INDIANAPOLIS — Hastily, within the wake of a disappointing, jaw-dropping season-opening 33-8 loss at Indianapolis, the Miami Dolphins are going through a virtually must-win sport in Week 2 in opposition to New England.
If the Dolphins lose their dwelling opener subsequent week to the winless Patriots (they misplaced at dwelling to Las Vegas, 20-13) they’re going through an virtually sure 0-3 begin.
After which the stress actually would begin to construct on coach Mike McDaniel and basic supervisor Chris Grier, and by affiliation, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
The important thing factor to remember is Sunday’s loss is only one of 17, which means it’s just one sport amongst 17 regular-season video games.
“I’m very optimistic,” heart Aaron Brewer mentioned. “It’s an extended season, what I’m saying? It ain’t about the way you begin, it’s about the way you end. So we’re on to subsequent week, and it may very well be completely totally different subsequent week. And everyone knows this, it’s the NFL, that’s the place my head at.”
It’s good that the Dolphins are able to flush this loss and sit up for the Patriots as a result of the Dolphins, who I nonetheless stubbornly have as a nine-win crew this season, completely can’t fall to 0-2 and say it’s simply two of 17.
In the event that they lose subsequent Sunday you may as properly pencil in an 0-3 begin.
We all know there’s virtually no method the Dolphins win on the Buffalo Payments on Thursday evening in Week 3. Within the McDaniel/Tua period, the Dolphins are 1-6 in opposition to the Payments and using a six-game shedding streak, together with shedding all 4 at Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium.
So the Dolphins should win subsequent Sunday.
It received’t be straightforward. They’ll have psychological scars that should heal rapidly.
Tua had three ugly turnovers — two interceptions and a misplaced fumble — that the Colts was 17 factors. Vast receiver Tyreek Hill completed with 4 receptions for 40 yards. Fellow vast receiver Jaylen Waddle had 4 receptions for 30 yards.
The sting rushers (Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, Chop Robinson and Matthew Judon) totaled only one sack because the Colts offensive line, which was nearly as good as marketed, fashioned an impenetrable wall round quarterback Daniel Jones.
The secondary was practically a catastrophe between vast open receivers and a blown protection that allowed a landing.
Even particular groups had an enormous mistake as Judon’s operating into the punter penalty allowed the Colts to finish a 17-play drive that noticed them convert a third-and-10 and a fourth-and-2.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Breaking down Miami’s disastrous loss in season opener at Colts | VIDEO
“I don’t assume we performed a whole sport of soccer,” security Minkah Fitzpatrick mentioned. “I don’t assume we actually did something properly. Offense, protection, urgent groups. We didn’t hit any of our objectives. I feel there’s lots of issues that have to get fastened. However fortunately, the issues that have to get fastened are fixable.”
The Colts, not an offensive juggernaut by any measurement, had scoring drives of 15, 17 and 14 performs. Oh, and only for stability they scored on a pair of seven-play drives, a five-play drive and a nine-play drive.
As for the bodily scars, contemplate neither proper guard James Daniels (pectoral) nor proper deal with Austin Jackson (toe) completed the sport. Daniels’ damage is probably going extra critical than Jackson’s. Meaning the revamped offensive line may by no means attain its full potential.
Yeah, this loss was dangerous on many ranges.
However the Dolphins’ locker room wasn’t dangerous. Sure, gamers had been surprised, disenchanted and dejected. However the locker room was extra businesslike than dangerous.
We’ve seen dangerous Dolphins locker rooms among the many 56-19 loss at Baltimore late within the 2023 season, the 48-20 loss at Buffalo early within the 2023 season, the 26-7 playoff loss at Kansas Metropolis within the 2023 season, and final yr’s 30-27 loss at Buffalo, which was maybe probably the most devastated I’ve ever seen that locker room.
Sunday wasn’t in that class.
Nevertheless it was hurtful. You could possibly see it and really feel it as they filed out of the locker room. All had been dejected.
Proprietor Steve Ross. President Tom Garfinkel. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. Waddle. Tua. All of them.
Sunday wasn’t the top of the world, but it surely was the top of the parable that this crew may very well be particular this season, that this crew may give an enormous “screw you” to skeptics whose season predictions vary from an optimistic 9-8 to a heads-will-roll 5-12.
Sure, the loss at Indianapolis is only one of 17 video games. It felt like far more, although.
Sunday’s loss offers you the sensation that if the Dolphins lose subsequent week, there’s nothing they will do to forestall an 0-3 begin, through which case there will likely be speak of jobs being on the road.
Subsequent week’s sport in opposition to New England is as near a must-win sport as you’ll ever see in September.
