MIAMI GARDENS — Change winds are blowing for the Miami Dolphins, who mutually agreed to part ways with general manager Chris Grier about 12 hours after Thursday’s ugly 28-6 loss to Baltimore.
But the change winds weren’t early enough or significant enough to change the outcome of the Ravens game. The Baltimore loss was a particularly bad showing because it featured so many self-inflicted errors (turnovers, penalties, coverage busts), the type that makes you wonder whether players are still listening to coach Mike McDaniel.
The Dolphins (2-7) are now on their sixth three-game losing streak of the McDaniel era – they also had a five-game losing streak in 2022 – and they’re just two losses from ensuring back-to-back losing seasons.
Thursday’s loss negated all the positive vibes the Dolphins carried from Sunday’s 34-10 dismantling of Atlanta, and ultimately it cost Grier his job.
As you can guess, the grades from this game won’t be pretty.
Rushing offense: D-
The Dolphins ended with 87 yards rushing on 20 carries, but they didn’t do much in the second half. Running back De’Von Achane (67 yards on 14 carries) had two carries for no yards in the second half. In fact, the Dolphins, who trailed 14-6 at halftime, had 16 carries for 83 yards in the first half and four carries for 4 yards in the second half. Five days after the Dolphins effectively utilized a three-running back combination against Atlanta, and also utilized guard Daniel Brunskill as the sixth offensive lineman/tight end, McDaniel made a blunder by keeping running back Jaylen Wright inactive. When Ollie Gordon II (two carries, 6 yards) injured his ankle in the first half there was no one aside from Achane to carry the load. Heck, wide receiver Malik Washington (three carries, 13 yards) got more action than Gordon.
Passing offense: F
The lost fumbles by wide receivers Tahj Washington and Malik Washington hurt badly. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (25 of 40, 261 yards, no touchdowns, one interception) was decent but not nearly good enough to carry the offense. The same was true for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (six receptions, 82 yards). The surprise was tight end Greg Dulcich (five receptions, 49 yards). And that pretty much tells you what you need to know about the passing game. Good work by Dulcich, so-so to poor work for most others.
Rushing defense: F
Ravens running back Derrick Henry (19 carries, 119 yards) was contained for the most part. He had 35- and 19-yard gains in the second half to boost his yardage total. But he only had nine carries for 30 yards in the first half. That’s almost half of his yardage total on two runs. The Ravens ended with 150 yards on 31 carries, the latter total being more significant. The former total merely made Baltimore the eighth of the Dolphins’ nine opponents to rush for more than 100 yards. Been there, done that.
Passing defense: F
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (18 of 23, 204 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions) wasn’t that great. But he was pretty good. What was more disturbing was the number of Ravens receivers that were wide open for touchdown receptions. On one play, safeties Dante Trader Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick ran into each other, taking them both out of the play. On another play outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips failed to take Jackson to the ground for a sack. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver must go back to the drawing board.
Special teams: D
Kicker Riley Patterson missing a 35-yard field goal hurts badly. You don’t expect that to happen in high school, let alone the NFL. Baltimore punter Jordan Stout was a star with six punts, four inside the Dolphins’ 20-yard line. One of those punts confused punt returner Malik Washington so much he allowed the ball to bounce, adding perhaps 20 yards to the distance. It’s good that Patterson made two field goals, but the miss from close range is tough to digest.
Coaching: F
The turnovers, penalties and blown coverages were constants Thursday, just as they’ve been constants all season. Players and coaches say they just need to focus on the details but that focus rarely surfaces. At some point, the coaches have to shoulder lots of blame for these repeated mistakes. Grier has already been relieved of his duties with the franchise and you have to think a few coaches, led by McDaniel, will suffer the same fate at season’s end.
Stock up: De’Von Achane
There were actually a few candidates here among Trader, Brunskill, Waddle and one or two others. But when the offense is missing wide receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Darren Waller, Achane’s role becomes more essential, and he’s stepped up his game. Achane had 106 yards from scrimmage in a blowout loss. That’s nice work.
Stock down: Mike McDaniel
Not much more needs to be said about how this team has declined in the last two years or so. The Dolphins are 12-19 (.387) since being 9-3 in 2023. Also, they entered the season 4-16 vs. playoff teams under McDaniel and they might be 0-3 against playoff teams this season considering the status of Indianapolis, New England and Buffalo. This team is going downhill, and McDaniel’s stock will continue to plummet if the Dolphins, as expected, lose to Buffalo next week.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/31/grading-dolphins-28-6-loss-to-baltimore/
