The Miami Dolphins fell to the Tennessee Titans on Monday night in what was undoubtedly one of the ugliest football games this season. The 31-12 final score does not tell the whole story, as this game was 9-6 with less than seven minutes to go in the third quarter. There were seven field goals and only 428 yards of total offense, 244 for the Titans and 184 for the Dolphins.
Amidst all the ugly football, there were injuries on both sides. Will Levis dove for a first down early in the first quarter and injured his shoulder, so Mason Rudolph stepped up and played the rest of the game. On the Dolphins' side, Jaelan Phillips suffered another season-ending injury, this time a knee injury that reports suggest is a partial ACL tear. This is a brutal blow for Phillips, who just last season tore his Achilles, and for the Dolphins, who need all the help they can get right now. The Dolphins fall to 1-3, with doubts continuing to grow.
Is Huntley the Answer?
I've talked about this in practically every recap and preview, but the reality of the matter is that it is impossible not to bring up the quarterback play with this team at the moment. In fairness to Huntley, he was just signed off the Ravens practice squad, and he probably needs more time to adjust to the offense. But he clearly wasn't ready and looked off the pace.
His stat line reads 14/22 for 96 yards passing, a 12.1 QBR, and only 4.4 yards per attempt. Huntley also missed a few easy throws and overthrew Tyreek Hill on a deep ball that would've made it a 16-13 game. He was able to show off his mobility on a few designed runs and scrambles, running for a touchdown late in the 4th quarter.
Mike McDaniel defended Huntley after the game and has already announced that he'll be the starting quarterback this Sunday in New England. With Tua likely returning in Week 8, this is a wise move from McDaniel despite Huntley's poor debut. It will allow him to redeem himself and gain more chemistry with his teammates; constantly switching up quarterbacks could make things worse.
Offensive Line Woes
The Offensive Line struggled mightily in this game, failing to protect Huntley and open up gaps for the Dolphins running backs. RG Liam Eichenburg was the only offensive lineman to receive a Pro Football Focus Grade above 54.6, with Center Aaron Brewer and LG Robert Jones scoring well below 50. It was never going to be easy without LT Terron Armstead, but the line has to do a better job; it's as simple as that.
Tyler Huntley was sacked twice, and the Dolphins averaged a subpar 3.5 yards per carry on 30 carries. That number is inflated by two 20-yard runs, one from Huntley and the other from Jaylen Wright. De'Von Achane, in particular, could not get anything going, running for just 15 yards on ten carries. The blocking was poor, and all of the handoffs to Achane seemed rather obvious; Tennessee's defense was able to read it well.
Terron Armstead should be back this week, which is a huge boost, but the offensive line has yet to play well even when he has been healthy. It was a known issue coming into the season that was not addressed, and now the Dolphins are paying the price. The Patriots pass rush is no joke either, so things don't get any easier this week.
Pressure Mounting on McDaniel
Mike McDaniel has done a great job as the Dolphins head coach. He's led them to back-to-back playoff appearances, which has not happened since 2000-2001. He's an exceptional offensive mind and a great person, but his seat is starting to feel a little hot for the first time since he took over.
The general mood around the team is awful as it stands, and that usually starts with the coach. Most of the players looked like they had given up before the end of the third quarter, and the fans began booing the team and McDaniel. As complicated as McDaniel's offensive scheme usually is, the offense was so dull this game. Toss, screen pass, end around, penalty, rinse and repeat. That was the Dolphins' offense in a nutshell for most of the night, and it was extremely uninspiring.
If your offensive scheme ultimately falters without your starting quarterback, the scheme might not be as good as we think. I understand that Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley aren't exactly the cream of the crop when it comes to backup quarterbacks, but it should not look this bad. McDaniel still has a chance to save the Dolphins' season, but it has to start now.
Bet Recap from Preview
Loss on the pick, Tennessee not only covers but wins comfortably. Quick kudos to anyone who took practically any Dolphins "under" prop, as almost all of them hit.
Up Next: New England Patriots
After a surprise win over the Bengals in week one, the Patriots have fallen back to earth and are 1-3, like the Dolphins. The Dolphins will need a win in this divisional matchup if they want to stay afloat before Tua returns.
Final Score: Titans 31, Dolphins 12
Souza's Three Stars
1st Star- Tony Pollard (22 carries, 88 yards, 1 TD)
2nd Star- T'Vondre Sweat (6 tackles, 2 TFL, 91.0 PFF grade)
3rd Star- Jordyn Brooks (13 tackles, one sack, 2 TFL, 1 PD)
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