MIAMI GARDENS — When the Miami Dolphins open their season on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium, they'll be facing the Jacksonville Jaguars, a franchise that's actually won four playoff games since the 2000 season.

The Jaguars have won four and the Dolphins have won, well, zero.

It's a remarkable statistic and a remarkably bad statistic, really.

Miami is somehow the only franchise in the NFL that has not won a single playoff game in 24 years.

Yes, the Browns and the Lions and the Bengals and the Texans and the — Washington Commanders/Football Team/Red**** — have all won at least one playoff game in that span.

Miami has players who were not born when Dave Wannstedt, Jay Fiedler and Lamar Smith got it done at Pro Player Stadium on December 30, 2000, which was, technically, in the previous millennium.

This is the part where you say that this drought plays no role in the Dolphins' need to slow quarterback Trevor Lawrence and edge rusher Josh Allen, in order to beat the Jaguars in the season and home opener.

And that may very well be true.

But as the Dolphins kick off this season, a season with high expectations — remember, owner Stephen Ross has cited Super Bowl contention — it's important to keep the big picture in mind.

And it's permissible, too, because Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is, too.

"Let’s be bold," McDaniel says. "Don’t be afraid of anything."

Miami Dolphins open season seeking first playoff win since 2000

Yes, this means Super Bowl contention. But it also means advancing through key steps, such as winning the AFC East, and winning a playoff game.

The playoff winless drought was raised by McDaniel at his introductory press conference. Miami is 0-2 in the postseason under McDaniel, once without injured Tua Tagovailoa and once on a frozen Kansas City tundra.

And McDaniel is not shying away from the embarrassing 24-year drought, even beginning some meetings this year at exactly 24 minutes past the hour. Talk about intention.

"I think it’s a great message that he is portraying that to the team and letting us know that, ‘Hey, look – it’s definitely a thing,’ " Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert said of highlighting the number 24. "We’re just trying to figure out how we can win that one playoff game."

The Dolphins believe this corps can win a playoff game and games in 2024 and beyond.

It's why McDaniel, Tagovailoa, wide receiver Tyreek Hill and cornerback Jalen Ramsey are all now under contract through 2028.

Miami has the oldest roster in the NFL, but it is a very talented one, too.

• 8 players in the NFL's Top 100 as voted by players.

• 11 Pro Bowl players.

• 8 team captains with 28 total Pro Bowls.

Let's face it. It's time. It's time for the pain to end and the joy to begin.

Miami Dolphins roster brings Super Bowl dreams

The last two seasons, Miami has been very fun and very exciting. But it's time to win big.

One thing Miami can't do is get lost in the shuffle by losing at home to a team like Jacksonville, which is probably just outside the cluster of eight or nine really, really good AFC squads.

"I don’t think anyone in this building thinks it’s going to be an easy route," veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell said. "I don’t care how talented you are, the AFC as a whole is a gauntlet – a lot of teams that are talented, a lot of teams that are hungry and think they have a chance."

The Dolphins think they have a really good chance because:

• Tagovailoa has emerged as a more mobile, more vocal team leader, in the same offensive system for three straight seasons for the first time.

• Their offense is the fastest in the NFL, loaded with an almost unfair stable of weapons in the wide receiver, running back and tight end rooms.

• They believe new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver will get the most from veterans like Ramsey and rising stars such as Jevon Holland and Jaelan Phillips.

Miami Dolphins news: Tyreek Hill says best team he's been on

"This is our best team we’ve had since we’ve been here," Hill said. "What a time to be alive, to be a Dolphins fan.”

There are concerns, of course, including:

• Is the interior offensive line of Robert Jones-Aaron Brewer-Liam Eichenberg strong enough to open running lanes and consistently limit pressures on Tua?

• Will the loss of defensive tackle Christian Wilkins have a bigger impact than even projected?

• Will this older team, with some players featuring injury histories, be hampered again by injury?

Championship teams — even just divisional championship teams — typically have good leadership and good chemistry.

Miami players have sworn up and down this group already has great chemistry.

"A lot of guys are hanging out outside of the building," Hill said.

Tyreek Hill, Jalen Ramsey are Alpha Dawgs leading Dolphins

Alphas like Hill and Ramsey, each of whom has won a championship, are pushing teammates.

"There’s been a lot of things that have trickled into the locker room that hadn’t happened in years prior and so I would say that’s just the feel of ‘Dang, this does feel different,’ " Tua said. "We’ve got some dawgs on the team.”

There is a very small margin between 9-8 and 12-5 in the NFL.

There's injury luck and general luck and all sorts of intangible factors.

But everyone agrees it's inexplicable and inexcusable that the Dolphins are the only NFL franchise without a single playoff win in the last 24 years.

That must end this year. And the good vibes really should start on Sunday, with a win against the Jaguars.

"The goal is obviously Super Bowl. If you’re not playing to win the Super Bowl, why are you playing?" veteran safety Jordan Poyer said.

"If none of us have the belief that we can do it, it won’t happen for us, our team," Tua said of Super Bowl aspirations. "So of course we have that belief."

"You can’t just say, ‘We want to go to a Super Bowl,’ and expect to go there," offensive tackle Austin Jackson said. "You set goals for that goal, and you accomplish them along the way. It’s like a checklist."

First box to check? First win. First opportunity? Sunday.

Sunday's gameJaguars at Dolphins1 p.m., CBS

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Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins season opener vs. Jaguars sets tone amid Super Bowl talk