Well, you’d look pretty stupid saying Tua and Herbert are comparable quarterbacks right now. The Miami Dolphins laid a humongous egg against the Los Angeles Chargers as they were defeated 23-17 in primetime, leaving the AFC Wild Card race a wide-open invitation.
That was the worst possible thing that could have happened to this Miami team, and especially that offense. Not only did they open up the AFC Wild Card race by losing the game to one of their chief Wild Card rivals, but they did so in such an embarrassing fashion that it now seems possible the Dolphins might miss the playoffs.
Yes, I said it. The Miami Dolphins might miss the playoffs.
That would have been a blasphemous statement a few weeks ago.
The Miami Dolphins were once atop the AFC East and battling with the Kansas City Chiefs over the 1st seed spot and the homefield advantage that comes with it. Plus, they had also beaten some really good teams, such as the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens, while they also went out and got Pro-Bowl LB Bradley Chubb and RB Raheem Mostert on trade deadline day to solidify an AFC East division title and playoff push.
This game’s result shouldn’t have been possible.
Unfortunately, I think Tua has finally been figured out by opposing defense as this is the second time in as many weeks he’s put in a dreadful performance. Completing just 10/27 passes for 145 yards and 1 TD, Tua Tagovailoa looked pathetic on that field as every one of his passes were either misplaced, lacked velocity, or were being read by the Chargers secondary.
He’s lucky that it was mainly the Chargers linebackers, such as Drue Tranquill (5 tackles, 2 PD, 1 QB hit), that were the one’s deflecting his passes or else he would have had at least 3-4 interceptions on his stat line. The way the Chargers linebackers were dropping deep into zone coverage, just like how the 49ers linebackers were last Sunday, was very telling as it showed the league has a ‘book’ out on the McDaniel-Tua offense.
At least the Dolphins defense looked pretty good as Christian Wilkins (9 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 QB hit) lead the way for this unit registering 74 tackles, 4 sacks, 9 TFL, and 7 QB hits. If Justin Herbert wasn’t as tough as nails, then the Dolphins defense might have been able to steal a win for their team yesterday. That’s how good they looked…well, mostly everybody.
I have to say that Bradley Chubb has been a real let down ever since he joined Miami as he’s only had 2.5 sacks in 5 games with the Dolphins, with 1.5 of those sacks coming against teams with a combined win total of 4. He has to play better when facing off against the league’s best to prove he’s worth the 1st-round pick and 5-year, $110M extension the Dolphins spent on him.
Still, Chubb is far from the biggest problem as the Dolphins running game again failed to crack 100 yards. I say the Chargers have a ‘book’ on the Dolphins, but how could they not when the only thing Miami does is throw the ball to Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle?
Obviously, all the Chargers really needed to do was get a little pressure on Tua in order to force him into quick decisions, and then double Waddle and Hill when he tried to get them the ball, which the Chargers pretty much did.
There’s a reason why Waddle (2 REC, 31 yards) and Hill (4 REC, 81 yards, 1 TD) only combined for 6 receptions for 112 yards and 1 TD, which is what one of these guys usually racks in a game.
With the Dolphins running game practically nonexistent, Tua, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and the passing game will continue to struggle as the opposing linebackers and safeties have no respect or belief for the Dolphins running backs. And that’s a troubling sign heading into the playoffs.
As for the Chargers, I’m still not sold on this team.
Yes, Justin Herbert is one of the ten best QBs in the league as he proved with 39/51 completions for 367 yards and 1 TD, Keenan Allen (12 REC, 92 yards) and Mike Williams (6 REC, 116 yards, 1 TD) are one the league’s best WR duos, and the Chargers defense is really good when fully healthy, but this team has some horrific coaching and luck.
Again, Brandon Staley’s clock management and 4th down decisions made this game way closer than it should have been (and this was one of his better games), while the Chargers nearly blew this game with the Hill fumble recovery and the near onside kick muff. The Chargers are simply an organization cursed with poor management and just plain bad luck.
And along with the key injuries to the Chargers defense, I’m hesitant to back Los Angeles (7-6) for a playoff spot over the Pats and the Jets. Actually, I don’t think any of those teams really deserve to be in the playoffs this season, but two of them have to make it.
In Miami’s (8-5) case, they should make the playoffs with a now 8-5 record. But, with the Patriots in the position to pull within a game behind of them and the Chargers and Jets already at 7-6, there is a world were Miami losses 3/4 of their final games and misses out on January football for a sixth straight season.
Wouldn’t that be something.
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