It was a brutal Thanksgiving night for the Dolphins in Green Bay's frozen tundra. The Dolphins started well by forcing a Packers punt on their first drive, but Malik Washington muffed it, and Green Bay recovered the ball inside the ten.
From there, Green Bay scored immediately, and before they knew it, the Dolphins were 14-0 down before the first quarter had ended. Playing catchup all game is never good, especially not in Green Bay in late November. The Dolphins failed to score a touchdown in the first half, and the game was over by halftime. So, can the Dolphins really not win in the cold? Or do they also happen to be facing better teams when they do? Whatever the case may be, this game did them no favors in changing the narrative.
Defensive And Offensive Line Struggles
Look, there's no shame in losing to Green Bay at Lambeau or even allowing 30 points. However, some things are inexcusable. For starters, according to PFF, the defense missed 23 tackles, which was pretty noticeable. Those 23 missed tackles led to 132 yards for Green Bay.
The Dolphins couldn't stop Tucker Kraft on underneath routes. Four of his six catches resulted in a first down. Aside from that, it was a spread-out aerial assault from the Packers. Josh Jacobs only averaged 2.3 yards per carry for the game but did extensive damage in the first quarter.
The offensive line could not hold up either. The Packers don't have a great pass rush, but they got to Tua for five sacks and six QB hits. The O-line started the season as a weakness, and not much has changed; if anything, injuries have only made it worse. Patrick Paul came in the game for an injured Kendall Lamm, and Terron Armstead has struggled with injuries all season.
Lack Of A Running Game
The Dolphins needed help to get the running game going. Yes, they were in a negative game script, but only 33 yards on 12 carries for the running backs is awful, especially in this type of weather. Raheem Mostert came back into the fray a bit with Achane being so involved in the passing game, but he wasn't effective.
The Packers couldn't stop the pass in the second half, but it was too one-dimensional in the first half. Running the ball more would have taken some pressure on Tua and kept the Packers' defense honest.
The previously mentioned offensive line doesn't help the poor running game, either.
I understand that Achane is essentially a wide receiver, but he should be getting more carries. It's also time to move away from Raheem Mostert and bed in Jaylen Wright, which is a move the team looked like they had been moving toward, but Wright had zero carries this game. It'll be an area to focus on next week against the Jets, who have struggled defending the run this season.
Too Little Too Late
The Dolphins offense got going in the second half, but the score was already 24-3. In the most significant moments, the team faltered again. The first-half performance made it so the whole team had to be perfect in the second half. Penalties also hampered the team's progression; ten penalties were called against them for 75 yards.
The one moment in the second half when the Dolphins needed to convert came when they had a first and goal with the score at 27-11. Instead of making it 27-18, they turned it over on downs when they had 2nd and goal at the one. That's just not going to cut it in a game of this magnitude.
It's a constant cycle with this team. Forget the cold weather; the more crucial narrative is that the Dolphins can't beat good teams, and they continue to prove the doubters right. They're 0-4 against teams over .500 this season. They can now probably only afford one more loss if they're to make the playoffs.
The good news is that the Dolphins' end to the season looks far more manageable than it did a few weeks ago. Injuries decimate the 49ers, the Texans are a difficult team to get a read on, and the Jets aren't what people thought they would be.
Bet Recap from Preview
Packers -3.5 cashes. The line seemed a bit low, but the percentage of spread bets was pretty even. The Dolphins' four-game streak of covering has been snapped. They'll have a chance to start a new streak against the Jets, where they will undoubtedly be favored.
Up Next: New York Jets
It's a must-win game against the Jets, who are next. Despite the high expectations, the Jets have been an absolute shambles this season. The offense is sluggish, and the defense is way off of what it was last season. The Dolphins should and need to win this game.
Final Score: Packers 30, Dolphins 17
Souza's Three Stars
1st Star- Tua Tagovailoa (365 Yards, 2 TDs)
2nd Star- Jonnu Smith (10 receptions, 113 yards)
3rd Star- De'Von Achane (14 rushing yards, 8 receptions, 56 yards, 1 TD)
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Opmerkingen