Bah-humbug.
Turnovers. Penalties. A blown lead. And now 4 consecutive losses.
Mike McDaniel needed his Miami Dolphins (8-7)to grasp what it’s prefer to play in large video games in December?
Here are 10 ideas on the Miami Dolphins’ 26-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
1. Stat of the sport: Dolphins’ 4 turnovers, Packers’ one. The Dolphins have been up 20-10 and at their 49-yard line when Raheem Mostert fumbled on the primary play after the two-minute warning earlier than the half. So what might have been a Dolphins rating became a Green Bay subject objective to make it 20-13. That’s the type of story the turnovers instructed. Also …
2. Tua Tagovailoa had three interceptions within the fourth quarter. Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers vs. Tagovailoa was the quick model of the sport. Rodgers confirmed why he’s a four-time MVP ultimately, and Tua confirmed why he’s nonetheless studying. Tua’s remaining three drives: Interception, interception, interception. After a giant first half with 229 yards passing, Tagovailoa accomplished 7-of-11 passes for 81 yards and the three interceptions within the second half. Even with two fourth-quarter interceptions, he got here out with 1:56 left within the sport and down, 26-20. After a brief completion, he underthrew Mike Gesicki and the sport was over. Tagovailoa accomplished 16-of-25 passes for 310 yards, a TD and the three interceptions. Rodgers accomplished 24-of-38 passes for a landing and an interception.
3. The Dolphins’ playoff hopes stay of their management. They’re nonetheless in respectable form regardless of having misplaced 4 in a row. Win towards the Patriots subsequent week and the Jets within the regular-season finale and so they’re nonetheless in. They may not even must win each video games relying on how different groups play out their end. A month in the past, the Dolphins have been speaking of an AFC East title and past. Now? It’s simply getting within the playoffs.
4. There’s been quite a lot of legitimate questions in regards to the Dolphins protection, however they have been dwelling once more Sunday and, once more at dwelling, they performed effectively. Green Bay’s first possession began on the Dolphins’ 7-yard line as a consequence of a 93-yard kickoff return. The protection held for a subject objective. Green Bay obtained the ball on the Dolphins 14 early within the fourth quarter. Again, the protection held for subject objective. They entered Sunday giving up 15.3 factors at dwelling and 32 factors on the street. Could they win Sunday? No, however they made some game-turning performs. Early within the fourth quarter, cornerback Kader Kohou intercepted Rodgers ultimately zone to cease a drive. They then held Rodgers to a subject objective after Tagovailoa’s second interception to offer the offense an opportunity to win.
5. You nonetheless can’t overstate the influence the velocity and expertise of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Hill made the Pro Bowl and also you once more noticed why when he obtained deep on Green Bay for a 52-yard catch to the Green Bay 1 within the second quarter. Waddle didn’t make the Pro Bowl — he’s the primary alternate — and also you noticed why he might have with an 11-yard catch on a pleasant contact cross by Tua that Waddle became an 84-yard touchown within the first quarter. Beyond these catches, take heed to how receivers coach Wes Welker described their influence on defenses final week — and subsequently, what the Dolphins can do.
“We’re getting two-man [safeties] a lot on first and second down,” Welker mentioned. “Nobody does that. You don’t see that across the league. I believe simply the way in which defenses have to organize for us and if you wish to play single security, go forward.
“Those two guys are very, very hard matchups for anybody — the best corners in the league and all of them. We rely on those guys heavily whenever they want to take away any of our run game or play [one safety]. They’ve got to make sure they’re bringing their A-game, and most teams are going to have to play two-high and make sure they keep things in front of them, which opens up our whole offense.”
6. Under assessment: The Dolphins under-review plan. McDaniel mentioned after the sport the replay of a key play didn’t arrive in time for him to throw the flag. Rodgers’ under-pressure, under-armed throw of 31 yards to tight finish Marcedes Lewis confirmed his four-time MVP expertise. It additionally introduced into query why the Dolphins didn’t problem the replay. The Fox broadcast referee, Mike Pereira, mentioned the ball was incomplete. So as a substitute of getting second-and-10 on the Dolphins 38, it was first-and-goal on the 7. This has come up just a few occasions this season and, once more on Sunday might have tilted the day. That cross put the ball on the Dolphins’ 7-yard line. A play later, the Packers scored and tied the sport at 20-20.
7. Special groups — and particular considering: After their opening subject objective, the Dolphins gave up a 93-yard kickoff return that arrange a Packers landing. Special groups have been a delicate subject for the Dolphins this yr, and it performed a job Sunday. In the second quarter, the Packers surprisingly ran a faux punt with a snap to the quick man, security Dallin Leavitt, on fouth-and-2 at their 20-yard line. You’ve obtained Rodgers and do that? Give the Dolphins credit score: They have been prepared, as they’d their line of defense on the market with Raekwon Davis making the cease for no acquire.
8. This was the second-coldest dwelling sport in Dolphins historical past. It was 46 levels on the opening kickoff. The different coldest video games and the end result (as compiled by the Dolphins’ Brett Brecheisen):
* 40 levels in Dec. 24, 1989 loss to Kansas City, 27-24;
* 51 levels in Dec. 31, 1983 loss to Seattle, 27-20;
* 52 levels in Dec. 29, 2004 win towards New England, 29-28;
9. Quick hits:
* Bradley Chubb harm his hand within the first half and performed with it wrapped;
* Jason Sanders made subject objectives of 46 and 34 within the first half and his mini-slump just a few video games in the past appeared performed with. Then he missed a 48-yarder within the third quarter;
* After per week discussing if the Dolphins ought to run extra on third-and-short, the Dolphins had third-and-3 on the primary drive and threw incomplete to Tyreek Hill. You’d take that one-on-one matchup towards CB Rasul Douglas anytime. This one didn’t work, and the Dolphins kicked a subject objective;
The Dolphins had three holding penalties referred to as on them in three consecutive offensive sequence within the first half. Then once more, the Dolphins’s secondary had back-to-back cross interferences that weren’t referred to as — the second when Kohou intercepted Rodgers early within the fourth quarter. This results in a weekly word by @RickGosselin9, a veteran NFL author who compiles refereeing stats. Home groups have been 4-8-1 coming into Sunday with the Land Clark crew that refered the Dolphins on Sunday.
10. Next week: Dolphins at Patriots. It’s forecast to be within the 50s in New England, that means it was colder Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium than will probably be in Foxborough. The Patriots entered Sunday with playoff hopes on life help after robust losses to the Raiders and Bengals the previous two weeks. The Dolphins beat New England within the opener this season, 20-7.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com