The final time the Miami Dolphins made the playoffs throughout the 2016 season, it was a backup quarterback Matt Moore, who completed the job when the starter, Ryan Tannehill, sustained a season-ending damage late within the yr.
An identical situation may very well be unfolding for the Dolphins in 2022.
Starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is in concussion protocol for the second time this season after sustaining his third head trauma incident of the season (Buffalo, Cincinnati, Green Bay). Tagovailoa’s situation might imply backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, the native product from Miami Northwestern High School, should end the job of main the Dolphins to the playoffs.
Or, if this season continues on the trail it was on earlier this yr, maybe third-team quarterback Skylar Thompson should end the job.
Either may lead the Dolphins to a victory or two, though it hasn’t occurred but this season.
So, yeah, there’s room to query what occurs to the Dolphins’ playoff hopes if Tagovailoa is sidelined.
On the opposite hand, contemplating the Dolphins (8-7) are on a four-game shedding streak with Tagovailoa because the starter, there was room to query the end result of those ultimate two regular-season video games anyway.
But right here’s the deal: ending this playoff run shouldn’t be solely on the shoulders of Bridgewater or Thompson, it must be on the shoulders of the Dolphins as a group.
When you begin a backup quarterback on this scenario you’re actually in search of him to offer you an opportunity to win within the fourth quarter, and also you’re trying to the opposite guys on the group, the higher-profile guys — coach Mike McDaniel, defensive coordinator Josh Boyer, extensive receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, left deal with Terron Armstead, cornerback Xavien Howard, linebackers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, defensive deal with Christian Wilkins, and many others. — to complete the job and ship the playoff berth.
Both Bridgewater, a seven-year veteran with beginning expertise, and Thompson, a rookie seventh-round choose from Kansas State, confirmed promise of their appearances earlier this season. And there’s motive to consider they might put the Dolphins in place to get one or two victories (each outcomes might end in a playoff berth) in these final two video games, at New England (7-8) and towards the New York Jets (7-8).
Tagovailoa has missed two and half video games (Cincinnati, the New York Jets and Minnesota) as a consequence of head accidents, and the Dolphins had an opportunity to win the Cincinnati and Minnesota video games within the fourth quarter.
You’ll recall Bridgewater’s first begin, towards the Jets, lasted precisely one play. On the Dolphins’ first snap of the sport New York cornerback Sauce Gardner sprinted in unblocked, hit Bridgewater within the midsection and dropped him to the turf for a security.
Then got here the actual shot.
An NFL-employed concussion spotter positioned in a sales space upstairs mentioned they noticed Bridgewater stumble whereas attending to his toes and he was dominated out for the remainder of the sport, that means Thompson, who didn’t get pleasure from training because the starter throughout that week, needed to make his NFL debut and end the sport.
The Dolphins had been already enjoying with out Howard, their Pro Bowl cornerback, as a consequence of groin accidents he sustained the earlier week at Cincinnati, they usually misplaced Armstead, their Pro Bowl left deal with, within the first quarter. They additionally misplaced defensive finish Trey Flowers within the first quarter, and cornerbacks Nik Needham and Keion Crossen within the second quarter.
Thompson ended 19 of 33 for 166 yards, no touchdowns, one interception and a 58.4 passer ranking. The Dolphins misplaced to the Jets, 40-17.
The following week Thompson, with a full week’s price of follow, began towards Minnesota however was knocked out within the second quarter with a thumb damage. Enter Bridgewater, who was in concussion protocol throughout the week.
The Dolphins quarterbacks, enjoying with out Armstead, who was nonetheless sidelined as a consequence of a toe damage, absorbed six sacks and 13 hits.
Still, the Dolphins had an opportunity to win within the fourth quarter.
Trailing, 16-10, Bridgewater was marching them downfield when Waddle misplaced a fumble on the Vikings’ 26-yard line after a 14-yard reception. The Vikings, one of many NFL’s finest groups this season, went on to attain, and win, 24-16.
Thompson ended 7 of 13 for 89 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions and a 75.5 passer ranking. Bridgewater completed 23 of 34 for 329 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions and a 93.9 passer ranking.
Oh, and that Cincinnati sport wherein Tagovailoa left the sphere on a stretcher shortly earlier than halftime?
The Dolphins had an opportunity to win that one within the fourth quarter, too. The Dolphins led, 15-14, coming into the ultimate interval. Then Howard was sidelined with a groin damage. The Bengals used their passing sport to benefit from Howard’s absence and rating 13 fourth-quarter factors to take a 27-15 victory.
Bridgewater ended 14 of 23 for 193 yards, one landing, one interception and an 84.1 passer ranking.
Granted, neither Bridgewater nor Thompson has had statistically nice performances whereas subbing for Tagovailoa, however the Dolphins had probabilities to win within the fourth quarter in two of the three video games they began this season.
Again, that’s about all you possibly can ask for from a backup quarterback, offer you an opportunity to win within the fourth quarter. The remainder of the group should additionally do its half.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com