As a lifelong Dolphins fan who has spent more time than I’d like to admit in what Dave likes to call “banana country,” I’m relieved that Mike McDaniel isn’t afraid to speak the truth. Believe me, I wish what he said wasn’t true. I wish I could go to work every day and tell everyone with a straight face that the AFC East runs through Miami. But I can’t. I can’t even go on Twitter and say it with conviction anymore. I’m sick of making a fool of myself. There’s no reason for me to say the AFC East runs through Miami when Buffalo has been king of the division for four years in a row.

Let’s not forget that we had a golden opportunity to win the division on our home soil last year. What did we do? We just let Buffalo walk in and snatch the division from our hands. That was our chance to make a statement, to take the division back, and we blew it. So I for one am glad that Mike McDaniel is not afraid to address the obvious. In fact, I want the entire team to address it head on. I want them all to know and feel that this division still belongs to Buffalo until we do something to change that.

I would put a picture of Buffalo’s last four division titles in every player’s locker. It should be in front of their eyes every day. Every time they wake up, walk into the facility or step onto the field, they should be thinking about winning this division. It’s not just about making the playoffs — it’s about earning that home playoff game we haven’t had since 2008. Enough is enough. I’m tired of being the little brother in the AFC East. I’m tired of being hyped up every offseason only to fail. It’s time for the Dolphins to either show what they can do or shut up, and it all starts Thursday night when Buffalo comes to town.

But I have to be very clear about this: If we beat Buffalo on Thursday, I will be an insufferable idiot, and I will fully admit that. However, I promise everyone reading this blog right now: Beating Buffalo on Thursday night is not guaranteed to win the division. It’s just the beginning. It’s the game that lights the fire. Because at the end of the day, it takes more than a win to win the division, even if it’s against the defending AFC East champions. It takes consistency, resilience, and a hunger to take what’s ours.

We don’t own this division yet, but Thursday is our first chance to show the world – and ourselves – that we’re ready to win it. And when we do, it won’t be because of hype or luck. It will be because we deserve it. So let’s get that first win against Buffalo, set the tone and model the rest of the season after that.