Shai Gilgeous-Alexander plus Jalen Williams took over on offense, and Isaiah Hartenstein was the most dominant big man on the floor, leading the Thunder to a dub at Kaseya Center.
In the first quarter, the Heat’s long-range bombs were missing, save for two, but Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo carried the offense with fastbreak scores and half-court paint attacks. The Thunder raised the intensity by 60° on defense, forcing three host turnovers that stalled the offense midway through the period. Butler twisted his left ankle, got checked out, but didn’t return because he was also bothered by an illness. The Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman reported that he asked trainer Armando Rivas for something before rolling his ankle.
For the Thunder, SGA made two jumpers on the dribble at long and mid-range, plus made a second-chance layup on his miss. His co-star, Williams, added a 3-pointer and ripped through the middle for a layup. The rest of the Thunder were still rolling, making six of 11 baskets.
Through 12 minutes, the Heat was down 25-30
Next, Nikola Jović was summoned, contributing seven points. Herro broke into the heart of OKC’s defense for two layups. And Terry Rozier blew past Williams for a scoop and nailed a 3-pointer.
Defensively, the crew made a stand, holding the visitors to 38% shooting in the second quarter. They also stayed in the 2-3 zone longer than usual, likely because of Butler’s absence.
At halftime, the Heat was down 47-50. They had 26 paint points, eight on the break, four on second chances, eight off turnovers and 21 from the bench.
The Thunder had 20 paint points, six on the break, five via second chances, 12 off turnovers and 13 from the bench.
Then Jaime Jaquez started the second half in Butler’s place. He accidentally elbowed Adebayo above the left eye while hunting for a defensive rebound. Adebayo left momentarily to get seven stitches and returned with four minutes left. He finished the period with a putback dunk.
The Heat briefly took the lead on actions from Herro, Dru Smith and Haywood Highsmith. But the Thunder recovered it quickly as Williams dribbled to the elbow for a jumper, scored on the break and SGA made a quick 3-pointer after pickpocketing Dru Smith. Coach Erik Spoelstra called a stoppage, but the zone and man coverage were no match for SGA, pulling up on the dribble from long and mid-range. He tore up the Heat for 13 points on five of 12 baskets in the period.
The fourth quarter started with the Heat down 70-81. Williams burned the Heat with two more shots from mid-range, two up close and one from deep. And Hartenstein added six points and six rebounds.
The Heat’s response- nine of 20 baskets from Adebayo, Herro, Smith and Duncan Robinson wasn’t enough to lift the squad out of the deficit.
The Heat lost 97-104. They had 46 paint points, 10 on the break, 12 via second chances, 15 off turnovers and 36 from the bench.
Herro had 28 points on 11 of 24 shots, with 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Adebayo had 17 points on seven of 11 attempts, with 10 rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block and six turnovers.
And Dru Smith had 13 points on 83.3% shooting, with four assists, two steals, one block and three turnovers.
The Thunder totaled 40 paint points, 13 on the break, 11 via second chances, 27 off turnovers and 17 from the bench.
After the game, Spoelstra said SGA is a great player and that “you’re not going to hold a guy like that to 25 points, but you have to scramble around, hopefully keep their team average down. We did that for the most part but weren’t able to put points on the board.”
Observations:
1. Adebayo’s turnovers were caused by bad passes, getting stripped by SGA and traveling. The Heat had 18 in total. This was the third game with at least that many but the first loss.
2. Herro had double-digit rebounds for the second time this season. His other 10-rebound game was in the Heat’s win versus the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 24.
3. The Thunder were 21-1 when taking a lead into the fourth quarter and are now 22-1. They were on the second night of a back-to-back, having beat the Orlando Magic on Thursday.
4. The Heat’s attack saw a ferocious set defense for 82.9% of the time.
5. Adebayo’s double-double moves him past Alonzo Mourning for second-most in Heat history with 206. Rony Seikaly is still first with 221.
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_1994.jpeg14332149Mateo Mayorgahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMateo Mayorga2024-12-20 23:37:102024-12-20 23:37:10Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Heat was outmatched by the Thunder, 104-97
Fortunes can change in the NBA in a matter of weeks. The public and yours truly was almost done burying the Milwaukee Bucks for their poor start, but they’ve since become one of the hottest teams in the league, thanks to beating up on a bunch of bad squads. On top of that, they are the latest Emirates Cup champions, crowned on Tuesday after their victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard is balling so hard this season that he may be the first guy since Darrell Armstrong in 1999 to be the Sixth Man of the Year and claim the Most Improved Player crown.
The Orlando Magic’s defense is the third-rated in the NBA, and they have been without its best players, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner for 23 and three games.
Let’s review some other things of note in the NBA…
Denver Nuggets guard has taken a huge leap
Christian Braun is a better player now than Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ever was with the Denver Nuggets. CB was promoted to the starting unit after KCP’s departure and has emerged as the team’s top two-way player.
Last season, Braun averaged 7.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.4 blocks and 0.7 turnovers. He shot 38.4% from deep on two tries and 49.8% from two-point range, on mostly half-court cuts. He only played 20.2 minutes nightly.
Yet, life comes at you fast in the NBA. Braun has been a top-three Nugget 23 games into 2024-25 after all his work in the lab. In 14.5 extra minutes this season, he is recording 15 points on 56.7% shooting, with 5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.4 turnovers.
Braun’s third-year leap is real and not just numbers from a player logging more minutes. If he were the same guy, his effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage would be the same or lower. He has elevated both of those categories by 9.6% and 10%.
He is excellent at moving without the ball and is more of an open-court threat for quick baskets. His efficiency at the rim is 6.7% higher than the league average, which is where he slightly hovered above last year. Defensively, he stays on the dribble well plus is good at locking and trailing.
The league’s best paint attackers in the half-court
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, De’Aaron Fox, Luka Dončić, Jalen Brunson, LaMelo Ball, and Ja Morant bludgeon the paint in the half-court like no one else. Examine their efficiency below.
Players
SGA
Fox
Dončić
Brunson
Ball
Morant
Drives
21.2
16.6
15.3
18.3
16.5
16.3
FGA
10.0
8.5
7.0
7.3
8.8
7.7
Accuracy
58.6
58.1
57.9
50.3
51.5
51.2
SGA, Fox, Brunson, Morant and Ball have explosive first steps. Dončić does not, but his elite handle and strength on the dribble allow him to maneuver anywhere. Each of them are high-powered engines who create many overreactions.
Stand out guys
Tyler Herro and LaMelo Ball are the only NBA players averaging at least 24 points, four assists and four 3-point makes per game this season, per Stathead.
Aside from this year, those numbers have been recorded just 14 times in NBA history by Stephen Curry (8), James Harden (2), Luka Dončić and Damian Lillard (3). Each player was an All-Star that season.
What to think about James Harden passing Ray Allen…
Better late than never, but James Harden passed Ray Allen for second all-time in regular season 3-point makes on Nov. 17 with two treys in eight tries against the Utah Jazz. He’s not a more lethal shooter than Allen, but the way Harden has done it deserves respect.
For his career, Harden has downed 36.3% of 3-point attempts in the regular season and 34% in the playoffs. Yet, only 40.1% (regular season) and 34.9% (playoffs) of those shots were assisted. An incalculable amount of these baskets came from his step-back move. Also, it’s harder to be a deep threat this way because the defense knows where the rock is coming from. When someone is playing off-ball, they get open more because the defense loses track of seeing them and the ball.
Allen has him beat by 3.7% and 6.1% in career long-range accuracy. But his 3-pointers were assisted 84% (regular season) and 85.2% (playoffs) of the time.
Allen can always brag about his superiority when recalling Game 6 of the 2013 Finals, shattering the hearts of the San Antonio Spurs with a second-chance corner triple to tie.
Nonetheless, Harden’s achievement deserves tons of praise because he was a slasher, above all, with an exceptional ability to mislead the refs and take trips to the line.
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_2162-scaled.jpeg25162560Mateo Mayorgahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMateo Mayorga2024-12-19 09:36:432024-12-19 09:36:43Mateo’s Hoop Diary: NBA Notes through Week Nine
Jimmy Butler’s best performance of the season and Tyler Herro’s late-game heroics were not enough to save the Heatles in the Motor City. They failed to be a factor from long range. And Tim Hardaway Jr. was the hottest weapon out of the holster in overtime.
The first quarter was close, thanks to Jimmy Butler’s seven points on a cut and score in the lane, a corner shot and a floater. Additionally, Bam Adebayo registered five points, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. made two shots at the rim.
Yet, the Pistons strafed the visitors with six 3-pointers, and Cade Cunningham scored or assisted on seven of their 13 first-quarter baskets.
Next, the hosts started the second quarter on a 16-5 run through five minutes, forcing a Heat stoppage. On top of that, the Pistons had 10 of 13 treys logged by the midway mark of the period, and their first-half lead ballooned to 14 points.
But the crew stole five Detroit possessions, and Butler’s continuous rim attacks and six freebies sliced the deficit to four points.
At halftime, the Heat was down 59-63. They had 30 paint points, eight on the break, five via second chances, 18 off turnovers and 16 from the bench. To boot, the crew took nine extra field goal attempts than Detroit by intermission.
The Pistons had 22 paint points, 17 on the break, four via second chances, two off turnovers and 19 from the bench.
Subsequently, the third quarter was a disaster for the Heat, scoring on six of 19 attempts as the Pistons out-pointed them by 12. Amen Thompson and Malik Beasley defiled the defense with three baskets at close range and made three 3-pointers.
The Heat were on the ropes in the fourth quarter, too, as their deficit swelled back to 19 points. Then, while down a dozen with four minutes left, the crew came alive, like a boxer catching a second wind late in a bout after suffering two knockdowns. Butler plus Terry Rozier made layups, and Herro connected on three treys, including the game-tying bucket that forced overtime.
They started overtime by scoring eight straight points with buckets from Adebayo, Butler and Duncan Robinson. But Detroit countered with three Hardaway triples and Cunningham’s layup through the middle. Butler made a put-back without a shoe on the previous possession to give the Heat a one-point lead. It would’ve been a legendary team moment had they won.
The Heat lost 124-125. They had 62 paint points, 17 on the break, nine via second chances, 28 off turnovers and 35 from the bench.
Butler had a triple-double with 35 points on 12 of 21 attempts, plus 19 rebounds, 10 assists, four steals and one block.
Herro had 23 points on nine of 25 shots, with four rebounds, one assist, one steal and three turnovers.
And Adebayo had 15 points on six of 12 attempts, with eight rebounds, three assists, one steal and one turnover.
The Pistons had 44 paint points, 26 on the break, six via second chances, 14 off turnovers and 33 from the bench. They also made 20 of 40 3-pointers.
Observations:
1. In the fourth quarter, Adebayo and Terry Rozier played 12 minutes and Dru Smith was seconds shy of it. Butler and Herro were the other high-minute players, with eight in the frame.
2. Cunningham had 18 assists. He exploited the Heat with hit-ahead passes, kick outs plus dump-offs on dribble penetration and swung the ball to open shooters.
3. This is the Heat’s fourth loss in the last five road games.
4. Before Herro made the tying shot to force overtime, Butler had the ball with his back to the basket on the left side as the team was down three points. Had the Pistons fouled Butler, Herro doesn’t tie on that possession.
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_2138.jpeg10201554Mateo Mayorgahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMateo Mayorga2024-12-16 23:29:262024-12-16 23:29:26Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat’s comeback failed in overtime in Detroit
This is the time of year when the Miami Dolphins can always be counted on to sink to the occasion.
Their 20-12 defeat Sunday at Houston was as predictable as a holiday party hangover. Happens every year when they run into a legitimate playoff-caliber team with their season on the line, particularly on the road.
The question was, how would they screw the pooch this time against the AFC South-leading Texans?
If you had four turnovers by Tua Tagovailoa — the hottest quarterback in the league coming into the game — and a fake punt in your office pool, ding, ding, ding, you’re the winner of a Miami Dolphins Wait Until Next Year poster!
Tagovailoa had gone 184 passes without an interception before he threw one right to Texans rookie safety Calen Bullock on a pass intended for Tyreek Hill as the Dolphins were positioned to at least kick a field goal late in the first half.
Instead, the Texans banked a field goal on the last play of the half off the turnover. Earlier, a strip sack of Tua was turned into the first Houston touchdown.
So, that’s 10 points gifted to the home team right there.
Dolphins fall for fake punt
Add another seven points after the fake punt caught the Dolphins napping on the opening possession of the second half.
Running back Dare Ogunbowale took a direct snap and ran free along the sideline for 35 yards to the Miami 4. That set up C.J. Stroud’s second touchdown pass to Nico Collins.
Still, the game remained within reach until Tagovailoa was picked off twice in the fourth quarter by Derek Stingley Jr. on passes intended for Hill.
The Miami defense did a solid job, holding the Texans to 181 yards and 12 first downs. They sacked the mobile Stroud four times.
Mike McDaniel’s offense spit the bit as the biggest stars failed to deliver.
Tua finished 29 of 40 for 196 yards, one touchdown (leaping catch by Jonnu Smith), three interceptions and a 60.0 passer rating.
“Plain and simple, it’s just my fault,” Tagovailoa said in his postgame assessment. “Very disappointed with how I played today.”
Tyreek Hill no help in loss to Texans
Tagovailoa’s critics will cite it as another example of the quarterback failing to deliver in a big game. His highest-paid receiver must share the blame.
Hill had trouble getting open all day against the Texans’ aggressive secondary. He caught only two passes for 36 yards on seven targets.
On the final interception that snuffed away all hope, Hill had his hands on a slightly under-thrown pass, and Stingley wrestled it away from him.
— Tua’s back now wheres our defense ‘24 (@Eddiee_g31) December 15, 2024
Jaylen Waddle didn’t have a reception before leaving in the first half with a knee injury.
The running game was nonexistent: 2.7 yards a carry for 52 yards.
The offensive line, with subs at both tackles, got pushed back throughout the game. Jackson Carman was the Dolphins third to start at right tackle.
On the play that Tagovailoa fumbled on a sack by Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr., Carman and right guard Liam Eichenberg were overpowered by the pass rush.
“We don’t turn the ball over, they don’t get the big special teams play, it’s a different game,” Hill said.
Ah, yeah. Funny how those sort of misfortunes always happen to the Dolphins in these season-defining games.
When Jaylen Waddle hurt knee, #Texans shifted Derek Stingley Jr. to cover #Dolphins Tyreek Hill remainder of game. 'Adjustments when Waddle went out knowing Tyreek their most explosive guy. would be in our best interest to make sure our best cover guy was on their best receiver'
Can’t blame it on cold weather this time. They were playing inside a dome in climate-controlled conditions.
This really is the same old story, year after year, and it doesn’t have to do with weather.
It’s about not being good enough.
The Miami Dolphins organization hasn’t fielded a team capable of winning anything meaningful in decades. They will extend their drought without a playoff win since the 2000 season for at least another year.
Oh, apparently there is some formula under quantum physics or some form of higher mathematics by which 6-8 Miami could somehow sneak into the playoffs with wins against the 49ers, Browns and Jets. I don’t even want to know about it.
Because there has been one obvious truth about these Dolphins since Week 1: This is not a playoff team. Nor has their play at any point this season been worthy of that distinction.
Grant DuBose hospitalized after scary hit
This hope-crushing defeat took on a more somber tone with second-year receiver Grant DuBose hospitalized after a helmet-to-helmet collision with Bullock on a pass over the middle in the third quarter.
“I feel bad that I even put him in that situation to get hit,” Tagovailoa said after the game. “I heard some good news that he’s doing well and recovering. We all know I’ve gone through something very similar, and that’s no fun. I just think of what I could have done to not put Grant in that situation.”
Since missing four games with his latest concussion, Tagovailoa was impressive in leading the Dolphins into playoff contention after a 2-6 start. But with losses at Green Bay and Houston in the past three weeks, the question remains about what it will take to break out of the endless cycle of not good enough for Tua and the Dolphins.
It promises to be an offseason of serious reckoning. Changes could be profound.
Are they still sold on Tagovailoa?
Depends on whether owner Steve Ross sticks with the coach and front office.
McDaniel’s fancy offense regressed this season. The Dolphins aren’t strong enough in the trenches. GM Chris Grier’s drafts haven’t been productive enough, though rookie pass rusher Chop Robinson is developing into a gem from the 2024 crop.
Overall, the depth of talent on the roster is simply not good enough. Consequently, it is no surprise that losses like Sunday at Houston keep coming in thoroughly predictable fashion.
Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/tyreek-interception-texans.jpg12261800Craig Davishttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgCraig Davis2024-12-15 19:24:432024-12-16 16:25:39Pressure Point: Tagovailoa’s four turnovers virtually seal another failed Dolphins season
The Heat overcame a 16-point-first-half deficit to defeat the Raptors, winning four in a row for the first time this season. The defense cranked up in the second half, plus Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo took over.
To start, the hungry Raptors scored 20 points in the lane in the first quarter on fastbreak strikes and screen roll attacks in the half-court. Jakob Poeltl and Gradey Dick caused most of the destruction inside.
Yet, the Heat countered with seven straight points from Herro at long and close range. Jimmy Butler also made two trips to the line, and Duncan Robinson scored six points on layups.
But the defense in the second frame was still chewed up, even when deploying the zone. A 14-2 Toronto run forced coach Erik Spoelstra to call a stoppage as his team was down 16 points. At that moment, the Heat had menmotum, as Pat Riley calls the opposite of momentum.
Then the Heatles had a 14-2 run, supplied by Herro, Adebayo, Nikola Jović and Terry Rozier to force a Toronto timeout. After that stoppage, Dru Smith connected with Butler for soft alley-oop through contact, and Jović sprinkled in a trey and made a layup.
At halftime, the Heat was up 58-51. The team had 28 paint points, three on the break, three via second chances, eight off turnovers and 23 from the bench.
The Raptors had 36 paint points, 14 on the break, three on extra tries, 13 off turnovers and 29 from the bench.
Out of intermission, the defense shut down RJ Barrett by promptly bothering his close-range shots. On the other side, Herro crossed up Kelly Olynyk from at the top, dribbling down for a layup and drained two deep shots (one was a four-point play). On top of that, Kevin Love put up six points and Butler tallied two shots. At the end of the period, the Heat led 89-76.
Subsequently, Adebayo cracked open the fourth quarter making two floaters, a wing triple and a layup for nine straight points. He added four more before the period ended, and Jaime Jaquez scored multiple field goals, too.
On defense, the Heat prevented a comeback effort by intercepting the ball twice, poking it free once and holding Dick plus Barrett to two of 11 treys.
The Heat won 114-104. Additionally, the team had 52 paint points, five on the break, 15 via second chances, 14 off turnovers and 42 from the bench.
Herro had 23 points on nine of 13 shots, with four rebounds, four assists and two turnovers.
Adebayo had 21 points on 47.1% shooting, with 16 rebounds, five assists, one block and one turnover.
The Raptors had 56 paint points, 19 on the break, 10 on extra tries, 23 off turnovers and 50 from the bench.
Observations:
1. Dru Smith played 34 minutes, making it his third straight game with at least 25. He was a pest, bothering the ball on the dribble and after the catch. He is emerging into one of the Heat’s top perimeter disruptors.
At the postgame presser, Spoelstra said about Smith, “When you can find guys who do winning things over and over and over, that’s kind of a superpower in this league.”
2. The Heat held the Raptors to 18 of 33 shots at the rim, which is 11.1 percentage points below the league average (65.6).
3. Jović got his first minutes since the Heat’s win versus the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 24. He was perfect on three shots in the first half, hitting two 3-pointers and dribbling on the baseline for a layup. In the second half, he made an alley-oop layup through contact.
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_1750.jpeg12902174Mateo Mayorgahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMateo Mayorga2024-12-12 23:23:042024-12-12 23:28:48Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo took over in the Heat’s win versus the Raptors
The Heat successfully defended their home court against the hottest team in the league. The crew sliced up the visitors in the half-court. Tyler Herro outplayed five All-Stars, binging on Cleveland’s defense with outside jumpers and strikes to the lane. And Duncan Robinson had his fifth night of the season downing at least four trifectas.
The defense, anchored by Bam Adebayo, was the story of the first half. They slowed down the Cavaliers to a 102 offensive rating, which would be below the average of the worst attack in the league. Butler got in on this action as well, intercepting one pass and poking the ball loose from Jarrett Allen’s grasp, which set up Herro on the break.
.
Miami’s captain was in an offensive groove, too, logging five of seven attempts, and Robinson added five freebies and two treys in the first half.
Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley did not play the second half because he sprained his ankle.
The third quarter was Herro’s second in three outings scoring at least 19 points. It was like watching a boxer unleash a storm of punches against his cornered foe. Robinson made two 3-pointers in the period, too.
Then Herro had two offerings in the fourth quarter: one for Adebayo on the right wing for a 3-pointer and another for Dru Smith on a baseline cut. Smith was the hot weapon out of the holster to close, giving everyone else a break.
Postgame, Terry Rozier said he hopes Herro keeps it up the whole year. Coach Erik Spoelstra said he is opening up other layers of the team’s offense. “You gotta spend some time trying to scheme against him.”
In total, Herro supplied 34 digits on 10 of 19 shots, with six rebounds and seven dimes. It was his fifth night of the season breaking 30 points. Adebayo and Butler each had at least 30 points on two nights this year.
Consider this: if Herro were swapped for Jamal Murray, the Denver Nuggets would be contenders again.
Herro has graduated as a professional scorer with solid playmaking abilities. He is one of seven players in the NBA scoring at least 23 points per game and logging a 59.0 effective field goal percentage. The others are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Nikola Jokić Karl-Anthony Towns, and Norman Powell. Antetokounmpo is the only Eastern All-Star from last season on this list.
“The goal is to win a championship, but it starts now with building the habits,” Herro said.
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_2077.jpeg11081523Mateo Mayorgahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMateo Mayorga2024-12-09 04:35:562024-12-09 04:36:19Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Tyler Herro adds to his All-Star case with another top-shelf performance in the win versus the Cavaliers
Note to Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel: Next time get Jonnu Smith involved in the offense during the first 60 minutes and maybe you won’t have to go to overtime to put away a bottom-feeding opponent.
The veteran tight end, who is having a career year in his first season with the Dolphins but was targeted only once during regulation Sunday, surfaced with three receptions for 44 yards in overtime including the decisive 10-yard touchdown catch in an ugly but dramatic 32-26 win over the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium.
Consequently, the Dolphins’ season still has a breath of hope. Barely.
At 6-7 the Dolphins are well aware they must win out to have any chance of sneaking into the playoffs. Even that would require stumbles by teams ahead of them.
But for three quarters they played with no apparent sense of desperation and nearly let their most despised rival deal a killing blow to their star-crossed season.
It wasn’t until they entered the fourth quarter trailing by eight points that the Dolphins began showing a sense of urgency. It began with a sack of Aaron Rodgers by Zach Sieler that forced the Jets to punt for the first time in the game.
That sparked a frantic comeback that required a 4-yard touchdown toss on fourth down from Tua Tagovailoa to Tyreek Hill, a clutch grab by Jaylen Waddle for the 2-point conversion and finally Jason Sanders’ second field goal beyond 50 yards of the game just to get it to overtime.
It was an impressive comeback. It wasn’t an impressive performance by the Dolphins.
This wasn’t the frozen tundra of Green Bay or the hostile Bills den in Buffalo.
This was Fins friendly weather and cozy confines at Hard Rock Stadium, where the Jets haven’t won since 2014.
The Jets have only won three times this season. They have now lost four in a row and nine of their past 10. It is the type of record that can get your coach and general manager fired in-season, which has already happened to this Jets team.
Yet, they were playing like the playoff contender. The Jets scored on their first five possessions and completely took over the game in the third quarter.
After being insulted for playing “soft” in their Thanksgiving loss at Green Bay — even Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks echoed the opinion — it would have figured that the Fins would be playing with a chip on their shoulders.
Instead, the Jets’ rookie running back duo of Isaiah Davis and Braelon Allen were breaking tackles and bowling over Miami defenders. Wide receivers Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson were getting wide open and Rodgers was dropping in easy tosses for big gains.
It didn’t help that the Dolphins were applying little pressure on the 41-year-old quarterback, who was dancing around the pocket like a ’90s MC Hammer singing “U Can’t Touch This.”
Rodgers ended up throwing for 339 yards, ending a 35-game drought without a 300-yard game, dating to 2021.
Dolphins masquerade as playoff contenders
Meanwhile, the Dolphins’ running game got stuffed again, held to 2.3 yards a carry.
On their touchdown drive to open the game, the Dolphins needed four plays to go the final three yards before De’Von Achane managed to bull his way in from the 2.
In other words, these Dolphins do not look like a bonafide playoff contender, nor have they all season.
Call them mathematical contenders. Their number may well hit zero next week at Houston against the AFC South-leading Texans. Three of their last four are on the road. After facing the 49ers at home, they close with cold-weather games at Cleveland and the Jets.
Dolphins are up to 26.8% to make the playoffs after the 1 p.m. window, per @PFN365's Playoff Predictor.
But give them their due for persevering in this one. Somehow.
“Find a way,” was the mind-set, according to wise old defensive tackle Calais Campbell.
Tagovailoa remains on hot streak
They did it with Tagovailoa continuing the hot hand he has had since returning from a four-game absence with a concussion.
Tagovailoa completed 33 of 47 passes for 331 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 104.1. Since his return from injured reserve, he has thrown 15 touchdown passes with one interceptions.
Crazy stat of the day: Tua Tagovailoa dropped back 47 times. The Jets did not record a single QB hit.
Yes, he relied on the quick game a lot, but still — 0-for-47 is not a good batting average. #Jets
A revival of the receiving duo of Hill (10 catches for 115 yards and the key fourth-quarter touchdown) and Waddle (nine receptions for 99 yards and the conversion with no room to spare) was vital to the comeback.
It also took a 45-yard kickoff return by Malik Washington that set up Sander’s tying 52-yard field goal with seven seconds left in regulation.
Brooks, who agreed the Dolphins played soft at Green Bay, said of this effort: “I feel like we didn’t play our best today, but when we needed a stop we got one. So I’m proud of that.”
He added, “You’ve got to enjoy this one. You’ve got to enjoy the wins when you can get them. Because it’s hard to get wins in this league.”
Jonnu Smith difference maker in overtime
This one was tougher without the benefit of Jonnu Smith’s contributions until overtime. Inexplicably, the only time he saw the ball before that was an ill-conceived backwards shovel pass by Tua that was incomplete.
When the Dolphins got their hands on the ball in OT, the first two plays went to Smith for 20 and 14 yards.
“I think Jonnu came up and said something to Mike [McDaniel] or had to have to get more included and that’s what happened,” Tagovailoa said. “He didn’t say anything during the game. Not seeing the ball can be discouraging. He never blinked and just took advantage of his opportunities.”
After catching the winning touchdown pass, Smith, who is an openly devout individual, held up his hands in prayer and looked skyward.
For this Sunday, at least, Dolphins prayers were answered in the nick of time. Next Sunday in Houston, they will need to pray, er, play, with more urgency from the start.
And Coach McDaniel, don’t forget about Jonnu Smith.
Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/smith-prayer-jets.jpg11251500Craig Davishttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgCraig Davis2024-12-08 19:57:202024-12-09 15:42:36Pressure Point: Jonnu Smith answers Miami Dolphins’ prayers in OT, keeps season alive
The Heatles handled the short-staffed Suns, improving to an 11-10 record. Tyler Herro flirted with a triple-double. Jimmy Butler’s nine straight points in the fourth quarter delivered the knockout blow. And Bam Adebayo erupted in the second half for one of his top showings of the season.
In the first half, Adebayo struggled, missing three 3-point tries, including airballing one and falling on a close-range floater. But he came out of intermission, attacking the heart of the defense. From the third quarter on, he rim rolled, logged multiple putbacks and two jump shots for most of his 25 points, 12 rebounds and eight dimes. Four of his rebounds were on offense, too.
The Suns were absent Jusuf Nurkić and Kevin Durant, which significantly opened up the back line. Yet, seeing Adebayo take advantage of a tuneup game on his mother’s birthday was encouraging.
This was only his third game of the season max cracking at least 25 points on at least 50% shooting (9/16).
Of all his output, his nicest maneuver was taking the ball upcourt and scoring himself in the open court. A player of Adebayo’s athleticism and with his handle must be given more opportunities to showcase this extra dimension of terror. One can’t help but notice how that mandate has helped Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley blossom.
Additionally, Herro was unstoppable, dribbling to the cup. And when the Suns broke within three points in the last five minutes, Butler swished a corner triple and used two screen rolls to get from the top to the cup for layups.
The Heat won 121-111. The team also had 62 paint points, 20 on the break, 11 via second chances, 19 off turnovers and 22 from the bench.
After the game, coach Erik Spoelstra credited Adebayo’s leadership for the turning point in the third quarter. “He was the one organizing everybody.”
Adebayo said the game plan was to make Phoenix’s Bradley Beal and Devin Booker take tough shots.
Observations:
1. Dru Smith next to Haywood Higsmith, Herro, Butler and Adebayo was sharp defensively. It’s a combination that Spoelstra should keep using. After the game, Butler said Smith made it hell for anyone he guarded.
2. Heat made 60.6% of effective field goals, which is good enough for the 84th percentile of all games played this season.
3. Herro, Butler and Adebayo combined for 66 digits on 26 of 40 attempts. If they keep playing off each other at this high level, they will be able to avoid the Play-in tournament and go directly to the Playoffs in round one.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_2065.jpeg9902128Mateo Mayorgahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMateo Mayorga2024-12-08 02:23:392024-12-08 02:23:39Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Bam Adebayo dominated as the Heat put away the Suns
Why the Dolphins Should Pause on Extending Jevon Holland
Jevon Holland is undeniably one of the most talented young safeties in the NFL. Since being drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2021, he has shown tremendous flashes of potential, delivering impactful plays that have energized the defense and helped secure critical wins. But in the NFL, where salary cap management is a zero-sum game, decisions about massive contract extensions require more than flashes of greatness—they demand consistent, top-tier production. While Holland has been a valuable asset to Miami’s defense, his occasional lapses and inconsistent impact make it difficult to justify a long-term contract that would place him among the league’s highest-paid safeties.
Holland is set to become a free agent this upcoming offseason.
Holland Has Been Great—But Not Consistently Enough
Holland’s ability to make big plays is unquestioned. Whether it’s breaking up a crucial pass, delivering a tone-setting tackle, or making an interception in a key moment, he has shown he can be a game-changer. However, those moments of brilliance have not come often enough to warrant a contract in the range of the NFL’s elite safeties.
Flashes vs. Consistency: While Holland has had stretches of excellent play, he hasn’t sustained that dominance over an entire season. He’ll have games where he looks like a top-five safety, only to follow them with performances that expose weaknesses in his coverage or tackling. Consistency is the hallmark of players earning top-tier contracts, and that’s where Holland falls short.
The Minkah Fitzpatrick Factor: Holland was drafted to fill the void left by Minkah Fitzpatrick, who the Dolphins traded to Pittsburgh in 2019. Fitzpatrick has since become a perennial Pro Bowler and All-Pro, anchoring the Steelers’ secondary with consistently elite performances. While Holland has made a strong impact for Miami, he hasn’t delivered at the same level or with the same reliability that Fitzpatrick has for Pittsburgh.
The Financial Reality of a Holland Extension
In today’s NFL, the safety position has seen an increase in value, with top-tier players commanding annual salaries in the $15–18 million range. Extending Holland now would likely mean committing to a deal in that ballpark, potentially tying up $60–70 million over four years with $30–40 million guaranteed.
Does Holland’s Play Justify Top-5 Money? Holland has shown the ability to be great, but his production doesn’t consistently match that of the league’s top safeties. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Derwin James, and Jessie Bates are known for delivering game-changing plays week after week, season after season. Holland’s intermittent brilliance isn’t enough to place him in that category—or pay him like he is.
The Dolphins’ Cap Situation: Miami already has major financial commitments to players like Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle. In 2025, they’re projected to have minimal cap space, and a big contract for Holland could hamstring their ability to address other needs, such as bolstering the offensive line or maintaining depth on defense.
An Alternative Path: The Franchise Tag
One option for the Dolphins is to use the franchise tag on Holland in 2025. While expensive—projected at over $19 million for one season—it allows Miami to retain him without committing to a long-term deal. This approach buys time for Holland to prove he can deliver consistent, elite-level play while avoiding the risks of a premature extension.
Holland’s Role in the Defense
It’s important to note that Holland has been instrumental in Miami’s defensive success. His ability to play deep in coverage, come up to stop the run, and occasionally blitz makes him a versatile weapon. The Dolphins’ defense has been better with him on the field, and his leadership and football IQ are assets. However, versatility and potential alone don’t justify top-tier contracts—consistent, elite production does.
The Precedent of Overpaying for Potential
Extending Holland now, at elite money, would set a risky precedent for the Dolphins. It would signal to other players and agents that potential and occasional brilliance are enough to warrant a massive payday. In a league where roster construction requires discipline, overpaying for potential rather than proven performance can lead to long-term issues, including a lack of flexibility to address other critical needs.
The Verdict: Wait and See
Jevon Holland is a valuable part of the Dolphins’ defense and has the potential to be one of the league’s best safeties. But potential isn’t enough to justify a contract that would place him in the same financial tier as Minkah Fitzpatrick or Derwin James. The Dolphins need to see sustained, consistent excellence from Holland before committing to a long-term extension.
For now, the prudent move is to wait. Whether through a “prove-it” season or the franchise tag, Miami has options that allow them to retain Holland without risking the team’s financial health. Holland can still earn his payday, but it should be based on consistent, top-tier performance—not just flashes of what he might become.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot_6-12-2024_1770_www.bing_.com_.jpeg193316Jacob Meshelhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgJacob Meshel2024-12-06 17:07:382024-12-06 17:07:38Jevon Holland’s Value to the Dolphins: Great, Not $20 Million Great
The Miami Dolphins playoff hopes were dealt a near fatal blow on Thanksgiving night, as they dropped yet another game to a team over .500, losing to Jordan Love and company by a final score of 30-17. Losing to good teams has unfortunately become a calling card for this most recent era of Miami Dolphins football, as former Dolphins Quarterback and Amazon Prime NFL Analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick has noted.
Well, the former QB is technically wrong on one thing, McDaniel is actually 3-14 in such games, but that is immaterial to the substance of the argument. Fitzpatrick is far from the only analyst echoing these sentiments, hell, even most of the fanbase feels this way, but it does encapsulate where most people lay the blame for the Miami Dolphins’ struggles versus the better teams in the league: Head Coach Mike McDaniel. McDaniel himself realizes this, he’s spoken again and again about how narratives will exist until they are bucked and the record says otherwise. At the moment, the 3-14 record says this: The Miami Dolphins are a football team with a limited ceiling due to their inability to play 60 minutes of disciplined, competitive football against the better teams in the league in games that matter. The question then becomes, why are they incapable of this? Is it a coaching issue? Is it a personnel issue? A culture issue? And, if so-what are the prescriptions going forward to remedy this? How can the Miami Dolphins get over this hump? This article takes a deep dive into each game of Mike McDaniel’s 3-14 record versus the better teams in the league to figure this out.
Week 2, 2022 @ BAL (1-0) W 42-38
The first win versus a winning team in the Mike McDaniel era came in the form of a barnstormer of a comeback for the Miami Dolphins in week 2’s 42-38 victory over the Ravens on the road in 2022. What had looked to be a competitive game early in the second quarter as the teams were knotted up at seven a piece had quickly ballooned to a 28-7 Baltimore lead at halftime courtesy of a couple of early Tua Tagovailoa interceptions, a kickoff return for a touchdown (these will become a theme), and Lamar Jackson shredding the blitz heavy look that had stumped him in Miami the previous season. The third quarter came and went without the Dolphins making any real traction towards putting a dent in the lead as the deficit held at 21, with Baltimore holding a 35-14 lead headed into the fourth quarter. This is where the Tua Tagovailoa breakout begins in earnest, as the Dolphins QB threw for four (!) fourth quarter touchdowns versus a beleaguered Ravens back seven en route to a 28-3 fourth quarter that sealed the win for the Miami Dolphins in Baltimore in stunning fashion. At this point, the McDaniel era was in full honeymoon mode, with the fanbase enamored with Miami’s new quick strike offense in the first year of the Tua-McDaniel partnership.
Week 3, 2022 vs. Buffalo W 21-19
Ironically, Mike McDaniel’s second victory against a team .500 or better came in his very next game against a team .500 or better, besting the division rival Buffalo Bills in a nail biting 21-19 victory. Although this game is better remembered for Tua’s controversial potential concussion suffered in the second quarter, the Miami Dolphins came out victorious on this steamy September Sunday in Miami. The metrics in this game were rather wacky, as the Bills had doubled Miami in time of possession, and more than doubled Miami’s yardage output, but the Dolphins bend but don’t break defense held the Bills to just a 50% red zone percentage, and Tua Tagovailoa made just enough clutch plays to beat the Bills. This game also was a bit of a flip of the script to the current narrative, as in the South Florida summer heat, the Dolphins appeared to be the tougher, more physical football team in this ball game, bringing McDaniel to a 2-0 record in games vs. teams with winning records. In hindsight, however, there were some red flags about this team in this ball game. The Bills had made costly special teams errors, a missed 38 yard field goal by Tyler Bass proving to be the difference, as well as Head Coach Sean McDermott running a questionable fake spike play at the end of the first half rather than taking a 51 yard field goal attempt. Special teams once again made an appearance in this game, too, for the Dolphins, as the Bills had brought the game back within a field goal on the Dolphins botched endzone punt attempt that went for a safety, the second time in as many games that special teams had directly been responsible for points on the board for the opposition.
Week 6, 2022 vs. MIN L (24-16)
The first loss of the Mike McDaniel era versus winning teams came in week six of 2022, falling 24-16 to the Minnesota Vikings, unsurprisingly, this loss came with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa out of the lineup, although Dolphins QBs Teddy Bridgewater and Skylar Thompson played well, especially relative to what we have seen in the McDaniel tenure, as they combined to go 30-47 for 418 yards and two touchdowns to two interceptions. This is another theme in the McDaniel era, specifically in these Tua-less games, a game that could have easily gone the other direction for the Dolphins. The Dolphins outgained and out possessed the Vikings in this ball game, but they lost the turnover battle 3-0, and they were far more penalized, committing ten penalties for 97 yards, a good number of those being offensive procedural penalties, another common thread in games without Tagovailoa at the helm in Miami under McDaniel. The Dolphins had multiple opportunities to come back and win this game after trailing 16-3 mid third quarter, ultimately coming up short in large part to two of the three turnovers occurring in the final 4:14 of the fourth quarter. Two other trends either emerged, or continued in this loss for Miami, as special teams continued to struggle with a missed field goal, and allowing Vikings return man Jalen Reagor to get loose for a 25 yard return, though that had no consequence. Additionally, this game saw Mike McDaniel go for it on 4th and 1 on the Miami 34 in a one score game in the middle of the third quarter. This led to no Vikings points, but in hindsight, echoes familiarly with decisions in losses down the line. For this loss, though, McDaniel largely gets a pass in a game that would likely have been an easy win with Tagovailoa at QB. He falls to 2-1 versus winning teams.
Week 13, 2022 @ SFO L (33-17)
The second loss against a winning team for McDaniel’s Dolphins came in week 13 of 2022 in a 33-17 loss to former colleague and boss Kyle Shanahan. The Dolphins started this game competitively, with a 75 yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage to former Niner Trent Sherfield. Defensively, the Dolphins started strong in this ball game, stifling Jimmy Garroppolo and company, even knocking the 49ers signal caller out of the game. Enter one Brock Purdy, the little known Mr. Irrelevant at the time, carved the Dolphins defense for the remainder of the game. Offensively, we saw the first sign of the now well known achilles heel of the Dolphins offense with Tua and McDaniel, two high. The Niners kept a lid on the defense, and played their linebackers deep, taking away many of the Dolphins bread and butter concepts away for much of the game. The pass rush was anchored by a dominant Nick Bosa performance to the tune of three sacks, resulting in a pedestrian performance from Tagovailoa plagued by key second half turnovers that helped the Niners seal the game. The Dolphins once again were the less disciplined team in this one, doubling the Niners in overall penalties with eight for 68 yards. The question following this one was how would McDaniel and company counter this adjustment?
Week 15 @ BUF L (32-29)
The Dolphins next game versus a good team came just a few weeks later in Buffalo, in what would be a convergence of two narratives, versus a good team, and in the cold. Despite the loss, this looked like a game where the Dolphins had answered the call, as they had played Buffalo to a virtual draw in this one, falling to a last second field goal by a final score of 32-29. McDaniel had seemingly taken steps forward, he leaned into the run game to the tune of 25 carries for 188 yards, a popular complaint of McDaniel at the time was that he was all too eager to abandon the run, but in this game he had stuck with it to great effect. The Dolphins defense was wholly incapable of stopping Allen in this ball game, as he had been responsible for 381 yards of total offense and four touchdowns for the Bills, especially in a 4th quarter that had seen Allen and the Bills score 11 unanswered to come back and win the ball game. There was yet another issue for McDaniel’s offense however, short yardage. The Dolphins were 2-7 in converting first downs offensively when they had the ball on 3rd and three yards or less, including once at the goal line where they failed to convert on 2nd and goal from the three, attempting two passes in a row before kicking a field goal. Regardless, this game was seen as legitimate progress for the Dolphins and McDaniel, and fans were convinced he was growing as a Head Coach despite falling to 2-3 versus teams with a winning record.
2022 Wild Card Round @ BUF L (34-31)
Coach Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins would not have to wait long to get a rematch with the Buffalo Bills, as the two teams met up for the third time in the 2022 season in the wild card round, where the Dolphins could come up just short in an inspired effort, 34-31. The Dolphins offense sputtered with Skylar Thompson at the helm once again, which was as expected in this matchup, what was not expected, however was the performance Josh Boyer’s unit would put together in his swan song as defensive coordinator, as the Dolphins sacked Josh Allen seven times, intercepted him twice, and even forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. In a game that the Dolphins had stormed back from a 17-0 deficit to take a 24-20 lead in the middle of the third quarter, there really is not much to be nitpicked from this one, the lone coaching blemish being a delay of game on 4th and 1 near mid field trailing by three with 2:27 remaining, but with a backup quarterback in the game, it’s difficult to say if that was purely on McDaniel. In year one the Dolphins had gone 2-4 versus winning teams, but the two wins at Baltimore and home versus Buffalo were genuinely impressive. Combine that with a close loss at home to a good Vikings team without Tua at QB and two razor thin losses in Orchard Park at the end of the year, and this year was relatively excusable, all in all, especially for a first year head coach.
2023 Week 4 @ BUF L (48-20)
The Dolphins next “prove it” game came in week four of the 2023 season on the road in Buffalo. The Dolphins were coming off of a 70-20 thrashing of the Denver Broncos, and fans were excited to see another installment of what looked to be a budding rivalry between the Dolphins and Bills following the down to the wire trilogy these teams played in 2022. But in this one, Mike McDaniel and company were completely outcoached and outmatched by the Bills in Buffalo in a 48-20 dismantling. The game had gotten off to a 14-14 start as each team had traded touchdowns throughout the early portion of the game, then came the penalties. There was a veritable parade of procedural penalties on the Dolphins, as they committed eight penalties for 98 yards in this one, including two on their third drive of the game trailing 21-14 that killed the drive, from there, it was all Buffalo. The Bills went on to score ten more points to extend their lead to 31-14 at the half as the Dolphins went three and out and fumbled the football on their final two possessions of the first half. This was a game that was lost following the punt at 14-14 as the Dolphins completely melted down from there with penalties, turnovers and little defensive resistance. This game could be considered as the birth of the “frontrunner” moniker for the Dolphins.
Week 7 @ Philadelphia L (31-17)
The Dolphins next opportunity to shake off the title of front runner would come in week seven on Sunday Night Football in Philadelphia to face the Eagles. Many of the same boogeymen that haunted the Dolphins in week 4 versus Buffalo showed up against the Eagles. The Dolphins were an undisciplined group once again, committing ten penalties for a total of 70 yards. As far as the play calling is concerned, the Dolphins ran the ball just 12 times in a game that they had trailed by 14 at the most and had even tied up in the third quarter, so gamescript can’t necessarily be used to excuse McDaniel in that aspect. Tagovailoa was pedestrian once again versus better competition, completing 23 of 32 passes for 216 yards, a touchdown, and a pick. The rest of the Dolphins offense doesn’t escape blame, either, as the Dolphins had two touchdowns slip through their grasp via a Lester Cotton holding penalty in the first quarter that resulted in the Dolphins settling for a field goal, and a Tyreek Hill dropped touchdown in the third quarter that would have given the Dolphins offense a needed boost versus a solid Eagles defense. Defensively, the Dolphins defense had a tough time containing AJ Brown as the Eagles number one receiver abused the Dolphins secondary for ten catches, 137 yards and a touchdown. This was yet another game that the Dolphins could have at least had a chance in, had it not been for penalties and missed opportunities for Mike McDaniel’s group as they fell to 2-6 versus teams with winning records.
2023 Week 9 vs. KC L (21-14)
Week Nine of the 2023 season would see the Dolphins take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Germany. This was a game that was very much a nightmare start for McDaniel and company. Drops, penalties, and pressure plagued the Dolphins first handful of drives, and while the defense played relatively well, the Dolphins found themselves in an early 14-0 deficit when disaster would strike. Towards the end of the half, as the Dolphins were driving into Kansas City territory, Tyreek Hill would have a pass ripped away from him and returned for a touchdown with 47 seconds remaining to put the Dolphins in a 21-0 hole at the half. The Dolphins would go on to score 14 unanswered in the second half, but ultimately they would come up short in their comeback bid as their final drive stalled out at the Kansas City 31 yard-line. Again, this was an undisciplined performance in which the Dolphins allowed themselves to spiral into a multi score deficit as the Dolphins fell to 2-7 in the Mike McDaniel era versus winning teams.
2023 Week 16 vs. DAL W (22-20)
The Dolphins third and final victory of the Mike McDaniel era versus winning teams came at home on Christmas Eve of 2023 against the Dallas Cowboys. This was a game in which neither offense was particularly sharp, as the teams were keen to settle for three with both teams combining for seven field goals. The defense however, was disruptive, keeping Tony Pollard and the Cowboys running game in check, and sacking Cowboy Quarterback Dak Prescott four times in the 22-20 victory, allowing Tua Tagovailoa and the offense to orchestrate a game winning drive ending with a Jason Sanders 29-yard field goal. This wasn’t necessarily a game that instilled confidence, as it felt as though neither team played particularly well, but, when playing good teams, even ugly wins come at a premium, and Dallas was 10-4 coming into a pivotal matchup with the Dolphins on Christmas Eve.
2023 Week 17 @ BAL L (56-19)
Arguably the ugliest loss of the Mike McDaniel era to date, the Ravens 56-19 drubbing of the Miami Dolphins didn’t start out as such. This was a game in which the Dolphins actually led 10-7 at the end of the first quarter, before going on to be embarrased 49-9 for the final three quarters. Once again, this was a game in which the Dolphins offense was stifled by the two high safety look offensively, the most curious development, from a coaching perspective, however was the balance in the offensive gameplan, even in the first half. By the time the Dolphins saw the ball for the first time in the second half, they were already trailing 35-13, surely at that point no one could fault them for abandoning a run game that had seen success in the first half, but that’s not necessarily where it began. On the first two drives of the ballgame, which netted the Dolphins ten points, Miami had called seven passes and six runs, pretty balanced. However, from the Dolphins third drive until the end of the first half, the playcalling changed significantly, with fourteen pass plays being called to just five runs. In the first half, Tua completed 10-21 passes for 154 yards with a touchdown and an interception. In the run game, the Dolphins backfield of Jeff Wilson and De’Von Achane had 91 yards on eleven carries. This isn’t to put the blame on McDaniel for a game in which the Dolphins allowed 56 points, the defense takes the majority of the blame there, but this is to say that the Dolphins curious abandonment of the run game likely kept them from keeping the game respectable. Combine that with abhorrent defense and special teams practically allowing seven by themselves via a 78 yard Justice Hill return to kick off the second half, and you get the worst loss of this era of Dolphins football.
Week 18 vs. BUF L (21-14)
The next opportunity the Dolphins had to quiet the frontrunner narrative was at home versus the Bills in week 18 in a matchup for the division, the result was a 21-14 loss to Buffalo in a game that was easily winnable for the Dolphins, overall the Dolphins ran for 108 yards on 20 carries, 16 of said 20 carries and 93 of said 108 yards came in the first half. So naturally one would assume that the Dolphins had to be trailing at the half, since they had seemingly dropped the run, right? Wrong. The Dolphins held a touchdown advantage at the half and then ran the ball a total of four times in the second half, just an unacceptable script when playing with a lead against an offense as potentially explosive as the Bills. The other commonality in this game with many others on this list was a special teams blunder, as the Bills tied the game at 14 apiece early in the fourth quarter on a Deonte Harty 96 yard punt return. From there, the Dolphins did what has become expected of them and melted down, the remaining possessions went as follows: Dolphins three and out, Bills TD, Dolphins three and out, Bills turnover on downs, Dolphins interception. In a game where Tua Tagovailoa was far from his sharpest, the Dolphins could ill afford to go away from the run or allow defensive and/or special teams points, and they did both. The result gave them their next game versus a good opponent in a game that was virtually unwinnable before it was played.
2023 Wild Card Round @KC L (26-7)
This game was a true exercise in futility. The Miami Dolphins were outgunned and outmanned in this game to the tune of being down both starting edge rushers, a starting linebacker, a starting corner, a starting guard, and having both of their star wide receivers running at about 70%. Not to mention the historic cold on that Saturday night in Arrowhead with a temperature of minus four degrees with wind chill that made it feel like a bone chilling -18, the Dolphins did as they are wont to do in cold weather, missing tackles defensively and struggling to find rhythm offensively, once again compounding errors via penalties and, ironically, melting down in the icy conditions. That said, however, there was nothing the Dolphins players or coaches could have reasonably done to win this game, the game was lost when the matchup was set in the aftermath of the Dolphins’ week 18 home loss versus the Bills, so on to 2024 we go.
2024 Week 2 vs. BUF L (31-10)
The Dolphins first outing versus a good team in 2024 was a painful reminder of still yet how far the team was from contending with those upper echelon teams the NFL has to offer. The Dolphins found themselves behind 24-10 at the half due to some familiar issues in big games, the offense had committed drive killing penalties, and three costly turnovers (two interceptions, one on downs) and the defense was unable to stop the Bills from converting short fields into touchdowns. The interceptions were arguable in terms of fault, as the first pick was tipped off of the shoulder pad of receiver Grant DuBose (who???), and the second one was arguably miscommunication between Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa and receiver Robbie Chosen. Personnel issues aside, the offense was able to run the ball somewhat effectively in the first half, however they made costly mistakes that the Bills were able to easily take advantage of and Miami found themselves once again having to dig themselves out of a sizable hole. As a result, QB Tua Tagovailoa put the onus on himself to become the hero, this led to a pick six due to Tagovailoa deciding entirely too late to throw the ball away and then on the ensuing possession, Tagovailoa would dive head first into Bills Safety Demar Hamlin in an attempt to gain a first down, leading to the Dolphins signal caller to go down with his third documented concussion in as many seasons. From there, the wind had just about left the Dolphins sails, as the two teams would seemingly run out the clock in a 31-10 drubbing.
2024 Week 3 @SEA L (24-3)
The following week would take the Dolphins into the 12th man to visit the Seattle Seahawks with backup quarterback Skylar Thompson under center. This game was a mess riddled with penalties and poor quarterback play, the Dolphins offense seemingly was unable to get out of its own way, and while they had played an inspired game for three quarters, the defense would eventually give way to the Seahawks run game as they would pull away in the fourth quarter and cruise to a 24-3 victory. Really not much to discuss with this game, the backup quarterback situation never gave the team a chance to survive this one in an environment as difficult to play in as Seattle.
Week 10 @BUF L (30-27)
Look up the word “close” in the dictionary, and this game is liable to pop up. This game very much felt like the Dolphins’ Alamo at 2-5 going into Buffalo and pushing Josh Allen and company to the brink, but in a game where the margins were as thin as a 61 yard field goal, every individual play matters. The metrics on this game for the two teams were about as even as even could be. Both teams had one turnover, converted on 50% of third downs, were 1-1 on fourth downs, and the difference in time of possession was a slim 31:53-28:07 in favor of the Dolphins. Where the Dolphins really were hurt in this game were in a few key areas, firstly, the Dolphins doubled the Bills’ penalty total, eight to four, none bigger than an unnecessary roughness penalty on Dolphins’ Safety, and Bills double agent (?) Jordan Poyer. Additionally, the Dolphins special teams made a costly blunder that directly led to a Bills score when Punter Jake Bailey, on his only punt of the ball game, was only able to muster up a 37 yard punt from the Dolphins 29-yard line that was promptly returned 29 yards to the Dolphins’ 37, putting the Bills in field goal range, and allowing the Bills to get a score on a drive that would have otherwise ended in a punt. While this may seem like nitpicking, these are the margins one deals with in tight NFL games, but this was a game in which the fanbase really had believed perhaps McDaniel turned a corner, the offense looked different on the road in Buffalo, there was no desperate chasing points by going on fourth downs, it seemed like the team was trending positively, overall.
2024 Week 14 @GB L (30-17)
This was a game that the Dolphins lost within the first quarter of play. After forcing a three and out on the first offensive possession of the game by the Packers, Dolphins rookie receiver Malik Washington muffed the punt inside the Dolphins own 10 yard line, giving the Packers first and goal, the Packers then promptly score the first touchdown of the game. On the Dolphins first offensive possession they would go on to commit three penalties for a whopping 25 yards, forcing Miami to punt. From there, the Packers offense was a wrecking crew, scoring on the ensuing drive relatively easily and taking control of the game to the tune of a 14-0 lead after one quarter, from there, they would go on to punish the Dolphins defense for the remainder of the ballgame, using their three headed monster of Josh Jacobs, Emmanuel Wilson, and Chris Brooks (!) to run through Dolphins defenders while Jordan Love made big throw after big throw. Offensively, while efficient overall, the Dolphins run game woes coming into this game continued, as they were unable to gain any traction with Achane, Wright or Mostert, and the short yardage woes continued. The Dolphins had two goal to go situations in this game offensively, the results? One field goal, one turnover on downs, also known as 11 points left on the board. Questionable coaching from a decision making perspective as also present, as down 21-3, on fourth and five from the Packers 38-yard line, the Dolphins opted to go for it rather than attempting the field goal to potentially make the game a two possession game going into the half. Instead, the Dolphins attempt to convert and fail, leaving the Packers 25 seconds and three timeouts to go down and get a field goal of their own to take a 24-3 lead into the half, another example of desperation backfiring for this staff when facing a deficit.
So, what can we take away from all of this? Firstly, the Dolphins have a bad habit of letting issues snowball, too often one thing would happen, and the team would respond by spiraling until they faced a multi score deficit. Secondly, special teams has cost the Dolphins more than one of these games, whether it’s allowing long punt returns, long kick returns, or missing field goals. Third, the Dolphins, specifically on the road, are prone to procedure penalties offensively, which could be a byproduct of taking a complex system on the road into more difficult environments. Finally, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is prone to either forgetting about the run game when ahead, or when behind by one score, there’s often a palpable feel that the Dolphins are pressing when trailing ball games, even ones they are competitive. The defense has been carved up many times in these games, but there has also been more than a fair share of games in which they kept the Dolphins in the game only to give in to attrition and let the game get out of hand, they nearly as culpable as the offense in these spirals after all. And to preempt a response I was certain to see to this article, I took the liberty of taking Tua’s stats from these games, and he can surely be better, too. In 14 games that he was able to play of a possible 17, he was 315-471, good for a completion percentage of 66.7%, 3,553 yards, and 24 touchdowns to 15 interceptions. These numbers are pedestrian by the standards Dolphins fans have been accustomed to with Tua, but far from worthy of the derision that he receives from a large portion of the fanbase. To sum things up, as it stands right now, Ryan Fitzpatrick’s characterization of the Dolphins as frontrunners is as accurate as they come, and it’s up to the Dolphins, and Mike McDaniel, specifically, if he is still around, to change that going forward.
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Eric Wiedeke is a host on Pulse of Fins Nation and The Final Yard on the Five Reasons YouTube channel.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/tua-column.jpg695643Eric Wiedekehttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgEric Wiedeke2024-12-05 14:27:312024-12-05 14:27:31Under the Spotlight: Examining Mike McDaniel’s 3-14 Record vs Winning Teams
