MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tua Tagovailoa finds himself reflecting on his past experiences as he tries to guide the Miami Dolphins out of a difficult start this season, reminiscent of 2021 when the team managed a remarkable comeback despite an initial 1-7 record. After overcoming a similar slump previously, Tagovailoa hopes to ignite a turnaround, but the Dolphins currently sit at 2-5 following a narrow defeat against the Arizona Cardinals, which has put their postseason aspirations at risk.
“No disrespect to my other teammates (from 2021), but I’m talking about the talent that we have here (now),” Tagovailoa stated. He believes the current roster has much more talent, emphasizing the challenge they face in replicating past success. “To give that group respect, we won the next (seven) games — and I’m not saying we’re going to do that or whatnot — but it is possible.”
Head Coach Mike McDaniel expressed frustration with the team’s situation, noting that the Dolphins’ offense has improved significantly, but they failed to secure a win over the Cardinals. After returning from a concussion, Tagovailoa led the team to their highest scoring game of the season, yet they squandered a 10-point lead for the second consecutive week.
This loss resonated deeply for McDaniel, particularly given the difficult circumstances the team encountered during Tagovailoa’s absence due to a concussion, where the Dolphins recorded just one win in four games.
The Dolphins have faced consistency issues, including sloppy play leading to many penalties and mistakes. Holding calls and illegal formations have caused setbacks in recent performances. Although only two penalties were officially recorded against them during the last game, a critical snap that went over Tagovailoa’s head resulted in a safety that turned out to be pivotal.
Fullback Alec Ingold described the team’s situation as being affected by “a thousand paper cuts,” indicating that, unlike previous years, the team has not successfully navigated such challenges this season. Nonetheless, Ingold remains hopeful that the season can still be salvaged, even with a tough matchup against the Buffalo Bills ahead.
Historically, the Dolphins have struggled against mobile quarterbacks, a challenge they will face with Buffalo’s Josh Allen, who had a productive game against Miami last season with four touchdown passes and one rushing score.
“We just got to do a better job at our angles. Our angles were bad chasing (Kyler Murray),” linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah acknowledged. He points out the need to be more effective in their game plan as they prepare to face another agile quarterback in Allen.
In terms of positives, Tagovailoa showcased effective connections with his star receivers, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, completing a combined 10 passes for a total of 117 yards. This marked an impressive rebound for these players after a dip in production during Tagovailoa’s injury absence. Hill, for instance, had his second-best performance of the season following a prior game where he caught only one of two targets for 8 yards.
On the defensive front, the team saw struggle against the Cardinals, yielding 300 passing yards for the first time this season. This featured a critical moment where Murray completed all four passing attempts on the drive that secured Arizona’s winning field goal, showcasing Miami’s need to tighten their defensive strategy.
Defensive tackle Calais Campbell expressed disappointment, noting that the defense had played well in recent weeks but could not finish strong this time. “First half, we were rolling, and it’s the NFL, though. It’s a momentum game and Kyler made some big-time plays in big moments,” he said.
In player developments, running back De’Von Achane has started to shine, becoming a significant asset in the passing game. With 29 receptions, he ranks second on the team and leads in receiving touchdowns, tallying six catches for 50 yards along with a rushing performance of 97 yards on 10 carries in the latest game.
On the downside, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has struggled to make an impact, yet to secure a catch over the last three games. He played a limited role during the last match, with no targets and just 11 total snaps played.
Regarding injuries, Coach McDaniel provided an update on Jevon Holland, whose knee injury from the previous game seems minor, likely not requiring surgery; however, it remains uncertain whether he will be available for the upcoming week.
As Miami prepares for their next matchup, they continue to grapple with their performance against the Buffalo Bills, historically having a tough time as evidenced by a 14-2 record against them since Coach Sean McDermott took over in 2017. Following this, the Dolphins face the Los Angeles Rams in an away game.