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.

The Miami Dolphins were unable to overcome themselves in Sunday’s 28-27 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, marking the second consecutive game that Mike McDaniel’s group had lost after leading by double-digits in the second half. There are many glaring points that fans can rightfully point to in throwing the blame around for the loss, arguably none more impactful than the safety on a botched snap between Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Center Aaron Brewer, which directly resulted in eight Cardinals points in the third quarter.

The game was one which was supposed to mark the triumphant return of the aforementioned quarterback, who had missed the previous four games, a span in which the Dolphins sputtered to a 1-3 record, due in large part to an offense that was ranked dead last in the league over that period. And so, at 2-5, the Miami Dolphins, a team which had Super Bowl aspirations in the offseason, find themselves on the brink. Fittingly, the team staring at them from the other side, ready to push them into obscurity for the remainder of 2024, and potentially beyond, considering what the ramifications of such a loss may be, is the Buffalo Bills. This is not just any opponent for these Miami Dolphins, these Bills have been the Achilles heel for the McDaniel era Dolphins, as they have absolutely dominated Miami in recent years, in fact, following the Dolphins first matchup with the Bills in the Tua/McDaniel partnership, a 21-19 victory in September of 2022, the Dolphins have lost six straight to their archrivals, with an average margin of defeat of 12.4 points in that span. Fast forward to this week’s game, and that 12.4 points feels as though it pales in comparison to what may happen on Sunday in Buffalo, just as the Dolphins have been spiraling, this is a Bills team that has been firing on all cylinders of late, winners of three straight, the latest of which being an impressive 31-10 drubbing of the Seahawks in Seattle while still incorporating newly acquired star receiver Amari Cooper into the fold. Certainly, overcoming these Bills on the road in a hostile environment is a herculean task for Mike McDaniel and company, armed with a defense that was just ripped to shreds by a Cardinals team that exposed the Dolphins linebackers in pass coverage, a fact that Josh Allen will be sure to exploit with the likes of Dalton Kincaid at his disposal, and an offense that has seemingly struggled to get its feet under itself for the better part of a calendar year now, with struggles going beyond even Tagovailoa’s recent absence.

Winning, however, is the only option for this group, if they want to remain this group, that is. While coach McDaniel has expressed that owner Stephen Ross is still in his corner at Monday’s press conference, each week that goes by with a loss makes that support look more and more like the dreaded “vote of confidence” we seem to always hear about before a coach’s dismissal, and considering the opponent on Sunday, and the stakes, with falling to 2-6 all but ending the season, makes this game arguably the biggest of McDaniel’s tenure. Lose, and the fate is sealed, as the Dolphins likely spiral to a 4-12 or 5-11 record, dooming all of those involved in the creation and curation of this roster, General Manager Chris Grier, included. IF, the Dolphins pull off the seemingly impossible and win, however, the possibilities of the season open back up. Not only would such a victory bring them to 3-5, which, on the surface seems relatively unimportant in the grand scheme of things, it is what such a win would mean for the team symbolically. To beat this opponent, the team which has been the measuring stick for the rest of the AFC East, and has single handedly owned the Dolphins for the better part of the last three seasons, could be exactly the flashpoint that the team could rally around in turning the tides of their 2024 season, conquering their biggest foe at their most desperate moment.

The question then becomes, how, exactly can the Miami Dolphins accomplish such a feat? I have spent quite a bit of time thus far emphasizing just how unlikely of a victory this would be for Miami, and for good reason, it truly can not be overstated, but the games are not played on paper. The short answer is, and this may be disappointing to hear for many fans, but it starts with a similar game plan, albeit not totally the same, that the Dolphins had prior to the wheels falling off in week two versus the Bills. In the first half of week two, the Dolphins had turned the ball over three times (twice via interceptions, once on downs) giving Buffalo a field no shorter than 49 yards on three scoring drives resulting in 17 of their 24 points in the first half. The culprit of these turnovers? Overagression. Each time, these turnovers were a result of the Dolphins attempting to do too much. From Tua Tagovailoa targeting Grant DuBose and Robbie Chosen downfield despite being well-covered, to a decision to go for it on 4th down from Buffalo’s 45 yard-line that had resulted in a sack rather than staying patient and pinning the Bills back deep into their own territory.

This is not necessarily to say that the Dolphins would have won if they had simply been more patient, playing a more conservative game, but the scoreboard certainly would not have looked the way that it did heading into the half. The Dolphins had rushed for 101 yards on 20 carries in the first half, with De’Von Achane accounting for 69 of those yards on 14 carries. The passing game, however, was more problematic, and the core of where I think changes can and should be made. Tua Tagovailoa went 13-18 for 94 yards with two costly interceptions. Limiting those turnovers in week 10, will be key, along with using a full stable of rushers. In the previous matchup with the Bills, Miami was limited in the backfield to De’Von Achane, and Jeff Wilson, Jr. as Raheem Mostert missed the game with a chest injury suffered the week prior, and Jaylen Wright having not yet cracked the running back rotation (he still hasn’t fully). This is a Dolphins team now that is even better equipped to run the football, and do so to great effect, as over the last three weeks, the Miami Dolphins have averaged 177 yards per game on the ground on 35 attempts, good for five yards per carry. With a more effective run game, and a healthier stable of backs, Miami should be able to run with decent success in week nine, and they will need to stick with it.

The passing game is another story altogether, while more effective versus the Cardinals in week eight than in previous weeks, it was still a far cry from what many had expected of the Dolphins offense with their main signal-caller at the helm as they were only able to muster 234 yards in the passing game, good for just 6.2 yards per attempt. In the midst of writing this piece, I decided to look back at the first game versus the Bills in September (gross, I know) but one of the things that I found, specifically in the passing game, was…interesting. In Mike McDaniel’s offense, in most offenses really, but more specifically in this offense, space is king. The Dolphins first half offensive game plan was clearly to try and get the skill players out in space, this resulted in a flurry of pop passes, screens, throws to the flat and the like. Normally, versus a team who is flooding the middle of the field, like the Bills were, in order to try and take the Dolphins bread and butter concepts away, this would work. The issue in the previous matchup, though, was that it did not. The reason for this has been somewhat cleaned up by the Dolphins in recent weeks, as the perimeter blocking in this game was just atrocious offensively.

The more interesting takeaway that I noticed was the success the Dolphins had when doing the inverse, which is, spreading the defense out wide in order to better attack the middle of the field in the passing game. On throws to the outside (I used outside the formation here, rather than outside the numbers, because those throws almost didn’t exist) Tua Tagovailoa was 10-14 for 48 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions (one on a botched throwaway attempt). When throwing over the middle of the field, Tagovailoa was much, much more effective. Excluding the 10 yard pop pass to Tyreek, he completed seven of ten passes for 91 yards, and a pick. When context is added to these numbers, they become much more impressive, as the interception was to Grant DuBose, and while the throw was too aggressive for my liking considering the coverage and the target of the pass, it hit him right on the chest before being popped up into the air and intercepted, and the other two incompletions were on a throw over the middle to Tyreek that is on the money if he is not (arguably) held, and a dropped touchdown pass by Julian Hill. Once again, I stress, this is not me pleading my case that the Dolphins could have, or should have, beaten the Bills in week two, but rather highlighting concepts that could bring success in a do-or-die week 9 matchup for Miami. On the other side of the ball, the Dolphins are coming off of their worst performance by far of the 2024 season for Anthony Weaver’s defense. To their credit, they were down their best defensive lineman in Zach Sieler, a player who the Dolphins will desperately need on Sunday if they wish to contain the Bills’ offense, but the bigger issue versus the Cardinals were the linebackers, specifically. Jordyn Brooks and David Long, Jr. were arguably two of the Dolphins best defenders, stuffing runs, and yes, even covering pass-catchers in the first matchup with Buffalo that saw the defense limit Josh Allen to 139 yards passing and only two (!) yards rushing, these two will have to have a massive bounce back game if Miami hopes to contain these high-flying Bills in week nine.

As for Buffalo, this is a different Bills team than the Dolphins previously saw in week two, however, as in recent weeks the Bills have acquired Wide Receiver Amari Cooper from the Browns, and had rookie running back Ray Davis emerge in recent weeks as a legitimate thunder to James Cook’s lightning. The Dolphins secondary will certainly face a more challenging group of skill players this week than they did in round one versus Buffalo, but this is an improved secondary as well, for Miami, as in recent weeks they have seemed to clean up some of the miscommunication issues that had resulted in long touchdowns early in the season. The key, as always, will be to contain Josh Allen, a tough ask for a unit that struggled to do so with Kyler Murray on Sunday, resulting in multiple completions down field on extended plays. No matter how improved the secondary is, or how high of a level Jalen Ramsey is playing at, there is no secondary on the face of the planet that can cover the Bills if Josh Allen is given free reign to extend plays seemingly infinitely as he is known to do, this is where the defensive line will be key on Sunday, the Dolphins must find a way to win on first and second down in order to put the Bills in challenging third and long scenarios, this doesn’t guarantee that Allen can’t or won’t put on his Superman cape, he undoubtedly will, at some point in the game, but the Dolphins must make the degree of difficulty as high as possible. So, what does this all mean for Sunday? Do the Dolphins pull off the improbable in Buffalo? Can Mike McDaniel and the rest of the coaching staff pull a rabbit out of their collective hats?

Only time will tell. One thing is certain, however, and that is that for the sake of the season, for the sake of this brain trust, and the sake of this build, the Dolphins make their last stand this Sunday.

******

Eric Wiedeke (@EricWiedeke) appears on Final Yard and Pulse of Fins Nation and Prize Picks shows on the Five Reasons Sports Network.

If you are the Miami Dolphins, the lone hope to cling to in this rapidly sinking season is that Tua Tagovailoa can return next week from concussion purgatory and miraculously right the wayward ship.

It’s a flimsy hope. It’s a sucker bet that I’m certainly not taking.

Nor would anyone who has watched the absolute dreck served these past six games by the misguided Mike McDaniel & Chris Grier comedy troupe.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, the Dolphins totally turtled in the second half Sunday and lost 16-10 at Indianapolis after leading by 10 against a mediocre Colts team that is trying to break in a young quarterback.

At this point I have no illusions about Tagovailoa somehow saving the season, which stands at 2-4. Just that he can provide relief from having to endure any more of the Huntley-Thompson-Boyle boondoggle we’ve been subjected to in his absence.

How many times has Dolphins season essentially ended before Heat season starts?

It’s a lot, right?

— Five Reasons Sports (@5ReasonsSports) October 20, 2024

Huntley hurt, Boyle no better

On Sunday, Tyler Huntley (shoulder) joined Tagovailoa and Skylar Thompson as Dolphins quarterbacks knocked out of a game by injury already this season. It was left to Tim Boyle, a journeyman whose career has never gone very far, to finish another day of inept Dolphins offense.

Miami’s possessions in the second half, which began with a 10-3 lead, ended with three punts, two fumbles, a missed field goal and turnover on downs.

Tagovailoa is expected to begin practicing this week, and if two doctors sign off on his progress into the final stage of concussion protocol it is conceivable he could start next week at home against Arizona.

That would be a welcome development for star receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who have been missing persons in the offense during his four-game absence.

Against the Colts, the duo was targeted a combined four times and had two receptions for 19 yards.

Raheem Mostert’s fumble was the turning point in the Dolphins’ loss to the Colts.

Mistakes doom Dolphins again

The bigger issue is whether it is even wise to bring Tagovailoa back from his fourth documented concussion at the earliest opportunity.

Most likely, if he is cleared and shows he’s ready to play, he’ll play. But that doesn’t answer whether it is wise.

This is a mistake-prone team that has trouble lining up onside. Steps forward are frequently undone by self-sabotage.

Brutal fumbles by Raheem Mostert and Alec Ingold on Sunday both came at the end of positive gains. They had six more penalties Sunday for 50 yards — twice the yardage assessed against the Colts.

The inability to convert on third-and-1 has become a given. It contributed to this loss when Ingold got stuffed (the line got no push) at the Indy 36 with 6:03 remaining. On fourth down, Jason Sanders clanked a would-be tying 54-yard field goal attempt off the left upright, and the Dolphins didn’t threaten again.

Offseason decisions haunt Dolphins

Missed tackles are the main shortcomings of a defense that overall has been adequate. But when you have a quarterback or running back stopped in the backfield, you have to get them down. Opponents are able to do that against the Dolphins.

Chop Robinson, Miami’s No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, was one of culprits Sunday, letting a tackle for loss slip from his hands and turn into a first-down gain.

Not writing off Robinson, but the return so far from the Dolphins’ top picks in the past three drafts has been zilch, including DB Cam Smith (second round, 2023) and LB Channing Tindall (third round, 2022).

Meanwhile the most impressive member of this year’s draft class, running back Jaylen Wright, gets minimal use.

FEED HIM MORE pic.twitter.com/JUJ9VsRd4c

— josh houtz (@houtz) October 20, 2024

The Dolphins came out of the offseason with a roster that was a downgrade from what got them to the playoffs (and no further) last season. They added veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who has yet to contribute. But didn’t consider it necessary to add an experienced backup quarterback despite Tagovailoa’s injury history.

There were veteran options who likely could have led them to at least two wins in these past three games against Tennessee, New England and Indianapolis — teams that are a combined 4-13 against opponents other than the Dolphins.

Injuries add to Dolphins’ woes

That at least would have them treading water at .500 with Tua eligible to return. Instead they only managed to squeak by a Patriots team in the early stages of rebuilding.

What does that say about a Dolphins team that was supposed to be building on back-to-back playoff appearances? That playoff success in the near future appears as a pipe dream.

Last season unraveled with an ill-fated Monday night loss to the Titans and injuries down the stretch.

Injuries have begun piling up again. Huntley and returner Braxton Berrios (knee) were added to the list Sunday.

Maybe Tua is back for the next game, but where does he take a team that can’t get out of its own way?

Looking ahead, there is little foundation to cement optimism for a season that has seemed cursed since Hill’s run-in with the police on the way to the season opener.

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.

Having to play without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is the least of the Miami Dolphins’ problems.

Now they are also without backup Skylar Thompson as a Miami quarterback exited with an injury in the third quarter for the second week in a row.

But Dolphins deficiencies run much deeper. Three games into a season already off the rails, this is a team without a clue.

Being routed 24-3 by the Seahawks at Seattle was merely a continuation of what has been evident in each game so far.

They trailed by double-digits in all three games. They haven’t held a lead at any point except when Jason Sanders kicked the winning field goal on the final play of the season opener against Jacksonville.

In the two games since then they were buried early, essentially sunk by intermission.

They have been outscored 58-20 in the first half, indicative of a team ill-prepared, disorganized and undisciplined.

McDaniel’s offense sputters again

They trailed 17-3 at halftime Sunday, lost Thompson with a chest injury early in the third quarter and finished a thoroughly inept performance with Tim Boyle at QB in his first Dolphins appearance.

From coaching to execution it was a complete travesty of football.

There have been so many low points with this franchise this century it is difficult to rank them. But this is right down there.

The Mike McDaniel era would appear to be on the ropes in his third season. But wait, the coach was just given a three-year extension through 2028.

The bloom is clearly off McDaniel’s highfalutin offense, which is fooling no one and going nowhere fast.

They have scored 33 points in three games.

The strategy is often befuddling, to say the least. They had the running game going early with De’Von Achane and rookie Jaylen Wright averaging 4.8 yards a carry but quickly abandoned their legs in favor of Thompson’s arm – a losing prop bet by any assessment.

They ran eight times in the first half and threw 16 times, amassing a grand total of 87 yards in the first 30 minutes.

Achane has been Miami’s most productive force on offense. But his efforts are too often negated by penalties. Tight end Julian Hill got called for holding and illegal motion in the first half Sunday. Another hold by Hill wiped out a sizable gain by Achane in the second half.

The Miami Dolphins are currently dead last, ranked 32nd in the league in points scored, with 33 points.

The Carolina Panthers just scored 36 points TODAY. We might just be the worst team in the league. pic.twitter.com/K3iCXY19MP

— KG (@TyreekMVP) September 22, 2024

Miami’s special teams nothing special

The Dolphins can’t even figure out how to line up for kickoffs and punts. They had four penalties on special teams in the first half alone. That included an unnecessary roughness penalty on a punt they downed at the Seattle 4.

In one stretch of four plays in the second quarter they were flagged for a false start, illegal formation twice and unnecessary roughness.

They finished with 11 penalties for 85 yards. It should be noted that the Seahawks were also penalized 11 times in what apparently was Yellow Flag Day in Seattle.

The past two games the Dolphins haven’t been able to get the ball downfield to star receivers Tyreek Hill and Kaylen Waddle. Hill finished with three catches for 40 yards Sunday, Waddle caught four for 26.

So much for the magic of speed.

Watching the Dolphins start their drive on the opponent’s 6 and end up with a field goal:pic.twitter.com/Tx1AbDOi5m

— The Kevin Harlan Effect (@KevHarlanEffect) September 22, 2024

Dolphins should reclaim QB Mike White

As for Thompson, he appears to have progressed not at all despite being in his third season in this offense.

The Dolphins’ best moment came on an interception by Kader Kohou off a deflection that gave them a first down at the Seattle 6. They settled for a field goal, which would be their only points of the day.

Thompson got flattened on the final play of the half, oblivious to Derick Hall bearing down on him from behind. The first possession of the second half ended with a sack by Tyrel Dotson.

Thompson exited early soon after on a hit by Dre’Mont Jones after releasing a pass. He remained on the ground for several minutes before making the slow walk to the locker room like Tagovailoa did in the previous loss to Buffalo.

DK Metcalf gets behind the #Dolphins defense and Geno Smith finds him for a 71-yard TD. Too easy.pic.twitter.com/j4oFa6kwCy

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 22, 2024

The Dolphins would be wise to reclaim their 2023 backup quarterback Mike White, who is on the Bills’ practice squad. He could step right in and run the offense and certainly wouldn’t be worse than we’ve seen from Thompson and Boyle.

But so much is wrong with the Miami offense right now it is difficult to see a quick fix. The line allowed six sacks Sunday, and left tackle Terron Armstead left again with an injury.

The Dolphins finished the day with 205 total yards. They were 1-for-12 on third down, 0-for-3 on fourth down and 0-for-2 in the red zone. They averaged a meager 3.7 yards per play.

The defense did come up with two takeaways. But the secondary let DK Metcalf run free for a 71-yard touchdown that broke the game open.

With so much gone wrong, it is going to be a tough climb just to become competitive.

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.