With 2-0 start, confidence growing in 2013 Miami Dolphins; national perspective changing?

At various times throughout the game on Sunday I caught myself feeling something I've really never felt while watching the Miami Dolphins.

Confidence.

It almost feels weird to type it.

For instance, whenever Ryan Tannehill would drop back to pass, I wouldn't shut my eyes, hold my breath, or grind my teeth like I would have in years past.

Ahem, Chad Henne.

No, I felt confident in Tannehill.  I TRUSTED Tannehill.  I knew he had three legitimate options to throw to in Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, and Bradon Gibson.  And I knew he had matured enough to make the right decision.

I was right.  Tannehill had another stellar performance, something that us fans are becoming used to.

Did I just type that?

Then, you had the defense on that final drive by the "almighty" Andrew Luck (By now you know that I'm not a big Luck guy, so deal with the air quotes).  Was I nervous? Sure, who wasn't?

But this was a different kind of nervous then in years past.  For instance, last season in this same game, against the same QB, you just knew deep down that it wasn't going to end well.  But this time around, it was more of an excited nervous.

Excited to see WHO was going to make the big play.  Was it going to be a Cam Wake sack?  A Brent Grimes INT?  What?

In this instance, it was Philip Wheeler, who capped off a fabulous performance with a fourth down sack to clinch the victory for the Miami Dolphins.

In years past, I would have been pleasantly surprised by this.  But Sunday I EXPECTED it.

And again, I was right.

These new look 2013 Miami Dolphins are different from past teams in so many ways. They're faster, better coached, more mature.  They have a QUARTERBACK.  They have a star receiver.  They have playmakers on both sides of the football.

They also have a 2-0 record without having played in South Florida.

They're confident right now.

So are we.

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

I wrote last week that with a win on Sunday things would begin to change for the Fins, and they have.

CBS Sports released there Power Rankings this morning, and had the Dolphins at number 10.

SI.com has an article on their FRONT PAGE this morning going inside the Dolphins defense on their final drive against the Colts.

NFL Network's Jeff Garcia called Miami the most impressive 2-0 team.

CBS Sports' Pete Prisco, who had the Fins going 6-10 this season, has already started eating his words (something he's used to), saying yesterday that Mike Wallace was worth the $60 million Miami paid him.

Listen, I don't care much for national attention, and neither do the Fins.  But, like I said, a statement win like Sunday's will raise some eyebrows, and it has.  

The Dolphins are on everybody's radar now.

They have a semi-primetime matchup this week against Atlanta (4:05), a Monday nighter next week in New Orleans, and then they welcome in the Super Bowl champs.

Buckle up.  These next three weeks are EVERYTHING.