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
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 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
Unlike Thanksgiving leftovers, the Miami Dolphins’ 30-17 drubbing at Green Bay is as tough to swallow the day after as it was Thursday night before a national audience.
Because it was so predictable. And oh, so, familiar.
The longstanding narrative that the Dolphins can’t win in cold weather was reinforced. But it’s not so much about the temperature as it is about the time of year.
The Dolphins have been failing miserably under similar circumstances for years: in impactful games against top teams, on the road, late in the season, when typically it is cold.
Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t been able to shake the stigma of lack of big-game success. But even with the best quarterback they’ve ever had, the Dolphins couldn’t win these type of games.
Dan Marino was 8-17 against Jim Kelly and the Bills, including 0-3 in playoffs.
You’d think a serious football franchise would rise to the occasion, occasionally. But this high-stakes ineptitude has literally spanned decades, before the uniforms they wore Thursday night were considered throwbacks.
Dolphins manhandled by Packers
And it’s not always about being on the road in the cold. They lost the 2023 regular-season finale at home in ideal weather to the Bills with the AFC East title on the line. That earned them a trip to freezing Kansas City and another non-competitive first-round exit from the playoffs.
Sure, it was a tough assignment Thursday at frigid Lambeau Field off a short week. And it didn’t help that the first time the Dolphins got their hands on the ball they dropped it — muffed punt by Malik Washington that gifted the first touchdown a few plays later.
But this game was lost at the point of attack. The Packers simply mauled Miami.
The Dolphins couldn’t block and they couldn’t tackle. That will leave you on the wrong end of 30-17 every time.
The running game went nowhere — a mere 39 yards, average of 2.8 yards per carry — which has been a problem even in recent wins at home against bottom-feeding Raiders and Patriots. The backs had trouble just getting to the line of scrimmage.
Meanwhile, Dolphins defenders were getting carried by Packers running backs and receivers like sacks of mail, if they didn’t whiff on tackle attempts altogether.
The Dolphins had an ungodly 20 missed tackles. Twenty! That is unacceptable at any level of football.
Not sure how you blame that on the cold.
Nor the five sacks allowed, including on fourth-and-goal at the Green Bay 1 in the fourth quarter. They were also flagged for holding on that play, so it was doomed either way.
The Dolphins, playing to maintain slim playoff chances, showed no desperation or resolve. Their heads weren’t in the game either, evidenced by 10 penalties assessed for 75 yards.
The so-called second-half comeback bid was a mirage, the padded stat totals meaningless. Teams like the Dolphins don’t come back from 24-3 at halftime after being manhandled and embarrassed for 30 minutes on national TV by a top-tier opponent.
Likewise, spare us the flimsy mathematical possibilities that the 5-7 Dolphins could still make the playoffs if they win their final five games … and a cow jumps over the moon.
That would require winning two cold-weather games, albeit against the middling Jets and Browns. They also must play at Houston against the AFC South-leading Texans.
Here’s a glaring stat: the Dolphins are 0-4 this season against teams currently in playoff position and have been outscored by 58 points in those games.
That is a lot of 30-17 results, or thereabouts. But it’s nothing new. Last season the Dolphins were 1-6 against teams that went to the playoffs.
The Mike McDaniel era is simply continuing the serial incompetence that has spanned coaching staffs, front-office regimes and ownership since the last century.
There was hope that the team profile would change when Bill Parcells was brought in to run the football operation after the 1-15 2007 season. Instead, Parcells gave us Tony Sparano, who was best known for punting and kicking field goals.
What they needed was Tony Soprano. Less of mister nice guy and more of a strong-armed approach.
That hasn’t changed. The final word on the latest frigid fiasco was linebacker Jordyn Brooks saying late Thursday, “I thought we were soft. Simple as that, I thought we were soft today. I don’t know if guys were too cold. … I don’t know what it was. I feel like the elements played a part in how we played as a group, and that was the result that we got.”
It is a result Dolfans know all too well. With no reason to expect improvement any time soon.
This franchise misses on too many draft picks, then has to overspend on free agents to try to make up for it. That keeps them tight on the salary cap and unable to invest in the depth of talent needed to succeed.
What you get is a 30-17 comeuppance, time and again.
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/mcdaniel-green-bay.jpg8301000Craig Davishttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgCraig Davis2024-11-29 15:19:002024-11-29 15:19:00Pressure Point: Dolphins’ latest debacle more about incompetence than cold weather
The Miami Dolphins showcased a complete team effort Sunday, dismantling the New England Patriots 34-15 in front of a roaring home crowd. Here’s a closer look at the standout performances and pivotal moments that defined the game.
Tagovailoa’s Commanding Presence
Tua Tagovailoa was in full control, mixing precision passing with smart decisions. His ability to spread the ball to multiple targets kept the Patriots’ defense on its heels all game. From pinpoint throws to De’Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle to managing the tempo, Tagovailoa reminded everyone why he’s the heart of this offense. His stat line—29 completions on 40 attempts for 317 yards and 4 touchdowns—speaks volumes about his leadership under center.
Achane Shines as a Versatile Threat
The Dolphins’ ground game wasn’t anything to write home about, but De’Von Achane proved his value as a dual-threat weapon. His first touchdown catch was a highlight-worthy moment, showcasing agility and field vision. Later, he exploited a coverage breakdown to secure his second score.
Jaylen Waddle: A Season-Defining Performance
Jaylen Waddle put together his most electric outing of the season, slicing through New England’s secondary with ease. His ability to gain separation and turn short passes into big gains echoed the explosiveness Miami fans grew accustomed to last year. Tight end Jonnu Smith added to the offensive fireworks, bulldozing through defenders for a gritty touchdown.
Offensive Line Holds Strong
Miami’s offensive line gave Tagovailoa the clean pocket he needed to excel. While run blocking remains inconsistent, the protection in passing situations was stellar. With time to operate, Tagovailoa made the Patriots pay.
Defensive Line Dictates the Game
Miami’s defensive front took control early, forcing the Patriots to play catch-up. Zach Sieler led the charge, nearly recovering a fumble before redeeming himself with a strip-sack that set up a key scoring drive. The dominance up front ensured New England could never find its rhythm.
Linebackers Bring the Heat
Rookie Chop Robinson continues to impress, recording another sack and providing consistent pressure. Anthony Walker and Jordyn Brooks were all over the field, combining for key tackles and a fumble recovery. Even with Walker leaving the game due to injury, his replacement, Tyrel Dodson, stepped up with a highlight-reel interception late in the fourth quarter.
Secondary Silences New England
The Patriots’ passing attack was virtually nonexistent, thanks to Miami’s disciplined secondary. Jalen Ramsey added a sack to his résumé, while Storm Duck filled in admirably for Kendall Fuller. The Dolphins’ defensive backs made a quiet day feel like a masterclass in suffocating coverage.
Coaching Brilliance
Head coach Mike McDaniel orchestrated a balanced attack, blending explosive plays with methodical drives. He reintroduced the deep ball, reigniting the offense’s identity while keeping the Patriots guessing. On defense, Anthony Weaver’s unit looked prepared for every wrinkle New England threw their way.
A Team Hitting Its Stride
This was more than just another win for Miami; it was a statement. With three straight victories and the offense firing on all cylinders, the Dolphins are building momentum heading into a pivotal Thanksgiving showdown in Green Bay. For a team that has been criticized for its struggles in cold-weather games, Thursday offers the perfect chance to flip the narrative.
The Dolphins left Hard Rock Stadium looking like contenders. Now, they’ll need to prove it on a chilly night in Wisconsin.
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_9027.jpg490640Jacob Meshelhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgJacob Meshel2024-11-25 16:40:542024-11-25 16:40:54Dolphins Dominate New England: Key Takeaways from the 34-15 Victory
It was Feel Good Sunday for the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.
Perfect weather and a near-perfect performance (for three quarters) by the home team in a thorough pasting of the Patriots, their long-time nemesis.
The giddy 34-15 romp even had team owner Steve Ross doing the celebratory Waddle waddle after Tua Tagovailoa threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game in the third quarter to Jaylen Waddle.
Most important, the Dolphins’ third consecutive win put Miami, now 5-6, one spot out of the final wild card in the AFC — 7-5 Denver holds it.
Enjoy the moment, Dolfans, like a second helping of Thanksgiving turkey. But beware of the tryptophan.
The Dolphins can’t afford to snooze Thursday night in a holiday prime-time matchup with the Packers in Green Bay.
Beating up on the weakling Raiders and Patriots back-to-back at home in the sunshine was entertaining and necessary to dig out of a deep early season hole.
The telling test will be how a Dolphins team that has gained some momentum can meet the bigger challenges of the stretch run.
Or as the CBS announcers put it: “You’ve got to win the big-boy games.”
There will be two of those on the road in the next three weeks, at Green Bay and Dec. 15 at AFC South-leading Houston, sandwiched around a home game against the struggling Jets.
Miami then hosts the San Francisco 49ers, who remain in the big-boy category despite struggles of their own.
This is the point that so many Dolphins seasons have gone off the rails. Look no further than last season when they led the Buffalo Bills by three games in the AFC East with five to play and coughed it all up.
The downfall began with blowing a two-touchdown lead in the final three minutes against the Titans in a Monday night collapse. Season-ending losses to the Ravens and Bills pushed the Dolphins from hosting a playoff game to having to play the Chiefs in frigid Kansas City. The result was a predictable one-sided loss to extend the drought without a playoff win since the 2000 season.
“I think we’re heading in the right direction,” said Waddle. “We’ve got big games coming up the end of the year, so it’s important that we start playing our best ball heading into this last stretch of the season.”
Waddle played his best game of the season Sunday with eight receptions for 144 yards and the 29-yard touchdown from Tua.
The offense has been increasingly efficient in Tagovailoa’s four games since returning from his latest concussion. In improving to 7-0 in his career against the Patriots, he completed 29 of 40 for 317 yards and a rating of 128.9.
He again made good use of tight end Jonnu Smith, who had nine catches for 87 yards and the first touchdown of the day. De’Von Achane caught the other two TDs on screens out of the backfield. Tyreek Hill had five receptions for 48 yards.
“The guys are feeling good,” Tagovailoa said. “Everything feels better when you win.”
In the past two games, Tua has thrown for 605 yards, seven touchdowns, no interceptions and a 128.5 passer rating.
Again, that is against two of the downtrodden teams in the league.
But as Tagovailoa pointed out, “Getting into rhythm of stacking wins up, I definitely think that is a big morale booster.”
The continued struggles to run the ball is concerning, though. They rushed for only 65 yards while averaging a mere 2.7 a carry against the Patriots.
Throwing likely will be more difficult at Lambeau Field, where the forecast for Thursday night calls for temperatures dropped to near 20 degrees. Little chance of snow, though, with winds moderate.
Could be worse. But there is a 100-percent chance of a hostile atmosphere. It is certain to be plenty loud.
“We’re still below the .500 threshold and it’s a long way to where we want to get to,” Tagovailoa said. “But this next one is going to be big for us and we’re excited to go to Green Bay and show everybody in prime time what we can do.”
They will be coming off another strong showing by the defense. Rookie Chop Robinson is becoming a force on the pass rush. He had 1 ½ sacks and three hits on quarterback Drake Maye.
The Dolphins sacked Maye four times, including a strip-sack by Zach Sieler that was recovered by Jordyn Brooks to set up Miami’s final touchdown.
The defense suffered a blow when linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. left with a hamstring injury in the first half. But newly acquired veteran Tyrel Dodson not only filled the void, he had a one-handed interception.
Could it be that these Dolphins actually flip the script recent history and finish stronger than they started?
Insight on that question should come in about four days. Miami, trailing Denver by two games in the wild-card chase, can’t afford to fall farther behind.
“The Packers aren’t going to care about our three-game win streak. The Packers are going to try to make us seem like a team that can’t win in the cold and can’t beat a good team,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said.
That is an apt statement of the Dolphins’ profile for close to a quarter-century.
It is valid until they prove otherwise.
McDaniel went on to say, “Like life, it’s not about avoiding adversity. It’s about flourishing in it. You really can’t hide. You find out who believes in what we’re doing and who believes in each other.”
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/tua-4-touchdowns.jpg15002000Craig Davishttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgCraig Davis2024-11-24 18:49:512024-11-24 21:58:58Pressure Point: Dolphins back in playoff race, must now win ‘big-boy games’
The Miami Dolphins won their second game in a row in week 11, beating the Los Vegas Raiders at home in convincing fashion, 34-19. The Dolphins now sit at a 4-6 record with a seemingly manageable schedule the rest of the way, despite a more competitive than expected wild card race. As the Dolphins do attempt to gear up for this upcoming stretch run, they’ll need depth pieces to step up, injured players to make triumphant returns, young players to break out, and veterans to earn their keep. With that in mind, here are five crucial x-factors down the stretch who can singlehandedly change the course of the playoff race.
Chop Robinson, EDGE
The Dolphins first round pick is coming alive, folks. Over the last three weeks, Chop has been terrorizing opposing quarterbacks to the tune of two sacks, four quarterback hits, and 15 (!) total pressures, the rookie is finally getting home. That’s not to say he was bad before, his 18.1% pressure rate overall on the season ranks 8th in the NFL among defenders with at least 100 pass rush snaps. Over the last few weeks, however, he has started to finish, and that is exactly what the defense has needed. Prior to the last two weeks, in which the defense had strung together back to back outings of three sacks or more for the first time in 2024, the Dolphins as a team had only produced a meager ten sacks in their first eight games. This ranked them 31st in the NFL, ahead of only the Atlanta Falcons. With a stretch of games upcoming that includes the likes of C.J. Stroud, Jordan Love, and Brock Purdy, the Dolphins will need their rookie edge rusher to continue his midseason breakout if the defense is to be up for the challenge of earning a wild card spot.
Kendall Lamm, OT
With Austin Jackson having season ending knee surgery ahead of week ten’s Monday night matchup versus Los Angeles, Kendall Lamm was tapped to be the blindside protector for Tua Tagovailoa down the stretch for the remainder of the season. The result? Arguably the worst performance of the season for the Dolphins offensive line. The Rams defense was able to generate pressure on Tagovailoa with regularity to the tune of a pressure rate of 25.8%. In week 11, however, the tune was starkly different. Lamm matched up with the vaunted Maxx Crosby for much of the day, and while the Dolphins still were not able to generate much success in the running game, Crosby was only able to generate a pressure on three of his 37 pass rushing snaps, for a lowly pressure rate of 8.1%. Lamm is one of the better backup tackles the league has to offer, and the Dolphins will need him to play as such, especially with a schedule that sees Will Anderson IV, Myles Garrett and Nick Bosa the rest of the way. As important as Lamm is at the tackle spot, this next player is just as important inside, maybe even more.
Isaiah Wynn, IOL
The Miami Dolphins guard play in pass protection this year has been, in a word, bad. According to PFF (controversial, I know), the Dolphins guards have combined to generate a paltry 36 grade in pass blocking sets, that’s out of 100, by the way. Enter Isaiah Wynn, who was designated to return prior to the Dolphins week 11 matchup at home versus the Raiders, opening up his three week practice window. While he remains out versus the Patriots, it is likely that Dolphins fans will be seeing Wynn on the field sooner, rather than later. The benefits of this being two fold, firstly, he will bolster the interior pass blocking on a line that sorely needs a boost in that department. Secondly, ins tepping in at Left Guard, he opens the door for Robert Jones to jump to the right side, allowing him to go back to playing his better position, while also allowing for a true competition between him and Eichenberg at that spot, giving the Dolphins a quality backup along the inside in whoever loses said position battle. If Wynn is able to regain his form, an offensive line combination of Armstead-Wynn-Brewer-Jones/Eichenberg-Lamm may be the best group the Dolphins have trot out to date this season.
Jevon Holland, S
Jevon Holland wants to get paid this offseason. Jevon Holland, at this point, at least, has not done much to help his cause in the 2024 season, as he has struggled in coverage, to the tune of allowing a 117.3 passer rating in coverage to opposing offenses when being targeted this season, a career worst for the safety to date. Now, Holland has been hampered by injuries this season, but this is a defense that sorely needs him to be the playmaker who generated 9 turnovers across his first three seasons, as this is a Dolphins defense that, while being solid all season long, has occasionally struggled in creating those plays that can change the course of a game, if he is able to reclaim his former form, the defense could have yet another level to hit down the stretch, a pretty scary thought for opposing offenses considering that the defense has been a top 10 unit to this point.
Jaylen Wright, RB
The Dolphins offense is currently in the midst of somewhat of a changing of the guard. While Wright only has had five carries each over the last two games, and has struggled to get any traction with any of those carries, though one can argue one Alec Ingold could remedy these struggles, this was significant in what it is symbolic of and the trend that the offense is moving towards. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has used his running back stable almost like a pitching staff to this point, with De’Von Achane operating as the starter and a combination of Jaylen Wright and Raheem Mostert operating as the “closers”, backs who are more capable of providing the physical punishing runs in the fourth quarter to wear down defenses as the game winds down. This role will seemingly become much more important down the stretch as the Dolphins go on the road in tough conditions three times in their remaining eight games (at Green Bay, at Cleveland, at New York). This is exactly where Jaylen Wright fits in, Wright leads all Dolphins running backs with at least 40 carries in yards after contact per carry at 3.6. For context, Derrick Henry averages 3.8 yards after contact per carry. Obviously, this is not to say the 5’10”, 215 pound Wright will continue to run like the 6’2”, 240 pound Henry, but his tough running style will be critical to the Dolphins run game as they play these cold weather games on the road in November/December/January.
With the Dolphins likely needing to win at least six of their remaining seven to keep pace in the AFC, each of these players (and more, of course) will be crucial to the playoff push. In the immediate, though, each of these players will be crucial on a week to week basis, starting with the upcoming week 12 home matchup with Drake Maye and the Patriots.
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Follow @EricWiedeke for Dolphins and Marlins content on the Five Reasons Sports Network.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot_23-11-2024_222943_docs.google.com_.jpeg420675Eric Wiedekehttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgEric Wiedeke2024-11-23 22:31:102024-11-23 22:34:25Five Dolphins X-Factors Down the Stretch
Tight ends have given the Miami Dolphins fits for years.
Their own as well as their opponents’.
Veteran Jonnu Smith was signed in the offseason to remedy the former problem. Sunday he delivered in a big way with two touchdowns in the Dolphins’ 34-19 win against the Las Vegas Raiders.
His 57-yard TD catch when the Raiders somehow neglected to cover him extended a shaky lead and sealed a must-win for the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.
At 4-6 and on their first winning streak of the season, the Dolphins kept alive hopes of a long-shot playoff run ahead of a home game next week against the 3-8 Patriots.
Smith was so alone on the decisive play he looked like a center fielder waiting for a fly ball when Tua Tagovailoa’s throw reached him.
“The Red Sea parted” was the way Smith described it to the media after the game. “It’s Sunday, I’m coming with my biblical terms today. It seems like if it was a busted coverage, and Tua, me and him, we just connected, locked eyes and just made the rest happen.”
That busted coverage of biblical proportions enabled the Dolphins to claim the advantage in an epic showdown of tight ends despite allowing impressive Raiders rookie Brock Bowers to go off for 126 yards on 13 catches, including a 23-yard touchdown.
The Dolphins have remained inept at defending tight ends this season. But Smith is shoring up what has been a major hole in the offense for years.
His 1-yard TD grab on fourth down on the opening possession gave the Dolphins a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. He finished the day with six receptions for 101 yards.
Smith’s first touchdown of the season on Oct. 24 at Indianapolis ended a 23-game drought for Dolphins tight ends.
He now has 39 receptions this season for 448 yards, an average of 11.5 yards a catch, with three touchdowns.
Notably, Smith has given Miami an important alternate weapon on offense while opponents continue to focus on taking away big-play opportunities for star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
“He’s making defenses pay for the over attention Tyreek and Waddle get,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “He’s adding a real cool element to our offense. We’ve needed every yard he’s had for us this year.”
The quick-strike Dolphins offense of last season has given way to a patient, take-what-they-give approach. Not as exciting, but effective in back-to-back wins over the Rams and Raiders.
Against the Raiders, the Dolphins had touchdown drives 70, 97, 60 and 70 yards. They had four drives of 10 or more plays. Even the possession that resulted in the first of two field goals lasted 16 plays and consumed almost 8 1/2 minutes.
The Dolphins made a spectator out of Jake Bailey, who wasn’t called on to punt all day.
“I think what’s been different with the quarterback play is now I’m not trying to force things down the field,” Tagovailoa said of his willingness to check down and dump it off to backs and receivers on short routes. “We like our matchups with our guys in space.”
Sustaining long, time-consuming drives can be a difficult formula for success. It worked against the now 2-8 Raiders, who fired their offensive coordinator and O-line coach during the bye week and have lost six in a row.
Dominating time of possession was more effective in containing the Raiders than the Dolphins’ defense, which followed its outstanding effort in the Monday Night win against the Rams with a ragged performance.
They didn’t make a notable stop until Jalen Ramsey intercepted Gardner Minshew with just over 3 minutes left and victory all but certain.
There was too much shoddy tackling, such as Kader Kohou letting Ameer Abdullah get away for a touchdown that cut the Miami lead to 24-19. Bowers shed tackle attempts all day.
The Raiders were able to convert 8 of 14 third-down plays and twice on fourth down. But Miami converted 8 of 12 third-down chances and both fourth-down attempts.
Fortunately for the Dolphins, they are finding a winning formula now with Tagovailoa three games back from his latest concussion.
They topped 30 points for the first time this season.
“I think we only had about three drives last season that lasted 14 plays,” McDaniel said. “We’ve adjusted to how defenses have adjusted to us.”
Tagovailoa had some key third-down connections with Tyreek Hill, who finished with seven catches for 61 yards, including a touchdown. Tua had three touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 127.8.
Mike McDaniel on Jonnu Smith: “He’s making defenses pay for the over-attention on Hill & Waddle.” pic.twitter.com/lwKcJ6l1Ye
The Dolphins still face a steep climb from a 2-6 start to a playoff spot. For now, they remain in the conversation with no margin for error.
“I know the stats, the record doesn’t show, but we’re working,” Smith said. “I understand that there’s an expectation that came into this. And to just have that mentality of, listen, let’s look at this thing in the mirror and let’s go attack it. No matter who is with us, who is against us, we know what we’ve got in here and we’re going to keep rolling.”
For the first time in a long while, the Dolphins can look in the mirror and see a legitimate receiving threat at tight end on their side, even if they still can’t stop one on the other side.
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-jonnu-catch.jpg11341800Craig Davishttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgCraig Davis2024-11-17 18:55:512024-11-17 19:30:39Pressure Point: Jonnu Smith’s 2 touchdowns lead Dolphins to win in tight-end duel
For the first time this season the Miami Dolphins punched above their weight —and won.
The gritty 23-15 win against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football came in the sort of setting where the Dolphins have a habit of losing.
On the road, in prime time, against a savvy, veteran quarterback.
In Miami’s most assertive and concerted effort of the season, the defense held Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ dangerous receiving corps without a touchdown.
Despite an up-and-down performance, Tua Tagovailoa and the offense were able to tack on enough points to avert another fourth-quarter collapse and end a three-game losing streak.
And what did it to for the now 3-6 Dolphins? It enables them to cling to the hope they can somehow rise from the deep hole they’ve dug for themselves and make an unlikely run for the playoffs.
That’s where these wayward Dolphins find themselves, clinging to hope like an iguana on the side of a tree on a steamy South Florida afternoon.
“Hopefully this is an opportunity for us to not waste,” Tagovailoa said. “Hopefully we can go on a run.”
Dolphins at 3-6 cling to hopes for the postseason like an iguana on a tree. (Craig Davis photo)
Dolphins schedule offers opportunity
Given the way defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s unit played and the upcoming schedule, there is actually a foundation to build hope.
Remarkably, the Dolphins find themselves only a game behind in the loss column for the final wild card in the AFC.
They face the 2-7 Raiders and 3-7 Patriots at home with a chance to be 5-6 before a Thanksgiving night date at Green Bay.
Buoyed by Jevon Holland, Zach Sieler and Kader Kohou returning from injuries and inspired by ageless Calais Campbell, Miami defenders harassed and frustrated Stafford all night.
They forced two takeaways, including an interception by linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. off a deflection by Campbell — the veteran defensive tackle leads the NFL with six batted passes this season, including two against the Rams.
They registered six hits on Stafford and sacked him four times. They had seven tackles for loss and held the Rams to 3-of-12 on third-down conversions.
Keeping the Rams out of the end zone in LA is no small accomplishment. They were on a three-game winning streak during which they scored 76 points while Stafford threw for 730 yards and six touchdowns.
For a change it was the opponent making the sort of self-inflicted mistakes that have characterized the Dolphins season.
Notably, a high snap off Stafford’s hands derailed the opening drive of the second half and forced the Rams to try a 52-yard field goal. The kick went through but a false start negated it. Joshua Karty then missed the 57-yard attempt.
That was a pivotal moment as the Dolphins took over near midfield and drove 53 yards for a touchdown to push their lead to 17-6. That was the first traction by the Dolphins offense since they went 70 yards in five plays to open the game.
Stuff like this not encouraging to the Dolphins hoping & praying Tua will stop being reckless with how he puts his head down while delivering the blow.
He’s done a magnificent job avoiding helmet to ground contact when being taken down. But he’s still too aggressive. pic.twitter.com/Lqkyt3nRdv
Tagovailoa had too many mistakes of his own. He threw an interception, then risked yet another concussion with a dangerous head-first tackle on the return by Christian Rozeboom.
Hey, Tua, be like Marino: Get the hell out of the way after you throw a pick.
He also lost a fumble and took two inexcusable sacks when he held the ball too long and couldn’t throw it away.
But after the second of those, which put the Dolphins in a third-and-19 hole, he quickly atoned by spinning away from another rush and finding Raheem Mostert for a 25-yard gain. That led to a field goal that pushed the lead to 20-9 with 9:07 remaining.
Instead of caving, as in recent weeks, the Dolphins finished strong with a touchdown and two field goals on their final three possessions.
The running game was ineffective (67 yards on 22 attempts) against a spirited Rams defense led by impressive rookie Jared Verse, the former FSU standout.
One of the best moments by the Dolphins’ offensive line was guard Liam Eichenberg annoying Bobby Brown into headbutting him and selling it to draw a personal foul. That led to one of three field goals by Jason Sanders (two of them from 50 yards).
This is easily Liam Eichenberg’s most elite trait as a football player. He consistently drives opposing DLs so crazy they get caught retaliating on him. It’s one of those weird things about his career.
It was a departure from recent exasperating Dolphins viewing. For a change, it was the other team outdoing them in the stupid stuff department.
Nonetheless, the Dolphins’ lead never felt secure until Duke Riley fell on the Rams’ onside kick with 39 seconds remaining.
So despite all of their shortcomings, the Dolphins can still focus on what lies ahead instead of looking beyond to next year.
Here is the remainder of the schedule against teams that are a combined 30-49: Raiders – 2-7; Patriots – 3-7; at Packers – 6-3; Jets – 3-7; at Texans – 6-4; 49ers – 5-4; at Browns – 2-7; at Jets – 3-7.
“To start a wildfire, all you need is one spark, and that spark happened today,” said Campbell, the veteran defensive tackle who at 38 has been the surprise revelation of this season for Miami.
The former Miami Hurricane is not only a physical marvel but also a wise man.
He knows that where there’s life, there’s hope. Right now he has his teammates believing.
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.
The Miami Dolphins made the decision this week to stand pat during Tuesday’s trade deadline, ultimately opting neither to trade for or away impact players. If one were to listen to the team, however, one thing would be clear: This is a roster and a coaching staff that believes they are still competing for a spot in the playoffs this season. As unrealistic as that may seem to the fanbase-embittered by a 2-6 start, or an outside observer, this is the path they have chosen, and no amount of complaining about said path will change it. The path to the postseason, however, is a slim one, like tightrope suspended in the air between skyscrapers, slim. There are a couple facts that the Dolphins can take solace in, in undertaking this perilous journey, though, like the fact that the AFC is in a very weak position this year featuring a wild card race that contains the Steelers, who are very likely in barring a surprising collapse, but two remaining spots to be fought over featuring the likes of the Broncos, the Chargers, the Bengals, the Colts and the Jets. As well as the fact that the Dolphins have the second easiest strength of schedule remaining with opponents’ combined win percentage reaching a paltry .405. Let’s take a dive into that schedule, shall we?
Week 10 @ Los Angeles Rams: W
The first test for the playoff push will come on Monday night in Los Angeles versus the Rams, a team that is no stranger to overcoming slow starts, as in 2023, they started 3-6 before finishing 7-1 over their remaining eight games and making the postseason at 10-7, and in 2024 are now 4-4, and winners of three straight following a 1-4 start through their first five games. The Rams feature a dynamic offense headed up by a still borderline elite Matthew Stafford at Quarterback and a trio of skill position players that can match the top three of any offense in Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams. For the purpose of this exercise, however, the Dolphins will be given a win. The Dolphins’ offense has been slowly building up over the last couple of weeks to the point that they feel on the verge of an explosion, and facing off with a young Rams defense that is 28th in opponents yards per play so far in 2024, this is a prime spot for it. The defensive side of the ball is where the challenge emerges for the Miami Dolphins, however, as over the last two weeks they have allowed 28 points, and 30 points, respectively to the Arizona Cardinals and the Buffalo Bills. The flip side of this is that reinforcements seem to be on the way in a relative hurry, and with the likes of Kader Kohou, Jevon Holland and Zach Sieler expected to suit up on Monday night in Los Angeles, the defense will be improved just enough to allow the Dolphins to come away with the victory on Monday night. Record: 3-6
Week 11 vs. Los Vegas Raiders: W
Now, this is where momentum can really get going for the Dolphins, following a hypothetical win versus the Rams, they get a Raiders team at home that does not have much to play for at this point, on top of that, the return of Bradley Chubb is looming in the background, This could be a soft landing spot to bring him back into the fold. If so, the Dolphins defense could finally start to hit its stride this week to add to a Dolphins offense that would be really rolling at this point.
Record: 4-6
Week 12 vs Patriots: W
In week 12, the Dolphins will face off with the Patriots at home, having already beaten New England on the road during Tagovailoa’s absence. Both of these teams will be much different come week 12, though. As Tua will be behind center for the Dolphins in this one, while Drake Maye has taken the mantle up at Quarterback for the Patriots since their last meeting, to pretty solid success thus far, if we’re being honest. However, this is a Patriots team that is not good, not defensively, not offensively, and with the Dolphins offense starting to hit its stride, as well as a defense that should be jelling with Bradley Chubb back in the lineup, the Dolphins should cruise at home versus the Patriots in this one.
Record: 5-6
Week 13 @ Green Bay Packers: L
Week 13 takes the Dolphins up to Green Bay on Thanksgiving night to do battle with the Green Bay Packers in what is a double whammy of bad omens for the Dolphins, a prime time game that is also likely to be played in less than ideal weather. While I believe that this one can be made close by a Dolphins run game better equipped to succeed in games with poor weather conditions, ultimately,the Dolphins come up short as a defense that has not forced many turnovers over the course of the season are unable to turn over the turnover prone Jordan Love, and so on Thanksgiving night, the Dolphins get sent back to Miami still hungry for a victory. Record: 5-7
Week 14 vs. NY Jets: W
In week 14, the Dolphins have their first of two annual matchups with the New York Jets, this one coming in Miami Gardens to take on Aaron Rodgers and company. These are two teams hoping to have similar trajectories at this point, however with the Jets having a (slightly) more difficult schedule leading into this game, the Jets could be coming in with a 4-8 record, largely killing any postseason dreams for Gang Green, and with the mercurial Aaron Rodgers under center for these Jets, the landing gear may be coming off at this point. The Dolphins will need a victory in this one, with Tua continuing his strong play at this point with an offense that has its full arsenal and a line that has been much improved since mid season, as well as a defense that should only improve as they get healthier. Record: 6-7
Week 15 @ Houston Texans: W
Now, undoubtedly, this is the most ambitious victory of the Dolphins’ bid to save the season to this point, however, a key point: the Houston Texans play inside of a dome, this is not the Miami Dolphins going to Green Bay or Buffalo in December, this is Miami playing a team on the road in an atmosphere that benefits greatly their offense. While the defense should, and probably will struggle to contain the Texans offense, CJ Stroud has not yet been quite as sharp as he was last season to this point, and at this point I have the Dolphins track team on offense just barely eking out a victory over the Texans in Houston to get themselves back to .500 heading into a pivotal three game stretch likely to determine their playoff fate in 2024. Record: 7-7
Week 16 vs. San Francisco 49ers: W
Week 16 sees the San Francisco 49ers fly across the country to Miami in a sequel to 2021’s student-master matchup which saw Kyle Shanhan come up victorious in San Francisco over the Dolphins. The Niners will undoubtedly be a stronger team than they appear now after welcoming back arguably the league’s best offensive weapon in running back Christian McCaffrey and having him back in the fold for a few weeks at this point. The Niners defense, however, is not quite as sharp as the one that stifled the Dolphins offense at Levi Stadium in 2021, and combined with a flight across three time zones, the Dolphins pick up another signature victory to regain full control of their destiny. Record: 8-7
Week 17 @ Cleveland Browns: W
Week 17 takes Miami up to Cleveland in a game which will once again test Miami’s ability to compete in cold weather games, however, this time around they will be playing a team in the Cleveland Browns that is likely to be tanking for their next quarterback at this point with Deshaun Watson having suffered a season-ending Achilles injury earlier in the season. The Browns, having sold off Amari Cooper and Za’Darius Smith already this season, are a much lesser roster than the one that entered the 2024 season for Cleveland. While this one may present major trap game potential for Tua Tagovailoa and company, I am placing this one cautiously, but firmly in the ‘W’ column. Record: 9-7
Week 18 @ New York Jets: W
The Dolphins closing matchup of the 2024 season sees them head to East Rutherford, New Jersey to face their most hated rival in a potentially make or break matchup with the Jets. This is one that could potentially go either way as it is likely to be a cold weather game versus a team that would love nothing more to play spoiler for the Miami Dolphins, but this is a game in which the Dolphins run game will have to win the day for Miami behind the three headed monster at running back of De’Von Achane, Raheem Mostert, and Jaylen Wright. Defensively, the Dolphins will have to generate pressure against a Jets offensive line that has been susceptible to allowing Aaron Rodgers to be taken to the ground, if the Dolphins wish to complete the comeback, they must go through the Jets. Record: 10-7
As unlikely as it may be, if the Dolphins wish to make the postseason, and that is their stated goal, it will take winning eight of their last nine games to leave little doubt. While improbable, the schedule does allow for it if all breaks right for the Miami Dolphins. This is a group that believes, especially now healthier than they have been almost all season, they are better than the 2-6 record they have accrued to this point. This final nine games is where they will have to prove it if they wish to make this anything other than a lost year in a sea of lost years in the last two decades plus.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/image0-2024-11-10T115704.706.jpeg422640Eric Wiedekehttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgEric Wiedeke2024-11-10 11:58:132024-11-10 11:58:13Mission Impossible: Breaking Down the Dolphins’ Path to the Postseason
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