I’ll never forget hacking away in the Dolphins press box after Miami’s Week 15 stunner against New England in 2013 and reserving hotel rooms for the impending playoff run.
The win —- secured by an improbable game-clinching interception by unknown safety Michael Thomas —- improved the Dolphins record to 8-6. They needed only to win one of their final two games against mediocre Bills and Jets teams to clinch a postseason berth.
A few beat writers, including myself, thought it was wise to reserve our hotel rooms. We didn’t even know where the Dolphins would play —- Baltimore, Cincinnati and New England were possibilities —- so we booked them all.