Like underground BBQ, the Dolphins are done for.

There’s an amusing saying about men in their late 30s—many seem to dive headfirst into barbecuing and buy smokers, or they develop a keen interest in World War II history. I’ve leaned more toward the latter since I studied it in college; as a result, I’ve ended up with drum smokers in my backyard, and my fascination with the Maillard reaction has taken over my life. The intricacies of cooking have become my little obsession, especially figuring out the specific temperatures where fat transforms into collagen.

Interestingly, a dolphin was placed in the smoker a few months back, and now it awaits retrieval before the sculpture’s unveiling.

Forget those pointless touchdowns or futile two-point conversions. What really stood out last Sunday was that the Miami Dolphins didn’t appear to have any faith in their training or in their will to actually play football. They seemed out of sorts during their match against the Colts in Indianapolis, which felt justified as Shane Steichen, Daniel Jones, and the underdog Colts dominated them.

We’ve seen similar disappointing games from other teams late in the season, often as a coach begins to lose the locker room. The Dolphins, however, showed a stark contrast to the initial excitement they had, leading to serious questions about Mike McDaniel’s future within the organization.

I’ve been rooting for McDaniel; it’s frustrating to see things unravel. It’s refreshing to have a coach who’s a true football nerd instead of one who has been grooming for a head coach role for years. However, the signs are pretty clear. The Dolphins are a fair-weather team. When things are going well, they’re cheerful, but as soon as they face adversity, they start to crumble.

Take Tyreek Hill, for instance, who was visibly upset long before halftime.

It’s not entirely on McDaniel that Hill seems more focused on complaining than on competing. Or that Tua Tagovailoa played like he wasn’t ready for the moment. Yes, coaches can only do so much. Keeping a team mentally in the game is fundamental in the NFL, yet it was glaring how players were losing their composure—showing frustration on the sidelines or slamming their helmets can indicate a loss of control by the coach.

Perhaps it’s oversimplifying things, but Tagovailoa’s play is a significant reason for the Dolphins’ struggles. The offense relies on quick, accurate passes to stretch the field, and while he can perform admirably when everything clicks, he shows persistent issues under pressure. He seems to struggle when his pocket collapses.

The Colts exploited Tagovailoa’s weaknesses. Once he hit a rough patch, he could mainly throw to the right, struggling to deliver long passes consistently. It sounds odd, especially since he’s a left-handed quarterback, and traditionally that’s supposed to be his strength.

Essentially, all he really needed to do was throw accurately and timely. If he can’t manage that, his effectiveness diminishes. It’s a tall order, but McDaniel’s offensive strategy expects a quarterback to rack up yards after the catch. The fact that Tua couldn’t manage to move the ball against a Colts defense that ranked 24th last year—even if they have improved a little—raises serious doubts.

Right now, it’s tough to see a clear path for the Dolphins. They’ll face AFC East rivals in the next three weeks, none looking particularly strong so far. Fortunately, they’ll be home for two of those games against the Patriots and Jets, but if McDaniel doesn’t turn things around quickly, a 0-4 record could loom over them by the end of September.

As for the rest of the league, let’s check out who came out on top and who fell flat.

Winner: Aaron Rodgers…I hate to admit it.

It’s hard to swallow, especially as someone who hasn’t been a fan of his. Watching his performance against the Jets made me question whether it was more a reflection of Rodgers’ talent or just the Jets’ defense being lackluster. The truth is, he delivered—a 73% completion rate and he threw some verticals that were sorely missed by the Jets last season, helping people rethink if his skills are diminishing.

Rodgers not only played brilliantly, but he also helped craft DK Metcalf into a more versatile receiver, rather than just a deep threat. This is certainly something to keep an eye on for the Steelers as they work to bolster their own offensive strategies.

Then there are the Lions, where questions loomed large. Everyone was curious if Dan Campbell’s brilliance could offset the losses of key coordinators. After one week, the answer seems to be no, and it was quite the disappointment.

Detroit looked confused on both sides of the field. They came into that game needing to prove they were still a force in the NFC North, but instead, they left humiliated.

This might have been one of the worst showings under Campbell since his tenure began. While it’s too soon to throw in the towel on the Lions, it’s worth watching whether the new coordinators can adapt and find solutions, as filling the shoes of their predecessors is no small feat.

Week one saw some rookie performances that hinted at potential. Ashton Jeanty and Travis Hunter shined when given chances, and for the unfortunate Panthers, Tetaroa Macmillan was a lone bright spot. But the standout was Emeka Egbuka, who made his mark in a big way.

Egbuka was an intriguing first-round pick for the Buccaneers. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin already on the roster, adding another receiver seemed somewhat excessive, but he ended up making a critical difference in the victory over the Falcons, catching two touchdowns in his NFL debut.

His presence adds a valuable dimension to Tampa’s offense; he can create plays downfield while still being a reliable option when needed.

This is definitely a player to follow.

The first week in the NFL is always a bit chaotic, with many offenses struggling to find their rhythm. A handful of teams looked strong, but many others justified concerns about their performance. The Colts, Steelers, Ravens, and Bills emerged as notable bright spots.

Still skeptical? Check out these stats:

Defense certainly dominated the weekend’s play. So, if your team struggled offensively in their opener, don’t panic just yet. The reality is that offensive output was underwhelming across the board, and we might be in for a bumpy ride this season. If your team remains sluggish in a few weeks, that’s when it might be time to sound the alarm.

Winner: Buffalo Bills

What a statement made by the Bills. Honestly, I never thought I’d be here on a Sunday night discussing a dramatic comeback by them.

Down by 15 points with under 12 minutes left, they could have easily thrown in the towel. No shame in that against a top-tier team like the Ravens, but they kept their cool and took charge of the game.

Josh Allen showed why he’s a true MVP when the stakes are high. Keon Coleman not only made pivotal scoring catches but crucial ones to maintain momentum.

This kind of performance can set the tone for a successful season, showcasing resilience and teamwork.

It’s interesting how I initially framed this section about the Ravens being winners, yet here we are—the outcome tells a different story. Regardless of how well players like Derrick Henry played, or how great Zay Flowers and DeAndre Hopkins looked, the Ravens needed reliable support when it mattered most, and that was absent.

The loss encapsulates the broader issues with the Ravens’ strategy. They fell back on a one-dimensional approach, and when things got tough, no one was around to back up their key players.

When it’s all said and done, the Bills appeared cohesive, while the Ravens felt more like a collection of talented individuals— and that’s where the difference lay.