Miami Dolphins, Tua, lose at Houston Texans: 5 instant takeaways

The Miami Dolphins played at the Houston Texans on Sunday afternoon, needing a win to keep their NFL playoff hopes alive.

Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Mike McDaniel wanted to cause a little surprise.

It didn’t happen.

It was 20 for the Texans, 12 for the Dolphins, so Miami’s season was almost over.

According to the NY Times Playoff Predictor, the Dolphins are 6-8 and their playoff chances have dropped to 5 percent.

Even with a win, the chances after the defeat would only be 22 percent.

Miami had four turnovers, eight penalties and five sacks allowed.

The Dolphins didn’t play the game they needed to against a superior opponent.

The Texans are 9-5.

Questions will be asked again this offseason about why Miami isn’t beating playoff teams.

“This is a game we thought we were ready to win, but we weren’t,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said.

Tua Tagovailoa isn’t as sharp as previous starts

Tua Tagovailoa was intercepted three times Sunday on passes intended for Tyreek Hill. He had completed more than 200 pass attempts without an interception.

McDaniel said losing the ball won’t win you games. “Since LA (win), we’ve done a good job of not giving up and that’s how we’ve been able to win football games,” he said. “I thought the defensive effort was tremendous, so it was a one-point game. Yes, that’s unfortunate for a lot of guys.”

Tagovailoa lost Jaylen Waddle (knee) and Grant DuBose (head) to injuries sustained during the game.

And the game plan largely consisted of screen passes to the running backs in the first half.

Tua made an impressive four-down touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith to put Miami up 20-12 and keep the season alive.

But the Texans have a strong defense overall and a ball-carrying secondary defense.

On the first interception, Tua didn’t seem to see safety Calen Bullock and threw the ball right to him. McDaniel seemed unhappy with the receivers’ route running and timing.

On the second interception, cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. jumped Hill’s route and undercut him for an interception.

On the third interception, Stingley took the ball away from Hill with less than two minutes to play and ended the game.

Tua’s completion rate was high, but his yards per attempt was not, and ball security was not good. He also lost a fumble on a sack in the second quarter.

The Dolphins were down to their fourth and fifth offensive tackles

Austin Jackson is on injured reserve. Terron Armstead was unable to participate due to a knee injury. Kendall Lamm was unable to participate due to a back injury.

That meant the Dolphins had to start rookie Patrick Paul at left tackle and young veteran Jackson Carman at right tackle.

Carman was a left tackle at Clemson but had played primarily guard with the Bengals, with a few left tackles.

McDaniel ran a strong screen pass game plan. It was necessary because the pressure would come and it did.

In the first half, Tua Tagovailoa fumbled when guard Liam Eichenberg was pushed back into the pocket and Will Anderson, blocked by Carman, got through for the sack/fumble/recovery.

Later in the first half, Eichenberg was warned for a serve.

On a third down pass attempt in the third quarter, Carman was called for a stop.

Eichenberg suffered a false start in the fourth quarter.

Moments later, Carman allowed a sack to Danielle Hunter.

The Dolphins struggled in third-down passing situations all day.

Miami’s offensive line as a whole does not have the talent or depth to withstand such injuries. Offensive line coach Butch Barry is a magician, but he’s not Houdini.

Dolphins cut OBJ and Jaylen Waddle gets hurt quickly

Look, it’s a coincidence that Odell Beckham Jr. and the Dolphins parted ways so he could seek more playing time and that Jaylen Waddle was injured in the same week.

Waddle left in the second quarter with a knee injury.

The truth is that the Dolphins were patient with OBJ as he worked his way into playing shape this season. But it looks like OBJ should have been more patient as injuries do happen.

In the third quarter, Grant DuBose, who replaced Waddle, left the field after a violent collision, tied to a board and wearing a neck brace. His condition was reported as stable with a head injury after he was taken to a hospital.

It was a scary scene.

Earlier this season, Miami injured former starter and captain David Long and shortly after, backup Anthony Walker was injured.

Every team has injuries. Every team needs depth.

When this season ends, the Dolphins can’t just blame injuries as the reason.

Why do they seem to suffer serious injuries year after year?

Now, one thing to examine is whether they rely on more players with injury histories than the average successful program?

Ups and downs on special teams

There have been too many special teams losses for Miami in recent years.

Early in the second half, Miami allowed a devastating fake punt conversion. The Texans moved the ball 35 yards to the Dolphins’ 4, setting up a touchdown that gave Houston a 20-6 lead.

This was another disappointing moment for Miami special teams coach Danny Crossman.

Kicker Jason Sanders also experienced ups and downs on Sunday.

Just when it seemed like the Dolphins didn’t trust Sanders on field goals of 50 yards or more, it looks like he can consistently drill them from 60+ yards.

Sanders can’t miss field goals. But he missed an extra point for the second straight time.

this and that

Zach Sieler still had a bag. … De’Von Achane prevented the Texans’ defensive score after the interception Tua Tagovailoa and Miami held off Houston with a field goal just before halftime. In our opinion, Tagovailoa was wise not to attempt to attack the game. … Malik Washington On Miami’s first possession without OBJ, he converted a third down, and the truth is that Malik is the better option at this point. … Squad Kohou forced a fumble. Later, Jordyn Brooks a fumble corrected. … Jordan Poyer was the closest Nico Collins when he caught a touchdown pass from CJ Stroud in the second quarter. Poyer appeared to be watching Jalen Ramsey after Ramsey dropped Collins into coverage in the end zone. Poyer, who was having a difficult season, hesitated when Collins caught the pass. …. middle Aaron Brewer recovered a fumble De’Von Achane. …Rookie edge rusher Hack Robinson had a third down bag from it CJ Stroud. Chop lunged at Stroud’s ankle as he tried to escape the bag. Chop applied constant pressure in the second half of the season. In the fourth quarter, Chop picked up another sack, his second of the game. … The Dolphins converted two fourth downs in Jonnu Smithwhich rewards McDaniel’s bold decisions. …Smith, Calais Campbell, Aaron Brewer And Jordyn Brooks They were all very good signings from Miami free agents.

Breaking News

Dellupodisabato

Leave a Reply Cancel reply