Despite a slew of major injuries to key players the Miami Dolphins are proving to be a tough bunch.

Despite a slew of major injuries to key players, the Miami Dolphins (9-3) have clinched the AFC’s top seed.

“Next man up mentality, that’s how we have to go about it,” Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard said, per AP News’ Alanis Thames. “This is a tough game and people go down but the next man up.”

The Dolphins have demonstrated that it is the next “men” up. Consider that they’ve been winning despite being without these players for long stretches: starting left tackle and team leader Terron Armstead; six-time Pro Bowl CB Jalen Ramsey; emerging outside linebacker Jaelen Phillips; center Connor Williams; rookie running back sensation De’Von Achane; and stud safety Jevon Holland.

When mainstay middle linebacker Jerome Baker went down against the Washington Commanders, special teamer Duke Riley stepped in and immediately contributed seven tackles and made defensive calls. The Dolphins seem to have a mojo of that it doesn’t matter who plays, they are getting the job done.

Miami last finished as the top-ranked team in their conference in 1984. In Dan Marino’s second full season as a record-breaking quarterback, the Phins went 14-2 before losing in Super Bowl XVIII to Joe Montana’s San Francisco 49ers.

The Dolphins are back atop the AFC standings after 14,230 days, thanks to a commanding win on the road against Washington in Week 13. Expect no one in South Florida to rejoice. Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, the hipster disguised as an offensive genius, will not allow any noise to enter his headspace.

“Call me when it’s a 13-game season,” McDaniel said, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.

True, it doesn’t mean anything, but it may lead to something. The Dolphins will play four of their final five regular-season games at home, where they are 5-0. Miami has complete control over how this all plays out.

“I think for all of us that have been around the NFL long enough, you get about five games, four games left, and that becomes a lot of the conversation,” McDaniel told miamidolphins.com. “It takes a lot of execution to get there.” However, it is one of those tricky things.”

Though many Miami Dolphins detractors point to their 0-3 record against teams with higher winning percentages and QB Tua Tagovailoa’s penchant for failing to rise to the occasion, it is the Dolphins’ ability to climb the standings over the last month and a half that gives this team some hopeful momentum.

The Dolphins are resilient, and if they do get a first-round bye and home-field advantage, that trait should propel them to a major postseason game.