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Why Dolphins could be AFC's toughest playoff matchup
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Why Dolphins could be AFC's most dangerous playoff matchup

If the Dolphins make the postseason, their wide receiving duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle could be a handful for any opponent.

Many NFL wide receiver duos are dangerous, but none more so than Hill-Waddle, who have a chance to be all-timers. They could be talked about in the same vein as Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt of "The Greatest Show on Turf" St. Louis Rams or Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison of the 2000s Indianapolis Colts. 

Those duos combined for more than 28,000 career receiving yards apiece, so the South Beach squad has a ways to go. 

Hill had his share of doubters after the juggernaut Kansas City Chiefs unexpectedly traded him in the offseason to the Dolphins. But he has had a career year without Patrick Mahomes, catching 109 passes for 1,529 yards. 

Before the season, first-year Miami head coach Mike McDaniel told fantasy players to draft Waddle because he knew how dynamic the former Alabama star could be in his offense.

Waddle's role has shifted from 2021 when he totaled a rookie-record 104 catches. In 2021, he was a glorified possession receiver in a broken RPO offense. Only 56.7% (59-of-104) of his receptions went for first downs in 2021 compared to 83.9% (52-of-62) this season. 

Now Waddle is used as a downfield weapon. He has an average depth of target of 12.2 yards, up drastically from his mark of 7.1 in 2021. His yards per reception is up dramatically to a league-leading 18 yards, nearly double his 9.8 average from 2021. 

Against Buffalo in Week 15, Hill, like Waddle, proved to be a mismatch against Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White, who has historically struggled against his blazing speed.

The Dolphins average 24.6 points, ninth best in the league and an increase of more than four points per game over 2021. McDaniel's run game designs improved the offense, but Waddle and Hill give the Dolphins a "problem" their HC likened to a rich person choosing between yachts

It's unusual to have one player on a team who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.2 seconds, let alone two, as Hill and Waddle do. The odds those players also have the quickness, catch toughness, hand-eye coordination, and football intellect of Hill and Waddle are even higher.

Per fivethirtyeight.com, the Dolphins have a 72 percent chance to make the playoffs. If they do, their opponents are sure to get an eyeful of the AFC's most dynamic duo.

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