Surging Dolphins, Tua rout Carolina for 4th win in row. If 5-7 can be remarkable — this is | Opinion
You want a snapshot from the happy romp that was the Miami Dolphins’ Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium? I’ll take the debut of Jaylen Waddle’s celebratory waddle.
The Fins’ rookie first-round draft pick had another terrific day (nine catches for 137 yards), and after his 9-yard touchdown catch he perfected a penguin’s side-to-side waddle in the end zone. Old-timey, subtle more than showy, it may have been the greatest penguin since Burgess Meredith in the 1960s Batman TV series.
“The Waddle, Waddle,” said Waddle, grinning.
Fun stuff happens when you’re winning.
Like a blocked punt turned into a special-teams touchdown.
Like five defensive sacks — three by rookie Jaelan Phillips — and three interceptions, the second turned into that Waddle TD.
Like Tua Tagovailoa, accurate as a surgeon, while Miami’s D was hectoring the Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton into the worst performance by a Cam that this stadium has seen since coach Cam Cameron during the entire 1-15 season of 2007.
The Dolphins were a small home underdog, by the way. No matter. Respect takes its time. Sometimes it is given begrudgingly. Sometimes it must be taken by force.
Miami 33, Carolina 10.
“We looked like the team we kind of wanted to be this year,” said Tagovailoa afterward. “This is the best complementary football we’ve played yet.”
In the history of the NFL 130 teams have begun a season 1-7 like Miami did, and only six of them, or 4.6 percent, have then won four games in a row, like Miami now has.
A 5-7 record has seldom looked so good because it indicates resolve and fight where collapse and quit might have been. Up next: The eminently beatable Giants and Jets, both here, with a bye in-between.
The playoffs remain a mathematical longshot, but now, at least, “playoffs” and “Dolphins” may be said in the same sentence without the speaker being Baker Acted or asked to take a roadside sobriety test.
The magic that caused the turnaround?
“Everyone in there not listening to the outside noise,” said Tagovailoa, a nod to the nearby lockerroom. “Everyone believing in each other.”
When the third quarter ended Dolfans gave their team a standing ovation. It sounded like, “THIS is what we’ve been waiting for!” At one point there was an attempt in the stands to revive ‘The Wave.’ From the ashes of 1-7, this was a party.
Won-lost record aside, the most important thing to come out of this season will be a clear read on what Miami has in Tagovailoa moving forward -- and Sunday did nothing but continue the favorable momentum he is building.
He completed 27 of 31 passes for 230 yards and a TD. (Newton was 5-for-21 with two picks).
Imagine what Tagovailoa might be capable of with a better offensive line? With a dangerous running game? With DeVante Parker and Will Fuller playing and stretching the field instead of always injured?
And how about with the full faith of his club? The club that spent much of this season chasing Deshaun Watson in a shameful display of disrespect that forced Tua to say, “Well, I don’t not feel wanted” when asked about it -- so out-there toxic was the narrative
Look around now. To Tagovailoa in his second season. To Waddle’s smashing rookie year. To safety Jevon Holland, a fellow rookie who had one of the interceptions Sunday. To a defense that has been as good as most any in the league over the past month.
The defensive turnaround has been out front of the whole thing. Why the drastic improvement?
“Communicating well, tackling well, executing,” said Brian Flores in his typical coach-speak.
Sunday’s early spark? The punt block by Duke Riley that gifted a TD and 7-0 lead.
“Felt good to set the tone. We needed the energy. Needed the spark,” Riley said. Of the win: “We deserved it, man. We work so hard. I’m happy for us.”
All of this from the ashes of a 1-7 record after seven losses in a row.
I know. It’s still only 5-7, right? “Don’t get carried away.”
No. Get carried away a little. Don’t cost nuthin’.
Remember what 1-7 felt like. The hopelessness and fire-everybody toxicity around it.
Now, four wins in a row later, the crowd of loyalists stood Sunday as the clock ticked down to :00 and made big noise more suited to a playoff win.
They deserved the moment. So did the players they were cheering.
Booming from the loudspeakers, James Brown sang, “I Feel Good.”
If it is possible that a 5-7 record can ever feel quite remarkable, this one does.
This story was originally published November 28, 2021 at 4:01 PM.
