BALTIMORE — So yeah, we got this one wrong (and rightfully Freezing Cold Take’d):
The Dolphins defense has allowed 117 points in the eight games Jalen Ramsey has played but sure they’re gonna allow 42 on Sunday. https://t.co/QmBtu0xVHa
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) December 29, 2023
The Miami Dolphins‘ defense proved Sunday that they cannot be counted upon to win the biggest games for this team. Not after the 56 points, 491 yards, and 24 first downs they allowed in Sunday’s Baltimore beatdown.
And certainly not after Xavien Howard and Bradley Chubb both suffered what appeared to be significant (and potentially season-ending) injuries.
The Dolphins’ defense is built around pass rush and coverage. Sunday’s double-whammy weakened both significantly.
So there will be a dropoff, and a potentially significant one, from the Dolphins’ defense at the season’s most important time.
Which means the offense in general — and Tua Tagovailoa in particular — need to step up.
Tua Tagovailoa Must Carry Miami Dolphins
Tagovailoa wasn’t nearly good enough Sunday. His completion percentage (57.9%), yards per attempt (6.2), and passer rating (71.9) were all well, well off his season average.
His two bad picks didn’t alone lose the game for Miami, but they also certainly didn’t help.
With Jaylen Waddle unable to play and Tyreek Hill apparently unable to play well, Sunday was a disaster.
MORE: Tua Tagovailoa Injury Update
The Ravens will do that to teams. That’s not an excuse. It’s just the truth.
Ask Brock Purdy. And Jared Goff. And Geno Smith. And Trevor Lawrence.
The Ravens have chewed up and spit them all out.
Sore shoulder or not, that level of play can’t continue for Tagovailoa, or the Dolphins won’t win another game.
Tagovailoa acknowledged post-game that the Dolphins pressed when things got tough.
“That’s exactly what we didn’t need to do. We didn’t need to press. And I say ‘we’ as in me. I didn’t need to press and force throws down the field that weren’t there with certain looks. I should’ve just [taken] the checkdowns. Yeah, I’ve just got to be better.”
It’s the Dolphins’ hope in an increasingly bleak limp to the finish. Miami has a decision to make this offseason: How much to offer Tagovailoa long term?
That decision still might be pending on how this final stretch plays out.
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