MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and several players spoke to reporters Sunday following a 21-17 win over the New Orleans Saints, the team’s third straight victory and fourth in five games as Miami improved to 5-7.

The win featured a 134-yard rushing effort from running back De’Von Achane — who surpassed 1,000 yards for the first time in his career — and two game-changing defensive plays from safety Minkah Fitzpatrick: a rare pick-two and his first NFL sack, a strip sack that helped stall a Saints drive.

McDaniel said the team’s recent surge shows its resilience.

“I think it says everything,” McDaniel said. “I think it’s third straight, four of (the last) five. You think you have the right type of guys, but you don’t know until you know.”

He added that Miami has found ways to win in different circumstances.

Achane hits the century mark

Achane powered Miami’s offense again on Sunday.

“It means a lot,” Achane said. “It just shows the hard work that I put in. It’s just a stepping stone of mine, and we’ve got to keep moving forward.”

McDaniel said Achane has grown well beyond his role as an explosive playmaker.

“We were relying upon him to not just be a good player, but to take a step in being a leader,” he said. “I can’t say enough great things about Von (Achane).”

Fitzpatrick makes two pivotal plays

Fitzpatrick delivered one of the game’s defining moments with a pick-two on a Saints two-point conversion attempt, returning the interception on Tyler Shough for two points late in the fourth quarter.

The play forced New Orleans to seek a touchdown after recovering an onside kick instead of setting up for a potential long game-winning field goal.

“It was gigantic,” McDaniel said. “Big time players make big time plays for your team and he came through for us.”

Fitzpatrick said he recognized the play quickly: “I was in basically zero coverage, my guy ran the shallow, slipped in, and caught the ball.”

Earlier in the game, Fitzpatrick recorded his first career sack — a strip sack off the edge on Shough that stopped a Saints possession.

“I beat him. The quarterback held onto the ball a little bit too long,” Fitzpatrick said. “That was actually my first NFL sack so that was a big moment.”

He joked that teammate Rasul Douglas would be fined in the defensive backs room for not scoring on a previous interception.

“He’s definitely getting fined,” Fitzpatrick said with a laugh.

He also said the defense has shown heart during the team’s midseason turnaround.

“Even through our downs and our low periods, we were still sticking together,” Fitzpatrick added.

Passing game still seeking rhythm

McDaniel said the Dolphins struggled to find consistency through the air.

“I wouldn’t say Tua (Tagovailoa) played his best game,” he said. “It was a little herky-jerky in the pass game.”

Tagovailoa said his reads dictated his decisions.

“I wouldn’t say it was something that they were doing as much as it was going through the progression,” he said.

Tagovailoa said the locker room’s confidence has grown noticeably.

“Just the camaraderie that we have in all three phases,” he added. “It’s always good when you can get into that rhythm and that flow as a team, but there’s no room to get confortable.”

He added that the Saints focused heavily on wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who finished the game with 40 yards on three catches.

“I think they were trying to take him away,” said Tagovailoa.

Run defense holds firm

Miami held New Orleans below 100 rushing yards — something McDaniel said was essential.

“You could see the intent,” he said. “It was the exact picture of what we were trying to execute going into the game.”

With momentum building, McDaniel said the team is growing more convinced in itself each week.

“Every single time that you’re in the victor’s column, we have more reason to stay together, more conviction, more belief,” he added.

Up next:

Miami (5-7) visits the New York Jets (3-9) at MetLife Stadium.

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