MIAMI GARDENS — Defense and the run game have received most of the attention during the Miami Dolphins’ four-game winning streak. The fact is Miami’s success goes deeper. The Dolphins are also getting a big boost from playing smart, clean football.

Take a look at the statistical categories coach Mike McDaniel and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver value most — turnover margin and points allowed, respectively. The numbers are hugely favorable recently and offer another glimpse into why the Dolphins have won five of their past six games heading into their Monday night game against the Steelers (7-6) in Pittsburgh.

Also, take a look at penalties. Those numbers are hugely favorable, too.

It’s all connected, these ancillary elements to winning — turnover margin, scoring defense and penalties.

But when you want to understand the true depth of this Dolphins (6-7) midseason turnaround start at the beginning, meaning the beginning of the game.

When the Dolphins have won the toss during the past six games, McDaniel has taken the ball, a change in strategy, instead of deferring his option to receive until the third quarter. Consequently, the Dolphins have scored first in every game of this six-game stretch although not always on their first possession. They’ve scored first-quarter touchdowns in four of the six games. Playing with the lead has allowed McDaniel to stick with running back De’Von Achane and the running game, which leads the league during the past five weeks at 192.3 yards rushing per game.

Additionally, the run game success reduces the burden on inconsistent quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (18 touchdowns, career-worst 14 interceptions, career-worst 86.4 passer rating). Tagovailoa’s success, and the success of the passing game, has been much different this season than previous seasons and a primary reason is likely the absence of injured star wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

But just as importantly as winning the coin toss, taking the ball, scoring first, and utilizing the ground game, the Dolphins are plus-seven in turnover margin over the past six games. They’re now plus-one for the season. McDaniel regards turnover margin as the best statistical indicator of wins and losses.

“I think it’s no coincidence what came first, the chicken or the egg,” McDaniel said. “I think our play style is leading to the takeaway margin, and we’ll need to continue that to hope to have the same success.”

When it comes to points allowed consider the Dolphins have only allowed more than 17 points once during the past six games, that being the 28-6 loss against the Baltimore Ravens. The scoring defense success represents a huge turnaround considering the Dolphins allowed at least 21 points in each of their first seven games, and four opponents scored 30 or more.

“We have unwavering faith and conviction in what we do,” Weaver said, “and we knew that if we would just keep taking small incremental steps forward in whatever that was, whether that was schematically, effort, focus on takeaways, technique and fundamentals, eventually the dam would break and we’d start getting the results that we were looking for.”

When it comes to penalties the Dolphins have had fewer penalty yards than each of their past six opponents. They haven’t had more than five penalties in any game during this stretch.

The bottom line is the Dolphins are playing smart, clean football along with executing when it comes to run games and defense.

McDaniel attributes all of the improved numbers and better results to more convicted efforts.

“We’re talking about takeaways every week,” he said, “but it’s all connected to high-effort strain, conviction, the style of play that is very violent in nature. The game of inches that lead to touchdowns versus field goals, first downs versus fourth downs, and then those tips and overthrows that lead to takeaways, they’re all packed into a style of play that is very much convicted and high effort.”

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