Miami Dolphins: Instant takeaways as season ends with loss to Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
The Miami Dolphins needed two games to go their way Sunday in order to make the playoffs.
The Denver Broncos didn't cooperate by losing to visiting Kansas City. Not even close.
The Dolphins didn't cooperate by beating the host New York Jets. For most of the day, that also was not even close.
Put the two scores together — Jets 32, Dolphins 20, plus Denver 38, Kansas City 0 — and the Dolphins' season came crashing to an end with an 8-9 record.
The Dolphins have the NFL's longest playoff-win drought at 24 years and now will go into 2025 training camp being constantly reminded that the drought has reached a quarter century.
After reaching the playoffs with a winning record in both of coach Mike McDaniel's first two seasons, these Dolphins started the 2024 season 2-6, managed to climb back to .500, but still limped across the finish line.
The Dolphins were without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who missed his second consecutive game with a hip injury. On Friday he promised he would play next weekend in the wild-card round if the Dolphins get that far, but he'll never get that chance. The Jets, meanwhile, featured 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers in perhaps his final NFL game. He threw four touchdown passes, including his 500th.
Now, the question is what, if anything comes next for the Dolphins. Will owner Stephen Ross make changes? Will general manager Chris Grier and McDaniel return? We should begin to get answers Monday.
As for Sunday's game, here are the takeaways:
Let’s give credit to the team that played for pride Sunday
It was impossible not to notice that the more the Broncos poured it on against the Chiefs’ JV, the more deflated the Dolphins looked. And played.
You could say it’s human nature, that to go from playing for a playoff berth to playing for pride in a matter of minutes would test anyone. You could say that.
Or you could say they’re professionals and should act like it, regardless of the situation.
You could say this is a team that started the season 2-6 yet didn’t cave. It fought back to .500 at 8-8. So that certainly says something.
But: The Jets came into this game 4-12. They haven’t had anything to play for since Joe Namath retired (give or take).
Nothing to play for except pride, that is.
At least the Dolphins showed life with late touchdowns by De'Von Achane (on a 15-yard run) and Jonnu Smith (4-yard reception).
Can’t block anyone? Tackles for loss ensue
At one point in the first half, the Dolphins had run 25 offensive plays.
And the Jets had seven tackles for loss.
Next time the Dolphins say everything is swell with their offensive line situation, remember those stats.
Tyler Huntley’s bubble bursts
Tyler Huntley’s magic potion wore off after just a week.
Huntley went 22 of 26 last week against Cleveland but more closely resembled the early season version of himself in this game. In the second quarter, he targeted Jaylen Waddle deep in Jets territory but Waddle was double-covered and Huntley’s throw was off target.
Result: Waddle never had a chance to play defensive back and prevent the interception by Ashtyn Davis.
On the next series, Huntley lost a fumble, handing the Jets the ball on the Miami 39. Three plays later, touchdown and 15-6 New York lead.
An interception on the next series meant the Dolphins turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions to end the half. (Before starting the second half with a lost fumble.)
When goal to go may as well be a mile to go
You knew it would be a long day for the offense when it gets the ball on the Jets’ 15 after a takeaway, and later gets a 61-yard run by Achane to the Jets’ 3 … and neither time does it reach the end zone.
Both possessions resulted in short field goals by Jason Sanders.
Both goal-to-go situations saw the Dolphins run negative plays. The second possession was particularly frustrating.
After Achane was caught from behind (hey, it happens), Julian Hill failed to block anyone on first down, which resulted in a 4-yard loss by Achane. After an incompletion, a pass to Jonnu Smith lost 3 more yards.
Miami’s red zone production (and lack thereof) has to be a priority this offseason.
This and that …
Jake Bailey had a 20-yard punt in the first quarter. … If Greg Olsen isn’t a lead game analyst for somebody next year, something’s so wrong. “In the grand scheme of things, it’s not that cold,” Olsen said during the telecast. “It’s just cold for us soft guys here in the booth.” … Team MVP Zach Sieler and Emmanuel Ogbah combined for a sack of Aaron Rodgers on fourth and 5 from the Miami 38 in the second quarter. The Jets had taken a 7-6 lead on their previous possession and were threatening to grab this game by the scruff of the neck. … McDaniel went one for six on challenges this season. He’s four for 19 in his career.
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal. Click here to subscribe.