Tua Tagovailoa wants to win. But he also knows he has to play better
Tua Tagovailoa looks different.
The passing success rate is the lowest of his career. The turnovers — he has thrown a league-high 14 interceptions — are plentiful. And the mobility is virtually nonexistent.
And still, the Miami Dolphins have won four of their last five, including three consecutive victories dating to Week 10. Tagovailoa, however, will need to be better during the final five games of the season.
“As the run game has its flow, the pass game has to find that same flow, and they need to be intertwined to keep the defense on their heels,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday.
While there have been flashes of Tagovailoa’s previous self, they have been far and between as the Dolphins own the 27th-ranked passing offense. Consider this: the former Alabama standout thrown for less than 200 yards in seven games this season, something that he had only done seven times during his first three seasons under coach Mike McDaniel, according to ESPN. Once heavily reliant on the air attack with one of the best receiver duos in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins have now transformed into a run team powered by tailback De’Von Achane.
Tagovailoa, to his credit, hasn’t once complained about the offense’s new direction.
“I like when we win,” Tagovailoa said. “I think that’s the main objective for what I’m supposed to do as I go out there to lead that offense — score one more point or however many more points than the opposing team. So regardless of what that looks like, whether the game is asking me to throw for a set amount of yards or however many touchdowns, I’m just more fascinated with the wins. So I’m glad we got a team win.”
This mind-et certainly can endear one to teammates. Both Waddle and center Aaron Brewer raved about Tagovailoa’s selflessness.
“It means a lot,” Brewer said. “I feel like that’s a perfect example of a leader or a captain — it’s more than about yourself. It’s about the team, it’s about the other guys playing around you and the success of the team. I feel like that’s just a perfect example of what leadership looks like. I appreciate my guy for it, and I got his back through anything.”
Added Waddle: “It means a lot when your captain, your leader is not sole focused on going out there and throwing for crazy touchdowns and yards. He’s just going out there trying to win the game, and ultimately that’s what it comes down to — wins and losses.”
But the NFL has evolved to a quarterback-driven league. Put differently, the quarterback will have to eventually make a game-winning play, something that has yet to happen in 2025.
“Collectively, we’re all working trying to iron [out] a game out, but generally, we’re trying to find patterns to get him the most comfortable so he can play the most comfortable,” McDaniel said. “I don’t think it’s as easy as one little thing, but I do think it’s not absolutes either.”
Could it be Tagovailoa’s confidence has been shaken? Not quite, according to Dolphins quarterback coach Darrel Bevel.
“I think you’re always trying to be conscious of those things and those plays with any quarterback or anybody that has the ball in his hand every play,” Bevel said last Wednesday before the New Orleans Saints game, later adding that Tagovailoa’s last three interceptions came about due to him “doing exactly what we’ve asked him to do.”
Even Bevel, however, acknowledged that Tagovailoa’s season has come with its challenges.
“He has had good moments,” Bevel said. “He has had not-good moments. What we’re trying to do is kind of recapture what we’ve done in the years’ previous like ’22, ’23 where he was playing really well and at a consistent level.”
Consistency has somewhat escaped Tagovailoa in 2025. Hopefully, that can be found as the months get colder.
“You can’t just lean on particular style of play as it gets into the deeper parts of December, early January and then the postseason,” Tagovailoa said. “You got to be able to pass the ball and pass the ball efficiently before getting the run game going.”
