I will keep this week’s report card short, like the week. The Fins play again in only two days, in what should be a must win for the current brain trust. On Sunday, September 14, 2025 the Miami Dolphins needed a bounce back win. The stage was set; home opener versus a division rival of equal or lesser caliber. The team did not rise to the occasion. New England took the opening kick 65 yards for a TD. They did the same on their second possession jumping to an early 12-0 lead. The two missed PATs gave Miami an advantage. If they just mustered the ability to put the ball in the end zone. I recalled how one missed PAT cost Miami the Tennessee game, which ultimately ruined their season two years prior. The Dolphins weren’t able to capitalize on the Pats’ mistake. When a team leaves multiple points on off the board, you have to pounce.
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Coaching: (F); The Dolphins had 5 offensive plays in the 1st quarter (not counting one punt). Three of them were swing passes to running backs. 13/52 plays were passes to backfield receivers. Twenty five percent of all plays. 13/32 pass attempts; forty percent! The defense allowed 33 points for the second consecutive game. Miami has allowed 66 points in two games, only the lowly Chicago Bears have given up more. The coaching is abysmal on both sides. Coach MnM sounded defeated. He mumbled through another post game interview, saying: “To win games, you have to win the game and not lose the game, honestly. And that is how you lose the game.” His seat is as hot as it gets before exploding.
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Running Backs: (D); Achane has struggled on the ground. Yes, out of the backfield he had a solid performance, but he is a running back. As a running back, he is not performing up to standard. This is his second year as Miami’s featured back and if this doesn’t improve, they will have to look elsewhere. Less than three yards per carry will not cut it. The best run of the game was from Washington, trying to occupy a Deebo role with the Fins.
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Receivers: (A); This unit played great. Hill broke his thirty yard reception drought. He also hauled in each catchable ball. Even saving Tua a horrendous INT. Coming to a complete stop, on a go route, to make the play. Waddle added five receptions for nearly seventy yards and a score as well. Achane as a receiver is a weapon, and like in the opener he converted a short pass into a touchdown. This receiving core Miami has with a franchise QB would still be electric.
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Defense: (D); Only the Bears have been worse; and the majority of their points allowed came in one game. Miami’s D has been equally atrocious both games. I understand one of New England’s scores can not be attributed to this unit, but it doesn’t matter. Like week one, they forced zero turnovers. They sacked Maye three times. If not for the Special Teams disaster, would have held the Patriots to few enough points to win. That is why they get a passing grade, barely.
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Special Teams: (F-); Miami’s special teams had their first punt return TD in five seasons. They were on track for an A+++ grade. That lasted all of 5 seconds. You can not give up a TD on the ensuing kickoff and get a passing grade. That play deflated the entire stadium and every living room in Florida. The Dolphins are at best, average. Average teams can not give up plays like that AND win games. They also gave up a two point conversion.
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Quarterback(s): (D); 300 yards and 2 TDs seems like a fine effort. It doesn’t tell the full story. He missed open receivers, shorted balls that happened to be caught, and forced too many passes into double coverage. He had an egregious interception called back due to an unrelated penalty early. Don’t worry Pats fans, he made up for it late. Throwing a ball into triple coverage as he had a receiver open for the first down. This was the drive immediately after New England’s kickoff return TD. A moment in the game Miami had to recapture momentum and Tua gave it away. With a chance to win late, he didn’t get a pass off on two consecutive plays to end all hope. It was a very bad day.
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Officials: (C); They saved Tua one interception. Upheld a catch on the sideline. They were officials, nothing terrible.
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Overall: (D+); I am trying to be optimistic. Miami had a chance to win this game on their final drive. After the shellacking week one, that is an improvement worthy of praise. The only way to turn this season around and save McDaniel’s job is to win in Buffalo. It would be the biggest upset of the NFL season thus far, and maybe all year. I am not confident. But I am ever hopeful. Cheering for a team that hasn’t won a post season game this decade, century, or millennia; that is all I can be.
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POLITASPORTS 