*Silver lining*
I feel like with how negative this article is going to be I needed to add some sort of positive aspects because we all are feeling embarrassed and like the season is ruined because of what happened last night but it isn't, despite how negative we all feel. Miami isn't the first team to have an embarrassing loss this year. Buffalo lost to New England and the Jets, Philly lost to the Jets, Dallas lost to Arizona, Detroit lost to the Bears, Houston lost to the Panthers, etc. And the silver lining is that you still control your own destiny. If you win out, you get the one seed which I know right now seems unfathomable after last night.
Fins Down: Mike McDaniel
- Without question, the worst coached game of Mike McDaniel's young career. First three drives Miami ran the ball down the Titans throats but couldn't get points thanks to a bad snap by Liam Eichenberg, a blocked field goal, and a holding on Liam Eichenberg. Cool. Great. Then you get to the second half and you march right down the field, BY RUNNING THE BALL, and get to 3rd and goal at the 2 yard line and you throw a fade? Then settle for a 20 yard field goal? Then you go three and out without running the ball once. Then you march right down the field again and get to 3rd and goal at the 3 and you get sacked for a 10 yard loss. Then you get lucky and get the ball inside the 12 twice and you run the ball in the redzone and score twice! Imagine that! Lastly, McDaniel called an orbit screen to Achane on 3rd and 3 on the last drive of the game that Achane caught the ball 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Give me a break man. Just a bad, bad, bad game from McDaniel.
Fins Down: Tua and the Dolphins in December
- I love Tua and I so desperately want him to be the guy and I know that the situation around him wasn't the best with the OL and the injury to Tyreek but this is getting really concerning. In December games that the Dolphins have trailed in the 4th quarter since 2020, here are how the games that Tua has started and finished (No Vegas miracle) have gone:
- 2020 - Loss to the Chiefs 33-27 (great comeback attempt)
- 2020 - Win 22-12 over New England
- 2020 - Loss 56-26 to the Bills
- 2021 - Loss 34-3 to the Titans
- 2022 - Loss 33-17 to the 49ers
- 2022 - Loss 23-17 to the Chargers
- 2022 - Loss 32-29 to the Bills
- 2022 - Loss 26-20 to the Packers
- 2023 - Loss 28-27 to the Titans
- Is this cherry picking statistics? Sure you could make that argument but Miami had a chance to win every one of those games minus the Buffalo game in 2020 and the team, and QB, haven't gotten it done. That is extremely concerning.
Fins Up: Christian Wilkins
- Christian Wilkins is going to get his $22m+ contract this off-season and I am not sure if Miami is going to be able to afford it with how well he is playing. 7.5 sacks for Wilkins now leads the team and we can only hope Miami finds a way to make some money to fit him in.
Fins Down: Liam Eichenberg and Lester Cotton
- Liam Eichenberg was horrible. Downright AWFUL. Liam had 2 holding penalties, 1 false start, and was consistently beaten in pass protection. Good thing he is Miami's center going forward right!?! To make matters worse, Lester Cotton was just as bad last night getting called for a hold and getting beat in pass protection.
Fins Down: Injuries
- Miami spent this entire season being smart and selective with injuries and yet, here we are again. Terron Armstead and Rob Hunt missed another game, Jevon Holland missed another game, Jaylen Waddle, Xavien Howard, and Tyreek Hill all got injured before eventually returning, and you lost DeShon Elliott and, perhaps the worst injury, you lost Connor Williams to what appears to be a bad knee injury. So basically, Miami played a game in December without LT1, LG1, C1, RG1, FS1, FS2, EDGE1, and LB1 despite their best efforts to keep everyone healthy. That's not a knock against Miami, that just sucks and is unlucky. 4/5 starters on your offensive line missed the game and now you have an angry Jets team coming to town on Sunday. Lovely.
Fins Up: Rush Defense
- Derrick Henry had 17 carries for 34 yards and you lost the football game.
Fins Down: Xavien Howard
- Xavien Howard was bad last night. Really bad. And yet, he still had 4 different opportunities to make game changing plays that would've given Miami a win. First he's out of bounds on an interception, next play he drops one, late in the 3rd, he completely misjudges a deep ball to Treylon Burks that went incomplete and then he misjudges the ball to Spears
Fins Down: Brandon Jones
- Brandon Jones' downfall isn't entirely on him. He is a strong safety that should be in the box but because of injuries, Jones has found himself back deep more often than not and he has been roasted all season long. Brandon at this rate is just letting dudes run by him and Miami better hope that they get a healthy Jevon Holland and DeShon Elliott back for this final stretch of games.