MIAMI GARDENS — When the Dolphins can’t even win at home, things are in a bad place. And that’s where we are after Sunday’s heartbreaking 29-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Dolphins (1-5) are struggling to find anything they can do consistently well and they haven’t found it yet. It seems coach Mike McDaniel’s days are numbered.
Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips said last week that this team isn’t a “dumpster fire”, but evidence says otherwise. At best, this team seems to be a big mess on and off the field right now.
There’s not much more to say on that topic.
Here’s the report card from the Chargers game.
Run game: A
Running back De’Von Achane (16 carries, 128 yards) had the third-best day of his career on the ground. Let’s also give some credit to the offensive line, which has been blasted all season. They did a good job. But most of the credit goes to Achane, who sparked an offense that needed a spark.
Pass game: D
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (21 of 32, 205 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions, 54.8 passer rating) wasn’t the entire problem. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (six receptions, 95 yards) had a pass glance off his hands for an interception on the game’s second play. And tight end Darren Waller (two receptions, 12 yards, one touchdown) was held in check for almost the entire game, although his fourth-quarter touchdown was almost a game winner. Pass protection (two sacks, seven hits) was also a concern.
Run defense: F
The most disappointing area of the team disappointed yet again. And this was one of its best performances of the season. Backup running back Kimani Vidal, a second-year sixth-round pick filling in for injured starter back Omarion Hampton, rushed for a career-best 124 yards. His previous career best was an eight-carry, 34-yard game against Kansas City last season. This run defense is absolutely awful.
Pass defense: D
The most significant play of the game was quarterback Justin Herbert (29 of 38, 264 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, 1212.2 passer rating) escaping a potential sack by edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to hit wide receiver Ladd McConkey on a short pass, and McConkey shaking off a would-be tackle by rookie safety Dante Trader Jr. to turn the play into a 42-yard reception that led to the game-winning field goal. The Dolphins had one sack and five QB hits. Tight end Oronde Gadsden II (seven receptions, 68 yards) was an unexpected star as speedy wide receiver Quentin Johnston missed the game.
Special teams: D
An illegal contact penalty on defensive tackle Matthew Butler, occurring when he hit the long snapper on a 58-yard field goal, allowed the Chargers a chance at a touchdown (they kicked a shorter field goal). Also, allowing the Chargers a 40-yard kickoff return with 46 seconds left when they needed a game-winning field goal was crushing.
Coaching: D
Coach Mike McDaniel didn’t have his team prepared — again. So far this season there’s always a leak somewhere among offense, defense or special teams. And now his quarterback chirping publicly gives you the feeling this thing is going downhill quickly.
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Stock up: De’Von Achane
Achane had 128 yards rushing and 22 yards receiving to provide a spark for the offense. Achane’s 49-yard touchdown run was the highlight of his day, but take away that run and Achane still had 79 yards on 15 carries, which is an impressive 5.3 yards per carry.
Stock down: Tua Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa, who had a three-interception game, should have kept his postgame comments in-house about players being late for players-only meetings. Tagovailoa has 11 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 92.1 passer rating for the season. Despite staying healthy, his overall stock, combining on and off the field performances, has never been lower.
