There are loads of groups within the NFL which can be already out of the playoff race this season and going through lengthy roads again to competition. There won’t be a single franchise that’s going through a grimmer, bleaker scenario than the Miami Dolphins.
The franchise has not gained a playoff sport in 26 years, the longest ongoing drought within the NFL, and it’ll proceed this season. They’ve principally been mediocre in recent times solely certified for the playoffs simply 4 instances prior to now 23 years.
They’ve had no current success, are having no present success, and don’t appear prone 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 arduous 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 very fact that they had a number of self-inflicted errors that helped price them factors, stall drives and provides factors to Baltimore.
They’d lengthy drives on offense get slowed down by penalties, forcing them to accept subject purpose 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 instances 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 much extra regarding.
Tua Tagovailoa will not be the reply
Tagovailoa is much from the one drawback in Miami proper now. It is simply not roster general. 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 certainly one of its elite gamers — and they aren’t 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 power, and every little thing relating to the Dolphins offense is constructed round timing, their skill for the primary learn of their offense to get open, and his skill to hit it. When issues don’t work completely, the offense has zero likelihood to operate.
It has not labored.
Tagovailoa’s regression as a quarterback, mixed with a huge contract that may shortly turning into one of many NFL’s greatest albatross offers, is an enormous motive why this example feels so grim. It’s one factor to not have a quarterback. It’s one other factor completely to put money into the incorrect quarterback and be caught with them and have virtually no method out from it.
Ultimately 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 exchange them goes to have a principally naked cabinet to restock with one of many NFL’s worst contracts at its most essential place.
At the least if you’re 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 try this.
