Dolphins players defend Mike McDaniel after 0-2 start: ‘It’s really on us’

A week after the Miami Dolphins struggled on both sides of the ball in their blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 7, they had an opportunity for a bounce-back performance against the New England Patriots. Unfortunately, the Dolphins’ defensive unit looked porous once again, and the team lost to the Patriots by a score of 33-27.

However, Dolphins players were quick to defend head coach Mike McDaniel following the defeat. Second-year offensive tackle Patrick Paul and linebacker Chop Robinson stuck up for the team’s longtime leader from the sidelines.

It turns out that folks’ concerns about how the Dolphins’ defense would hold up ahead of the new season were justified. Miami has lost so much talent on that side of the ball compared to a season ago and has felt those losses through its opening two games of the 2025 season, as it has allowed a whopping 66 points in that span. The Colts scored 33 points against the Dolphins as well.

Up to this point in the campaign, the Chicago Bears are the only team in the NFL that’s given up more points.

The likes of Paul and Robinson are perhaps right in sticking up for McDaniel in the sense that the coach can only do so much and it’s ultimately up to the players to execute. Plus, if folks want to partially blame any coach for the team’s defensive shortcomings through its first two games of the campaign, they may want to consider placing that blame on defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.

If a recent report is of any indication, however, the next few games could go on to decide McDaniel’s fate with the Dolphins regardless of whether he deserves to be a casualty or not. Sources allegedly believe the following several contests could decide his future as well as general manager Chris Grier’s.

The Dolphins’ defensive unit will have its work cut out for it in the team’s Week 3 contest against the Buffalo Bills as well. Buffalo has a record of 2-0 on the season and is on the heels of a 20-point win over the New York Jets on Sept. 14.