POLITASPORTS

Getting my grades out late this week. Week XV has already started with the high octane West Coast kick battle on Prime. Last week Miami tried very hard to end their season to the woeful New York Jets. But extended their season with one brilliant OT drive. Several times the last few weeks I have remarked on Miami’s very slim margin for error. They now have no margin. Even if they win out, they are not guaranteed a spot in the post season. Not a great place to be, but it will prove the metal of this team. Even against “lesser” opponents, showing the tenacity to come back from a bad game. Snatching the victory with two hands falling down in the end zone during OT, shows metal. Miami is now one game from .500. They have sat in the position a couple times. Just as on Thanksgiving Day they are playing a quality team with a winning record. Miami must beat Houston. It will elevate them to even, and help shed the “can’t beat winning teams” slogan. But most importantly, it allows them to be in the playoff hunt one more week.

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Coaching: (B); Coach MnM continues to be predictable with his play calling. on short yardage goal line situations he ran the same RB dive play five times. It was successful only once. I wish Miami had a more capable line to advance their position enough to gain a yard. They do not. If not for a pass interference call on third and goal, Miami would’ve settled for a field goal. McDaniel called 12 screens including 3 on their one OT possession. Three were the exact same play to Achane. On the third attempt it got blown up, risking Achane’s head. The OT screens to Jonnu worked, but the results consistently diminish as the games progress. Achane’s first two screens exploded for big gains, then a series of minus to no gain screens ensued. One quarter of Tua’s pass attempts were screens. That number is too large. McDaniel went for it on 4th down early in the game, inside the Jets’ 30, but then settled for a FG. I liked the first decision, not the second.

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Running Backs: (C); Achane averaged less than 2 yards per carry. He did score one TD and added 45 yards on 6 receptions in the pass game. This entire unit needs to be better. Much of that falls on the offensive line. However, McDaniel needs to figure out how to get them in space from the backfield. Against the more rounded teams, this lack of productivity on the ground will hamper their aerial assault.

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Receivers: (A); Waddle finished one yard short of a century on 9 catches. Hill grabbed 10 balls for 115 and a score. Waddle also caught the 2 pivotal 2 point conversion that tied the score. Jonnu was shut out in regulation. But had the three most consequential catches of the game in OT including the buzzer beater. Four players finished with over 40 yards receiving.

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Defense: (C); This unit needs to improve. The Jets scored 26. Only once this year have they done better, scoring 27 in a loss to the Colts. That is a touchdown more than their season average. Rogers threw for over 300 yards for the first time in 15 games dating back to the 2022 season. The Defense did not record a single turnover. They need to step up this week versus C.J. Stroud and Texas. They did get to Rogers on a pivotal 3rd down play. Giving the offense the chance to send the game to OT. Because of this, they get a passing grade. Sieler finished with 2 of Miami’s 3 sacks. He has elevated his game this year.

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Special Teams: (A-); Sanders missed PAT is the reason for the “minus” designation. He crushed it otherwise. He was perfect on FGs including two from beyond 50. The tying FG at the end of regulation was from 57. Because of Sanders’ leg, Miami ended both halves with long field goals. Bailey averaged nearly 50 yards on 3 punts. But the unlikely hero was Washington. His muffed punt on Thanksgiving put the Dolphins behind an obstacle they couldn’t navigate around. His 45 yard kick return with under a minute to play set Miami up to tie, then win the game. The way he ran over the Jets’ kicker was amazing. It was a quality bit of redemption, which is always a story worth highlighting.

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Quarterback(s): (A); Tua had a great game. There was one stretch in the second half when the offense sputtered and he went 0-6, but that was it. He finished with 331 yards, 2 touchdowns, zero sacks, and no turnovers while completing 70%. He threw three pin point passes on each score. The TD to Hill, the 2 point conversion to Waddle, and the game winner to Jonnu. All were expertly placed in tight windows. He also threaded the needle to Hill on a 21 yard gain late in the game. This was Tua’s best of the season thus far. He will have to be this good the last 4 games for Miami to have hope. One miscue from Tua and the season ends. It’s a tight rope, but he has to walk it.

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Officials: (F); They missed some major calls. Redick hit Tua during a slide. It wasn’t as violent as Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence, but it was unnecessary. Tua’s head snapped backwards because of it and he was clearly in his slide position. The also called an illegal formation late that was borderline at best. Be better.

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Overall: (B+); They got the win they desperately needed. Even while playing sloppy for large portions of the game. They can’t afford to be flat the next four games. Especially not this week verse Texas. Texas is the last team Miami has to play with a winning record, and they need to win. Not just for their slim playoff hopes, but for their own morale. They haven’t beaten a quality team since last Christmas Eve! And the way the Cowboys have played this year, that might not even count. Miami needs the Colts to lose. This week is probably the most likely game for them to falter. Indianapolis finishes vs Tennessee and Jacksonville (without Trevor) and at the NY Giants. Three teams with a combined 8 wins. Miami also needs Denver to lose twice. (These scenarios all include Miami winning their remaining games) Denver finishes their season against much tougher opponents. At the Chargers and Bengals then verse the Chiefs to end the year. All of Miami should be rooting for Denver this week then all three of these teams down the stretch. It would be nice to have Buffalo continue to win as well to keep pressure on KC. This will ensure that Denver is playing their opponents’ best. Needing help is never a good position to be in. Let’s Go Fins.

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