaniel said, “but as the season progresses and you get into December and January, there’s not that many secrets.”
It should be pointed out that New England has a stout run defense. The Patriots are tied for No. 7 in the league at 104.1 yards per game.
Still, if the Dolphins can run the ball effectively they’ll give themselves a chance to win, and a good reason to consider themselves the franchise’s best run game of the McDaniel era.
