There's no good way to salvage a season when you lose your starting quarterback, much less a Pro Bowl player like Tua Tagovailoa, who is perfect to lead Mike McDaniel's offense. But what's unusual is to see a team with the potential and goals of the Dolphins limping along, without answers and without purpose. That's exactly what's happening in Miami right now, and it's unclear if anyone inside the building has a solution to stopping the free fall.
It's been exactly three weeks since Tagovailoa suffered his fourth concussion. thursday night football against the Bills. Since that point, there's a strong argument to be made that the Dolphins have become the worst team in football. They have lost their last two games by a combined score of 55-15, including an absolutely shameless 19-point loss to the hapless Tennessee Titans.
Two things became clear in this downfall: the Dolphins had no concrete plan in case Tagovailoa went down, and their offense was unable to plan around his absence. Ta.
At this point in the season, quarterback injuries were higher than average. The Steelers will start without Russell Westbrook, the Packers will have to adjust to missing Jordan Love for two games, and the Colts will have to rely on Joe Flacco due to an injury to Anthony Richardson. There wasn't. What's remarkable about these teams when compared to the Dolphins is that despite the injuries, everyone was able to adapt, overcome, and win. But the status quo continues to have dire consequences in Miami.
From the second Skyler Thompson took the field against the Bills, it was clear it wasn't going to work. McDaniel's offense relies on accurate passing. That's the secret sauce that makes this work interesting. This accuracy extends beyond just the form of a complete or incomplete pass, to the micro-level of being able to predict what the passer will hit the receiver in stride, resulting in a critical catch to make it all work. Connects to the later yard.
Thompson finished the game for the Bills with 8 of 14 hits for 80 yards. It somehow got even worse against the Seahawks, where Thompson and Tim Boyle combined for 186 yards passing on 32 attempts. Mainly because they couldn't find Tyreek Hill in space and couldn't pick up YAC.
It's only fair that they at least try to run the same offense one more time, especially with a team like Seattle where they feel the talent is on par. But the result of that match made it abundantly clear that something needed to change. Miami's only options were to attempt a panic trade with an interim QB or modify the offense to a run-oriented attack that would take pressure off the below-average passers it had access to.
Neither did the Dolphins.
The same thing happened against the Titans. McDaniel called 22 pass plays and 22 runs, but only dialed up four pass plays from the backfield to running backs. Once again, this was exactly the game plan the team had with Tua leading the way, but without his accuracy it all fell apart.
Surely the Dolphins are changing things up heading into Week 5? No.
Instead of providing a solution or answer to free fall, McDaniel was rather empathetic to the booing fans.He said he doesn't blame them for being upset.
“I know sporting events where I'm rooting for a team and not coaching them. I get a lot more angry when I fail than when I'm coaching, and I'm actually able to problem-solve. That's to be expected. I don't like feeling entitled to blind support. Go to work, solve problems, and try to solve things as best you can. I think we have to, and I don't necessarily think we're obligated to do anything.”
While McDaniel's refreshingly relaxed approach to football is a breath of fresh air, there are times when a football coach should be angry. It's pretty rough to say you're not as angry as the fans when your team's performance is poor. Is it a good thing that he wants to focus on problem solving? Absolutely. The problem is that there doesn't seem to be any effort being made to fix the problem.
Line play on both sides of the ball has been a nightmare for Miami this season, and it goes far beyond the loss of Tagovailoa. Last season, the Dolphins ranked 22nd in the league in points allowed, but they had no problems with a powerful offense that ranked second in points scored. As of 2024, the team ranks 26th in points conceded and last in terms of offense.
This should make him angry! When a star player goes down, there should be expectations that the team will bounce back. Everyone should step up, fill that void, make a point and play their best football with pride when they step on the field. The Dolphins are playing like a lackluster, unmotivated mess right now, and that's squarely on Mike McDaniel's shoulders.
This week may be the last chance to turn things around. The Patriots are a team that the Dolphins should be able to win without Tua. If they lose and fall to 1 win and 4 losses, the season is completely over. It's that simple. It's not the best time for an injury to a starting QB, but the trifecta of Seattle, Tennessee, and New England was the perfect place for it to happen. Starting in Week 5, the Dolphins will play the Colts, Cardinals, Bills, and Rams. If Tagovailoa isn't already in those games, it would be four losses for a team that can't beat the likes of the Titans and Patriots.
There's no question the Dolphins have been treated badly in all of this, but McDaniel is coaching like a guy who's folding. That has to change.
