I think there's a good chance of a "sophomore slump", if only because the Dolphins have overperformed this year. Yeah, yeah, a win is a win and all that counts is your record. Fine, but that has lower correlation with future performance than any number of other metrics - and by all those, we overperformed.
And that's even disregarding the HUGE scheduling issue. There's just no way we get as easy a schedule next year - not because of how we've done this year, but simply because we're not going to be matched with the AFC West and NFC West (both of whom could still wind up sending an 8-8 division champ to the playoffs!).
Instead of the Cardinals, 49ers, Seahawks and Rams we'll face the Panthers, Falcons, Buccaneers and Saints. That's a jump from 18 combined wins to 36 combined wins (using todays standings). Any way you look at it, that's going to be a lot tougher.
And instead of the Broncos, Chargers, Raiders and Chiefs, we'll see the Titans, Colts, Texans and Jaguars. That's a jump in combined wins from 19 to 35. No doubt a much harder group of teams, baring some collective collapses, of course.
Our best hope is to parley our over-achievement into luring some quality free agents. Otherwise, I'd be content with 8-8 next year.
QFT. Those two divisions scare me. I've said this in another thread, but I'll say it here.
Tennessee- Best record in the AFC. Plays just like our team this year, but with far superior talent on both sides of the ball.
Indianapolis- Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark. That'll keep a lot of defensive coordinators up at night.
Jacksonville- A good team having a bad season. I expect them to rebound strongly next year.
Houston- Always finds a way to beat the Dolphins.
Carolina- DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart is a more talented version of R&R. Plus, Steve Smith is better than Ted Ginn will ever be.
Tampa Bay- Another stiff defense, with a plethora of talented runners and a QB who can hurt you with his legs as well as his arm.
Atlanta- Matt Ryan, Roddy White, and Michael Turner are all young and blossoming. They will lay waste to a lot of opposing defenses next season.
New Orleans- Already doing what Atlanta aspires. Drew Brees firing to Marques Colston and Devery Henderson, along with Reggie Bush bunny hopping around the ends and Pierre Thomas busting up the middle would scare the daylights out of any defensive coordinator.
Now.... let's assume we beat the Jets and win the division. We would then face:
Pittsburgh- That defense can stop General Patton's tanks. Nuff said.
Denver/San Diego- Another scary offense that will have revenge on it's mind/A very talented team that underachieved (see Jacksonville)