The Miami Dolphins’ disastrous season sunk to a new low after Sunday’s 31-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns. This loss continues the Dolphins’ streak of defeats at six in a row, pulling them down to a sordid record of 1-6. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s performance in that game was blasted. He threw three interceptions, and coach Mike McDaniel said two of those were “extremely preventable.”
Those three games are the only times this season that Tagovailoa has thrown more than one interception. For comparison, he had just two INTs all last season. Those struggles came to a head during a career-low 24.1 passer rating in the last game vs. the Browns. The quarterback acknowledged his underwhelming performance, admitting, “Definitely not happy, not proud of where I’m at with my play, with how I’ve gone about things this year.”
Despite signing a lucrative four-year contract extension worth $212.1 million in the summer of 2024, Tagovailoa’s recent form raises concerns about his ability to lead the Dolphins effectively. He expressed a desire to return to his previous level of performance, stating, “I need to get back to my previous level of play,” while emphasizing his commitment to improving for the sake of the team.
The Dolphins’ problems were compounded by their tendency to shoot themselves in the foot on a weekly basis. They had 11 penalties for 103 yards and four turnovers vs. the Browns. Coach McDaniel was clearly frustrated about these self-inflicted errors. He acknowledged that drastic changes could be necessary as the staff prepares to host the Falcons in Week 8.
During McDaniel’s post-game press conference, he stressed the importance of taking a hard look at everything his team is doing. He touched on the prospect of altering their cadence or lineup. He stated, “There’s a lot of guys that will have an important work week,” underscoring the urgency for improvement.
When McDaniel got a chance to dig deeper into the implications of regularly falling short, she didn’t hold back. He noted, “If you are negatively affecting the football team routinely, I don’t have a choice but to assess a different player, and I have to coach a lot better, as well.” His comments indicate that even the big guns could be in for a hard look going forward if they don’t step it up.
The circumstances that have exacerbated the Dolphins’ struggles this season have put a lot of heat on both player and coach. McDaniel maintained his focus on his responsibilities, expressing that thinking about job security would detract from his effectiveness: “The way I look at this job is I find it very offensive to all parties involved if I’m thinking about having the job — I need to be doing my job.”
For their parts, both Tagovailoa and McDaniel are preparing for big weeks ahead. They’re looking to rejuvenate a once-promising season that’s since fallen off the rails into disarray. McDaniel understood the stakes better than anyone. He added, “So, let’s really see who and what we’re made of.”
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