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

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.”

We may not see Jason Sanders this year, #Dolphins fortunate to have signed Patterson. https://t.co/KOO0aSPvOJ

— Chris at Phins.com (@PhinsChris) November 16, 2025

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.

Report: Dolphins owner, Stephen Ross wants to keep McDaniel next season – Ian Rapoport believes believes Tua will remain as well- belief around the #NFL is multiple experienced GM’s like the job even with duo in place. #phinsup https://t.co/exKnhMnTqQ

— Josh Moser (@TheMozKnowz) November 16, 2025

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.

I know I risk awakening the faceless bots, but Miami Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones doing the Cristiano Ronaldo ‘Siuuu’ celebration at the Bernabeu Stadium after making a crucial interception is quality content.

Talk about knowing your stuff.#PhinsUp

pic.twitter.com/OKKaNoz5sN

— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) November 16, 2025

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.

De’Von Achane ALWAYS looks like he’s gonna break one when he gets into some open space

Quietly one of the most explosive players in the entire NFL
pic.twitter.com/ToziETTs4h

— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) November 16, 2025

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.