Finally, Miami got through the season with just 13 turnovers in 16 games. Some of that is discipline and coaching — the best teams tend to take care of the ball better than the worst teams. But 13 turnovers are an NFL record, one fewer than the previous mark. That goes beyond coaching and into luck.

When the Colts went from 3-13 in 1998 to 13-3 the following year, they had Peyton Manning at the helm in his second full season and Marvin Harrison catching the ball. The Dolphins had Chad Pennington and a collection of guys you never heard of before.

So give everyone credit. Start with Huizenga, who was smart enough to hire Parcells. Even if Parcells runs away to chase another challenge — and a bigger paycheck — next year, he made the moves and hired the people who made the turnaround possible. Then give Parcells the credit he’s due. Lay another dose of credit at Sparano’s doorstep. Congratulate Chad Pennington for staying healthy all the way through the season against all odds. Give a big round of applause to a gallant band of anonymous players who refused to accept that they weren’t supposed to be any good.

Just don’t think there’s a template here that anyone else can follow to success. Teams hire top executives every year and hire coaches all the time, and no one knows which of them will be geniuses and which will be failures. Teams also grasp desperately at anyone who might represent an upgrade at quarterback, but not many of them perform like Pennington. Everybody tries to hold onto the football, but nobody has ever done it as well as the Dolphins did.

Parcells made decisions that worked out, and so did Sparano. But what really happened is that the Dolphins caught a perfect storm and rode it into history.

Also on NBCSports.com Rosenthal: Steelers’ struggles could sink their playoff hopes Circling the Bases: Halladay to Cubs? That’s unlikely College Football Talk: Weis to resign? That’s ‘not happening’ Opinion: So far, Nowitzki is NBA’s MVP  |  Fan Ranker Twitter: Follow us @nbc_sports

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