Pressure Point: Dolphins’ defense shows growth in limiting high-scoring Lions

Realistically, the objective of this Miami Dolphins rebuilding season is to make progress, any progress. By that measure, the defense is doing its part.

That is not surprising, considering rookie head coach Jeff Hafley earned the opportunity as a defensive coordinator in Green Bay.

On Sunday, Hafley’s defense played like overachievers in holding the NFL’s No. 1 offense to one touchdown in a 19-9 loss to the Detroit Lions at Hard Rock Stadium.

“I’m proud of the defense. Maybe their best performance of the year against, in my opinion, the most explosive offense in the NFL,” Hafley said.

The game resembled an old-fashioned NFC North toe-to-toe battle, with the teams combining for seven field goals. The lone touchdown came late in the third quarter on an eight-yard run by Jahmyr Gibbs capping a 65-yard drive, the Lions’ longest of the game.

The 6-2 Lions came in averaging 29 points a game and a league-best 395.4 yards a game.

The Dolphins held them to 270 net yards, and in the first half outgained them 123-120.

It's reasonable to feel encouraged by this Dolphins season. There hasn't been a game in which they've taken a major step back — since SF. The right players are getting better. That doesn't guarantee anything going forward, but this doesn't feel hopeless as in recent years.

— Five Reasons Sports 🏀🏈⚾️🏒⚽️ (@5ReasonsSports) November 8, 2026

Dolphins’ offense, special teams struggle

Now, if Hafley the head coach can get the offense and special teams on the track of his scrappy defense, there would be a lot more progress to report as they approach the midpoint at 1-7.

Instead, the offense can’t get out of its own way. Five holding penalties and three false starts had the Dolphins behind the chains all day and warranted dunce caps across the offensive line.

As former Dolphins great offensive tackle Richmond Webb summed up succinctly on X, “Penalties, penalties, penalties!!! Got to clean this up. Let’s go! Dolphins.”

Meanwhile special teams, a sore spot all season, was atrocious all day except for a surprise conversion of a fake punt that nearly went the distance.

Of course, they were also victimized by a fake punt. Bradley Pinion, who completed the throw on the fake punt to Kaytron Allen for 46 yards, also had an embarrassing shanked punt for 25 yards.

Zane Gonzalez, who kicked three field goals including a 52-yarder, also missed a 38-yard attempt that would have tied the score going into halftime and missed the landing zone on a kickoff.

The woes on special teams may be a reflection of the team’s talent deficit, considering those duties are manned largely by the bottom of the 53-man roster.

🎥 Jeff Hafley on the number of holding penalties vs. Detroit Lions: "Disappointing… we have to get the penalties fixed." (@MiamiDolphins) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/BBAH8LdaEM

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) November 8, 2026

Bad day for offensive line

Of greater concern is the performance of the offensive line, which had a rough day despite rookie first-round draft pick Kadyn Proctor returning from a one-game absence for a concussion.

A lot of fans are quick to pin the failings of the offense all on quarterback Malik Willis. To simply point to his stats —13 of 25 for 128 yards and a 50.1 rating — misses the point. His best throw of the day, a 51-yard strike to Kevin Coleman Jr. was erased by a holding call on rookie Will Kacmarek.

Yes, he made a poor decision in trying to force a pass to Caleb Douglas into tight double coverage and having it intercepted. He was also a man on the run all game; the line’s pass protection was as shoddy as its run blocking.

Somehow, Willis avoided being sacked until late in the game. He eluded rushers despite being clearly hampered by a groin injury that has diminished his mobility the past two weeks.

It is valid to point out that on the first sack, which came late in the game in the red zone, Willis held the ball too long when he had Ollie Gordon II breaking open over the middle near the goal line.

But also note that on what would be his final pass of the day, Willis couldn’t have made a better fourth-down throw to Douglas. The rookie simply dropped what should have been a first-down reception.

Malik Willis absolutely isn't 100 percent, but GOOD GOD is the Dolphins offensive line doing him no favors pic.twitter.com/g7de1h3Tjy

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) November 8, 2026

Willis feels the heat

Look, the evaluation of Willis will continue through this season. Whether his detractors like him or not, Willis’ future with the Dolphins hasn’t been determined yet. Nor should it.

Hafley has made it clear that this season, with a very young roster that is greatly limited by salary cap restraints, is about evaluation and development.

While he is coaching to win, what he wants to see most is progress.

At this point, the defense is way ahead in that department. It is evident week after week.

The Dolphins came into Sunday’s game with nine sacks this season. They sacked Jared Goff three times in the first half.

They nearly had a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown by linebacker Jordyn Brooks, but replay determined Goff’s arm was moving forward when the ball came loose.

“Losing sucks. It’s the worst thing that can happen in this profession,” Brooks said after the game. “But when you’re trying to build something, it comes with it.”

Recognize it was in Dolphins NB Chris Johnson's lap, Miami will get more from him in the coming years when a window opens than keeping a 28-year-old Jaylen Waddle

Take away a dominant Week 2 vs the Jags, Waddle's 21 rec, 177 yds, 2 TD in 7 games weren't moving the needle…

— Clint Goss (@NFLDraftDome) November 8, 2026

First for rookies Rodriguez, Johnson

While veteran Brooks led the Dolphins with 12 tackles, rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez had 10 tackles and recorded his first NFL sack.

Rookie cornerback Chris Johnson had his first career interception on a pass disrupted by Josh Uche, who also had a sack — D-lineman Zeek Biggers had the third sack.

“Our young guys have a bright future,” Brooks said. “I think Sully [GM Jon-Eric Sullivan] did a great job … He brought the right guys in, and not just because they’re out there making plays, but just the right guys, right people that you want in the locker room to go through something like this. Losing is not easy, but I think it reveals who you are in that moment.”

At the moment they are 1-7. But in the quest for progress, these Dolphins are headed in the right direction — at least on defense.

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.