The turnaround could start right now, out of the blue.
The Miami Dolphins could take the field on Thursday Night Football and stun the Buffalo Bills even as double-digit underdogs. The feelings about Mike McDaniel, and Tua Tagovailoa, and Tyreek Hill -- they could all improve overnight.
But if Thursday night goes as many are expecting, the Dolphins will fall to 0-3, and the vibes will only get worse.
And that could be trouble for McDaniel's job as head coach.
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Will the Dolphins fire Mike McDaniel?
No one knows for sure what the Dolphins' plans are with McDaniel.
It's not long ago that he was viewed as an offensive whizkid, someone who does things a little differently but finds a way to make it all work.
But when things aren't working, the different approach can likely wear on some people.
And an 0-3 start while paying your QB a whole heck of a lot of money, especially with the first two weeks being particularly rough aesthetically, is not what you want.
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Why timing lines up to make a Mike McDaniel decision now
The Thursday night game does provide the Dolphins with an ideal runway, if they want to take it.
They don't play again until Monday night in Week 4, 11 days after they'll have played in Buffalo.
That's the longest gap they'll get this season aside from their bye week. If they wanted ample time to transition to a new leader, this would be it.
McDaniel isn't as good as gone. But the door certainly appears ready to swing open if someone pushes it.
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