Tua Tagovailia's poor play is holding the Dolphins back.

Pressure Point: Dolphins keep hopes alive despite Tagovailoa’s baffling decline

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The Miami Dolphins may wear aqua-and-orange, but they are fool’s gold to their fans.

Here they go again making a show of late-season contention. They’ve won three in a row and four of their past five to reach the fringe of the wild-card race.

The network keeps showing them in the graphic of playoff hopefuls, and I can’t help but laugh.

Did that look like a playoff team that had everyone biting fingernails to the quick in fending off (barely) a young, rebuilding 2-9 Saints team 21-17 Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium?
Not when the quarterback is your biggest liability.

The regression of Tua Tagovailoa has been nothing short of baffling, and he’s gotten worse as the season has progressed. This latest head-scratching performance was up there among his most inept.

Tagovailoa outplayed by Saints rookie

That was underscored late in the fourth quarter when Fox color analyst Mark Schlereth suggested the Dolphins completely remove all passing plays from the offense and just hand the ball to De’Von Achane for the remainder of the game.

He wasn’t being facetious. His point was well founded.

Tagovailoa not only threw his league-leading 14th interception of the season, he was off target nearly all day.

There was a crisp throw to Jaylen Waddle on a crossing pattern for a 22-yard gain and a strike down the middle to tight end Greg Dulcich for 21 yards. That was about it for well-thrown balls.

The key to success for the Dolphins this season was supposed to be Tagovailoa staying healthy. He’s done that, making every start, and it’s been to their detriment.

Sunday he was outplayed by Saints rookie Tyler Shough, and it wasn’t particularly close. Shough, making his fourth career start, is a work in progress, but he showed athleticism that Tagovailoa doesn’t possess and threw two second-half touchdown passes in rallying the Saints from a 19-0 deficit to within a two-point conversion in the final minutes.

Tagovailoa loses his accurate touch

In years past, Tua’s ability to throw accurately helped offset his shortcomings of middling arm strength and mediocre mobility.

This season, he’s lost his touch, and that was evident throughout Sunday’s game. He started by overthrowing Cedrick Wilson Jr., who had a step advantage on a deep route. Then he botched a short toss on an inside screen near the Saints’ goal to Achane, who could have waltzed into the endzone. Instead the Dolphins had to settle for one of four Riley Patterson field goals.

In the second half Tua threw behind Julian Hill on a third-down play when the Dolphins were trying to answer the first Saints touchdown. Later, he floated a pass in the endzone to Darren Waller, who ran out of room.

It wasn’t merely that his passes were off the mark, so was his judgment. Most glaring was the long pass into double coverage for Waddle that was intercepted. He overlooked Achane who was open.

Tagovailoa finished the day 12 of 23 for 157 yards, with a paltry passer rating of 55.9.

Tua’s subpar stats don’t lie

He was sacked four times, which often happens when his first read is covered and protection breaks down. Shough, like almost every quarterback the Dolphins face, has the ability to scramble out of trouble and make a play. Tagovailoa, lacking elusiveness, tends to panic and take drive-killing sacks.

Schlereth wasn’t the only viewer preferring to see the ball in the hands of Achane, who rushed for 134 yards against the Saints to become the 11th Dolphins back to surpass 1,000 yards in a season, the first since Jay Ajayi in 2016.

Achane scooted 29 yards around the right side to cap an impressive opening touchdown drive. Tagovailoa’s subpar play, particularly in the red zone, had a lot to do with the Dolphins settling for field goals the rest of the day.

“Definitely starts with me, with my performance, with how I distribute the ball,” Tagovailoa said in his postgame interview.

Tagovailoa is currently 23rd in the NFL in passer rating, but first in interceptions. The Dolphins needed a lot more from their $53.1 million (per year) quarterback in a make-or-break season for the Mike McDaniel regime.

McDaniel didn’t exactly bestow a vote of confidence on Tua when he had him let the clock run down to end the first half with a field goal rather than take a shot at the end zone.

Are Dolphins setting up another late-season flop?

Nonetheless, this midseason surge following a dreadful opening month has lifted the 5-7 Dolphins to the edge of hope.

It’s a familiar Build Me Up Buttercup scenario that has led to too many final month letdowns by this franchise.

Are you going to fall for the fool’s gold again, Dolfans?

The Dolphins travel next Sunday to face the 3-9 Jets, fresh off a walk-off field goal win over the Falcons. Then they’re on the road again at the Steelers, home against the Bengals and Buccaneers, and finish at the Patriots.

It’s not totally implausible, when you have one of the league’s premier offensive performers in Achane. Blocking up front has improved, right tackle Austin Jackson added to that in his first game off injured reserve. Waller’s return adds another weapon with game-changing ability.

Meanwhile, Anthony Weaver’ defense, led by Jordyn Brooks playing at an All-Pro level, has elevated its play. Against the Saints, the defense had four sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception by Rasul Douglas, plus Minkah Fitzpatrick’s pick and 98-yard return for two points on the Saints’ last conversion attempt.

The main stumbling block is at quarterback. Unless Tagovailoa dramatically reverses course and elevates his play over the remaining five games, this team isn’t going anywhere.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Will both FIU and FAU finish 2025 with bowl eligibility?

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Will both Florida International and Florida Atlantic finish the 2025 season bowl eligible? The final two weeks of the season will answer this regionally profound question.

FBS teams need to win six games (.500 on the season) to be eligible to participate in a bowl game. Both FIU and FAU have spent two decades at the nation’s highest level and have each played in five bowl games, with the Owls (4-1) having seen more postseason success than the Panthers (2-3).

This season, the Panthers (5-5) are ahead of the Owls (4-6) in the race for bowl No. 6. By defeating Liberty in overtime last week, FIU enters its final home game of 2025 with a 5-5 record entering a crucial matchup with Jacksonville State, which leads the C-USA standings with a perfect 6-0 conference record. If the Panthers lose that game, they will finish the season on the road against Sam Houston State, which is currently riding a two-game winning streak after starting the season 0-8.

It seems as though a win in either of the next two games is in the cards for FIU, which CBS Sports projects to take on Southern Miss in the 68 Ventures Bowl. The Panthers reinvented their offense with the appointment of quarterback Joe Pesansky. The fifth-year senior has started the past two games and led FIU to two straight wins. He scored five touchdowns against Middle Tennessee and scored two touchdowns with 206 yards passing against Liberty.

Despite their six-game winning streak, the Gamecocks play every game close has been close for the Gamecocks and they are led by a powerful rushing attack which averages 260.2 rushing yards per game, the fifth highest in the nation. Junior running back Cam Cook’s 1,313 yards is behind only Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy for the FBS lead.

If nothing else, the Panthers are expected to make it an entertaining game.

As for the Owls, these next two games are do-or-die. At 4-6, FAU can’t afford to lose either of the next two games if it wants to remain in play for bowl eligibility. The Owls (3-1 at home) are at their best when playing on their turf but will face a UConn team looking for its second straight 9-win season and East Carolina, which is currently contending for a spot in the American Athletic Conference championship game.

The Owls’ defense will face a tough task against the Huskies and their quarterback Joe Fagnano, who in his sixth season in college, has thrown 25 touchdown passes against one interception. The independent Huskies sport a top-20 offense in the FBS, averaging 36 points per game.

The Owls have a formidable offense of their own. With the addition of the transfer duo from Western Kentucky, quarterback Caden Veltkamp (2,971 yards, 22 TD, 14 INT) and receiver Easton Messer (847 yards, 5 TD), FAU averages 329 passing yards per game, which leads the FBS.

If the Owls’ passing prevails and they upset UConn, their season finale against ECU will be set up as the biggest game of 2025. Win or stay home.

Panthers QB Joe Pesansky earns his Miami moment with homecoming heroics

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Shortly after defeating Liberty in overtime in his second start as a Panther, Florida International quarterback Joe Pesansky proclaimed to the camera, with his teammates behind him, that he “is in the greatest city in the world.”

Pesansky went from being hoisted in the air by his teammates to rejoicing with friends and family to then meeting the media for his postgame press conference in a matter of minutes. He admitted at the time that he was “still coming down from the high.”

”Definitely one of the most exciting moments of my life,” he said.

The Tampa native spent four seasons in the FCS circuit with Holy Cross before transferring to FIU. He spent much of the season as the backup quarterback with a few minutes of playing time here and there. He came into the midweek road contest at Missouri State and led a touchdown drive to put the Panthers within a score in the final two minutes.

“That’s the luxury of having a veteran guy,” FIU head coach Willie Simmons said. “When we signed Joe this past January, we were excited because we were getting a guy who played a lot of college snaps and started all last year. And so knowing [Keyone Jenkins] was the incumbent and coming into the season as a starter, you wanted some security at the position, and Joe’s given us that.”

That was the last time FIU suffered a loss this season.

Since naming Pesansky the starter, the Panthers have won two straight games and are one win away from their first bowl berth since 2019, a season highlighted by a rare victory over the Miami Hurricanes. The Panthers host C-USA leader Jacksonville State on Saturday and close out the season on the road at Sam Houston State the next week.

”I’m just so excited for my teammates and this team,” Pesansky said. “This place hasn’t been to a bowl game in a while. Obviously, we’re not there yet, but it’s very feasible.”

Pesansky became the first-ever FIU football player to account for five touchdowns in one game (four passing, one rushing) in the Panthers’ 56-30 road win over Middle Tennessee. In a 34-27 win over Liberty, he completed 24 of 34 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns in his first career overtime start.

“He drove the car,” Simmons said. “Like we say, you’ve got a lot of great pieces around you. You don’t have to do anything extraordinary, just drive the car. And he’s been driving it perfectly, and the offense has been clicking with him there.”

During that crucial period, Pesansky went from falling down on the first snap to throwing a dart in the end zone to redshirt senior receiver Maguire Anderson for his first career touchdown.

“That was all coaching,” Pesansky said. “[FIU offensive coordinator Nick Coleman] told me on either Tuesday or Wednesday, he goes, ‘If they’re in cover zero and we run that play, you’re gonna throw it to the guy over the ball in the middle of the field.’ And I lined up, I saw the look, I knew exactly where I was going with the ball. Maguire knew exactly what to do, and that’s coaching.”

Origins

Despite being from Tampa, Pesansky was born in West Chester, PA, and grew up a Philadelphia Eagles fan watching games with his father. He comes from an athletic family, as his sister was a rower at Alabama, and his brother, Peter, currently plays for North Carolina as an offensive lineman.

Unlike his brother, Pesansky was a “small, skinny kid” who didn’t grow until his high school days. His friends steered him from running cross country to joining the football team at Jesuit High School in Tampa. In three years as a starter, he led Jesuit to a 29-7 record and threw over 6,700 career passing yards with 80 touchdowns.

“I kind of had a weird path to football,” Pesansky said.

Pesansky originally saw himself entering the sport as an aspiring broadcaster, but watching the 2019 LSU Tigers winning the national championship with Joe Burrow under center inspired him to strive for a life as a Division I collegiate quarterback.

“He was the one who inspired me to be a Division I quarterback and really want to take this thing to the next level,” Pesansky said.

Up Next

Jacksonville State enters the Panthers’ final home game of the season undefeated in C-USA play and on a five-game winning streak. Every game has been close for the Gamecocks, but their powerful rushing attack usually wins the day. JSU averages 260.2 rushing yards per game, which is the fifth highest in the nation. Junior running back Cam Cook’s 1,313 yards is behind only Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy for the FBS lead.

10 FIU seniors, including Pesansky, will be honored on Senior Day this Saturday.

The Miami Dolphins won the first NFL game played in Spain in overtime against the Commanders.

Pressure Point: Dolphins avoid pain in Spain despite fourth-down failure

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Say this for Mike McDaniel, the Miami Dolphins’ coach isn’t afraid to put his neck on the chopping block.

McDaniel’s decision to go for it on fourth-and-goal at the 1 rather than try a short field goal that would have put the Dolphins head by three points with 1:44 left in the fourth quarter Sunday in Madrid, blew up in his face when Ollie Gordon II was thrown for a loss.

It was the second time in the second half that the Dolphins advanced to the shadow of the Washington Commanders’ end zone and came away with zero points

Somehow, fate blessed the Dolphins with a 16-13 win in overtime on Riley Patterson’s walkoff 29-yard field goal. The game was essentially decided by the only turnover of the game, cornerback Jack Jones’ interception of Marcus Mariota’s pass on the first play of the extra period.

And McDaniel, whose future with the Dolphins is very much in question, survived to coach another day.

His decision to eschew the near-certainty of kicking the field goal to take the lead is a rarity in that situation.

I don’t necessarily disagree with it. He clearly didn’t trust his defense to keep the Commanders from responding with a score of their own.

And with good reason. The Fins defense struggled to make an impactful play all day before Jones came through with only their third interception of the season. They didn’t force the Commanders to punt until three minutes remained in the third quarter.

“I didn’t want to give them the ball back with good field position and a good chance to tie the game,” McDaniel said in his postgame remarks. “I definitely would not have made the call if I thought it was going to fail. … “I thought the play was going to work, and it didn’t.”

Report: Ross favors keeping McDaniel, Tua

Earlier Sunday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Dolphins owner Steve Ross favors keeping McDaniel as coach and Tua Tagovailoa as quarterback next season.

Despite McDaniel’s often head-scratching decision-making and game management and Tagovailoa’s uneven play, this disappointing Dolphins season has taken a turn in their favor.

The Dolphins go into the bye week on a resurgent path at 4-7, with wins in three of their past four games and the lightweight Jets and Saints up next.

Sunday, they were outplayed in many ways by an underachieving Commanders team that has now lost six in a row.

Have to wonder what the crowd at Madrid’s historic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium thought of the first NFL game played in Spain. Most of it showcased the flailing and failings of two 3-7 teams.

Dolphins make case as Spain’s team

The drama in the fourth quarter and overtime was the reward for suffering through a lot of sloppy play. Ultimately, it gave the local futbol fans something they could relate to:

A game decided by kicking.

It was almost like a soccer shootout.

The Commanders’ Matt Gay missed a 56-yard attempt that would have won it in the final minute of regulation. Gay missed two of four attempts in the game.

Patterson made all three of his tries, including the winner, ending a messy affair with a Messi-like sure shot.

During the week leading up to the game, Dolphins officials made known their desire to be the team of the Spanish-speaking world.

There is sentiment in South Florida that says: Go ahead, you take them.

While NFL fans in Spain can scan the list of more competent franchises and respond: No thanks, we don’t want them.

Call it disdain in Spain.

Certainly, there is plenty of that back home. Yet the Dolphins, a team with so many maddening tendencies, is revving up hope of staging a late-season, albeit still unlikely run at a playoff spot.

Unlikely, considering they face a final-month stretch run against Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay and New England.

Dolphins’ Achane piling up yards

Nonetheless, I’m not with those Dolfans who want everything torn down and discarded. There are parts worth holding on to.

It’s just increasingly difficult to trust in Tua, who was losing the showdown of Hawaiian quarterbacks until Mariota threw the fateful pick.

Tagovailoa’s lack of ability to escape pressure continues to stand out. If his first read isn’t open, he becomes a sitting duck for rushers.

In a pedestrian performance Sunday, Tagovailoa’s best contributions were avoiding turnovers and handing off to De’Von Achane and Gordon.

The emphasis should continue to emphasize the running game, which produced 169 yards Sunday.

Achane is a standout talent who is on a remarkable run. He had 120 yards rushing on 21 carries (5.7-yard average), and over the past two weeks has 390 yards from scrimmage.

Dolphins have players to build around

Using lineman Daniel Brunskill as an extra blocker has boosted the running game. Injured tackle Austin Jackson may return for the next game.

In addition, Greg Dulcich is providing production at tight end, a distinct upgrade from Tanner Conner, who was jettisoned.

Jordyn Brooks remained the bright spot on defense with 20 tackles. The defense has assets; they just don’t make enough plays like Jones made. Juju Brents shows promise but left with an ankle injury. Young defensive linemen Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers are improving.

One more thing, the Dolphins can claim a distinction that no other NFL team can. They are undefeated on Spanish soil.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Florida Atlantic’s offensive chemistry paying off at the right time

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Quarterbacks transferring from one school to the next have become quite common in today’s college football.

Transferring with your receiver, however, is the unique circumstance that is finally paying off for Florida Atlantic.

After three seasons at Western Kentucky, redshirt junior quarterback Caden Veltkamp arrived in Boca Raton along with receiver Easton Messer intending to be the straw stirring the drink that is first-year head coach Zach Kittley’s offense.

For Messer, that chemistry paid off during the Owls’ 40-21 win over Tulsa on Nov. 8. The fourth-year receiver caught three touchdown passes for the first time in his career, two of which weren’t by design.

“A lot of times you know this should work if I run the right route, if I run it good,” Messer said. “I was pretty excited when he checked those two.”

Veltkamp checked out of a play after seeing a favorable matchup with the Tulsa defense and tossed a 44-yard deep pass to Messer in the second quarter, giving the Owls a 17-6 lead.

“They were playing man coverage, they had seven guys in the box,” Veltkamp said. “A slot fade is not a great check but I don’t care what leverage you are, I’m gonna take Easton to win it.”

Later in the second quarter, Veltkamp saw Tulsa playing man coverage again and chose to exploit their matchup with Messer for another touchdown.

“Right before I snapped it, I checked into a corner, just to make it easy for him,” Veltkamp said. “The second [touchdown] was based on leverage. Easton ran two great routes. I just threw him the ball.”

Messer even threw a pass to Veltkamp for a change. A trick play from receiver to quarterback resulted in seven yards and on the one-yard line. The next pass resulted in a loss and the Owls had to settle for a field goal.

“They’re fun but we got to score on the next one for sure,” Veltkamp said.

With 2,596 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions through nine games, Veltkamp is close to his offensive totals last year when he led WKU to eight wins and, ironically, the Boca Raton Bowl. While a majority of his yards have gone to Messer, Jayshon Platt, and Asaad Waseem, Veltkamp has thrown a touchdown pass to eight different receivers. After the game, he emphasized the importance of developing a rapport with the entire receiving room as the season progresses.

“It should always continue to progress and get better,” Veltkamp said. “It should never get worse.”

Veltkamp wasn’t the only quarterback to throw a touchdown pass to Messer last week. His third score came from veteran backup quarterback Zach Gibson on a nine-yard flea-flicker pass in the fourth quarter.

“That’s a crucial play right there,” Gibson said. “If we don’t get that, they’ve got all the momentum. I didn’t try to put too much pressure on myself but I knew the play was going to work. When you have trust in your guys, good things are going to happen.”

Gibson, a 25-year-old graduate student, is on his fourth team in six seasons. He spent the first three years at Akron, where he threw for 1,262 yards and 10 touchdowns without an interception in 2021.

“Zach has played a lot of football,” Messer said. “He’s gonna come in and spin it.”

Gibson came in for Veltkamp in the second half as a way to preserve the starting quarterback’s health. 

“Being a backup quarterback is a lot like being a bullpen pitcher,” Gibson said. “When your number is called, you’ve got to be ready to go.”

At 4-5 entering the final three games of the season, the Owls have a chance to finish with bowl eligibility. The Owls are 1-4 away from the nest and are entering their final road game of the season at Tulane on Saturday, Nov. 15, which is contending for an American Athletic Conference championship. The Owls are 3-1 at home and will finish the regular season by hosting UConn and East Carolina, another conference championship contender.

Florida Atlantic’s improving offense will be put to the test through the final stretch of the season.

De'Von Achane runs for one of his two touchdowns in the Dolphins' win against the Bills.

Pressure Point: Dolphins frustrate Bills’ Allen, show they have McDaniel’s back

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Well, well, well.

The Miami Dolphins’ 30-13 upset of Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium was like looking out and spotting a chartreuse unicorn in your backyard.

Seeing Allen frustrated by the Dolphins is something rarely if ever seen before. They went toe-to-toe with their long-time nemesis and prevailed, ending a seven-game skid against their division rival.

They made big plays on offense, led by De’Von Achane’s 225 yards from scrimmage (174 yards rushing) and two touchdowns.

The provided an eye-opening response following a humbling loss to the Ravens, the firing of long-time general manager Chris Grier and the trade of popular linebacker Jaelan Phillips.

Clearly all of that was a wakeup call for the Dolphins, who coach Mike McDaniel described as “quite honestly, a little salty.”

The Miami defense, especially, played pissed off and determined. Which begs the question why that mindset wasn’t more prevalent in many of the lackluster performances earlier in the season.

“It’s pretty obvious from their play they didn’t believe their season was over,” said McDaniel, whose job is in jeopardy due to the team’s ragged play the first half of the season. “They chose to believe, throughout the whole thing … They made that decision to continue to believe and continue to invest in each other.”

Win detrimental to Dolphins’ draft position

The one conclusion that can be drawn is that this team has not quit on its coach.

For Dolphins, now 3-7 amid a disappointing season, it’s something to build on, though it didn’t aid the larger rebuilding task ahead of them, in regards to draft position.
It was a surreal day for the Fins and their fans.

It began with a report by NFL insider Tom Pelissero made the best pitch of any team for Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle at the trade deadline last week. According to Pelissero, the Bills offered a first-round draft pick in 2027 and a third-rounder in 2026.

The Dolphins reportedly wanted the first-round pick in 2026, so no deal.

That brought mixed reaction from Dolfans, especially those who want the team to tank this season and accumulate as much draft capital for the future as possible.

Building through the draft is the way to go, but I’m not onboard with trading one of their best assets on offense to an opponent in their division that they must find a way to get past in the years ahead.

That was a mistake the franchise made in 2007 when they traded wide receiver Wes Welker to the Patriots for a couple of draft picks. It haunted the Dolphins for years, while Welker contributed significantly to the Patriots dynasty as a favorite target of Tom Brady.

Jaylen Waddle has big game after nearly being traded

Fitting that Waddle reiterated his value to the Dolphins with five receptions for 84 yards, including a spectacular 38-yard grab from Tua Tagovailoa for the game’s first touchdown while being covered so aggressively by Bills rookie Maxwell Hairston drew a flag for interference.

Keep in mind, if they trade Waddle, their best receiver in the absence of injured Tyreek Hill – who may never suit up for Miami again – that becomes a big hole to fill.

In addition, any draft picks that might have been acquired from the Super Bowl-contending Bills figure to be late-round.

While Tagovailoa (two touchdown passes, two interceptions) led the offense to four touchdowns and a field goal, it was the defense that stood out in throttling a dangerous opponent.

Allen, the Bills’ super-star quarterback, has owned them. Often he has humiliated them. He came in 14-2 against Miami.

Dolphins’ defense gives inspired effort

Sunday was altogether different. The Dolphins defense intercepted him in the endzone and forced him to fumble in the fourth quarter while a comeback was still within reach. They sacked him three times and had seven quarterback hits.

They also contained running back James Cook (53 yards, 4.1 per carry).

They played with resolve rarely seen this season, led by Jordyn Brooks, Bradley Chubb, Tyrel Dodson and Mikah Fitzpatrick. Zach Sieler finally got his first sack of the season and Ifeatu Melifonwu his first interception as a Dolphin.

With veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas out with an injury, they got strong play from young cornerbacks including Jack Jones (forced fumble), JuJu Brents (fumble recovery) and Jason Marshall Jr.

This game did nothing to alter the balance of power in the AFC East. It could be viewed as a trap game for the Bills, who were coming off an emotional win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the main obstacle for their Super Bowl ambition.

This reminded me of the “Wildcat game” in 2008 when the lowly Dolphins stunned the Patriots 38-13. The Patriots were on a 21-game regular-season winning streak and 12.5-point favorites. They were surprised by running back Ronnie Brown taking shotgun snaps in a college-style offense.

This one wasn’t built around a gimmick. Instead the Dolphins gave the sort of determined effort, on offense and defense, that they struggled to muster until this season wilted into a lost cause.

Dolphins remain an enigma despite win over Bills

“I’m proud of this team,” Tagovailoa said.

How much of what they exhibited in beating the Bills convincingly is who they really are?

The seven remaining games will provide a more definitive answer. As well as determine whether McDaniel remains as coach beyond this season and how much of the roster is worth retaining as a foundation.

It is said that a team is what its record says it is. By that measure, the Dolphins are a 3-7 team with numerous flaws. It remains to be seen who will be entrusted with improving the roster in the ongoing quest of the first playoff win in a quarter century.

But give them credit, against the Bills they played with the sort of conviction and competence it takes to achieve that objective. For one week, at least, they answered the charge that their coach and quarterback can’t win against playoff-caliber teams.

Even the embarrassed Fins  fan with a paper bag over his head had his arms up in celebration.

And for once, Josh Allen was left wearing a frown.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Dolphins fans show their displeasure with their team's latest failure in a 28-6 loss to the Ravens.

Pressure Point: Dolphins’ season goes from bad to ugly; Grier first to take fall

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The Miami Dolphins are nothing if not exasperating.

They set you up just to let you down.

Every. Damn. Time.

It’s the constant in the flood of squandered opportunities amid a generation of failed seasons.

Four days after a surprising rout of the Falcons in Atlanta, the Dolphins confirmed the hint of a turnaround was a mirage in an embarrassing 28-6 flop at home in prime time Thursday against the Ravens.

Might we add, as expected?

There can be no doubt now, this latest regime under coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier and, yes, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, is over. Done. Kaput.

Grier was the first domino to fall with team owner Steve Ross announcing a “mutual” parting Friday morning. McDaniel will remain until the end of the season, but he’s the lamest of ducks.

Change was inevitable after to a national television audience witnessed utter disgust on the faces of Dolphins fans Thursday night. That is, except for the ones expressing their displeasure by sporting bags over their heads.

Dolphins squander many opportunities in loss to Ravens

Don’t say the Dolphins can’t beat anyone. They are masters at beating themselves.

It happened early and often Thursday night. The reaction went from gnashing of teeth to throwing hands up in despair to an increasing chorus of boos.

A lot of boos. And finally, storming for the exits early in the fourth quarter.

The maddening part was that the Dolphins, who fell to 2-7, were the better team on the field through the first half.

Miami outgained the Ravens 225 to 109 and held the ball for 19 of the opening 30 minutes — but trailed 14-6.

For the second game in a row, they showed positive signs on offense, defense and the return game. But they couldn’t get out of their own way.

Any hope that even the most optimistic Dolfans retained was swept away in a catastrophe of errors.

Here a blunder, there a stupid penalty, everywhere a mystifying mistake.

Coach Mike McDaniel summed it up in a sideline interview before the second half, saying, “You can’t play against two teams, we’ve got to play against one.”

It started with receiver Tahj Washington making his first NFL catch for first-down yardage, only to have the ball stripped from his grasp and the Ravens recover at the Miami 7. They cashed in with Lamar Jackson throwing his first of four touchdown passes, one of two to tight end Mark Andrews in the opening half.

Dolphins fail to finish scoring chances

Jackson and the Ravens offense were relatively quiet in the first half, recording only four first downs. They didn’t have to do a lot because the Dolphins were so busy sabotaging themselves.

Miami had three drives deep into Baltimore territory — reaching the 25, 17 and 13 — that netted only three points.

On one of those, McDaniel elected to go for it on fourth-and-1, only to have tackle Larry Borom false start. McDaniel was livid. He then sent in the field goal unit and Riley Patterson missed the 35-yard attempt.

Andrews was wide open for his second TD reception because two Dolphins defenders had a head-on collision while he ran past them on a crossing route.

Soon after, the Dolphins had a 36-yard completion to Jaylen Waddle called back because of a personal foul for tripping on rookie running back Ollie Gordon II. Gordon appeared to lose his footing and the pass rusher fell over him.

Bad call? Even the officiating expert said so on the broadcast.

But it paled in comparison to what the Dolphins were doing to themselves.

Late in the half, with third-and-2 at the Baltimore 13, the Dolphins elected to run with the Ravens defense stacked against the run. No gain for De’Von Achane.

On fourth down, Tagovailoa tried to throw a fade in the endzone to Achane, who was matched against much taller Kyle Hamilton, a Pro Bowl safety. Achane broke off the route and the pass sailed harmlessly away.

McDaniel explained it as “miscommunication, so to speak.”

Dolphins fans turn against team

All hope imploded imploded in the second half as Jackson took over with back-to-back touchdown passes in the third quarter.

Those were sandwiched around a Dolphins three-and-out which began with a sack of Tagaovailoa, followed by Achane thrown for a loss of 1 and Tua throwing incomplete behind Achane in the flat.

The fitting bookend to a self destructive performance came early in the fourth quarter when the Dolphins’ other receiver named Washington — Malik — had the ball stripped from his hands at the Baltimore 10.

All that remained was for the bagheads to render their verdict on the game, the season and the latest fruitless chapter in the history of a franchise that once achieved the only undefeated run to a Super Bowl championship.

By the end, fans on social media were punking Tua’s attempt to inspire his teammates in the tunnel.

“That sucks. All of that sucks,” McDaniel said afterward. “Fans enjoy winning. We have to go back to work to give them something to cheer about.”

Alas, that is somewhere over the rainbow with no yellow brick road leading there. The Dolphins’ future calls for painful rebuilding yet again.

It only gets worse next week with Josh Allen and the Big Bad Bills coming to town.

It remains to be seen who will make the trip to Spain the following week to face the Commodores. And whether they will bother to come back.

The first order of business for interim general manager Champ Kelly will be the trade deadline coming Tuesday. Whether or not wholesale housecleaning begins immediately, the remainder of the season must be used to assess who is worth retaining for the future. That should feature more playing time to young players like defensive lineman Jordan Phillips, cornerback Jason Marshall Jr., and yes, rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Whoever Ross chooses to lead this next rebuilding effort will need to know what they have to work with and what they need to address. Here’s hoping the owner makes better decisions on coach and front office than he has so far in his stewardship of the franchise. He owes it to long-suffering fans.

There is no quick fix for these Dolphins. And no coming back from what transpired Thursday night.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Jaylen Waddle catches one of four touchdown passes thrown by Tua Tagovailoa in the Dolphins' rout of the Falcons.

Pressure Point: Dolphins must show success no fluke when they face Ravens

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There are a couple of divergent ways to look at the Miami Dolphins’ surprisingly dominant 34-10 rout at Atlanta on Sunday.

The immediate reaction is, where has this team been the first two months of the season when they were masquerading as one of the most inept NFL teams in recent memory?

Conversely, as a sizable portion of the Dolphins’ fanbase sees it, why did they have to blow up valuable groundwork laid in pursuit of the No. 1 draft choice?

One unexpectedly positive performance doesn’t mean all is forgiven in the NFL. Who knows, the other team may have just gotten some bad fish at their Saturday night training table.

Anomalies pop up every week. The Falcons had an impressive Monday night win over the Bills in Week 6, two games after getting trounced 30-0 by the blah Panthers.

Dolphins finally have a win to build on

On Sunday, the Dolphins did a 180 on their embarrassing rollover a week ago at Cleveland, while the now 2-6 Browns reverted to who they really are in a 32-13 dud at New England.

For those still pulling for the Dolphins to salvage this woebegone season, take heart in everything they did well against the Falcons. There were a lot of positives to build on.

Most notable, Miami won the line of scrimmage on offense and defense after getting pushed around in most games so far.

It certainly helped that Tua Tagovailoa didn’t throw any head-slapping interceptions — hallelujah, he threw no picks at all — while tossing four touchdowns.

We’ll find out soon enough if this was a blip or a turning point for the 2-6 Fins.

First indication will come Thursday in prime time at home against Baltimore. The Ravens, an uncharacteristic 2-5, are seven-point favorites on the road because quarterback Lamar Jackson is expected to return from a hamstring injury.

That will be followed by another home game against the Bills before a trip to Spain to face the Commodores. A difficult final month includes cold-weather visits to Pittsburgh and New England as well as a tough home finale against Tampa Bay.

Dolphins’ controlling line of scrimmage was vital to win over Falcons

The Dolphins are in a strange space where many fans want them to fail miserably this season to bring about a total housecleaning of the front office and coaching staff, as well as at quarterback.

If coach Mike McDaniel and staff are to keep the vultures at bay, Sunday’s blueprint was one to follow.

Most unexpected was Miami’s porous run defense shutting down Bijan Robinson, one of the best running backs who came in leading the league in yards from scrimmage.

What stood out was the sort of determination to make tackles that has been missing all season. Instead of getting pushed aside like scarecrows, the inspired Dolphins defense allowed a mere 1.53 yards after contact.

The Falcons had 11 total first downs, which tied for their fewest in a game since 2008.

It’s a wonder that it took eight games into a win-or-else season for some Dolphins defenders to play like they cared.

Similarly, the Miami offense had everything headed in the right direction. They had success running the ball, and stayed with it for a change, finishing with 10 more runs ( 37 times for 141 yards) than passes, effectively mixing carries among De’Von Achane, Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright.

Dolphins’ changes on offense paid off

Utilizing Daniel Brunskill as a sixth offensive lineman in place of the tight end on some running plays helped facilitate that success.

McDaniel also elected to have offensive coordinator Frank Smith on the sideline instead of in the booth. Players said that facilitated better in-game communication.

In addition, rookie guard Jonah Savaiinaea finally looked like the promising offensive lineman they traded up to draft after weeks of impersonating a turnstile.

Can we expect more growth against the Ravens and through the second half of the season?

The only conclusion that can be made right now is the rout of the Falcons is another example of why wagering on NFL teams is a fool’s game.

Dolphins turn desperation into positive results

There are only a handful of legitimately good teams in a field of posers. Most teams are flawed, and injuries can upset the balance in any given matchup.

The Dolphins were aided by the Falcons having to switch quarterbacks. Kirk Cousins, filling in for injured starter Michael Penix Jr., has had a decent career, but he came in rusty and played like dog meat. He also didn’t have star receiver Drake London, who was out with a hip injury.

But give the Dolphins full credit for addressing their own shortcomings following their most putrid effort of the season at Cleveland.

“The coaching staff and players did a great job being focused,” McDaniel said. “The results, it’s nice to finally get them in it feels like forever.”

He added, “We have to replicate them in the coming weeks.”

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Tua Tagovailoa pointed out a leadership problem with the Dolphins after losing to the Chargers.

Pressure Point: Dolphins’ shortcomings much deeper than choosing the wrong quarterback

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What transpired Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium wasn’t a revelation.

It has been well established that the Miami Dolphins made one of the biggest draft mistakes in their history when Chris Grier and company chose Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth pick in 2020 instead of Justin Herbert, who became the gift that keeps on giving for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Having the quarterback they famously spurned in the draft turn what would have been an uplifting comeback victory for Miami into a gutting 29-27 defeat against the Chargers was merely salt rubbed in a painful wound.

The story was much bigger than the difference between quarterbacks. It was affirmation of the inability of this Dolphins leadership group — and the others that preceded it this century — to get much of anything right.

The latest loss was another example of a poorly constructed team that doesn’t have the aptitude or the attitude to win.

Tagovailoa points to need for better leadership

On what proved to be the decisive play, Herbert didn’t deliver the knockout punch as much with his arm as with sheer determination in the final minute. Jaelan Phillips had him in his grasp but Herbert shrugged off the linebacker and made an easy throw to a wide-open Ladd McConkey who raced to a 42-yard gain to the Miami 17.

Instead of a game-saving sack, it was game over with a gimme field goal coming a few plays later.

It didn’t even come as a surprise from a 1-5 team that always finds a way to lose, provided they are not playing against the even more woeful New York Jets.

Tagovailoa, in his postgame media session, offered eye-opening insight into what is lacking inside this team, revealing that some players have shown up late and in some cases skipped players-only meetings in recent weeks.

“I think it starts with the leadership in helping articulate that for the guys and then what we’re expecting out of the guys,” he said.

Coach Mike McDaniel noted that these meetings aren’t required. But it would seem that a team prone to missing assignments, whiffing on blocks and tackles and committing game-altering penalties, would be taking every extra opportunity to attempt to eliminate the mistakes that have already rendered this a lost season.

Justin Herbert quickly negates Dolphins’ comeback with Herculean effort

As for the quarterbacks, there was a certain symmetry in the game beginning and ending with interceptions by Tagovailoa, who threw three on the day.

While boos directed at Tua were justified, give him credit for doing what he hasn’t done often enough in rallying the offense from a fourth quarter deficit. He led back-to-back long touchdown drives to put Miami ahead 27-26 with less than a minute remaining.

Herbert had 39 seconds to get the Chargers into field-goal range and he did it with several seconds to spare.

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, in his postgame comments, compared Herbert to Hercules and said of the quarterback’s effort on the final pass to McConkey: “That play will be burning in my mind until they throw dirt over top of me.”

Imagine how it burns from a Dolphins’ fan perspective.

No one could try to argue at this point that the Dolphins wouldn’t have been better off with Herbert, with the possible exception of Dolphins general manager Grier, whose career will ultimately fall on that sword.

Drastic change inevitable for struggling Dolphins

McDaniel said being 1-5 “sucks” before rambling on about finding ways to fix what’s wrong, adding, “While we didn’t get it done, the guys showed me why I believe in them.”

Viewed from outside the team, belief has clearly left the building, where a banner calling for firing Grier and McDaniel again flew over the stadium.

The loss dropped McDaniel’s record as Dolphins coach below .500 at 29-30.

“I’m not worried about the team staying together, I’m worried about getting our football right,” he said. “I think that’s the fourth game that we’ve lost in the final couple of minutes this season … so we’ve got to figure that out.”

It is the refrain of clueless coaches everywhere: Watch the film and figure out how to get better.

If defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver wanted to throw up after last week’s gut-wrenching collapse at Carolina, wait until he watches the video of the third quarter against the Chargers. His defense gave up two touchdowns and 155 yards.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins were held to a minus-11 yards during that floundering 15-minute stretch.

See, there are problems everywhere, including special teams, which allowed a generous kickoff return that gave the Chargers favorable field position for their final drive.

There is no doubt that drastic change is coming for the Dolphins, the question is when. More daunting is finding a way out of this never-ending cycle of poor decisions and failure on the field.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Keys to a Miami Dolphins Victory vs The Chargers

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While many have already given up on the season, there is still football to be played. In fact, the 2016 Dolphins made the playoffs after starting 1-4 back when there were only 16 games in a season.

Now, no, I’m not saying that’s likely. But the Miami Dolphins are going to trot onto the field each and every week with that belief, because that’s what athletes do, they have that will to win, no matter what everyone else has to say.

The last time the Miami Dolphins played the Chargers, Tua Tagovailoa was incredible, going 28-of-45 for 466 yards, three touchdowns (and one interception), capped off by a game-winning drive.

Watch that game’s highlights here!

This time around, both teams look a little different. Both are dealing with struggling offensive lines, and both quarterbacks still have plenty to prove in this league. With all that said, here are the Miami Dolphins’ keys to victory.

The Front Seven’s Best Opportunity to Shine

Last week was embarrassing, a blown lead and complete domination on the ground. This week, Miami’s supposed strongest unit has to play like it.

The front seven has been exposed in the running game, failed to generate consistent pressure, and missed tackles and gap assignments across the board. But the Chargers will be without Joe Alt, are allowing 3.4 sacks per game, and may be rolling out an offensive line that rivals the Dolphins for the league’s worst.

If there were ever a time for this group to wake up, it’s now. Miami’s defensive front needs to generate 4+ sacks and allow fewer than 4.0 yards per carry for the Dolphins to have a real chance.

Time for Tua to Change the Narrative

Last week, Tua played nearly perfect football and still took the blame because he “had a shot.” Yes, he missed an open Waddle and came up short on the final drive, but that’s an unfair judgment for a quarterback who put his team up 17-0, got just 19 yards of rushing support, and was sacked three times.

Still, that’s life in the NFL. Quarterbacks don’t get excuses, especially when their name is Tua Tagovailoa.

He finished 27-of-36 for 256 yards and three touchdowns, including a beautiful go-ahead strike to Waddle. It wasn’t enough. So this week, Tua must not only outplay the quarterback he was drafted ahead of, Justin Herbert, but summon that same fire from the 2023 matchup.

If he doesn’t respond and outplay Herbert, this season will be all but over.

Play With Pride

Nobody in the locker room is happy, not with the results, not with the narratives, not with the attention. But only they can change it.

The Dolphins must come out with an intensity they’ve yet to show this season. They need to play cohesively, play with something to prove, and do it for all 60 minutes, not just when it feels easy.

Beating the Chargers isn’t impossible. Los Angeles has faltered two weeks in a row, first to the Giants, then to the Commanders. Now, the stumbling Dolphins have their chance to get back on their feet.

Getting a rushing attack going this week would surely help Tua and the offense, especially in maintaining leads. But more than anything, I’d like to see the Dolphins simplify the offense and let Tua find his playmakers, don’t get cute.

For Miami, this is truly their final chance to save the season.