Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa struggled a bit in his team’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. He completed only 18 of his 33 passes for 295 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
49ers star wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who took some shots at Raheem Mostert and the rest of the Dolphins after the game, also aimed fire at Tagovailoa, saying that the University of Alabama product was “just throwing gimmies out there.”
"Best defense in the league. They put a lot of pressure on Tua.
I feel like he got shook early with the pressure that we was bringing. He was just throwing gimmies out there." pic.twitter.com/KjNPYaap3W
— KNBR (@KNBR) December 5, 2022
While Tagovailoa definitely didn’t look his best all game long, he did have plenty of nice plays, including a 45-yard touchdown throw to Tyreek Hill at the start of the fourth quarter.
TUA 45-YARD BOMB TO TYREEK! Miami right back in it! pic.twitter.com/19xMzE3Aaa
— Dolphin Nation (@Dolphin_Nation) December 4, 2022
The former No. 5 overall pick from the 2020 NFL Draft also hit former 49ers wide receiver Trent Sherfield for a 75-yard touchdown on Miami’s first play from scrimmage in the game.
However, plenty of people criticized him for not being able to beat rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, the seventh-round pick that replaced Jimmy Garoppolo and led the 49ers to victory. Purdy is set to start for the 49ers for the rest of the season, as Garoppolo suffered a broken foot against Miami.
Tagovailoa and the Dolphins are surely disappointed with Sunday’s game, but it seems like they’re already looking ahead to their Week 14 Sunday Night Football showdown against Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Tua on the loss: "Don't think that we're taking this lightly. … Great opportunity for us that we'll use and take coming into the L.A. game next week."
— Dolphin Nation (@Dolphin_Nation) December 5, 2022
Miami needs a win in order to keep up in the standings. The Dolphins dropped to second place in the AFC East with the loss on Sunday and are now one full game back of the Buffalo Bills, their opponents in Week 15.
As a result of dropping behind the Bills in the division, Miami is now in sixth place in the conference. It is still in a playoff spot for now, but it can’t let up as the regular season comes to a close.
After the games against the Chargers and Bills, Miami will then take on the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and New York Jets. It is going to be a tough end to the season for Tagovailoa and company, but they are definitely up for the task.
