The Miami Dolphins’ season is on life assist.
Once wanting so promising at 8-3 with a playoff spot seemingly all however assured — with speak about whether or not the workforce might supplant the Buffalo Bills within the AFC East, a five-game dropping streak has now put the Dolphins able the place they should depend on others to make the playoffs.
They want a win in subsequent Sunday’s finale towards the New York Jets, plus a New England Patriots loss to the Bills to leap again into the AFC’s No. 7 seed.
With the workforce down beginning quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, left sort out Terron Armstead, cornerback Xavien Howard and outdoors linebacker Bradley Chubb after which having backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater go down, Miami didn’t have sufficient and didn’t do sufficient to win on New Year’s Day in Foxborough.
Here’s how the South Florida Sun Sentinel grades the Dolphins’ 23-21 loss to the Patriots on Sunday:
Passing recreation: C-
It regarded prefer it was being managed nicely by Bridgewater, however then there was the expensive mistake.
I’m unsure what Bridgewater noticed when he was intercepted by Kyle Dugger and had the decide returned 39 yards for a landing, injuring himself within the course of on the sort out try. That ball had no likelihood of attending to Trent Sherfield.
Bridgewater’s afternoon ended at 12 of 19 for 161 yards, a powerful, improvised landing on a flip move to Raheem Mostert and one other throw to Tyreek Hill that technically went as a speeding landing as a result of it was a backward move. But the game-changing play Sunday got here when Bridgewater was intercepted for a rating.
It was a troublesome place for third-string QB Skylar Thompson to get thrown into, and he might by no means get the offense transferring, outdoors of the late drive as soon as New England led by two scores.
Hill had 55 receiving yards and Jaylen Waddle 52. How conservative the passing assault performed out was evident in Mostert main the workforce with eight catches for 62 yards, plus the landing.
The dump-offs have been efficient in limiting Patriots sacks, although. Without Armstead and dropping Kendall Lamm Sunday to carry Greg Little again into the combination, every quarterback was solely sacked as soon as.
Running recreation: C
The floor recreation was relied upon closely, which McDaniel mentioned was influenced by desirous to restrict alternatives for the Patriots to show the Dolphins over and rating with their protection — which they nonetheless did.
Miami churned out about 3 yards per carry with its tailbacks. Jeff Wilson Jr. had 15 carries for 45 yards, and Mostert collected 29 on his 9 makes an attempt.
The Dolphins ran on first down on their first 10 probabilities. They stored it on the bottom in 14 of their first 16 first downs, so it became a predictable assault with the backup quarterback beginning.
Defending the move: D
A Dolphins secondary already depleted by harm took one other blow with Howard, who has struggled all through the season regardless of his Pro Bowl choice, unable to play with a knee harm sustained in observe.
When security Jevon Holland needed to step out to get his arm checked, Miami had a complete beginning secondary and nickel package deal of gamers who have been projected reserves to begin the 12 months — with Eric Rowe and Verone McKinley the safeties and Kader Kohou, Keion Crossen and Noah Igbinoghene the cornerbacks. That’s two undrafted rookies in that grouping.
Patriots second-year quarterback Mac Jones had his greatest recreation so far towards Miami in incomes his first win towards the division rival. He was 20 of 33 for 203 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
It’s solely 6.1 yards per try, however he didn’t make errors and gained occasional chunk performs. He additionally drew important penalties on Crossen and Kohou because the Dolphins let rookie Miami product Tyquan Thornton, fellow receiver Jakobi Meyers and tight finish Hunter Henry damage them at totally different junctures whereas New England was with out former Dolphin DeVante Parker.
Miami collected three sacks — Christian Wilkins, Elandon Roberts and Zach Sieler getting these — however there have been too many situations the place Jones had a clear pocket and all day to throw.
Defending the run: B-
The Patriots, as restricted offensively as they’re, knew to assault the Dolphins by means of the air towards an ailing secondary, trusting Jones to not flip the ball over.
New England solely went to its tailbacks 17 occasions, however the Patriots have been reasonably efficient after they did go to the bottom. Rhamondre Stevenson went for a 5.3 yards-per-carry common with 42 yards on eight carries. Damien Harris had 32 yards on 9 makes an attempt.
The grade isn’t decrease as a result of the Dolphins didn’t lose due to this side in any respect. Miami was high quality right here outdoors of a few huge positive aspects allowed — 18 yards to Stevenson and 11 to Harris — however the specter of its run protection alone was sufficient to affect the Patriots to throw greater than they wished to, even with the lead within the fourth quarter.
Special groups: C
It’s a 51-yard try, however today, these are anticipated from NFL kickers. Jason Sanders missed his shot from that distance, and people 3 factors in the end might’ve made the distinction, given the ultimate rating. Sanders is now 1 of 5 from 50-plus this season.
Boosting the Dolphins’ grade is the coffin nook punt from Thomas Morstead executed late within the first half, masterfully pinning the Patriots down on the 2-yard line. The Dolphins additionally had a good day masking kick and punt returns, which has plagued them. They couldn’t pull off the onside kick on the finish, which is at all times tough.
Coaching: D
It was a troublesome job to go up towards a Bill Belichick-led workforce with so many key gamers out, however this was coach Mike McDaniel’s alternative to show he’s the offensive whiz he was hyped to be this offseason. He didn’t do something artistic or modern to get the ball within the palms of Hill and Waddle. The play-calling was conservative with all of the early-down runs, which McDaniel mentioned was to reduce alternatives for New England takeaways. The Dolphins nonetheless misplaced the turnover battle, 2-0, and have been penalized 9 occasions for 71 yards — many in important spots between holding, pass-interference calls and an unlawful shift that preceded Thompson’s interception. The Dolphins additionally burned some timeouts at inopportune occasions, and McDaniel missed on his lone problem, bringing his file to 0-4 when requesting replay overview.
McDaniel hasn’t misplaced the locker room, as evidenced by a star participant like Hill reverberating the coach’s message in his postgame feedback. But McDaniel is lacking one thing in how he’s speaking to his gamers, which he even admitted: “We’ve got to find different ways to get that message put forth and applied on the field, which is kind of Coaching 101.”
Stock up: Nobody
This workforce hasn’t gained since November 2022. Things are down throughout the board.
Stock down: Mike McDaniel
He was up there in Coach of the Year talks on the finish of November. Now, his workforce is on a five-game dropping streak, on the point of the franchise’s worst collapse to complete a daily season, and he must be held accountable. Former coach Brian Flores was additionally 8-8 at this level within the 2021 season however was already eradicated. He gained the finale to safe a second consecutive successful season however was nonetheless fired the subsequent day. This was regardless of having a roster not practically as gifted, however proprietor Steve Ross additionally attributed the choice to communication and collaboration. I don’t suppose McDaniel has his job at stake towards the Jets, however it might be deplorable to overlook the playoffs after the place this workforce stood heading into December.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com