McDaniel Focuses on Jets, Not the Weather

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel emphasizes the need for his team to concentrate purely on the upcoming game against the New York Jets, rather than the anticipated cold weather conditions. During a press conference on Friday, McDaniel, 42, expressed the significance of the divisional matchup, stating, “I think each team has its own uniqueness, and I’m not going to ignore that, but we have to make sure it’s the Jets and not the weather.”

He added, “There are plenty of reasons why you shouldn’t worry about things like temperature or humidity. They’ve all played in those conditions. It’s about focusing on the Jets, not the cold.”

The Dolphins have had difficulties performing in colder climates, particularly since Tua Tagovailoa became the starting quarterback. They currently hold a 0-7 record in games where Tagovailoa started in temperatures below 46 degrees. With the forecast predicting temperatures around 40 degrees for the game, the challenge looms large.

Tagovailoa himself, 27, noted that he’s paid to play football no matter the weather. “It’s a mentality, a mindset,” he said. “This is what we’re paid to do: play football whether it’s raining, snowing, sleeting, hot or cold. We just have to go out and play and do our jobs.”

Despite their current 5-7 record, the Dolphins are on a three-game winning streak and are still in the playoff race. To keep their hopes alive, a win against the Jets, who are sitting at 3-9, is essential when they face off on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.