It looked like 2024 was going to be the Dolphins’s breakout season. Three games later (1-2) the feeling is that of a nightmare with two injured quarterbacks and an offense that has not scored a touchdown in seven quarters.
Coach Mike McDaniel takes the blame for the chaos. Skylar Thompson was roughed up in a 24-3 loss to the Seahawks on Sunday in Seattle, leaving in the third quarter with a rib injury that prevented him from getting up off the floor without assistance and then in the locker room unable to dress because of the pain.
Thompson started the game in place of starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is recovering from a concussion and will likely be back in Game 8.
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But the backup player didn’t deliver. He was sacked six times and completed 13 of 19 passes for 107 yards in an offense that was just one of 12 on third down attempts.
His replacement Tim Boyle, who was signed Saturday from the Dolphins’ practice squad, finished 7 of 13 passes for 79 yards and at least got his team into the end zone, which meant nothing because Seattle’s defense stopped two runs and both of his passes were incomplete. The Dolphins have not had a playoff win in 24 years.
If this trend continues in 2024, a quarter of a century of frustration will have passed. This season, McDaniel’s third and Tua’s fifth with the team, it seemed like the stars had aligned for the Dolphins.
In addition, last July the quarterback agreed to a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension.
All hope came crashing down in the second game when Tua, in order to complete a down, dove headfirst into an opponent instead of sliding with his feet forward and suffered the concussion that plunged the Miami club into an early catastrophe.
“The quarterback is an extension of the offense and the offense is an extension of me,” said McDaniel.
“I have never won a match with three points. Therefore, collectively, starting with me, we need to do things better.”
Meanwhile, linebacker Jaelan Phillips said the team will not be discouraged. “We must support each other and understand that nothing is lost,” Phillips explained.
“It is early in the season, there is a long way to go. We need to make corrections and improve the things that aren’t quite right.” Despite Sunday’s tough setback, the Dolphins can take some positives away.
The defense kept the team in the game for 44:58, when Zach Charbonnet scored the Seahawks’ third touchdown that sealed the game.
With 58 yards on the ground and in the air, De’Von Achane was the Dolphins’ most effective and used attacker with 14 touches on the ball.
On the ground, the Dolphins gained just 65 yards. And through the air, 186. Those numbers should make McDaniel think seriously, because after the departure of one player, in this case Tua, his entire team came crashing down.
Boyle didn’t do badly and seems like a better option than Thompson. Plus, the team has the option to use Tyley Huntley, who was signed to wait until Tua’s recovery.
The Dolphins ended the first half down 17-3 in Seattle. The offense led by Thompson was not firing. The defense made some good saves that gave hope for a miracle that never happened.
The first drive of the game ended with a 56-yard field goal by Jason Myers that put the Seahawks ahead, just 4:06 into the game.
The Dolphins also moved into scoring position on the next drive, but kicker Jason Sanders missed a 57-yard field goal 6:19 into the game.
The Seahawks then began their drive in excellent field position. Charbonnet took full advantage of the gift to seal the drive with a four-yard touchdown run.
The game could have gone differently, but Miami was unable to capitalize on some key situations.
With two minutes left in the first quarter, Kader Kohou intercepted Geno Smith as the Seahawks quarterback tried to avoid safety and the visiting team was in the end zone, but they only had to settle for a 23-yard field goal.
There were just 15 seconds left in the first quarter, but the Dolphins suffered a serious defensive distraction.
Smith threw a long pass to DK Metcalf for a 71-yard touchdown that put Seattle ahead 17-3 with five seconds left in the period. Despite all this, Miami’s defensive efforts kept the Seahawks from pulling away on the scoreboard.
Late in the third quarter, Calais Campbell blocked a pass from Smith, and Zach Sieler recovered the ball to give the South Florida team another chance, but Boyle and his team failed to score the long-awaited touchdown despite being in the end zone.
Seahawks quarterback Smith was 26 of 34 for 289 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
