4 Dolphins most responsible for Week 17 loss to Patriots

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The Miami Dolphins’ disappointing slump refuses to stop. Without star QB Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins lost their fifth straight game, losing to the New England Patriots, 23-21, on the road in Week 17 of the 2022 NFL season. The loss moved the Dolphins to 8-8, putting them in a four-way tie for sixth place in the AFC. Now the Dolphins need two things to happen. They need to beat the New York Jets in Week 18 and hope the Buffalo Bills can beat the Patriots as well. If even one of those things doesn’t happen, Miami will miss the playoff bus. That said, discuss the four Dolphins most responsible for their Week 17 loss to the Patriots here.

Miami had several chances to clinch a playoff berth over the past month, but each time they came up short. Miami’s fall from favor has been quick, far and, to be completely honest, fascinating. They went from being one of the best teams in the entire league to one of the most disappointing.

The Dolphins will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive by taking on the Jets in South Florida in Week 18. Again, they will also need the Patriots to lose to the Bills in Buffalo.

For now, let’s look at the four Dolphins most responsible for their Week 17 loss to the Patriots.

Final. pic.twitter.com/zCf7epDtUc

Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) January 1, 2023

4. QB issues

Teddy Bridgewater started in place of Tagovailoa, but is currently in concussion protocol. Bridgewater left the game after injuring a finger on his right hand as he tried to tackle Patriots safety Kyle Duggar after a 39-yard pick from Duggars. Bridgewater finished the game with 161 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Third-string rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson, a seventh-round pick, replaced Bridgewater in the game. Thompsons first order was unsuccessful. Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones intercepted the Thompsons pass intended for Hill. However, he was able to redeem himself with a late 4-yard touchdown pass on the run to tight end Mike Gesicki. Even so, the Thompsons final stat line of 104 yards, one touchdown and one interception weren’t enough to defeat the Patriots defense.

3. Dolphin Ground Game

The Dolphins’ running game hasn’t been effective at all. He only averaged three yards per carry. Although they stuck to the run until they were forced to pitch in the latter stages of the game, it wasn’t consistent enough to win. The Dolphins had a good opportunity to throw the ball frequently against the New England defense, but they failed to capitalize.

Top rusher Jeff Wilson Jr. gained just 45 yards on 15 carries. Meanwhile, Raheem Mostert added a measly 20 yards on 9 carries. Although they led for much of the game, the Dolphins’ inability to keep up practices, running out of time, and keeping the New England offense off the field ultimately proved costly.

2. Missing Hill and Waddle

It was difficult for the Dolphins to pass the ball to star point guards Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The fact that Mostert led the team in receptions and receiving yards was already a red flag. Keep in mind that Hill and Waddle combined for just seven receptions and 107 yards, which is nowhere near enough. The coaching staff, led by Mike McDaniels, will have to do a better job getting the ball to these two players. It’s hard to win with a backup quarterback when the team’s top two offensive players have only seven chances to make an impact.

Remember that Hill and Waddle are the driving force behind the offense, even when Tua is in the game. They need at least 20 combined touches if the Dolphins are to win and have a chance of making the playoffs. These are two players who have the potential to score a touchdown on any play, and the team needs to use them.

1. Dolphin Defense

The Dolphins’ defense was mediocre on Sunday. He failed to deal well with a weak Patriots offense and was unable to create turnovers. Sure, the defense only allowed 16 points, but they also gave up over 4.0 yards per rushing attempt. Miami also failed to force Patriots QB Mac Jones into mistakes they could capitalize on. They also allowed a touchdown to Jakobi Meyers with only Duke Riley on cover, which was a major mistake.

The Dolphins also continued to struggle with penalties. Remember multiple flags on third downs cost them the opportunity to leave the field. The Dolphins have also suffered a number of injuries, including Xavien Howard, Byron Jones, Brandon Jones, Nik Needham, Trill Williams, Emmanuel Ogbah, Bradley Chubb and Trey Flowers. That left them with undrafted rookie Kader Kohou and special teams ace Keion Crossen as the top two cornerbacks. It certainly contributed to their struggles.

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