(This article was written before the news broke of Tua being in concussion protocol)  

The Miami Dolphins going into Sunday’s game, got a lot of help with teams like the New York Jets and New England Patriots losing their games, so the Dolphins had a chance to distance themselves by another game and get closer to a wild card berth. However, the Dolphins fell apart after taking a 20-10 lead against the Green Bay Packers and allowed the Packers to score 16 unanswered points to win 26-20. The Dolphins still control their own destiny for the playoffs, but the season is slipping away, and it has the feel of a late-season collapse of the team missing the playoffs. Maybe I’m exaggerating, or I’m too traumatized from the last two decades, but I do remember when the Dolphins started 9-2 in 1993 and then lost their final five games of the season to miss the playoffs. Or in 2002, the Dolphins were 9-5, and all they had to do was win one of their final two games to clinch a playoff spot and a division title, but they choked it away.   


The Dolphins’ final two games are against the Patriots and the Jets. The Dolphins, I feel, are better than both teams, but the Dolphins are leaving an opening for them to overtake them for a playoff spot and considering the Dolphins were 8-3 . Boththe Patriots and Jets have been so inconsistent down the stretch it would be embarrassing to miss the playoffs, quite frankly. 


The latest loss to the Packers was very frustrating because the Dolphins made big plays on offense, the defense came up with some stops in critical situations, and Aaron Rodgers was off in the first half. However, things changed quickly after the Dolphins fumbled the ball at midfield after the two-minute warning and had a chance to put the game away potentially. Raheem Mostert fumbled the ball, and the Packers recovered and ended up getting a field goal before the half. The Packers then got the ball to start the second half and went down the field, and scored the game-tying touchdown. 


Then the offense made too many self-inflicting mistakes that cost them the game. First, they missed a field goal after the Packers tied the game. Then after Rodgers threw an interception, the Dolphins got the ball right back, as Tua Tagovailoa threw an interception, and the Packers cashed in with a field goal. The Dolphins got the ball back and were driving, and Tagovailoa hit Jaylen Waddle for a 1st down at the Packer’s 10-yard line. Still, the play came back with an illegal formation penalty, and then Tagovailoa threw his second interception of the game. The Dolphins could have had a first and goal, but a penalty hurt them. The Packers then went down the field, took time off the clock, and got a field goal. Then when the Dolphins got the ball back, Tagovailoa threw his third interception of the game and ended the game. 


As well as Tagovailoa played in the first half, he was just as bad in the second half, and it continued his inconsistency during this 4-game losing streak. Now, he can’t get all the blame, but the quarterback gets it whether it’s fair or not, and questions will loom if he is the quarterback of the future if he doesn’t play well the last two games and misses the playoffs. For as much improvement as Tagovailoa and the offense have made this season, it will be for nothing if they don’t make the playoffs. It reminds me of Ricky Williams’s career year rushing in 2002 when he led the NFL in rushing with 1,853 yards, but unfortunately, nobody remembers it because the team choked the last two games and missed the playoffs. The difference between that and the current team is that the 2002 team was a team that had been in the playoffs five straight years prior. This team hasn’t made the playoffs in years and is struggling to prove they are a playoff-worthy team and a legitimate contender in the AFC. 


Now the Dolphins are better than the Patriots, so you would think they would be the following Sunday, but the game is in New England, and the Patriots’ defense has been their strength this year. I’m sure Bill Belichick will be watching the film of what other teams have done against Tagovailoa and trying to shut them down. The Patriots aren’t a good offense, but the Dolphins’ defense hasn’t been playing well this year, so I’m sure they will exploit some of their weaknesses. 


The Jets beat the Dolphins earlier this year. Still, Tagovailoa didn’t play in that game, and the Jets have been in a slump themselves because of their inconsistent play on offense, especially at the quarterback position. However, their defense is stout, and if the Dolphins’ offense isn’t on their game, it could be a season sweep. 


The Dolphins, on paper, are better than the Patriots and Jets. The Patriots and Jets both have issues on offense, especially at the quarterback position. The Dolphins must fix their problems and take care of business because right now, I feel the season slipping away, and the Dolphins are giving their division rivals hope, and they won’t hear the end of it if they don’t make the playoffs. If the Dolphins don’t beat them and miss the playoffs, it will be embarrassing and one of the biggest choke jobs in franchise history.