Powerful Defensive Fronts Continue To Be Miami’s Kryptonite
Nov 5, 2023; Frankfurt, Germany; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws the ball under pressure from Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis (56) in the second half during an NFL International Series game at Deutsche Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
It might be a silly narrative, but at this point it has to be concerning. The Miami Dolphins had another chance at beating a good team, and it backfired once more. In Germany, the Dolphins suffered their third loss of the season to a team above .500, and the splits are shocking.
Against teams that are .500 or worse, the Dolphins are 6-0, scoring an average of 39 points per game and allowing 20.8 points per game.
That’s what has sustained the Dolphins campaign this season, and the team still leads the AFC East.
But against teams with records above .500, the Dolphins lost all of their three games — Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, and Kansas City Chiefs. They’ve allowed an average of 33.3 points in these games, but the most concerning part is the offense: 17 points per game. It’s a 22-point difference for the unit which is supposed to carry the team.
“We knew going into the game that if we’re going to lose, what the narrative would be, and that’s fair,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said. “We shouldn’t feel entitled to high opinions from the masses. We have to earn that confidence, and we have to earn every — it also gives me a ton of confidence because I know that NFL games, each and every one of them, is tough.”
McDaniel has a fair point when he says “people undervalue poor records.” After all, each win counts the same, and beating bad teams is better than, well, not beating them. And that’s happened to some teams, including the Bills.
But at the same time, eventually the Dolphins will have to beat top teams to achieve what they want. Miami is constructed to win a championship, not only to be a playoff team. So, it’s fair to look beyond the narrative and try to find explanations to why this is happening.
And the most plausible explanation is the matchup. Obviously, it’s easier to score points on bad defenses, but that’s not just about quality. It’s about style as well. The three teams that have won against the Dolphins are physical, imposing units, with strong defensive lines. The best win for the Dolphins so far has been against the Los Angeles Chargers, back in week 1. And while the Chargers are a good team (4-4), they play a passive style, and Miami scored 36 on them.
“That’s on us collectively, from coaches and players alike, to, if you want the narrative to change, change the narrative,” McDaniel added.
That’s why the bye week comes at a good time for the Dolphins. The team will be back from Europe and then face a new version of the Las Vegas Raiders in a post-Josh McDaniels era. But the more interesting matchup is the following one, against the New York Jets. Even though the Jets have a bad offense and a negative record, it’s an interesting game to see how the offense will perform facing a defense with the exact same qualities that have been enough to limit the Dolphins so far: strong, aggressive front, ability to rush the passer, and fast linebackers moving from sideline to sideline.
Solving these issues will be imperative if the Dolphins want, first, to be in the playoffs, and then at a favorable position to make a noise in January. That’s because, after facing the Jets, the Dolphins schedule has games against the Washington Commanders, Tennessee Titans, Jets again, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, and Bills again. Those are all teams with powerful fronts. The Dolphins offense is the calling card of this team, but they have to find answers to produce against any type of team.
For an offense based on speed, facing power is a bigger challenge. So mental mistakes become a factor as well, and that might happen when a naturally explosive offense can’t generate as many plays as they are used to. Tyreek Hill, for example, had two drops and a fumble returned for a touchdown.
“It’s all about how you move on to the next play,” Hill said after the game. “And I gotta learn from it. Go to the film room, learn from it and find better ways to get open.”
Mike McDaniel is right to keep the confidence level of his team by dismissing any outside narrative. But at this point of the season, the losses to good teams are too frequent to be just noise. Miami has to find the reasons why it’s happened, and adjust while there is still time.
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