Facebook Pixel

    How Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa Could Turn a Great Season Into an Historic One

    Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has a real chance to break Drew Brees' single-season record for completion percentage. Here's what he needs.

    MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa already owns the Miami Dolphins’ single-season completion percentage record (69.3%, set last year). But with a strong finish to the 2024 season, he could not only obliterate that number, but also put a real scare in Drew Brees’ NFL record (74.4%).

    Through Week 14, Tagovailoa has completed a league-best 73.8% of his passes, and even if he doesn’t play another down, already has enough attempts on the season (325) to qualify for the record books.

    Can he run down Brees with four games left? Yes — but it will take Tua continuing his unprecedented hot streak.

    Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator
    Take control of your favorite team's salary cap and manage the roster through free agency!

    Tua Tagovailoa Chases Drew Brees’ Record

    Tagovailoa has 240 completions on 325 attempts on 582 offensive snaps this season. That means he’s thrown passes on 55.8% of his snaps.

    The Dolphins have averaged 67.2 offensive snaps per game this year, so they probably have 269 offensive snaps left in the regular season.

    So if Tagovailoa plays every down, we can estimate that he will throw another 150 passes over the final four games, giving him 475 attempts of the season.

    We’re all about specificity here at PFN, so technically, Brees completed 74.438% of his attempts in 2018. For Tagovailoa to surpass that, he would need to finish the year 354 of 475 — and go 114 of 150 (76%) the rest of the way.

    Challenging? Absolutely. But not impossible.

    Since returning from injured reserve in Week 8, Tagovailoa has completed exactly 76% of his attempts.

    For Tagovailoa not to break his own team record, he would need an epic collapse. He needs to go just 89 of 150 — a rate of 59.3% — the rest of the way to surpass last year’s number.

    “To surpass any record in the NFL, I think, is an accomplishment in itself,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday.

    “You’re talking about legends, Hall of Famers in the past that have played this game. You’re talking about future legends, future Hall of Famers that are playing now in this game.

    “That would mean a lot, but I think for us, right now, just trying to keep the main goal, the main goal and to find a win this Sunday and go on a run that we’ve been talking about in that locker room as a team, that would be a little more special than any other record I would say.”

    As for the battle for the most accurate passer of 2024? Tagovailoa has a massive edge over Jared Goff (who is currently second at 72.4%), considering how little Goff throws the ball (45.9% of his snaps) compared to Tua.

    The Detroit Lions have averaged 66.5 offensive snaps per game this year, so they probably have 266 offensive snaps left in the regular season. If Goff plays in all those — and that’s a big if, considering they could have the No. 1 seed locked up as early as next weekend — we can expect him to throw 122 more passes if he plays every down.

    That would give him 503 attempts on the season.

    For Goff to surpass Brees (74.438%), he would need to finish the season completing 99 of his last 122 attempts (81.1%). For him to simply reach Tua’s current 73.846% mark, he would need to go 95 of 122 (77.9%) the rest of the way.

    “I think it was probably the summer of 2022 when Tyreek [Hill] was going public about how accurate [Tua] was, and people thought he was crazy, and now people are talking about how accurate he is,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said.

    “The accuracy hasn’t changed, it’s quite literally the same. What’s changed is playing the position and how, for me, Tua represents the epitome of accountability and security in one’s skin.”

    Free Interactive Tools

    2025 NFL Mock Draft Simulator

    The PFN Mock Draft Simulator features hundreds of prospects, scouting reports, and free trades -- jump into the FREE mock draft machine and get ready for the 2025 NFL Draft.

    2025 NFL Season & Playoff Predictor

    PFSN's 2025 NFL Season and Playoff Predictor is a tool that allows you to play out various weekly scenarios to see how the NFL playoff picture changes with each scenario.

    NFL Offseason Manager: Salary Cap, Free Agency, and More

    Do you think you can manage your favorite team’s roster better than the real-life general managers? PFN's Offseason Manager is here to help you prove it.

    Related Stories

    Chiefs Reportedly Won’t Give Key Offensive Weapon a New Deal Until He Returns to Form

    After struggling with their run game last season, the Chiefs are reportedly hesitant to extend this star RB's contract.

    NFL World Reacts to Isaiah Bond Bombing 40 Time After Guaranteeing He’d Break Xavier Worthy’s Record

    When Isaiah Bond failed to deliver on his guarantee of setting the 40-yard dash record at the NFL Combine, he got roasted on social media.

    Why Did the 49ers Trade Deebo Samuel Sr.? Fantasy Impact, Trade Grades, Contract Fallout, and More

    Deebo Samuel Sr. was traded to the Washington Commanders after requesting a trade from the San Francisco 49ers. What's next?

    Join the Conversation!

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here