There are a whole lot of groups within the NFL which can be already out of the playoff race this season and dealing with lengthy roads again to rivalry. There may not be a single franchise that’s dealing with a grimmer, bleaker scenario than the Miami Dolphins.
The franchise has not received a playoff sport in 26 years, the longest ongoing drought within the NFL, and it’s going to proceed this season. They’ve largely been mediocre lately solely certified for the playoffs simply 4 occasions prior to now 23 years.
They’ve had no latest success, are having no present success, and don’t appear more likely to have success anytime quickly sooner or later.
No matter momentum and shine they could have had from final week’s large win over the Atlanta Falcons was fully erased on Thursday night time in an embarrassing efficiency in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens in a 28-6 defeat.
There have been zero positives to remove from it, and it’s exhausting to see the place a fast repair comes from.
The Ravens beat the Dolphins, and the Dolphins beat themselves
Popping out of halftime on Thursday night time, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel mentioned they had been enjoying in opposition to two groups within the first half, referencing the actual fact that they had a number of self-inflicted errors that helped price them factors, stall drives and provides factors to Baltimore.
That they had lengthy drives on offense get slowed down by penalties, forcing them to accept area aim makes an attempt. They fumbled deep in their very own territory to set the Ravens up for his or her first landing of the sport, after which turned the ball over two different occasions later within the sport.
That could be a dropping recipe in opposition to virtually any group in soccer, and particularly in opposition to a group that’s quarterbacked by Lamar Jackson.
However that is solely a part of the issue for Miami, and it is largely solely associated to this sport. The massive image drawback is way extra regarding.
Tua Tagovailoa just isn’t the reply
Tagovailoa is way from the one drawback in Miami proper now. It is simply not a very good roster total. However he additionally doesn’t appear to be a part of the answer, particularly with a $53M wage cap quantity. The Dolphins are paying him like one of many NFL’s elite quarterbacks — and one among its elite gamers — and they don’t seem to be getting something near that stage of play.
He threw his league-leading eleventh interception of the season on Thursday, and simply appeared like a quarterback that had no solutions for something.
He lacks elite arm energy, and every little thing concerning the Dolphins offense is constructed round timing, their potential for the primary learn of their offense to get open, and his potential to hit it. When issues don’t work completely, the offense has zero probability to operate.
It has not labored.
Tagovailoa’s regression as a quarterback, mixed with a big contract which may shortly turning into one of many NFL’s greatest albatross offers, is a giant motive why this case feels so grim. It’s one factor to not have a quarterback. It’s one other factor fully to spend money on the mistaken quarterback and be caught with them and have virtually no manner out from it.
Finally head coach Mike McDaniel and possibly basic supervisor Chris Grier are going to be dismissed, and it’ll not be unfair given the roster and group they’ve constructed. Whoever is available in to interchange them goes to have a largely naked cabinet to restock with one of many NFL’s worst contracts at its most essential place.
A minimum of in case you are the New York Jets or New Orleans Saints you can begin over this offseason with a brand new quarterback. It appears virtually unattainable for the Dolphins to do this.
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