What. A. Dolphins. Disaster.

What went wrong for the Miami Dolphins in the season opener at Indianapolis?

Let us count the ways. Actually, easier to simply say, everything. Absolutely everything in a horrific 33-8 undressing by the Colts.

Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill summed it up perfectly: “This was a big kick in the balls for us.”

It is one thing to go on the road and lose on opening day. That’s not surprising in the NFL.

But when every single offseason concern is not only confirmed but magnified, red flags about what lies ahead for this team in this season meld together like a crimson tsunami.

Secondary — oof! Offensive line — ouch! Run defense — gulp!

To make the situation more painful, guard James Daniels, the veteran addition to the o-line, lasted only three plays before leaving with a pectoral injury. Storm Duck, who was Miami’s top cornerback through attrition, left on a cart with a leg injury in the second quarter.

Even the Miami pass rush, which was supposed to be a strength, didn’t materialize.

One of Tua Tagovailoa’s worst performances

As for the quarterback play, it was simply one of the worst performances of Tua Tagovailoa’s career, punctuated by two interceptions and a fumble that the Colts turned into 17 points.

It began with the Dolphins’ first three possessions of the season ending in: interception, fumble (by Tua), punt, that led to a 20-0 deficit at the half.

Oh, by the way, Xavien Howard, who used to the Dolphins’ best cornerback, recovered Tua’s fumble to announce his presence in his first game for the Colts.

The Colts, at the intermission, had 255 yards of offense to 43 for Miami. They had a 17-3 advantage in first downs.

Those numbers illustrate that the Dolphins were not competitive on the one day when everyone starts on equal footing.

It didn’t get better for Miami. Tagovailoa threw his second interception of the game on the first possession of the second half and it was promptly 23-0.

Keep in mind, the Colts had not won as opening game since 2013. Their 0-10-1 mark since then was the second-longest drought in openers in NFL history. They haven’t been to the playoffs in four seasons.

Tua had the worst game I’ve seen him have in quite a while and it makes me wonder if the cumulation of injuries and concussions have sped him toward decline. We’ve generally feared it would be sudden- one more bad hit and it’s over. But it could also be more gradual than that.

— Chris Kouffman (@ckparrot) September 7, 2025

Dolphins fans have reason to fear the worst

Understandably, by halftime Dolphins fans were tossing deck chairs off the Titanic. The popular chorus of “Fire everyone!!!” was in full scream mode.

Can’t blame them. They weren’t reacting to one bad half of football, but rather to decades of futility.

Granted, dramatic swings in performance from week to week are common in the league. If you want to give the Dolphins the benefit of the doubt, the next three weeks, against the Patriots, Bills and Jets, will show how they match up in the AFC East. The first two will come in a span of 11 days.

I don’t want to overreact to one half of football, but the Dolphins need to:

• Fire Chris Grier
• Fire Mike McDaniel
• Trade Tyreek for picks
• Start scouting the 2026 QB draft class
• Burn it all to the fucking ground and fully commit to tanking

— Joe Osborne (@JTFOz) September 7, 2025

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel pointed to a litany of mistakes as the reason for the embarrassing performance at Indy.

“It’s a young team having to learn some very hard lessons,” he said. “It’s all about the ebbs and flows. You can’t overcook a success and you can’t overcook a failure. You have to learn from things.”

He is peddling the notion of a quick fix.

The view from here is that an already suspect roster looked more problematic than expected.

Dolphins pushed around by Colts

What happened to the emphasis on being more physical and winning the battles in the trenches? The Colts mauled the Dolphins and tossed them aside with ease.

A number of Dolphins spent time in the blue injury tent on the sideline, though some did return.

It was a stunning physical mismatch that left few positives to point to from a Dolphins point of view.

What concerned me most was Tagovailoa. Now in his sixth season, we’ve been hearing about a new Tua, in command, more assertive, ready to lead the way to success.

To be sure, this was a different Tua, but not in a good way. I can’t recall him playing so poorly in a game that wasn’t against the Bills or in freezing weather.

This was played in balmy conditions and matched with Daniel Jones, who seemed to channel Peyton Manning in assertiveness and precise execution in his Colts debut.

I covered a game in Indy that the Dolphins lost 41-0 and Jimmy Johnson tripped over a microphone in the interview room and this is worse

— Five Reasons Sports 🏀🏈⚾️🏒⚽️ (@5ReasonsSports) September 7, 2025

Tyreek Hill exhibits frustration

Meanwhile, the Dolphins’ passing game was tentative and out of sync all afternoon.

A couple days before the opener, Tua had a message for Dolfans on social media. His post: “Time to show them who I am.”

If this is who he is at this point in his career, the franchise is in worse shape than many fans and media members feared.

While young players are being leaned on at some positions, Tua still has two of the premier receivers in Hill and Jaylen Waddle to work with. The cohesion that would be expected after several years of playing together wasn’t evident.

Tagovailoa appeared uncomfortable in the pocket and his throws were erratic. On the first interception, he sailed the throw five yards past Hill, who was open over the middle.

Hill’s frustration was evident on the sideline during the game and suggested all is still not well between him and Tagovailoa.

Remember when tyreek hill said Tua was the best qb in the nfl?? pic.twitter.com/X0N2pEJrby

— Kyle Nap (@KyleNaps) September 7, 2025

Dolphins general manager Chris Grier, already No. 1 on Dolphins fans’ hit list, recently said that in letting go of some veteran players, the roster was undergoing a “reset” but not a rebuild.

There is more talent on the roster than the 2019 “Tank For Tua” team that started 0-7 and began the rebuilding effort that was supposed to lead the way to sustainable success. That mission has yielded no playoff wins and led the beleaguered franchise back to what looks like another deep rut.

Granted it was only one game, but it already feels like a season in crisis.

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.

The Miami Dolphins are looking to return to the NFL playoffs and maybe even end their quarter-century playoff win drought. That is easier said than done, but this year the path is right in front of them if they can stay healthy. Health is a key variable for every NFL team, but it is especially true for Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins.

On the surface, a 0–1 start is not a death sentence. Many playoff teams stumble out of the gate and find their rhythm later in the season. But with the Dolphins, context matters, and right now the national perception is not on their side.

National Media Predictions

The outlook from major outlets is not encouraging:

• CBS Sports: 7–10

• ESPN: 8–9

• PFF: 9–8

• Bleacher Report: 7–10

• USA Today: 5–12

• Sports Illustrated: 6–11

• PFSN: 8–9

Most oddsmakers have set the Dolphins’ win total around 7.5 games, signaling doubt about Miami’s ability to navigate the season. The consensus narrative is that health concerns, Tua’s durability, and secondary depth issues make this team fragile.

But the Dolphins are more talented than these projections give them credit for. That is exactly why Week One looms so large.

Why Week One Matters More Than It Should

1. Culture

Winning breeds culture, not the other way around. Every coach in the NFL preaches “culture,” but it only sticks when victories back it up. A Week One loss to the Colts, an opponent many would argue Miami should beat, would hand national critics ammunition and test the Dolphins’ locker room resolve before momentum even has a chance to build. A win, on the other hand, starts the year with confidence and belief, both inside the locker room and in the fan base.

2. Strength of Schedule

Miami does not have the luxury of stumbling. The Dolphins face one of the more diverse schedules in the league, with five games against teams who they have a clear quarterback advantage against (IND, CAR, NO, CLE, ATL).

A slip-up against Indianapolis, however, would mean Miami has to play catch-up all season long. The math is not favorable. To reach 10 wins, which is likely the AFC cutoff, Miami would need to sweep both the Jets and Patriots or grind out victories against teams like Washington, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, the Chargers, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. Dropping Week One only increases the pressure to pull off upsets later in the year.

The Stakes

The Dolphins are built to contend, but the narrative around them says otherwise. Media outlets see them as middle-of-the-pack, fragile, and inconsistent. Week One against the Colts is not just about starting 1–0, it is about flipping that script.

A win establishes momentum, validates Mike McDaniel’s program, and gives Tua the confidence he needs to silence critics early. A loss reinforces every doubt that has been cast on this team since the offseason and makes the road to January feel like a mountain climb.

So, is Week One a must-win? Technically, no. Realistically, yes. For the Miami Dolphins, the season does not just begin in Week One, it might be defined by it.

It’s finally game week, and the Miami Dolphins will look to bounce back after missing the playoffs for the first time under head coach Mike McDaniel. The 2025 offseason and NFL Draft saw Miami invest heavily in the trenches while adding proven veterans and key depth pieces. The late off-season acquisitions of Matthew Judon and Rasul Douglas, the return of Kendall Lamm, the emergence of rookie running back Ollie Gordon, and improved special teams play throughout the preseason have reinforced early predictions that this roster is built for a strong rebound.

Miami now has the potential to field one of the most disruptive front sevens in the NFL and an offense capable of returning to its 2023 explosiveness. Health across the roster is improving, but concerns remain in the secondary, particularly at cornerback. Until that position progresses, it remains a limiting factor in projecting the Dolphins’ ceiling.

The Dolphins are scheduled for five primetime appearances and an international showdown in Spain, a clear indication of the NFL’s belief that Miami is one of the league’s most entertaining and competitive teams to watch, although the National media may say otherwise.

Miami Dolphins 2025 Game-by-Game Predictions

Final Record: 11–6

• AFC East Record: 4–2

• Conference Record: 8–4

• NFC Record: 3–2

Key Wins

• at Pittsburgh (Week 14, MNF): A statement primetime win in a cold-weather playoff-style environment.

• vs New York Jets (Week 4): An early divisional victory that helped set the tone for the season.

• vs Los Angeles Chargers (Week 6): A complete team effort against a high-powered offense provided momentum heading into the midseason stretch.

The Dolphins offense and strong front seven will lead to the majority of their wins. They have the clear quarterback and coaching advantage in many games, causing a high floor, barring health.

Toughest Losses

• vs Washington (Madrid, Week 11): Travel fatigue and unfamiliar conditions made for a costly international slip.

• vs Buffalo (Week 10): Being swept by the Bills could be the difference in the AFC East race.

• vs Cincinnati (Week 15): A potential playoff preview that gets away under the lights at home.

The Dolphins secondary will be very telling in how their 2025 season goes. Can they contain they high octane offenses?

Playoff Outlook

An 11–6 finish should comfortably secure a Wild Card berth in a stacked AFC. If Buffalo falters down the stretch, Miami has a path to stealing the division via tiebreakers. The Dolphins start hot at 7–1 before stumbling in the stretches of November and December, but the foundation is there for a postseason run, especially if the secondary solidifies.

Final Thoughts

Between favorable scheduling, manageable travel, and improved depth, Miami is positioned to return to the playoffs. Winnable games against Carolina, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Cleveland should serve as anchors to the record (Miami is just the better team), while divisional matchups against New England and the Jets could determine playoff seeding (do the Patriots and Jets take a leap?).

The addition of Judon and Douglas strengthens a defense already built to pressure quarterbacks and now gives them support on the backend. Lamm’s return adds needed stability up front, while Gordon provides fresh juice to the backfield. Special teams, long a weakness; look sharper and could swing close games.

If Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy, Miami’s floor is at least eight wins. The ceiling pushes into 12+ territory if the Dolphins can take a game from Buffalo and slow down elite offenses like Baltimore, Cincinnati, Washington, and Tampa Bay.

The schedule suggests streaks are likely, but the pieces are in place for Miami to reassert itself as a postseason contender.

For decades, the Dolphins have carried a reputation pinned on them by both the media and their own fans, a reputation born from an inability to beat teams with winning records, an inability to win in the cold when the season is on the line, and an organizational culture that too often seems fragile.

This stigma is magnified by history. The Dolphins have not won a playoff game since the year 2000, twenty-five years ago. That is the longest active playoff winless streak in the four major sports, and the second-longest drought of winning a playoff series, behind only the Cincinnati Reds who last did it in 1995. This is the worst company a sports franchise can keep. For Miami, every “glimmer of hope,” every “different feeling” ends the same way, disappointment and the eternal “what if?”

Maybe the label sticks because it is an easy punchline about an aquatic mascot, but there is plenty of evidence fueling the consensus. The Dolphins have beaten their division rival Buffalo Bills only once in the Mike McDaniel era. They are 2-13 in games played at 40 degrees or below since 2014, the worst mark in the NFL. They consistently struggle against playoff-caliber teams. To make matters worse, their offensive identity has been framed around speed and finesse, which feeds the narrative, especially when the team falters in short-yardage situations or when their star quarterback’s durability is questioned.

But the truth is the “soft” label is a misnomer. There are no soft teams in the NFL. Every player is among the toughest athletes in the world, forged by years of grueling practices and sacrifices to reach the highest level. The Dolphins’ issues are not about toughness. They are systemic. They are the result of bad coaching hires, poor roster management, injuries, and instability at the most important position in sports.

The revolving door at quarterback tells the story as clearly as anything. Since Dan Marino retired, Miami has tried Jay Fiedler, Gus Frerotte, Daunte Culpepper, Chad Pennington, Chad Henne, Ryan Tannehill, Jay Cutler, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and now Tua Tagovailoa, among others. Coaches have come and gone just as quickly: Dave Wannstedt, Nick Saban, Cam Cameron, Tony Sparano, Joe Philbin, Adam Gase, Brian Flores, and now Mike McDaniel. Every regime promised to be the one that changed the culture, yet the cycle always reset after a few disappointing years.

To shed the label, Miami has to do more than talk about being tougher. They need to build a culture that values accountability, resilience, and execution. That means not just flashing speed in September but winning games in December, on the road, against playoff teams. It means proving they can win at the line of scrimmage and not wilt when conditions are not perfect.

Signs of progress are beginning to show. Reports this offseason have pointed to players staying after practice, locker room problems being addressed, and strong leaders added to a young core. These are the right steps. But until the Dolphins finally win in January, the perception will not change.

The “soft” label is not about individual players. It is about twenty-five years of dysfunction. The only way to silence it is not with words, but with wins. A playoff victory is the only answer. Until that happens, fair or not, the narrative will live on.

******

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From one perspective, the Miami Hurricanes’ history is a burden. The Canes’ run of dominance from the early 80s to early 20s hits a sweet spot of recent enough for living memory and far enough away to have not been in the current players’ lifetimes.

In a way, the players are responsible for a legacy that was created before their lifetimes. That can appear unfair and serve to put undo pressure on them.

That pressure is enough to crush weaker teams. And we’ve seen it do just that. Do that for damn near 25 years.

But the 2025 Miami Hurricanes are not one of those teams.  

Embrace History and Write A New Chapter

Mario Cristobal helped write the legacy that the current Canes are saddled with. It’s one thing to talk about something, it’s a completely different thing to know what you’re talking about.

Cristobal knows the work, the exacting detail, the pursuit of excellence that is needed to sustain greatness. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither are football programs.

For 3 years, Cristobal has laid the foundation upon which a perennial contender is built on. This team is deep, tough, and ready to win. The roster is vastly different from the one that was inherited 3 years ago.

But that was largely “expected.” Even Cristobal’s biggest detractors will acknowledge that he is one of the better recruiters and roster builders in college football. So, why is this team going to excel beyond the 10-win mark that the 2024 Canes reached? Well, because the Coach has also improved year on year.

While Cristobal has never been short of critics, it is apparent he is his own harshest critic. An offseason has not gone by without decided moves to upgrade player personnel, coaching, and plug gaps to crescendo to this point. This team is ready, willing, and able to win now. 

And enter Carson Beck.

Beck is the perfect QB to team up with Cristobal on the next step. They are largely mirror images. Despite a lot of winning, and a resume that is the envy of most people in their positions, both the Head Coach and his Quarterback are the subject of irrational barbs. 

The QB can’t play on this level despite QBing an SEC team to a 24-3 record as a starter and the coach is a QB killer despite coaching NFL All Pro Justin Herbert and the #1 Pick in last year’s draft.

A tradition as old as time. Nothing invites skepticism quite like putting a U on your clothing or helmet. But is it warranted?

In 2025, the answer is absolutely not. You have a coach that has increased his win total every year at Miami, and won 10 last year. You have a QB that is 24-3 as a starter. What is there to be skeptical about? That something always goes wrong?

Not this time. Not for this team. Not now. Something always goes wrong until it goes right. This is the year.

Rather than be burdened by the weight of expectations from past and the legacy of recent failures the 2025 Hurricanes are poised to add a chapter to their illustrious history, not be defeated by it. 

Catholics Versus Convicts

The 2025 football season arrives into this historical context with a rivalry of yore. In a way, a Miami-Notre Dame game of this stature should be a revival for college football. A thing to be celebrated.

The issue is that this particular rivalry is also tinged with racism. There was nothing that was ever “convict” about Miami. But acting a certain way will always make a certain segment of our most bigoted populace feel uncomfortable. And at the height of this rivalry, the Canes didn’t do things “the right way,” which meant they embraced the diversity of the background of their players and allowed them to be who they are as people.

What should have been a story of triumph and of hope became one of bigotry. The legacy of that bigotry lives on today in much the same way that the legacy of wins and championships live on. Look at this analysis of the Canes from a Notre Dame show:

source: https://x.com/GrantSpeaks1/status/1961425325495062734

What exactly makes a bunch of college students “unintelligent thugs?” We already know the answer. They’re Canes. And being a Cane means having to endure racism like this. It’s part of the legacy. Look at the alacrity with which they bask in their bigotry.

And they “love it.” So how should we as the offended party respond?

We could point out this person celebrating his co-host’s “unintelligent” comment either does not know the Saffir-Simpson scale goes up to Category 5 or does not think too highly of his own team.

We could point out that you’d have better discourse with a pastelito than with a person making the “brilliant” point that Miami’s greatest strength and weakness is that they are “unintelligent thugs.” Pro-tip: when you’re calling someone else “unintelligent” it is wise to not do so in service of making a point that is completely incoherent.

This could be a teaching moment. A moment where we pause and talk about the hurtful legacy of harmful stereotypes. Of bigotry baked into society.

But it wouldn’t matter anyway. These people are gone. It’s one thing to blurt out some racist comment like this and realize you’ve erred. It’s another to be so conditioned to living in that bigoted world that you casually blurt out “unintelligent thug” to thunderous applause from your co-hosts. 

And if this season is about one thing, it’s about embracing our past to build our legacy of the future. So my response to these 4 Horsemen of the Caucapolis is this:

KISS MY BROWN ASS

Don’t come down to Dade County with that attitude.

You are not talking about faceless “thugs.” You are talking about our sons and brothers, our uncles and fathers. You are talking about our people.

MY PEOPLE

No one talks about my people like that. 

The Canes are ready to take on you and all comers. Category 5 style. As the real Mayor of Dade County once foretold:

I don’t know what this world’s gonna do
But I know one thing that this is the life for me
Baby cause I’m a thug

It’s a Canes Thing, You Wouldn’t Understand

Vishnu Parasuraman is a show host and writer for @FiveReasonsSports. He covers the Miami Hurricanes Football for @SixthRingCanes Miami Hurricanes Basketball for @buckets_canes , and Miami Hurricanes Baseball for @CanesOnDeck as part of the @5ReasonsCanes Network. You can follow him on twitter @vrp2003