Marino & Csonka watch as Dolphins show again why this is best offense in franchise history | Opinion

All of the living ghosts of greatness were in the house Sunday.

The Miami Dolphins honored their latest Pro Football Hall of Famer Zach Thomas with a ring ceremony at halftime and on the field for the celebration were an array of gold-jacketed franchise legends from Larry Csonka to Dan Marino.

The men responsible for so much Dolphins history were witnessing history in the making from their club as it shook off an early 14-0 deficit Sunday to overwhelm the Carolina Panthers, 42-21.

Csonka’s ‘70s Fins had a ground game that won Super Bowls.

Marino’s air attack in the ‘80s broke NFL records.

The two of them were watching the best offense in club history, or what could be, at least, in this 2023 team.

Something special may be going on here.

Yes, Miami lost at Buffalo this season. The Dolphins must play at unbeaten Philadelphia next Sunday night. Soon after they face champion Kansas City in Germany.

Much proving is yet ahead.

But something special may be going on here.

The Dolphins are 5-1 for the first time in 21 years.

On Sunday they won for the 15th time in the past 17 home games — the best such run of dominance in the 36-year history of Joe Robbie’s stadium now called Hard Rock, and full of 65,529 fans.

Tua Tagovailoa has more passing yards in the first six games than any quarterback in club history, yes, including Marino.

Tyreek Hill has the most receiving yards at this point in a season in NFL history.

Raheem Mostert’s three more touchdowns on Sunday gives him 11 in six games.

The Dolphins lead the NFL in 10 offensive categories including the big four: most points scored, most total offensive yards, most passing yards and most rushing yards.

The winless Panthers, two-touchdown underdogs, led 14-0 in the first quarter and the thought occurred: North Carolina is being mighty inhospitable to Miami this weekend.

First the collegiate Tar Heels beat the Hurricanes on Saturday night in Chapel Hill, 41-31. Then the pro team from two hours away in Charlotte visits and threatens what would be the biggest upset of this NFL season.

Miami in the first quarter was showing all the symptoms of a team overlooking this opponent because a much better one (unbeaten Philadelphia) was on deck.

Miami later showed it was good enough to take this opponent lightly, spot it a 14-point head start, and still win.

Down 14-0, “There was no question at all [we’d win],” said Hill.

(Trying the same next Sunday night in Philly would not be recommended.)

Coach Mike McDaniel saw the early 14-0 hole as something valuable for his team.

“You learn a lot about your team,” he said. “It shows the composure. We didn’t panic. It’s what you see from winning teams. It was a good maturation day for us.”

The game began with a moment of silence for the innocent victims of the Hamas attack on Israel and resulting retaliation.

The crowd would stay quiet most of the first period as the home team slogged through its worst quarter of the season.

But here’s the thing.

Was anybody worried?

Were any Dolfans fast to panic?

Doubt it. Because Carolina came here 0-5 for a reason, sure. But mostly because no Dolphins offense has ever been quite this varied and dynamic ... and fast.

And they began to play like it.

Boom. Mostert’s 3-yard scoring run caps a 75-yard drive.

Boom. Tua rolls left and fires a laser in the end zone to Jaylen Waddle from 4 yards out — the receiver’s penguin-waddle dance the encore.

Boom. Hill is on the end of a 41-yard Tua touchdown pass so perfectly thrown it caught the Cheetah in stride despite tight coverage by Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson. Hill’s encore? A crowd-pleasing end zone backflip, and a cell phone stunt that brought an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for using a “prop.”

“Any time I step on the field I wanna make it memorable,” Hill said afterward. ”I play this game for passion.”

That TD made it a 21-14 Fins lead to put fans in a proper celebratory mood for a halftime ceremony Zach Thomas.

“Most important, I want to make this most clear: I want to thank you fans for helping me get to Canton!” said Zach to the cheering crowd.

It was 28-14, Miami, in the third quarter on Mostert’s 4-yard TD run — the Fins defense toughening now while Tua enjoyed another stellar performance.

Then in the fourth quarter it was 35-14, Mostert again.

Tua was out of the game by then and watched backup QB Mike White throw an interception returned 61 yards for the TD that made the final score. I’d quibble and wonder why Miami wasn’t just running to kill the clock, but, whatever. Miami countered with a late 9-yard TD run by Salvon Ahmed.

It was another day to appreciate a Dolphins offense that is the stuff of dreams after so many years of dull offenses around here that featured way too much of the punters and kickers.

“We have such a tremendous team, so well-rounded, with the offensive creativity and playmakers,” Hill said. “And Tua has been lights out.”

With Philadelphia next, Kansas City soon after and a rematch with Buffalo coming, these Dolphins will have chances ahead to prove how good they are and whether even a Super Bowl may be possible.

The offense we are seeing puts everything including the biggest dreams in play.