After bounce-back game, Tagovailoa, Dolphins offense look to fine-tune execution vs. Packers
It wasn’t the result the Dolphins wanted last Saturday night, a last-second 32-29 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, New York, but Miami’s offense could be encouraged by its performance in the close defeat.
Had the Dolphins’ offense been figured out after struggling against the 49ers and Chargers? The Dolphins’ 29 points were the second-most allowed by the Bills, who entered the game with the second-best scoring defense in the NFL.
Could Tua Tagovailoa play in cold weather? The third-year quarterback had a bounce-back effort in freezing temperatures, throwing for 234 yards and two touchdowns, including a go-ahead score late in the third quarter.
In many ways, the Dolphins’ offensive performance against the Bills was a microcosm of the season, busting narratives as they continue to realize their potential. But as the offense prepares for a Christmas Day home game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, the unit is trying to fine-tune its execution with playoff positioning again at stake.
“How I see every play, I had to take every game for what it was worth,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday. “I had to let every game stand on its own merit, don’t let what ended up affecting us offensively from the 49ers game to the Chargers game into the next game that we played against Buffalo. I think a lot of those things were corrected by a lot of us offensively and it took the leaders to step up. And I would say we did offensively and really we’re just trying to continue that.”
The Bills game gave the Dolphins offense much to build on in their final three games, as well as areas to address. They entered the game with a concerted effort to run the ball and accomplished that, rushing for 188 yards, their second-highest total this season. With running back Jeff Wilson Jr., who did not play against the Bills because of a hip injury, practicing on Wednesday for the second consecutive session, Miami’s ground game could be at full strength for a Packers defense that has allowed the fourth-most rushing yards per game (148.9).
“I think we kind of found the groove, the rhythm, the standard that we are kind of looking for in that run game,” left tackle Terron Armstead said. “It won’t always be as explosive as it was Saturday night, but the consistency to make [head coach] Mike [McDaniel] want to keep calling them, and then Mike keep calling them after we have a negative run or a short gain. It’s a collection of things and not getting too far behind in the score of the game. All those things go into a successful run game.”
In the air, the Dolphins found answers to defense’s clogging the middle of the field, and Tagovailoa connected on five passes that gained at least 20 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in the third quarter.
“In this particular game, I saw [Tagovailoa] completely correct the things that I thought were really holding him back in the two previous [games],” McDaniel said. “It’s a very rare thing to do in sports is to have control. Really just the strength, the mental strength, it takes to harbor all the pressure, all of, really, how people just will undress every single play or really hold you incredibly responsible or have a narrative flip in two games after playing however many — it’s a lot. And I think not too many people are built for that. I think we’re seeing a young player that is exhibiting — that game against Buffalo, he was exhibiting some of the things that I think make him so unique and why I feel so fortunate to coach him because he learned from the two previous games and was able, in live speed, to directly attack those.”
Though Tagovailoa had an optimistic outlook after the loss, he mentioned wanting to capitalize on the team’s opportunities more often. With the game tied at 29 early in the fourth quarter, he completed two passes for first downs to the Bills’ 41-yard line but the offense gained just one more yard before stalling and punting. It was the last time Tagovailoa touched the ball, as Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen methodically took the Bills down the field for the game-winning field goal as time expired.
Though the offense has continued to find explosive plays, one of its glaring issues has been third-down execution — especially on third-and-short situations. Those issues were magnified in the loss to the Bills, as the Dolphins went for 1-for-6 when facing third-and-3 or shorter.
Asked about those struggles, McDaniel said he was well aware of their shortcomings, even noting that the team has thrown much more than running in short-yardage situations (The Dolphins have dropped back to pass 33 times on third-and-short and ran the play 15 times). However, he emphasized the importance of having “integrity in your decisions” and ensuring that the process behind the play calls is solid, even when the results aren’t favorable.
“All those failed third-and-1s, I thought I was doing the thing that was best for our time at the time, which means I was wrong a lot,” McDaniel said. “But I know that I did so with all information that I could possibly get [with] as much preparation. Those are the things I really worry about and then I try to fix the problem. ...
“Does that mean that on the next third-and-1, it’s going to be a run play? If that deep down I know that is to be the best chance for us to get the first down.”
