Sunday was a bittersweet day for Dolphins fans. Tua Tagovailoa returned, and the offense looked the best it had all season, but it was not enough. Unfortunately, Kyler Murray and the Cardinals came to play. Kyler had his best game of the season, going 26/36 for 307 yards and two touchdowns passing. Trey McBride had a monster game on National Tight Ends Day, grabbing nine receptions for 124 yards. McBride gave the Dolphins problems all game, as did Marvin Harrison Jr., who came up with crucial catch after catch, including a 22-yard touchdown that made the score 20-18.
It was a tough loss, especially considering all the factors surrounding the game. The Dolphins now sit at 2-5 with trips to their kryptonite, the Bills, and a revitalized Rams team next. They'll have to split those two games at worst if they want to make it to the playoffs.
Tua Showed What The Phins Were Missing
After what felt like an eternity (even if it was only five weeks), Tua returned and looked pretty good. It was crucial for Tua, especially with some people in the media calling for him to retire. He ended 28/38 for 234 yards and one TD, with no turnovers. It's not the prettiest stat line, and his 6.2 yards per attempt was low for his standards, but he made his presence felt.
The fans, players, and even the commentators were happy to see him back on the field. In the third quarter, Tua scrambled for a first down and slid at the end while the crowd erupted. It was a great moment that set up a touchdown two plays later. The receivers' body language throughout the game was very telling; they were thrilled to have their starting quarterback again.
Tua didn't throw downfield very much, having only two throws go 20 or more yards in the air, but I expect things to get better with time. He still led the Dolphins to their best offensive performances in weeks and showed what this team can do.
Rare Pass Defense Struggles
In the preview, I mentioned how the Dolphins had the No. 1 pass defense this season and that Kyler Murray only averaged around 190 passing yards per game. This game showed that numbers and trends are not everything in this league. Murray had over 300 yards passing, both the first time he had achieved that and the first time the Dolphins had allowed that this season.
Marvin Harrison Jr. also managed six receptions for the first time and over 100 receiving yards for the second. Jalen Ramsey had a torrid time covering the bigger, stronger Harrison. The linebackers could also not keep up with the aforementioned Trey McBride, who ran routes all over the field.
Was it a coincidence that the pass defense has its worst game of the year as soon as the offense clicks? Maybe, but I think it has more to do with Kyler Murray having an outstanding game and making the plays when his team needed them most. The pass defense will have to fix up this week against Josh Allen, who is currently on fire.
Failure To Produce In Biggest Moments
It's a tale as old as time for the Dolphins; even when things look promising, one or two silly plays get away from them and cost them dearly. With 6:29 to go in the third quarter and the score at 20-10, there was a high snap that Tua was forced to chase into the end zone and tap out for a safety. Luckily, he prevented the Cardinals from scooping it up for a touchdown, but it was a huge momentum swinger.
Instead of the Dolphins chewing the clock and driving down the field at 20-10, Arizona made it 20-18 in no time. Yes, the Dolphins swiftly responded with a touchdown on their next drive, but moments like these ruin games. On their last drive, the Dolphins could not make it into field goal range and punted it away with five minutes left.
The Cardinals masterfully used up all the time on the clock. On a crucial third down, a designed run from Murray gave them a chip-shot field goal with the Dolphins having only one timeout. A stop on that play would've given them about a minute and a half to get into field goal range and win the game. It's frustrating, but it's often the little things that beat you in football.
Bet Recap from Preview
I was right about the Dolphins scoring 27 points, but unfortunately, I did not expect Arizona to score more than that. Loss on Dolphins -4.5, the Cardinals pull off the upset. It looked good for most of the game, and I would take it at that number again, but that's the cruelty of the gambling world.
Up Next: Buffalo Bills
Massive divisional game in Buffalo for the Dolphins next. Luckily, it's not too cold up there yet, but games against the Bills have been one-sided lately.
Final Score: Cardinals 28, Dolphins 27
Souza's Three Stars
1st Star- De'Von Achane (10 carries, 97 yards, 6 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD)
2nd Star- Kendall Fuller (2 tackles, 1 PD, 77.8 PFF Grade)
3rd Star- Calais Campbell (5 tackles, 1 PD, 77.8 PFF Grade)
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