Pressure Point: Dolphins avert disaster with sloppy win against Patriots; problems persist

The Miami Dolphins were doing more than playing an early season game against a division rival Sunday.

They were playing to prevent their season from going bye bye before their bye week.

They accomplished that, at least, with Sunday’s 15-10 win on the road over the rebuilding Patriots.

Barely.

It wasn’t impressive or convincing. Most of it was difficult to watch, cringe worthy and exasperating.

But at the end of the day, a Dolphins team that didn’t claim its first in-game lead until the first quarter of this fifth game of the season, found itself tied for second place in the AFC East with the Jets at 2-3. A last-second loss brought the Bills within reach of the pack at 3-2.

Such is the parody — sorry, parity — of the NFL.

It was hardly a confidence-builder for a beleaguered Dolphins fan base. This was as winnable a game as you can find on the schedule, and the Dolphins came within a heel of botching a win that was repeatedly gift-wrapped for them.

Replay reversal saves Dolphins

It took a replay reversal that determined Patriots receiver Ja’Lynn Polk got only the toe but not the heel of his second foot in bounds to negate what was initially ruled a 12-yard touchdown reception. That would have given New England the lead with just over a minute remaining.

As expected, the Patriots are not a good team in the first year After Belichick. Their quarterback is former Dolphins backup Jacoby Brissett, a serviceable veteran stopgap but no one’s choice to lead a team anywhere meaningful.

Despite the victory, it was another confounding performance for a Dolphins team coming off playoff appearances in back-to-back seasons.

The offense continues to sabotage itself with pre-snap motion penalties and holding infractions — yet another holding call on tight end Julian Hill, who got flagged four times in the previous game.

Miami ended up with six assessed penalties for 54 yards. Fortunately for the Fins, the Patriots more than returned the favor with 12 penalties for 105 yards.

As Mark Sanchez observed on the Fox broadcast about a matched pair of undisciplined teams, “They take a step forward and two steps back.”

The Dolphins vs Patriots game: pic.twitter.com/vQwGfq2mjh

— The Degenerates (@degen_betting) October 6, 2024

Personnel decisions hamper Dolphins

Entering its third season under coach Mike McDaniel, this supposedly was a team built to finally advance in the playoffs for the first time in a couple of decades. That was the reason McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa were given contract extensions, or so we were led to believe.

Instead, they have been stumbling all over themselves for five weeks. Tagovailoa’s absence due to yet another concussion only partially explains the problems of an offense that has scored but five touchdowns in five games. McDaniel’s once-potent and often-praised system was spinning its wheels even before Tua was injured in the second half of the second game.

The quarterback’s latest setback underscores questions about offseason decisions by general manager Chris Grier and the front office.

No. 1 on that list is that despite Tua’s history of injury absences, specifically concussions, how could they not invest in an experienced veteran as a backup instead of counting on Skylar Thompson, who showed little when called on during his first two seasons? Thompson was ineffective in his lone start this season before being injured.

Another offseason failing that gnaws at Dolphins fans was not prioritizing retaining linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who had his second pick-6 of the season for the Vikings, this time taking an Aaron Rodgers pass back 63 yards Sunday in London.

Grier scoffed at criticism of the offensive line, which has shown to be a trouble spot. Oft-injured left tackle Terron Armstead has been in and out of the lineup. Guard Liam Eichenberg was beaten for a sack and had two penalties Sunday.

Special teams have been a travesty. In the first half Sunday: Jake Bailey had a punt blocked. Jason Sanders clanked a 41-yard field goal attempt off the left upright. Sanders later nailed a 46-yard attempt but it was negated by a motion penalty. On the retry, Blake Ferguson bounced the snap.

Sanders did convert from 54, 32 and 47 yards to keep the Dolphins in the game while they continued to waste chances to get the ball into the end zone.

your 2024 miami dolphins! pic.twitter.com/otosgeTJdl

— josh houtz (@houtz) October 6, 2024

No receptions for Beckham in Dolphins debut

The first appearance of veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for Miami brought no immediate benefit: two targets, zero receptions. The first pass thrown to him was intercepted, leading to a short touchdown drive that gave New England a 7-3 lead at the half.

By intermission, it took restraint to not throw something at the TV or turn it off.

As former Patriot Rob Gronkowski put it on the Fox halftime show: “Not gonna lie, this is a tough football game to watch.”

The second half did produce drama. And there were some positives for the Dolphins.

They got the running game going for the first time all season. Notably, McDaniel had the sense to stick with it.

Alec Ingold scores what proved to be the winning touchdown for the Dolphins against the Patriots.

The return of running back Raheem Mostert made a big difference, with 19 carries for 80 yards. After De’Von Achane left with a concussion in the first half, rookie Jaylen Wright looked like the Achane of last season while averaging 6.6 yards a carry (13 for 86 yards).

The Dolphins put together their lone touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, aided by a pass interference call on New England’s Christian Elliss. They used seven consecutive runs to cover the final 52 yards.

Fullback Alec Ingold was the hero of the drive, opening seams for Mostert and Wright, then going the final three yards on a dive up the middle.

It was the first time all season that a touchdown gave the Dolphins a lead.

QB Huntley’s second Dolphins start marginally better

The past three games have shattered the assertion that any quarterback can thrive in McDaniel’s offense.

South Florida native Snoop Huntley’s second start for Miami was somewhat better than his first. He finished 18 for 31 for 194 yards, one interception and a meh passer rating of 63.1.

Granted, he’s only in his third week with a complex offense. But he takes too long to identify a receiver and get the ball out. His accuracy is below par.

Huntley will have two weeks to progress before what could be his final start before Tagovailoa returns. There is no certainty, though, that Tua will be cleared to return when eligible for the Dolphins’ Oct. 27 home game against the Cardinals.

The bye week is timely for the Dolphins. McDaniel has a lot to do to get this team back on track for any semblance of a successful season. Beating the 1-4 Patriots was merely a reprieve.

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.