By Tyler Banks

After an abysmal 2017-2018 season the Miami Dolphins were expected to continue what they always do which is play in a disappointing fashion. However, entering week four of the 2018-2019 season, the Miami Dolphins are an undefeated team and are currently looked on as real competitors to the long time powerhouse, New England Patriots.

So the question that everyone is asking is, “How are they doing it”? Well, it starts with their quarterback.

Ryan Tannehill is one of those key pieces that have truly influenced the Dolphins’ success. Coming into the season no one was expecting such a great start to the season because he just finished healing from knee surgery. But by completing 54 out of 74 passes to get seven touchdowns and only two interceptions Ryan Tannehill is looking, by many, like one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

Although it has been three games, Tannehill is on track to having a record year. He currently ranks fifth in pass completion rate (73%) and fourth in quarterback rating (121.8). The only quarterbacks ahead of him in both categories are the ever so consistent Drew Brees and the early MVP candidate, Ryan Fitzpatrick. However, one could make an argument that Tannehill deserves a higher ranking because the pieces surrounding him are not as good as the likes of Brees or Fitzpatrick.

Tannehill has always been injury prone and he could never consistently be there for his team in close game situations however, in these last three games, Ryan Tannehill can be seen as the best player on the field without discussion.

In his season debut, Ryan Tannehill completed 20 of 28 passes to reach 230 yards, get two touchdowns and two interceptions. Dolphins saw this as a promising debut considering that he underperformed in the previous year. This was no indication of that he was going to have the amazing year he is having right now. In his next game against the Jets, he improved in certain aspects of his statline and regressed in others. In this game he completed 17 of 23 passes to reach 168 yards, get 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. However, this is was still not the definitive game this season that catapulted Ryan Tannehill into the limelight. The game that did this was the one against the Oakland Raiders.

He completed 17 of 23 passes to reach 289 yard, get 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Dolphins fans were elated throughout this game and many saw this as one of his best games ever. It was because of this game people started to define him as one of the premier quarterbacks in the league.

Although the Dolphins are more than likely not taking home the Vince Lombardi trophy this year, they should at least be on your radar because this Sunday, if the Dolphins manage to beat the Patriots, we may be looking at the new king of the AFC eastern conference.