James Walker, ESPN Staff Writer 7y

Patriots Super Bowl win 'puts a fire inside' Dolphins Pro Bowl RB Jay Ajayi

DAVIE, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins have seen this story plenty of times before.

The New England Patriots -- Miami's biggest rival -- just won their fifth Super Bowl last week, and that certainly didn't go unnoticed with Dolphins players.

Miami Pro Bowl running back Jay Ajayi said Thursday at a community event that New England’s latest title is “definitely motivating” for next season. The Dolphins are coming off an impressive, 10-win season and made it to the playoffs for the first time in eight years. But they were swept by New England in two games this season.

“It puts a fire inside of me for sure, just because basically the Super Bowl came through us,” Ajayi said. “It came through our division. The winner is in our division. Knowing that reality, it makes me just want to do anything possible and do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t continue to happen.”

Part of New England’s dynasty was built on dominating the AFC East. The Patriots have won the division 15 out of the past 17 years, which annually puts them in the playoffs and often with home-field advantage. From there, New England has been able to make it to seven Super Bowls in that span, winning five of them.

The Dolphins have chased the Patriots for a long time and are seeking to go deeper in the playoffs in 2017.

“We were able to create a new culture this past season in what we can do,” Ajayi said. “It’s about building off of that with the new talent that comes in and who’s still here. We really have to prepare ourselves to try and have a great season to put ourselves in the Super Bowl.”

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