If the NFL graded on a curve, you could make a case for giving them a pass on their performance in Thursday night’s 31-21 loss at Buffalo.
Almost.
But there is no curve in the NFL. The lines are straight and laid out in a grid. You either cross them or you don’t.
0-3 is 0-3, however you want to sugarcoat it. And nobody really does.
Even Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel: “We came here to win and I refuse to take moral victories as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. It wasn’t good enough, so that’s where I’m at.”
The question is, how long does he stay where he’s at as coach of the Dolphins?
Three games into a season with everyone’s job on the line, facing a mandate of playoffs or else, this team is already in deep dung.
Since 1990, 162 NFL teams have started a season 0-3. Of those, only four have made the playoffs. Since 2000, only the 2018 Houston Texas have done so.
Dolphins haven’t quit on McDaniel
The positive to point out from another wrenching loss is that McDaniel hasn’t lost the locker room. Yet.
The beleaguered coach had the team ready off a short week and led a strong effort that had a major upset within reach at one of the toughest buildings in the league.
“His piss was hot,” receiver Tyreek Hill said of McDaniel. “The way he coached and the way he led men today was a beautiful thing.”
Ultimately, the Dolphins did what they always do at Buffalo: They made the fatal mistakes while the Bills made the needed plays.
With the score tied, Zach Sieler roughed the punter and virtually gifted the go-ahead touchdown to the Bills. Then, Tua Tagovailoa threw the inevitable coup-de-grace interception deep in Bills territory.
So a team having to rely on inexperience at too many positions was done in by cornerstone veterans on defense and offense.
There were also too many undisciplined penalties, including rookie guard Jonah Savaiinaea flagged for being downfield on a pass play to negate a first-down completion.
These are all signs of a bad team, because they are not isolated incidents.
Tagovailoa continues to regress
Most troubling is Tagovailoa’s regression. As the franchise quarterback, this team is going where he leads them, which right now is down the tubes.
Most telling are Tua’s numbers in the fourth quarter after three games: a completion rate of 65.5 percent (19 for 29) and a passer rating of 80.2, while throwing two touchdowns, two interceptions and taking four sacks.
Mystifying is why a receiving corps loaded with speed has so much trouble getting open, forcing Tagovailoa to check down and dump it off for short gains as protection breaks down.
Is it the pass routes? Does Tua not see receivers who are open? He certainly didn’t see Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard breaking across in front of Jaylen Waddle for the fateful interception.
“It’s a tough job to do when there’s someone in your face,” McDaniel said. “Everybody needs to do better. And if you’ve gotta ditch the ball to the flat in moments like that, then that’s what you have to learn from.”
Tagovailoa was under pressure when he made the throw. But here’s the thing, the Dolphins never force Josh Allen into that mistake.
The quarterback the Dolphins chose to invest $53,000,000 a year in is now 1-9 against Allen and the Bills.
Dolphins’ vertical passing game absent
He did throw touchdowns to Hill and Waddle, and the offense converted 10 of 15 third-down chances. But he averaged a paltry 4.3 yards per pass.
McDaniel’s once acclaimed high-octane passing game is plodding along like a dump truck.
Where do they go from here?
On the plus side, for the first time in three games they showed up with a sense of urgency and opened with an impressive touchdown drive.
As TV analyst Kirk Herbstreit put it, “This is a team that’s shown up in a bad mood.”
About time they showed some mettle.
They finally took the reins off rookie running back Ollie Gordon II — and what the hell took so long? — and he showed the impressive inside running evident in preseason, including bulling for the touchdown and a stunning 7-0 Miami lead.
But the defense still doesn’t have an interception or fumble recovery. They can’t stop the run. The pass rush, which was supposed to be a strength, has been inadequate.
Bottom line is they’ve allowed more than 30 points in each game so far.
The upcoming schedule offers opportunities with three of the next four games against teams that are 0-2. The Jets are up next, a Monday night date at home.
Dolphins season already seems broken
Another prime time date on the hot seat with the McDaniel/Chris Grier regime on the brink of joining a growing pile on the junk heap this century.
The evidence of failure is stark and damning. It is painfully apparent Tua was not worth the staggering investment and McDaniel’s way is not working.
What is not known is the limit of owner Steve Ross’ patience.
Hill laid out the crossroads this team faces: “Do you want to be the 0-3 team that just, hey, we’re going to throw in the towel … or are we going to be remembered as the team that started 0-3 and found a way to turn it around?”
There’s no way to skirt around it. Either cross the lines or get knocked back. Simple as that for the Dolphins on the rough road ahead.
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.
