It’s over. Blow it up. The 2025 Miami Dolphins are a completely inept football club — especially on defense.
Despite making things interesting against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Dolphins still found a new and astonishing way to lose a football game as they fell to their opponent by a score of 29-27 due to a last second field goal off of the foot of Chargers’ kicker Cameron Dicker (who made all five of his field goal attempts on Sunday).
Dicker’s final attempt should have been thwarted — as the Dolphins had Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert wrapped up for, not one, but two sacks during their final possession of the game. Instead, Herbert would escape both Dolphins defenders, finding wide receiver Ladd McConkey on the second of those broken tackles for what should have been a five or six yard gain. However, Dolphins rookie defensive back Dante Trader Jr. overran McConkey in pursuit, allowing the shifty pass catcher to easily gain 42 yards and get his team deep into field goal range for a chip-shot game-winner.
As we lament another “what could have been situation” for our disappointing team, let’s take a look back at the good, bad and ugly from Sunday’s deflating defeat.
GOOD
De’Von Achane continues to be one of Miami’s lone bright spots this season
The Miami Dolphins lost again on Sunday, but that loss cannot be blamed on Dolphins running back De’Von Achane.
Once again, Achane proved himself to be one of the most electric players in the National Football League and, quite possibly, the Dolphins best player overall. Against Los Angeles, Achane carried the ball 16 times for 118 yards — good for 8.0 yards per carry. He scored on the ground twice, while adding four receptions for 22 yards during the contest.
When the Dolphins needed a play to be made, they often called Achane’s number to get the job done. While Miami’s playoff hopes are essentially dashed, their star running back could find himself in the conversation for a Pro Bowl nod if he continues his stellar play this season.
BAD
Tua Tagovailoa throws three interceptions in loss
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa finished Sunday’s loss against the Chargers with just 205 passing yards on 32 attempts. He had one touchdown throw, but gave the ball to Los Angeles three separate times in the form of backbreaking interceptions. He mustered just a 54.8 passer rating for the game.
Now, it must be said that Tagovailoa’s first interception was due to a bobbled ball by receiver Jaylen Waddle and his final interception came on the game’s final snap when Miami was hoping for a replication of their famed Miami Miracle play, but earlier this season, when Miami’s signal-caller was asked why his turnovers seem to come in bunches, he scoffed at the reporter for suggesting such a thing. After his three turnover game on Sunday, Tagovailoa will have to answer more questions about his unwavering generosity to opposing defenses this year.
Miami’s 27-year-old passer now has 7 interceptions on the season in just 6 games played. That figure matches the amount of interceptions Tagovailoa threw during his entire 2024 campaign (11 games played).
UGLY
Dolphins defense allows another backup to look like an All-Pro
Last week, Rico Dowdle — the Carolina Panthers’ second-string running back — rushed for 206 yards on 23 carries against Miami. On Sunday against Los Angeles, the Chargers were down to their third-string ball carrier, Kimani Vidal. Surely the Dolphins were able to keep him in check after putting an emphasis on stopping the run during the entire week of practice leading up to week six’s contest, right?
Ha, no.
Vidal toted the rock 18 times for 124 yards against the Dolphins — good for 6.9 yards per carry. Nice (just not for Miami).
Time and time again, the Chargers — with multiple backup offensive linemen playing — imposed their will against the Dolphins and their Swiss cheese defensive front seven. When the season is offically over, and the eulogy for the 2025 version of this club is written, their inability to contain opposing running backs will be the main reason why their season went belly-up so quickly.
___
Once again, the Miami Dolphins found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard this past Sunday — dropping their record to an incredibly disappointing 1-5. This team is hard to watch, mainly because of their porous defense. They’ll attempt to get back into the win column next Sunday when they travel to Cleveland to face the Browns. What chance to you give them to get back on track? Does it even really matter anymore? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter at @MBrave13. Fins up. Or something like that.
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