MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Sunday’s Miami Dolphins loss to the Buffalo Bills was the fifth time this season Tua Tagovailoa had the ball with a chance to lead a come-from-behind scoring drive in the game’s final five minutes.
Twice he’s succeeded in those situations — at the Los Angeles Chargers in the season opener and home against the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Eve.
Three times he’s failed — against the Kansas City Chiefs in Germany, in Miami’s meltdown against the Tennessee Titans, and home against the Buffalo Bills in the season finale.
And if you widen the lens to his entire career, Tagovailoa — who faces the Chiefs Saturday in his first playoff start — transforms from a top-tier quarterback to a below-average one at a time his team needs him the most.
“[The important thing is] just continuing to take what the defense gives me,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday. “There’s a lot of things on film that we can continue to get better at, that you know, that had presented itself and just never took those opportunities.
“So we had a lot of time in those instances, and then in some of them there were miscommunications, but I mean, they’re all learning opportunities and now it’s a win or go home. So, you know, you can’t have those mistakes.”
Can Miami Dolphins Count on Tua Tagovailoa Late?
Tagovailoa in 53 career NFL games has eight game-winning drives and six fourth-quarter comebacks.
Dating back to his rookie year, Tagovailoa is 53 of 89 for 601 yards (59.6%, 6.8 yards per attempt) with six touchdowns, four interceptions, and an 83.6 rating in when trailing by one with five minutes or less remaining in regulation.
One of those picks came three days ago, when Tagovailoa had a chance to tie (or even take the lead) after a Dolphins defensive stop gave Miami the ball back in the game’s final two minutes.
Tagovailoa mistakenly threw into double coverage to Chase Claypool, and Bills DB Taylor Rapp picked him off at the Bills’ 22. That Dolphins loss is the reason the Dolphins are opening the playoffs in Kansas City instead of home against Buffalo.
It’s certainly a cause for concern, particularly since Tua presumably wants a big-money contract this offseason.
But are the Dolphins worried?
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“Sometimes I have to take a step back,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday. “The biggest thing with Tua that you guys have all been witnesses of is development and learning, and so to sit here and say whatever is to happen last week or the week before, is the end game final result, you’re always learning things.
“That’s one thing he’s proved extremely adept at. … Every game is different. It’s a constant development. One thing I do know is as much, if not more, than any player I’ve been around, this guy has, in front of our very eyes, learned and continued to grow.
“And no situation regardless of how much weight is on his shoulders or how much noise is out there, he continues to find a way to improve and I would take those — the last game since it’s the most recent — I would say there were some lessons learned and that’s the point.
“Because if it’s going to happen, you better make it worth your while and help propel you in your ultimate direction and goal. I think he’s done a great job since I’ve been around him at learning so I wouldn’t expect anything else.”
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