Since 1971, only two teams that started 2-6 have made the playoffs, and both did as winners of weak divisions.

But losing six of their first eight games apparently isn’t going to push the Dolphins toward trading away any of their best players before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. NFL trade deadline.

General manager “Chris Grier and the Dolphins have been very active in making phone calls, at least over the last three weeks,” agent Drew Rosenhaus, who has his finger on the proverbial pulse of the league, said on his weekly WSVN-Fox 7 segment on Sunday.

“Without getting into specifics, I know for a fact the Dolphins have been aggressive to try to get better. So far they haven’t been able to make a trade but not for a lack of trying.

“I do not expect them to trade away any of their top players, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they acquired a player or two. They really are determined… to do everything they can turn this season around and they haven’t given up by any stretch of the imagination.”

Grier has repeatedly said how much the Dolphins like their roster. If they choose to, they might rationalize the 2-6 start as being the byproduct not of a flawed team, but the result of injuries to Tua Tagovailoa and several key defenders (Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Jevon Holland and Zach Sieler), coupled with the improbability of losing two games in a row on field goals in the final seconds, including Sunday’s 30-27 loss at Buffalo, which the Bills won on Tyler Bass’ 61-yard field goal.

Mike McDaniel said Monday that he and Grier “share a belief in this team if you can find a way to get over the hump, which we fully expect to.” Grier “hasn’t brought anything that is real to me,” McDaniel said. “We are absolutely convicted in this team being better than won loss record.”

If the Dolphins add a player, a defensive lineman or edge player would make sense.

The Cleveland Browns have been fielding calls on defensive end Za’Darius Smith, who has five sacks in nine starts and is due just $1.2 million this season.

Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulri also has been mentioned in league circles as a pass rusher who could be available. He has six sacks in nine games and four starts.

NFL Network mentioned Panthers edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, who has had talks with the Dolphins in the past, but said that Carolina might opt to keep him. He has just one sack and three tackles for loss in seven starts this season, after producing 9.5 sacks and 9 tackles for loss last season for a Baltimore team whose staff included current Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.

Several receivers are also said to be available, but the Dolphins are in good shape there with River Cracraft returning shortly from a shoulder injury, supplementing a group led by Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Odell Beckham Jr.

SNAP DECISIONS

▪ After playing 75 percent of Miami’s defensive snaps last season - and nearly every one against Arizona - David Long Jr. didn’t play a single defensive snap against Buffalo. Anthony Walker Jr., who replaced Long in the lineup, played all 66 snaps, as did fellow inside linebacker starter Jordyn Brooks.

Walker had a team high 10 tackles.

The only other inside linebacker with a defensive snap was Duke Riley, who entered the game for one play, aside from his special teams work.

Long struggled badly against Arizona, and Josh Allen had completed all 13 passes thrown in his coverage area in three previous games.

Other playing time notes from Sunday:

▪ Cornerback: In the absence of Kader Kohou, the Dolphins used Cam Smith as their third corner on 29 of 66 defensive snaps and Siran Neal on 13 of them.

▪ Safety: With Jevon Holland out, Jordan Poyer and Marcus Maye played all 66 snaps, and safety Elijah Campbell logged only one.

Despite Poyer’s hurtful late game penalty, Pro Football Focus rated Poyer and Maye as Miami’s third and fourth best defensive players on Sunday, behind cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller.

▪ Defensive line: With Zach Sieler out, Miami had Calais Campbell play a season high 50 snaps. Da’Shawn Hand played 57, Benito Jones 35, Neil Farrell 15 and Brandon Pili 10. McDaniel said he’s optimistic that Sieler will play next Monday at the Rams.

▪ Outside linebacker: With Bradley Chubb not yet ready to return from last December’s torn ACL, Miami started Emmanuel Ogbah and Tyus Bowser. But Chop Robinson ended up playing one more snap than Bowser (33 to 32). Ogbah played 49, rookie Mo Kamara 8 and Quinton Bell 1. McDaniel said he’s optimistic that Chubb will play this season but isn’t sure when.

▪ Tight end: With Julian Hill sidelined by a shoulder injury, the Dolphins started Jonnu Smith, who played 42 offensive snaps. Durham Smythe played 26 and Tanner Conner 7.

▪ Wide receiver: Tyreek Hill played 59 of Miami’s 61 offensive snaps, while Jaylen Waddle played 52, Malik Washington 21, Odell Beckham Jr. 12 and Dee Eskridge 2.

▪ Running back: De’Von Achane played far more snaps than Raheem Mostert (42 to 14) but had only two more carries (12 to 10). Jaylen Wright played only 9 snaps but had six carries for 18 yards.

Fullback Alec Ingold played 19 snaps, and had some very good blocks, before leaving in the fourth quarter with a calf injury.

The Dolphins ran for at least 140 yards (149 to be exact) for a fourth consecutive game, the first time the franchise has done that since 2009.

Achane’s 16 touchdowns as tied for the third most by any active player in their first 19 games, behind only Ezekiel Elliott (19) and Alvin Kamara (17).

▪ Offensive line: PFF rated Aaron Brewer the Dolphins’ best player on offense Sunday, with Terron Armstead fourth (behind Achane and Tua Tagovailoa). The offensive line allowed only four quarterback pressures, per PFF. Austin Jackson permitted the only sack.