It’s about time Miami’s offense matched its defense’s dominant nature in 2014. The result was a 37-0 beatdown over banged-up San Diego on Sunday.

Tannehill finished 24-of-34, 288 yards and three touchdowns, and the Dolphins (5-3) outgained the Chargers (5-4) in total yards, 441-178. We don’t take the term beatdown lightly. 

The offense was great, but it’s the defense — you know, the one that was quietly ranked No. 7 in total yards allowed per game and No. 3 in passing yards allowed per game entering Week 9 — that’s the story of Miami’s season.

Even before Sunday’s throttling of the Chargers, the Dolphins’ defense received a 55.9 overall rating from Pro Football Focus for the season, which ranked No. 2 in the league (finished 10th in 2013) just behind the Ravens. 

They’re doing it with a relentless pass rush (Cameron Wake is a freak of nature) and solidity in the secondary, and both were on display Sunday. Philip Rivers, maybe trying too hard to get San Diego back in the game, tossed a season-high three picks and was sacked three times.

We shouldn’t be surprised. In fact, if Tannehill can maintain positive consistency, it’s time to consider Miami a legitimate threat in the AFC wild-card race, if not the division.

Miami’s defense has been tested, but it’ll be further tested the rest of the way. The unit looked good in a season-opening win against Tom Brady’s Patriots, in a close loss against Aaron Rodgers’ Packers and in a convincing victory over Jay Cutler’s Bears. 

After taking care of Rivers’ Chargers, the Dolphins take on Matthew Stafford’s Lions, Peyton Manning’s Broncos and a potential division-deciding rematch against Brady’s Pats — a tough stretch they’ve proved ready for defensively.

Those games combined with a big one against that other dominant defense in Baltimore, Miami’s schedule is difficult. But if Sunday’s win wasn’t a fluke, the slate is barely favorable enough to pull off a 2014 playoff appearance.  

The Dolphins still must prove an ability to stop the run — beating up on the Chargers’ banged-up rushing attack doesn’t suffice — but none of their remaining opponents present much of a challenge there. They still must prove offensive stability against opponents better than the Chargers. 

If Miami fails to catch New England (Patriots-Dolphins appears to be a line of scrimmage mismatch in Miami’s favor, by the way), the wild-card race will be tight.

But the Dolphins’ performance on both sides of the ball Sunday proves they might be involved.