The Miami Dolphins defense doomed the team against the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 27. The Dolphins lost by a final score of 28-27 and couldn’t string together stops in the second half of the contest.
After Miami held Arizona to just seven points across the first half, the Dolphins then allowed the Cardinals to score 21 across the final two frames, including 10 in the fourth quarter alone. Following the Dolphins’ fifth loss of the season and fourth in their last five games, linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah had some harsh words for Miami’s defensive unit.
“We got to make a play for our offense,” Ogbah said. “It’s not good enough. We finally got that spark on offense and we s— down our legs.”
Additionally, inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks held Miami’s defense responsible for the loss.
“This one is tough,” said Brooks. “This is the one we have to say is on the defense. The offense played great all day. We played good at times, but when we needed it we didn’t come through.”
The Miami Herald‘s Omar Kelly cited Miami’s lackluster defense down the stretch as one of several reasons why the Dolphins lost to the Cardinals as well.
Keeping with my traditions, here are the 3 reasons the Dolphins lost.
1. Miami’s defense “sh!t down their leg” (Ogbah’s words, not mine, read the story) in game’s most critical drive.
2. Horrible playcalling on final offensive possession
3. Bad QB to center exchange for safety https://t.co/bU1a749d7a— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) October 28, 2024
As Ogbah and Brooks hinted at, Miami’s offensive attack was clicking on all cylinders for the first time in quite a while. It’s no coincidence that it took Tua Tagovailoa making his return to the field for the Dolphins to step their game up on the offensive side of the ball, as Tagovailoa has proven himself to be one of the better signal-callers in the game.
He led the NFL in total passing yards in the 2023 regular season and also earned the first Pro Bowl selection of his pro career.
With Tagovailoa back on the field and spearheading Miami’s offensive attack, the Dolphins put together their best offensive performance of the season so far. The Dolphins scored a season-high 27 points and totaled 377 yards of offense against Arizona.
Tagovailoa finished with 234 passing yards and one touchdown, and playmakers such as Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane showed out on offensive side of the ball as well.
The Dolphins’ defensive unit will have a chance to redeem itself when the team takes on the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 3. The Bills are sitting pretty in the AFC East standings with a 6-2 record. Buffalo is currently riding a three-game winning streak.
