MIAMI GARDENS — If Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is a razor-sharp 26 of 30 passing in every of his subsequent two video games, he’ll end the season finishing 74.7 p.c of his passes and narrowly surpass Drew Brees’ all-time single season completion document of 74.4 p.c, established in 2018.
There’s an opportunity that occurs, however it’s a longshot, much like the Dolphins’ playoff hopes.
It’s been that kind of irritating season for Tagovailoa, who leads the Dolphins (7-8) into Sunday’s sport at Cleveland (3-12) having accomplished a career-best and league-leading 72.9 p.c of his passes this season.
Tagovailoa was requested the opportunity of establishing that completion p.c document earlier this month.
“That might imply rather a lot,” he stated, “however I feel for us, proper now, simply attempting to maintain the primary objective, the primary objective and to discover a win this Sunday and go on a run that we’ve been speaking about in that locker room as a workforce, that may be just a little extra particular than every other document I’d say.”
That didn’t occur. The Dolphins misplaced at Houston a number of days later.
Extra frustration.
Tagovailoa has 19 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 101.4 passer ranking for the season.
However a glance contained in the numbers exhibits why it’s been a irritating season for Tagovailoa.
Issues bought off to a tough begin when he sustained a concussion within the 31-10 loss to Buffalo in Week 2, went on the injured reserve listing and missed the subsequent 4 video games.
Then the Dolphins misplaced Tagovailoa’s first two begins upon his return.
Since then, they downshifted from their daring, thrilling, deep-throwing offense that featured Tagovailoa throwing touchdowns to receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to a dink-and-dunk system that options tight finish Jonnu Smith and working again De’Von Achane in short- and medium-range passes.
“I feel the success that we discovered offensively, with the ability to distribute the ball to totally different guys,” Tagovailoa stated, “has allowed us to seek out success within the brief sport after which within the mid-passing sport as nicely.”
Tagovailoa has a 6-5 document as a starter this season to associate with 19 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
A fast look inside his numbers highlights an issue that’s haunted the Dolphins lately, and that’s an incapacity to carry out in opposition to playoff-caliber groups.
— Towards playoff groups, Tagovailoa has a 1-4 document this season to associate with seven touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
— Towards non-playoff groups, Tagovailoa is 5-1, with 12 touchdowns and no interceptions.
— Over the past two seasons, Tagovailoa has 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in opposition to playoff groups, and 34 touchdowns and eight interceptions in opposition to non-playoff groups.
Tagovailoa received’t face one other playoff workforce this season except the Dolphins miraculously wiggle their means contained in the postseason event.
Tagovailoa appeared on the harm report with a hip harm final week however coaches stated it’s nothing critical.
“December soccer,” offensive coordinator Frank Smith stated. “Everybody’s working by way of stuff going to the sport. In the event you’re feeling utterly wholesome in December, you in all probability haven’t performed an entire lot.”
Coach Mike McDaniel confirmed that account.
“It’s one thing that in December soccer, there’s a whole lot of these issues the place gamers throughout the board are getting dinged and you’ve got to have the ability to government with these issues,” McDaniel stated. “He’s actually not made a problem for this week’s prep.”
Tagovailoa stated document or not, playoff probabilities or not, the Dolphins nonetheless have purpose to carry out at their greatest in these remaining two video games.
“No matter if we’re nonetheless in it or not, you get to see rather a lot about who an individual is by the best way they go about their enterprise,” Tagovailoa stated. “You see guys laying down? That tells you numerous proper there.
“You see guys combating? I imply, that ought to inform you numerous as nicely, and it is best to know the fellows that you simply need to — hopefully subsequent 12 months it is best to know by that point, the fellows that have been going when instances have been arduous. You sort of need them in your workforce and you may sort of rely on these guys.”