MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins entered Sunday’s house opener in opposition to New England badly needing a victory. They didn’t get it, dropping, 33-27, to fall to 0-2 heading into Thursday’s sport at Buffalo.
Followers had been indignant in the course of the previous week, indignant sufficient to finance an airplane that towed a banner an anti-general supervisor and anti-coach banner studying “Hearth Chris Grier. Hearth Mike McDaniel.”
Followers additionally booed the Dolphins flippantly early within the sport. All was forgiven by the third quarter when the Dolphins took a 17-15 lead that they changed into a 20-15 benefit. However that happiness didn’t final lengthy, and maybe the identical may very well be stated for McDaniel’s future with the Dolphins. We’ll see.
This week will probably be ugly; listed below are a few of the prime takeaways from Sunday’s sport:
Dolphins ought to brace for all-time excessive in ugliness
Followers will probably be particularly indignant this week and can probably name for firings of Grier and McDaniel. Once more. The one break for the Dolphins is it’s a brief week. But when they lose Thursday on the Payments they get a protracted week of ugliness earlier than internet hosting the New York Jets on Sept. 29 on Monday Evening Soccer.
Proprietor Steve Ross can have a giant choice to make this month as as to whether he retains McDaniels and inserts an interim coach from the workers. McDaniel is now 28-25 (.528) not together with his 0-2 playoff report. The Dolphins are 10-13 (.435), together with playoffs, since that 2023 late-season loss to Tennessee. — Chris Perkins
Protection offers up factors on 13 consecutive possessions
The Dolphins’ protection gave up factors on 13 consecutive possessions, courting again to final season, by halftime. Included in that streak was seven touchdowns and 6 area targets. New England, which scored on its first three possessions Sunday, had a kneel-down to finish the primary half, which mercifully ended the streak.
The Jets scored on their closing three possessions of final 12 months’s finale, a 32-20 Dolphins loss, and Indianapolis scored on all seven of its possessions final week, a 33-8 Dolphins loss, and the Patriots scored on their first three possessions of the primary half. The Dolphins, with Sunday’s loss, misplaced all three video games concerned in that streak.
Hill returns a punt, Washington does it higher, after which tragedy strikes
Extensive receiver Malik Washington’s 74-yard punt return landing within the fourth quarter was an enormous play within the sport. Washington, one of many hardest gamers on the staff, caught the punt on the correct aspect, broke out of a pack of would-be tackles, hit the left sideline and outran punter Bryce Baringer with linebacker Willie Homosexual and working again Ollie Gordon II escorting him into the top zone. The Dolphins took a 27-23 lead on the landing.
The issue was Patriots kickoff returner Antonio Gibson took the following kickoff 90 yards for a landing to provide the Patriots a 30-27 lead.
Extensive receiver Tyreek Hill, who the Dolphins had been reluctant to make use of on punt returns the earlier three years below ex-special groups coordinator Danny Crossman, had a punt return within the third quarter in opposition to New England. It went for 19 yards. Hill’s first probability on the punt return went for 5 yards but it surely was negated by a holding name in opposition to New England.
Getting into the sport Hill, arguably the Dolphins’ most harmful participant with the ball in his fingers, had 5 punt returns for 27 yards in his earlier three seasons with the Dolphins — two returns for minus-4 yards in 2022, and three punt returns for 31 yards in 2024.
Hill streak ends
Extensive receiver Tyreek Hill ended with 9 receptions for 109 yards, marking the primary time since 2023 the Dolphins misplaced when he had at the very least 100 yards receiving. The Dolphins had been beforehand 11-0.
Tua shakes off shaky begin however ends simply as shaky
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw an interception on his first move of the day however happily for the Dolphins the play was negated by offsetting penalties — holding by the Dolphins and offside on the Patriots. Sadly Tagovailoa threw his solely interception within the fourth quarter. It got here on fourth-and-9 with 2:12 remaining and the Dolphins trailing, 30-27.
Tagovailoa ended 26 of 32 for 315 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and a 115.5 passer score. Within the first half the Dolphins obtained their passing offense going when Tagovailoa hit broad receiver Jaylen Waddle after which working again De’Von Achane for 18- and 29-yard landing passes, respectively. Tagovailoa’s incapability to run might need been pricey late as he wasn’t a menace when the pocket broke down.
Davis is first as fifth DB
Security Ashtyn Davis was the fifth defensive again the primary time the Dolphins went to the nickel protection together with cornerbacks Rasul Douglas and Jack Jones and safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Iffy Melinfonwu. Rookie slot/nickel CB Jason Marshall Jr. got here in on the following five-defensive backs play changing Davis and enjoying alongside the beginning 4.
Gordon will get concerned early and late
Rookie working again Ollie Gordon II obtained within the sport late within the first quarter and had a pleasant lead block on an 18-yard run by Washington. He then had a rugged eight-yard run up the center. The Dolphins scored one play afterward the landing move from Tagovailoa to Waddle.
Gordon, the bodily presence within the backfield, didn’t do a lot after that till the fourth quarter when he had a five-yard reception on second 12. Gordon ended with one rush for eight yards and one reception for 5 yards.
Dealer replaces Melinfonwu in second quarter
Rookie security Dante Dealer changed veteran security Iffy Melinfonwu within the second quarter. Melinfonwu was the closest defender on the Patriots’ first landing, an eight-yard move to broad receiver Mack Hollins. Melinfonwu blew a landing protection final week on a landing by Indianapolis broad receiver Michael Pittman. Melinfonwu was introduced to have a calf harm with 1:04 left within the sport.
Go rush begins to floor
The Dolphins’ entrance seven, which some contemplate the power of the staff, began to come back to life because it recorded three sacks Sunday, one by exterior linebacker Bradley Chubb, one by inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks and one other by exterior linebacker Chop Robinson.
The Dolphins had one sack final week in opposition to Indianapolis, and it belonged to Chubb.
An ideal instance of why the move rush is so essential got here within the third quarter when exterior linebacker Jaelan Phillips simply missed quarterback Drake Maye earlier than he uncorked a move that resulted in a 55-yard catch-and-run completion to working again Rhamondre Stevenson with linebacker Jordyn Brooks trailing on protection. On the next play Maye outran exterior linebacker Matthew Judon, turned the nook and scored on a 6-yard landing run.
Maybe Dolphins didn’t undergo any main accidents
The Dolphins misplaced 4 starters to harm final week in opposition to Indianapolis but it surely appeared they didn’t lose any in opposition to New England. In truth, they didn’t have anybody enter the blue harm tent on the sideline, the place gamers get examined on the sideline, till exterior linebacker Chop Robinson had a knee harm evaluated with 7:55 left within the sport and Melinfonwu was introduced with a calf harm late within the sport. However we’ll have to attend and see to make certain.
Final week the Dolphins misplaced proper guard James Daniels (pectoral), proper sort out Austin Jackson (toe), defensive sort out Benito Jones (indirect) and cornerback Storm Duck (ankle).
Offensive line struggles
The Dolphins’ makeshift offensive line — proper guard Kion Smith and proper sort out Larry Borom had been alternative starters — allowed 5 sacks Sunday. The crowning blow got here late as the correct aspect of the offensive line allowed a sack on the Dolphins’ closing offensive play of the sport. Beginning heart Aaron Brewer, left guard Jonah Savaiinaea and left sort out Patrick Paul all had their unhealthy moments though Paul may grade out greatest for the second consecutive week.
Many regarded this 12 months’s offensive line depth because the worst within the McDaniel period. The Dolphins ended with 61 yards speeding on 15 carries as they trailed for a lot of the sport.
Warmth and humidity don’t assist
Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks denied the notion the warmth and humidity may assist the Dolphins win and he was proper. The “feels-like” temperature hit 88 levels however New England didn’t appear affected. Brooks stated in the course of the previous week it’d take an excellent mindset by the Dolphins to win, not scorching climate.
This was the Dolphins’ solely September house sport with a 1 p.m. kickoff. They host the New York Jets on Sept. 29 but it surely’s on Monday Evening Soccer, when scorching, humid climate gained’t probably be an element.
Miami ALMOST made arch-nemesis Harold Landry disappear
For the primary 57 minutes Sunday, new Patriot Harold Landry solely had his title known as for an offsides flag as Tua Tagovailoa and the offense settled in. Nonetheless, the previous Tennessee Titan, who owned the Dolphins in his three video games in opposition to the aqua and orange, piling up 5 sacks, obtained that sixth sack in an enormous spot late. Landry has been the largest single facet of Mike Vrabel’s success in opposition to Mike McDaniel. — Steve Svekis
Tua house mastery within the September cauldron dropped off solely barely
Getting into Sunday, in his 5 1 p.m. begins in September at Arduous Rock Stadium, Tagovailoa had gone 82-118 for 1,116 yards with 7 TD passes and 0 picks, for an unbelievable 119.2 passer score. His first interception in such video games ticked his passer score for the sport to 115.5. He had a first-half choose negated by a Patriot lining up offside, however had a stable closing 45 minutes.
What has an 0-2 begin meant to the Dolphins up to now?
Sunday marked the 14th time in staff historical past the Dolphins have began a season 0-2. In his 27 seasons teaching the staff, Don Shula obtained off to a 0-2 begin solely as soon as (1988). Previously 22 seasons, the Dolphins have been winless moving into to Sport 3 10 occasions. In three of the earlier 13 cases, Miami rallied for double-digit wins, together with the 2008 season the place, in Sport 3, the Tony Sparano-led squad beat the Patriots in The Ronny Brown Sport in Foxborough, Massachusetts to finish probably the most ignominious 21-game run in franchise historical past, the place they went 1-21 from the top of 2006 via that magical 38-13 beatdown of Invoice Belichick. Sparano and Co. completed that 12 months 11-3 to win the AFC East. In the meantime, the Patriots have had one 0-2 begin up to now 24 years (2023).
Listed below are the previous 13 0-2 begins (and the ultimate regular-season report):
2020 (10-6);
2019 (5-11);
2016 (10-6);
2011 (6-10);
2009 (7-9);
2008 (11-5);
2007 (1-15);
2006 (6-10);
2004 (4-12);
1988 (6-10);
1969 (3-10-1);
1968 (5-8-1);
1966 (3-11).
De’Von Achane’s capacity to hit the top zone has gotten elite
The blown receiving TD late, with shades of the present the Dolphins obtained from Antonio Brown and the Steelers in icy Pittsburgh in 2013, simply hurts to the core. That stated, Achane’s landing reception marked his seventh receiving rating in his previous 13 video games, and he has 11 in 30 profession video games. By comparability, Christian McCaffrey had 11 in his first 28 video games. So, he’s in uncommon air. However 12 TDs, would have been superb.
The primary-quarter scoring drought is reaching epic proportions
Having been shut out to this point within the opening quarter-hour in opposition to the Colts and Patriots, the Dolphins’ offense now has 18 factors within the first quarter of its previous 9 video games (since
When Tua Tagovailoa performs the Patriots, his non-offensive teammates present up
Malik Washington’s go-ahead punt return landing grew to become the fourth non-offensive landing scored by the Dolphins in Tua Tagovailoa’s 7-1 run in opposition to the Pats. Within the 2021 season finale, the Dolphins obtained a 37-yard Xavien Howard pick-six after which a final-play fumble restoration by Samuel Eguavoen in the long run zone. Then, within the 2022 season opener, Melvin Ingram obtained a 2-yard fumble return after a sack.
Once more, the cellular quarterback torched the Dolphins
Miami fell to 8-27 in opposition to cellular QBs as Drake Maye scored an enormous landing for the Patriots. In these 35 video games, these QBs have piled up an unbelievable 113.5 passer score and run for 1,331 yards and tallied 13 speeding scores. The opposing groups have averaged 29 factors a sport on offense and nearly 400 yards per sport.
On deck: At Buffalo Payments, Highmark Stadium, Thursday, 8:15 p.m.
The Dolphins will probably be enjoying their closing regular-season sport at Highmark Stadium. Via 1986, the Dolphins had a 16-5 report in upstate New York, but it surely has been a grotesque 9-28 since. … Within the Josh Allen period, the Payments have averaged 37.4 factors a sport at house in opposition to the Dolphins, going 8-0.
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