The Titans fumbled twice in the fourth quarter handing Miami excellent field position, which the Dolphins turned into touchdowns giving them a fourteen point lead with just over four minutes to play. Not to be outdone, the Fins fumbled the game away after that gaining sixteen yards and giving up 139 yards and 15 points in two minutes and ten seconds. Miami would get the ball back down one with a minute and forty five seconds to play only to go four and out. With the toughest part of Miami’s schedule upcoming, pouring this game down the drain doesn’t bode well for a team trying to over come December Demons.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
Coaching: (F); I detest kicks of almost all types, but especially any field goal inside the ten yard line. Miami had two red zone field goals, including one from the two yard line. I texted my brothers “thats how you lose games” when the FG unit jogged onto the field. The play calling was suspect all night. Achane and Mostert both had a solid night, yet deep in Titans territory they were benched, until late in the game when, wouldn’t you know, Mostert punched in two scores. I have commented here about the WR screens that have gone nowhere, yet seem to be McDaniel’s favorite play, even with no timeouts and needing a first down with under a minute left. I felt like the announcer in “Joe Montana Sports Talk Football,” I couldn’t believe it.
Fangio’s unit struggled mightily as well. Tennessee gave up six sacks last week to the Colts, Miami managed one. Other than the Sieler interception early they didn’t force any turnovers (I can’t count the Christmas gifts as Dolphins forced turnovers), they couldn’t stop Hopkins, who along with Thielen is the second aging veteran to have his will against Miami, and they rarely made Will Jeans uncomfortable.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
Running Backs: (A); Achane and Mostert were the lone bright spots on Monday Night Football. Mostert is having the best Dolphins’ running back season since before Ricky Williams sudden retirement, and Achane continues to perform as a rookie, even coming back from injury. If only Coach would’ve given these two more touches deep in Titans territory early, what may have been.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
Receivers: (C); Hill getting hurt early affected this group, but an entire facet of a team can’t be so heavily dependent on one skill player that they shut down if he stumbles. Miami’s whole game plan and motion changed without Hill and it was inexplicable. Isn’t Waddle supposed to be an All-Pro level wideout as well? Don’t they have other speedy alternatives? One player, other than your QB, can not affect your play calling this much, and if they do, you need to adjust your strategy quickly. C. Wilson Jr. made some nice catches, but was only targeted a handful of times.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
Defense: (F-); I discussed this unit a bit when grading Fangio; what happened in the final four minutes gets a fail no matter what transpired previously; but what they did early wasn’t great either. Chubb cost Miami at least four points, maybe seven with a childish outburst because he didn’t get a sack? Really? That is why you’re playing, to pad your stats. You still made the tackle that prevented the first down. And here I thought Patrick Mahomes was the biggest baby of the week. Hopkins got what he wanted all night. Levis had the time of his life back there picking targets without worry. Lets hope this was a blip and not a regression to early season form.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
Special Teams: (F); You can’t let them block a field goal. It was ultimately the deciding score in the game.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||Overall ||
Quarterback: (D); I am being as generous as I can be. Another center exchange fumble that cost the team points. Tua avoided throwing an interception, though he tried several times. He took bad sacks, and missed some reads. But mostly its the lack of awareness; to be able to audible out of a call; into a run play on the goal line maybe? Or break the huddle quickly instead of burning timeouts. These are what the top QBs in the league do for their teams. Until Tua fully grabs the reins of the offense, he will not take the next step up the ladder. No matter what his “numbers” look like, he is not at the elite level, and he doesn’t appear to be progressing upwards.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
Officials: (C+); It was a fairly evenly called game. They may have missed a roughing the QB, but they called PI on the same play, yes it would’ve pushed the ball closer to the endzone, but Miami shouldn’t have needed the extra help to cross the goal line. Can’t blame this unit for the Samsonian collapse.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
Overall: (F-); 0-767. That was the record of teams trailing by 14 points that late in an NFL game, until Miami drew Nashville in the NFL Secret Santa pool. What an epic failure. Their position atop the AFC East is wobbling. Statistically they only have a one game lead as Buffalo holds the tie break and they have a head to head remaining. Miami has two of the top teams in the NFL left on their schedule (Baltimore and Dallas) and we all know the Fins’ record against winners; not pretty. The Jets won’t be easy either, this could be a Counting Crows December.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
POLITASPORTS 