Miami has not faired well in their trips across the pond. This of course has not stopped the NFL from deploying the Fins to the front line of NFL Global. The Jaguars are the only team with more games across the sea than the Dolphins. The Jags have played all in London, the home of their owner. They are the exception. After them comes Miami. Then the Chiefs who have played overseas half as many times with 4 games. Coming into Sunday, Miami had a 2-5 record on the smallest continent. Spain is a beautiful country. I contemplated making this trip; planned out which family members I could stay with, where to take the wife before and after the game. Then I remembered I’m broke and won’t be flying anywhere. The game was difficult to watch, figuratively and literally. I watched it on mute in the back of the chapel while the preacher talked about Moses, I think. I did get home in time for OT. These overseas games are a struggle for those of us that attend services on Sunday. West coast girls and gals must hate the 6:30AM kickoff. Coach MnM needs to relinquish play calling. Few head coaches are capable of pulling double duty, McDaniel is not one of the few. Get an OC you trust and give him the playbook and let him focus on the flow of the offense. You focus on the team.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
Coaching: (C-); My disdain for field goals is well noted in my “Grading the Dolphins” segment. I loathe kicks in general. However, end of half, game tying, or game winning FG’s are an exception. I didn’t mind the choice to get the first down. It showed faith in the defense and confidence the would win despite the outcome. If they kicked it, the Commandskins would’ve had an opportunity to win. Certainly a chance to tie. If you convert that short play, which was open, you end the game and eliminate that threat. For me? Worth the risk. Compare that to the Bucs punting it back to Josh Allen on a short fourth down trailing in the forth quarter. Allen already had 5 touchdowns. No team can score without the ball. Keeping possession is immensely valuable and teams are too quick to kick it away.
What is concerning is the lack of offense one week after dominating the Bills. The defense is “gelling” a bit; but the offense continues to ride the coaster. Miami needs to find consistency. The team can not afford to lay any more eggs this season. Coach MnM is the offense; this is on his shoulders to rectify.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
Running Backs: (A); Achane and Gordon both averaged over five yards per carry on Sunday. Gordon’s best run came when Miami was pinned at their own one yard line. Breaking towards the outside for a breathing room and a first down. He also scored Miami’s only touchdown of the game. De’von surpassed 120 yards on the ground and added another 45 in the passing game. He finished with 26 touches for 165 total yards and 6-1/2 yard average. He is on pace to gain nearly 2,000 yards from scrimmage. He would be only the second Dolphins’ running back to accomplish this feat behind Ricky Williams’ 2,216 yards in 2002. Ricky also has the 2nd most scrimmage yards by a Dolphin back with 1,723. This number and Tyreek’s second place total yards in a season number of 1,799 are well within reach. If De’von Achane keeps his current pace, he will end up with over 1,900 total yards. He could even pad that a bit if he returns a punt or two.
Barring an incredible late season push by the Fins, Achane has been the lone bright spot on an otherwise mediocre team.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
Receivers: (B+); Tua only had 14 completions on the day. Waddle and Washington both did well with the roles and opportunities they were given in Madrid. It has been half a season, eight games, since Hill went down. Waddle has not shown he is a number one receiver in this league. Yes, Tua has struggled mightily, but Jefferson and Chase have done more with less. Fitzgerald did it for an entire career. Waddle is a high quality number two WR. He’ll need to play better for the Fins to make a run.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
Defense: (A); The overtime interception alone would make this a passing grade if the score was 56-56! They also firmed up after giving away a big play on Washington’s final drive to hold the Commandskins to a long FG. Thankfully it didn’t find the target. They held Washington to 3 inside the ten yard line early and forced two turnovers. Keeping an NFL team under 20 is always a pass. This unit has shown improvement the last few games for Weaver. If the defense can continue to play acceptable football, Miami has a chance to make a late playoff run. Is that the best scenario for the franchise? I’m not sure. Flores finished a lost season winning 7 games, he lost his job. Miami lost valuable draft position, and the franchise is once again facing a rebuilding, while playing just well enough to stay out of the top 10 in the draft. It’s a loop the marine mammals have been jumping through for more than twenty years.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
Special Teams: (A); In a season with too few of them, when you hit the game winner; you get an A. Patterson was perfect and Bailey averaged 55 yards a punt.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||Overall ||
Quarterback(s): (C-); McDaniel has been “protecting” Tua the last several games. In the three wins Miami has secured over the last four weeks Tua’s attempts have gone down each time. 26 against Atlanta, 21 versus Buffalo, and only 20 in Madrid. He has still managed to toss two interceptions in these games. Two picks in 67 attempts. Matthew Stafford has thrown two picks all season in 338 attempts. Let’s compare him to his contemporaries. Herbert; 9 picks in 376 attempts. Lawrence; 8 in 338. Bryce Young; 7 out of 314 passes were INT’s. Even against second and third tier starters; Tua sits at the back. Totaling 13 interceptions in 312 pass plays this year. He leads the league. Miami and Coach MnM need to understand that they have to win with Tua, not because of Tua. Based on the recent play calling; I believe this light bulb has turned on over Coach’s head.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
Officials: (F); It wasn’t a great game for the crew. This is after the other day when they called the most incredulous “taunting” penalty ever against Chubb and the insane “tripping” call against Gordon. Miami has not been the beneficiary of too many questionable calls. That is usually how it goes for the underdog. The Dolphins were called for a “low block” on defense. The most egregious call however; was the no call. The Commanders were pinned back inside their own 2 yard line when Marcus Mariota dropped back into his end zone and was met by multiple Dolphins’ defenders. He twirled once and while going down chucked the ball out of bounds. Miami wanted an intentional grounding penalty. Nearly everyone watching live assumed it was coming. Safety, two points for Miami. And then, no flag. they said he was “outside the tackle box” as his own right tackle stood to his right. It was a bad call. Made worse by the fact it cost Miami points. When the zebras cost teams points, they fail.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
Overall: (A); I’m being very generous. In a season with far too few, all the W’s get an A. Even the bad ones. Washington’s defense was supposed to be a broken sieve, instead they held Miami to 16 points one week after the Dolphins put up 30 on the Bills. Miami had less first downs, less total yards, less passing yards, and less rushing yards than the Commandskins. Washington’s defense even had more sacks than Miami. It wasn’t a great effort. Coach can not allow Miami to be flat during games. Their margin of error is too small if they want to salvage this season. Miami has a bye week and then a string of very winnable games. I said earlier they needed to be .500 when they played the Ravens if they had hope for the season. They weren’t, but due to the volatility in the AFC this year, they may still play a game in January, but only if they are ready to play from opening kick to closing kneel. If they are .500 when they play the Bungles just before Christmas; expectations will once again be high. Then they’ll have two tough games to close out the season. #PhinsUP. Let’s go.
Jump to Grades: Coaching || Defense || Quarterback || Special Teams || Running Backs || Officials || Receivers || Overall ||
POLITASPORTS 