We’re officially at the point in the Miami Dolphins season where fingers of blame start getting pointed. That’s what happened on bad teams, and at this point the Dolphins can’t argue that they aren’t one anymore.
We can blame Sunday’s 30-27 fourth-quarter loss to the Buffalo Bills on the referee who flagged safety Jordan Poyer for unnecessary roughness when his helmet collided with Keon Coleman on a hit that broke up a third-and-9 completion.
If not for the flag, the Bills would have punted the ball back to Miami with 46 seconds left in a tie game, but instead of going for the ball the Dolphins safety played head-hunter, and lit the rookie receiver up. “I felt I put my helmet in his chest,” Poyer said. “What can you do? I felt I made a great break on the ball.” Still, the Miami Dolphins would have needed a game-winning drive to deliver a victory against its AFC East rivals, which now sit in the driver’s seat to lock the division up in the coming weeks.
Or we can blame Sunday’s loss to the Bills on Raheem Mostert’s fumble in the third quarter, which turned the tide of the game since Miami was meticulously driving down the field on the first possession of the second half before the turnover. “I just hate the fact I turned the ball over,” said Mostert, who was part of a 149-yard rushing performance from the Dolphins. “I got to do my part and correct those things.” Keep in mind, this is the second game a Mostert turnover was costly, turning the momentum in the opposition’s favor.
Better yet, blame the loss on the 63-yard touchdown run that Bills Ray Davis had in the third quarter after safety Marcus Maye missed a tackle that provided Buffalo its first lead of the game. Whoever, or whatever you would like to blame Miami’s loss to the Bills on, understand it’s little more than an excuse for why Mike McDaniel’s team is underachieving, playing flat, failing to execute in critical moments.
Despite cleaning up the sloppy play that has plagued the team all season, and the improvements Tua Tagovailoa’s return has made to the offense — he completed 25 of 28 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns — this year’s Dolphins are doing just that, underachieving. The 2024 Dolphins have to work too hard for scores this season since the big play has vanished. The Dolphins haven’t been good enough to get out of their own way routinely on defense, and failed to seize the moment, making game-sealing plays when the game’s in the balance.
They did it once in the season-opening victory against Jacksonville, and got lucky in a road win against New England when a game-winning touchdown catch was overturned when the receiver’s foot was ruled out of bounds by the refs. But on this day, against the AFC East juggernaut — a Bills team that has dominated Miami during the Josh Allen era — the Dolphins fell flat again. “I don’t think we believe in moral victories,” said receiver Jaylen Waddle, whose 7-yard touchdown reception tied the score 27-27 with 1:38 left in the fourth quarter. Waddle then corrected himself, saying, ”We don’t believe in moral victories!” This was supposed to be the team that challenged the Bills for AFC East supremacy, and took this franchise to the next level.
But this entire season has sounded, and smelled like one long, pungent fart. It has stunk, and despite the remote possibility that McDaniel’s team can turn things around by winning seven or eight of the season’s final nine games, it’s time we end the delusion and accept this season for what it is, a lost opportunity. Or better yet, a wasted year. “It is what it is,” Tyreek Hill said about the Dolphins’ 2-6 record, which has Miami in position for a top-five pick more so than a wild card berth.
Now the Dolphins decision-makers must decide if they need to become sellers before this week’s trade deadline, shopping valuable pieces for draft picks. But at this point, who’s to say it’s general manager Chris Grier who will get to use those draft picks? “We have to win out from here on out. That’s what it takes,” said Hill, who finished the game with four receptions, which he turned into 80 yards. “I know all the guys are up for the task.” Hill’s clearly either delusional, or in denial.
