Among the best issues for a crew amid a roller-coaster season is to sit, relaxation up, and take additional time to gameplan for one of the crucial important video games of the season. Sure, a sport in opposition to the lowly Indianapolis Colts is significant to the Miami Dolphins playoff hopes.
Each winnable sport till Tua Tagovailoa is below middle is essential, and that’s what the Dolphins have over the following two weeks, so thanks bye week!
Tagovailoa is eligible to come back off of Injured Reserve for the Arizona Cardinals sport. Nonetheless, judging from the newest feedback from head coach Mike McDaniel, it appears extra doubtless that they’ll have him wait one other week for the sport in opposition to the Buffalo Payments.
Within the meantime, the Dolphins will roll with Tyler Huntley below middle, who provides Miami their greatest probability at a win or two over this subsequent stretch. With a full two weeks to organize for the Colts, Huntley might put his constructive stamp on the season with a win, going 2-1 in his tenure if Tagovailoa in the end returns subsequent week.
The Dolphins received to place their toes up and watch the remainder of the league over the weekend, and to my shock, received them slightly enhance amongst a lot of the media.
NFL
Ranked #26 – Beforehand ranked #28 (+2)
A win over the Patriots and the bye week allowed for a number of the strain to be launched, nevertheless it additionally opened the window of hypothesis on Tua Tagovailoa’s return. Mike McDaniel indicated Monday that Tagovailoa desires to proceed taking part in soccer and even taking part in this season for the Dolphins, including, “However the place that’s precisely, we’ll let the method proceed.” Tua received’t be on the market this weekend in opposition to the Colts, however he could possibly be activated from injured reserve as early as Oct. 23. A win at Indianapolis would get the Dolphins to 3-3, they usually have the presently 2-4 Cardinals the week after that previous to a giant showdown at Buffalo (the opponent again in Week 2 when Tua sustained the concussion that put him on IR). The Dolphins aren’t out of the race but, however they should cling on these subsequent few video games to have a lot of a shot. In the event that they lose two straight, would Tua need to come again to pilot a 2-5 crew? Exhausting to say.
ESPN
Ranked #24 – Beforehand ranked #23 (-1)
“Coach Mike McDaniel mentioned as a lot following a win over the Patriots in Week 5. Whereas the Dolphins’ offense has sputtered with out QB Tua Tagovailoa, their protection quietly ranks fifth in yards allowed per sport (285.4) and leads the NFL in third-down proportion (25.5%). In its first yr below coordinator Anthony Weaver, Miami’s protection has been a lone constructive in a largely disappointing first six weeks of the season. Nonetheless, it received’t imply a lot till the Dolphins’ NFL-worst scoring offense improves.” — Marcel Louis-Jacques
CBS Sports activities
Ranked #28 – Beforehand ranked #28 (<—>)
“They arrive off their bye hoping that Tyler Huntley can deal with extra of the offense. In a foul division, they’re removed from completed.”
Bleacher Report
Ranked #27 – Beforehand ranked #27 (<—>)
“The primary month-plus of the 2024 season hasn’t gone in any respect in response to plan for the Miami Dolphins.
With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve with yet one more concussion, the Dolphins have struggled mightily to maneuver the soccer. Miami is barely cracking 300 yards of offense a contest, and the 12.0 factors per sport the Dolphins are averaging ranks lifeless final within the league.
Whereas talking to reporters, Miami head coach Mike McDaniel mentioned that he understands why some followers are pissed off by the crew’s lack of success given the expectations coming into the season.
““I’m not likely villainizing the people who find themselves leaping off the bandwagon; it’s extra we gave them motive to,” he mentioned. “In order that’s to be anticipated. I don’t suppose individuals pay what they pay to go to Exhausting Rock Stadium to observe us lose, so no matter outcomes incurred by our game-day failure, we deserve.””
It will likely be at the least yet one more week earlier than Tagovailoa is eligible to return, leaving the Dolphins in scramble mode as they try to scratch out a win at Indianapolis in Week 7 to get again to .500 for the season.
Analyst’s Take
To be sincere, given how dangerous the Dolphins offense has been, issues could possibly be rather a lot worse. Luckily for Miami, the Buffalo Payments and New York Jets haven’t been lighting it up both, leaving Miami inside shouting distance of first place within the AFC East. If Miami can someway get previous a banged up Colts crew subsequent week and will get Tagovailoa again at 3-3, that may be nearly a best-case situation given every thing that has occurred.” — Davenport
Sports activities Illustrated
Ranked #26 – Beforehand ranked #26(<—>)
“Realizing individuals who know Mike McDaniel, I might say that him truly uttering publicly that Tua Tagovailoa might play once more this season was a giant deal. However I need to observe this: it’s a giant deal as a result of I understand how a lot thought and care went into truly saying it out loud. I don’t know if there’s a coach who has put extra private fairness right into a quarterback in latest occasions than McDaniel and Tagovailoa, and, of late, this has been a clinic in how you can respect somebody going by a tough time.”
Fox Sports activities
Ranked #29 – Beforehand ranked #31 (+2)
“There’s nonetheless no timetable on when Tua Tagovailoa would possibly return, so this upcoming stretch feels necessary. The Dolphins’ subsequent two opponents, the Colts and Cardinals, are a mixed 5-7. If they’ll steal a win or two, the season is perhaps salvageable when their quarterback will get again to the lineup.”
With how this weekend’s motion performed out, the Dolphins have the flexibility to get again into the playoff image with a win over the Colts.
If they’ll do this, they could possibly be within the catbird with their beginning quarterback returning whereas wanting forward on the weakest remaining schedule within the NFL.
Yet another win and the season couldn’t solely be saved however finish positively.
Tell us within the feedback the place you suppose the Miami Dolphins must be ranked within the NFL energy rankings.
