Miami Dolphins remain in the hunt for final AFC playoff spot after a weekend full of surprising results.
Somehow, some way, with just one week to go in the 2024 NFL regular season, the Miami Dolphins remain alive for the final playoff spot in the American Football Conference after starting the season with a 2-6 record.
Miami took care of business without their starting quarterback, downing the Cleveland Browns by a score of 20-3 while soaking in the rain of a late December afternoon in Cuyahoga County.
Before the Dolphins took the field, they needed multiple positive results to remain alive for a potential postseason berth. On Saturday, the Cincinnati Bengals took care of business — defeating the Denver Broncos in thrilling overtime fashion. Then during the early slate on Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts — also starting their backup quarterback in Joe Flacco — were miraculously defeated by Drew Lock and the lowly New York Giants.
With only one week to go, the Dolphins need just two things to happen if they are to inexplicably make the NFL Playoffs — they need a victory on the road against the New York Jets and they need another Broncos loss, this time to the Kansas City Chiefs who will likely be starting second stringers in that contest.
We’ll keep an eye on those things this upcoming weekend, but for now, we’ll take a look back at the good, bad and ugly from the Dolphins road thrashing of the Cleveland Browns.
GOOD
Dolphins may have solved their backup quarterback problem
Miami’s starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa didn’t play in Sunday’s victory over the Browns due to a hip ailment that had bothered the young quarterback for a couple of weeks. Despite practicing in a limited fashion all week long, Tagovailoa was downgraded to DOUBTFUL on Saturday afternoon, before being placed on the inactives list 90 minutes before Sunday’s kickoff.
Out stepped Tagovailoa, and in stepped Tyler “Snoop” Huntley. Earlier in the season, Huntley filled in as starting quarterback when former backup quarterback Skylar Thompson was injured while replacing a concussed Tagovailoa. Results were not what fans hoped for regarding Huntley’s play, but he had just arrived with the club after being claimed off of the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad.
After practicing in Miami for the last three months, Huntley was more prepared to run Mike McDaniel’s offense this go around.
Huntley finished the afternoon with 22 completions on 26 attempts (85% completion rate) for 225 yards and a passing score. He added 7 carries for 52 rushing yards and a touchdown with his legs. Huntley finished the game with a stellar 115.5 passer rating.
Recently, Huntley intimated that the Dolphins would like to have him back as the backup quarterback next year. After Sunday’s performance, not many would argue against what feels like a solid plan.
BAD
Dolphins undisciplined against Browns; commit 11 penalties
Without your starting quarterback, you want to come out as a team and play smart, disciplined football in order to mitigate that loss. The Dolphins did not do that on Sunday against the Browns.
Miami was called for 11 penalties — mostly on offense — for a total of 94 yards. Their undisciplined play was disappointing to watch, especially with their season on the line. Thankfully the Cleveland Browns were essentially waving the white flag, starting third string quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson instead of the gunslinging Jameis Winston — severely handicapping their offense.
The Dolphins will need to play much smarter ball if they want to claim a must-win game against the New York Jets this upcoming weekend.
UGLY
Tua Tagovailoa misses fifth game in 2024
As previously mentioned, Tua Tagovailoa was unavailable for Sunday’s game against the Browns — being ruled out with a hip injury after being downgraded to DOUBTFUL on Saturday afternoon.
This was Tagovailoa’s fifth missed game of the 2024 NFL season — missing four contests earlier in the year after suffering yet another concussion and being placed on injured reserve. In a career that’s been marred by numerous injury absences already, the five games he’s been forced to sit so far in 2024 is a career high for missed games in a single season for Tagovailoa.
The Dolphins are 2-3 in Tagovailoa’s missed starts this year — with the only two victories coming against basement dwellers in the Browns and the New England Patriots. If the team wants to win on the road against the New York Jets and have a chance in the NFL Playoffs if they are to make it to the postseason, they’ll need their franchise quarterback healthy and available. We’ll need to monitor Tagovailoa’s injury status as the week unfolds.
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The Dolphins remain “in the hunt” after traveling north and defeating the Cleveland Browns on the road by a score of 20-3. Their playoff hopes are still alive, but they’ll need to win against the Jets, plus see the Denver Broncos lose to the Kansas City Chiefs’ backups if they want to find themselves in the postseason. Do you think they can overcome the odds of a 2-6 start to claim the final Wildcard spot in the AFC? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter at @MBrave13. Fins up!
