MIAMI GARDENS — Predictably, this will be bad.
The Miami Dolphins choked in their 28-27 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
For the second consecutive game, they blew an early 10-0 lead.
By the way, recall that 28-27 score? Tennessee beat the Dolphins by that score last season.
Oh, and also by the way, Sunday’s loss dropped the Dolphins to 3-5 at home in their past eight home games, starting with that Tennessee loss last season.
Yeah, things are bad.
And they could get worse — the Dolphins (2-5) are at Buffalo (6-2) this Sunday. And they’re on the road the following week, too.
But back to the Arizona game, things were bad down the stretch on both sides of the ball.
It was a total collapse.
At this point, based on the report card trends, the Dolphins are in danger of being held back a year.
Yikes.
Run game: C-
Situational running wasn’t good (for the second consecutive game). On the Dolphins’ final possession, when they got the ball with 8:47 remaining while trying to protect a 27-25 lead and needed to pound the rock to run out the clock, the run game had four carries for 10 yards. The final two carries were a De’Von Achane (10 carries, 97 yards) run for a 2-yard loss on first-and-10 from the Dolphins’ 42-yard line, and a Raheem Mostert (nine carries, 19 yards) run for no gain on first-and-10 from the Cardinals’ 48-yard line.
Both situations put the Dolphins in second-and-long and third-and-long, which were predictable passing situations. They converted one, but not the other. It was nice that the Dolphins rushed for 150 yards on 25 carries with two touchdowns. That’s an admirable 6.0 yards per carry. But the run game didn’t come through in a game-winning situation. By the way, a little more Jaylen Wright (two carries, 18 yards) would be nice, too.
Pass game: D-
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (28 of 38, 234 yards passing, one touchdown, one sack, 97.9 passer rating) had three fumbles. Three! And the last fumble was a good snap in the shotgun formation that glanced off of his hands and rolled backward into the end zone. He barely swatted it out of the end zone for a safety. Tight end Julian Hill had a fumble near the goal line that guard Robert Jones recovered at the 1-yard line.
These things are unacceptable. Oh, and did we mention wide receivers Tyreek Hill (six receptions, 72 yards) and Jaylen Waddle (four receptions, 45 yards) were basically rendered ineffective for the sixth time in seven games? Achane (six receptions, 50 yards, one touchdown) was probably the most effective receiver. Shockingly, that honor did not go to slot receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (33 snaps in three games, no receptions).
Defending the run: C+
The Cardinals, led by James Conner (20 carries, 53 yards, one touchdown), rushed for 82 yards on 26 carries, becoming the first opponent the Dolphins held to fewer than 100 yards rushing. This is a good thing, especially considering defensive lineman Zach Sieler (eye/orbital bone), perhaps the best player on the front seven, was out.
Here’s the not-so-good thing: the Cardinals had eight carries for 36 yards on the 13-play, 73-yard game-winning drive. The drive had runs of 17 and 5 yards on first downs, and a 7-yard gain on third-and-4. The final three carries, which served only to run time off the clock and place the ball where kicker Chad Ryland desired for his 34-yard kick as time expired, combined for 4 yards.
Defending the pass: F
Quarterback Kyler Murray (26 of 36, 307 yards, two touchdowns, 116.3 passer rating) carved up the Dolphins’ secondary in the second half. Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (six receptions, 111 yards, one touchdown) and tight end Trey McBride (nine receptions, 124 yards) were outstanding.
Cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who has played at an All Pro level, had his worst game of the season. McBride hit the Dolphins in soft spots of their zone defense and Harrison made spectacular catches for big gains. The Dolphins had no sacks. The absence of slot/nickel Kader Kohou (neck) was huge, because it forced cornerback Cam Smith into play, and he gave up a touchdown in the second quarter to wide receiver Michael Wilson.
Special teams: A
The Dolphins were good here, which is especially comforting considering they were without return man Braxton Berrios (knee) and playing their second game without long snapper Blake Ferguson (non-football injury). But returners Dee Eskridge (one kickoff return, 35 yards) and Malik Washington (two punt returns, 25 yards) did the job, as did long snapper Matt Overton. Kicker Jason Sanders hit field goals from 53 and 25 yards.
Coaching: F
This isn’t solely on coach Mike McDaniel. It also includes defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who has been outstanding this season, and offensive coordinator Frank Smith (but, interestingly, not special teams coordinator Danny Crossman). The Dolphins needed good game plans to win a pivotal game, and their game plans were bad on both sides of the ball. The Dolphins still can’t get the deep pass to Hill and Waddle. And the defense had no response to the Cardinals’ halftime adjustments. Weaver, for the first time this season, was out-coached.
Stock up: DL Calais Campbell
Campbell (five tackles, one pass defended) just keeps producing. On a day when Sieler was sidelined and Ramsey had his worst game of the season, Campbell was a rock. He wasn’t good enough to deliver a victory, but he was good.
Stock down: Mike McDaniel
The simplistic, one-dimensional offense (get the ball to Hill) continues to get exposed. Players aren’t sharp (the Dolphins had four fumbles). The home magic is gone. And the next two games are on the road (at Buffalo and at the Los Angeles Rams), where the Dolphins are 8-15 (.348), including 1-2 (.333) this season. McDaniel better find something that works and find it fast.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Is Miami’s season over? Perkins, Furones break down loss to Cardinals | VIDEO
