The Miami Dolphins have officially been eliminated from playoff contention following their embarrassing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football. It wasn’t a good look for a lot of folks within the organization, but the defeat was especially deflating for head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, as their once-dominant passing game has been grounded in confounding fashion this year.
Time will tell if the team chooses to move on from McDaniel and/or Tagovailoa this offseason, but it should be abundantly clear to owner Stephen Ross that this team, as currently constructed, has no chance of returning to the promised land this franchise used to call home many decades ago.
With plenty of poor performances to go around on Monday, there were some players who actually played well despite the buffoonery surrounding them. One of those players will take home my coveted MVP (Most Valuable ‘Phin) award.
Miami Dolphins Week Fifteen MVP – TE Darren Waller
Miami’s offense was mostly grounded against Pittsburgh on Monday, but one player did his best to put points on the board for the Dolphins — and that player was tight end Darren Waller.
Waller reminded everyone why his addition this past offseason was one of the few correct moves this franchise has made in recent memory — catching 6 of 7 targets for 66 yards and two touchdowns against the Steelers. One touchdown grab was particularly impressive, as the tight end had to leap to high-point the football in the endzone with a defender strapped to his back like Waller was on a hike through Shenley Park.
Without Waller — and of course, running back De’Von Achane — Monday’s game could have looked much more ugly than it already did.
MVP TRACKER
Week One – RB De’Von Achane
Week Two – WR/PR Malik Washington
Week Three – RB Ollie Gordon II
Week Four – TE Darren Waller
Week Five – WR Jaylen Waddle
Week Six – RB De’Von Achane
Week Seven – RB De’Von Achane
Week Eight – LB Jordyn Brooks
Week Nine – OL Daniel Brunskill
Week Ten – RB De’Von Achane
Week Eleven – LB Jordyn Brooks
Week Twelve – BYE
Week Thirteen – SAF Minkah Fitzpatrick
Week Fourteen – CB Rasul Douglas
Week Fifteen – TE Darren Waller
