The Good, Bad & Ugly from the Miami Dolphins Week 12 victory over the New England Patriots

Tua Tagovailoa surgical once again in dominant victory over Patriots.

After defeating the New England Patriots by a score of 34-15 at Hard Rock Stadium in week twelve of the 2024 NFL season, the Miami Dolphins have won three consecutive football games and have put themselves squarely within a hop, skip and a jump of playoff contention.

Mike McDaniel’s team is finally playing complementary football — dominating on offense while also stifling opponents with new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s scheme on defense.

Patriots rookie Drake Maye had been looking impressive since taking over as the starting quarterback for New England earlier this season. Against Miami on Sunday, the rookie looked… well… like a rookie thanks to a suffocating pass rush that took him to the ground four times on the afternoon — including 1.5 sacks from fellow rookie Chop Robinson.

All in all, it was a comfortable victory for the good guys in aqua and orange. They now turn their sights to a Green Bay Packers team coming off of their own dominating performance against the Brock Purdy-less San Francisco 49ers.

While the Dolphins get ready for a Thanksgiving game in the frigid temperatures of a late November Wisconsin night, we’ll take a look back at the good, great and ugly from Miami’s week twelve win. (That’s right, we’re forgoing the “bad” for today’s article.)

GOOD

Jaylen Waddle gets back on track with monster game against division rival

The Miami Dolphins’ high flying offense from the past couple of seasons hasn’t relied on their speedster wide receivers, Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, as much as some fans would like in 2024. Waddle, in particular, has been held in check by opponents while other players like running back De’Von Achane and tight end Jonnu Smith have been thriving.

Many Dolphins fans were wondering if Waddle — who signed a massive 3-year, $84.75 million contract this past offseason — would get back on track at any point this year. On Sunday, the number six overall draft pick in the 2021 NFL Draft reminded the doubters just who he is — reeling in eight receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown against New England.

It was a breath of fresh air for a player who hadn’t hit triple digits in receiving yards since week one against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Even worse, until Sunday, Waddle hadn’t topped more than 57 yards receiving since that week one victory.

If Miami wants to continue their improbable playoff run, Jaylen Waddle will need to play a big part. If he continues to put up big numbers and Miami can keep Smith, Achane and Tyreek Hill involved, the Dolphins offense will be extremely hard to stop as long as Tua Tagovailoa remains under center.

GREAT

Tua Tagovailoa continues his surgical ways; carves up Patriots defense while throwing 4 touchdown passes

We can finally put the narrative to rest that considering all of the weapons who call Hard Rock Stadium home, “anyone” can run Miami’s offense. We’ve seen it with our own eyes this season that, quite literally, the only quarterback who has dressed in the aqua and orange this season that can make the Dolphins’ Ferrari offense hum is the left armed savant, Tua Tagovailoa.

Since returning from injured reserve, Tagovailoa has played five games and is averaging 255.4 yards passing and 2.2 touchdowns per game, while completing a stellar 76.9% of his throws. He also leads every passer in quarterback rating over the past five weeks. Against the Patriots, Tagovailoa threw for an amazing four touchdowns and 317 yards, while completing 72.5% of his passes.

With numbers like that, it’s time the general public finally puts respect on Tagovailoa’s name and recognizes him as one of the top quarterbacks in the National Football League. He is the straw that stirs Miami’s drink. He is the engine that allows Miami’s Ferrari offense to hit top speed.

UGLY

Dolphins lose starting linebacker, Anthony Walker, to hamstring injury

On a day where nearly everything went right for the Miami Dolphins, another injury to a starting defender took some wind out of fans’ sails on Sunday.

Anthony Walker recently took over at inside linebacker for David Long Jr. — playing so well that Long Jr. became expendable and was cut less than two weeks ago. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, Walker left Sunday’s win with a hamstring injury. Even worse, the injury was that of the non-contact variety — an ominous sign for the 29-year-old.

We will learn more about the extent of Walker’s injury in the coming days, but for now, it looks like newly acquired linebacker Tyrel Dodson (formerly of the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks) will take over in his absence. Dodson played well against the Patriots — bringing in a one-handed interception — and the Dolphins will hope that solid play continues as they travel to Green Bay to face the Packers on Thursday night.

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The Dolphins won their third game in a row on Sunday, running their record to 5-6 on the season. The team pulled ahead by a score of 24-0 early, and never looked back. Do you think Miami can make it four in a row when they travel to Wisconsin to face the Packers on Thanksgiving night? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter at @MBrave13. Fins up!