A Monday night loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers ended the Miami Dolphins’ playoff hopes for a second consecutive season, leaving coach Mike McDaniel staring at a quarterback dilemma.
Quarterback Performance in the Loss
The Dolphins’ offense struggled to find rhythm as Tua Tagovailoa threw for only 65 yards through three quarters. His decision‑making appeared questionable and his limited mobility, a recurring issue this season, continued to hamper the offense. The loss, played in frigid Pittsburgh, highlighted a regression that has been evident in recent games.
Coach McDaniel on the Play
”The quarterback play last night was not good enough,” McDaniel said Tuesday, ”and so for me, everything is on the table.” He added that the team will give ”more clarity” on the quarterback decision on Wednesday, emphasizing that standards must be met at every position.
Bottom Line on Standards
”The bottom line is, we have to have a certain standard at each position,” McDaniel said. ”All positions are the same. There’s no one entitled to preferential treatment. And when there’s a better option, it’s my job to attack that. … Ultimately, we need to have better play at that position.”
Performance Expectations
”The biggest thing is you have a standard of performance,” McDaniel said. ”You have 11 guys trying to work together as one. It takes all 11. Oftentimes, heavy is the crown. There’s misplaced blame, and it’s not always one person’s fault. Generally, it’s not one person’s fault. But realistically … the team deserves to have the best chance to win the football game. That means taking care of the football, being able to make plays, move the chains and get the ball to the open guys.”
Planning for the Upcoming Game
”We’re in the process of game planning for the Cincinnati Bengals,” McDaniel said, ”so in that process we’re trying to determine who will give us the best chance to win.” He pointed to Zach Wilson, who has been Tagovailoa’s backup most of the season, and rookie Quinn Ewers as options.
Expectations and Contract
Tagovailoa signed a four‑year, $212.4 million extension in July 2024 after earning a Pro Bowl nod and leading the league in yards in 2023. Despite the lucrative deal, he has not returned to that form and has struggled in big moments, posting only three wins in his last 15 starts against teams with winning records.
Recent Statistics and Milestones
Over the past three games, Tagovailoa completed 65 % of his passes and failed to throw for more than 200 yards twice. In Monday’s game, he threw a poor pass that was picked off on the second possession – his league‑leading 15th interception and a new career high.
Team Context and Future
The Dolphins had a four‑game winning streak earlier this season that briefly resurrected playoff hopes and pulled them out of a 1‑6 hole. With three games remaining, the franchise faces its longest playoff‑win drought in the league. The focus must shift to preventing a third straight season without a win and deciding whether Tagovailoa or another quarterback can lead the team in high‑stakes games.
Key Takeaways
- The Monday loss to the Steelers ended Miami’s playoff hopes for the second consecutive season.
- Tagovailoa’s performance, limited to 65 yards and a 15th interception, raises questions about his effectiveness.
- Coach McDaniel is weighing options, including backup Zach Wilson and rookie Quinn Ewers, and will provide more clarity on Wednesday.
The Dolphins’ postseason prospects have slipped away, and the upcoming games will determine whether a quarterback change is necessary to break the team’s playoff‑win drought.
