Tua’s ex-trainer suggests Mike McDaniel committed ‘fireable offense’ in win

Head coach Mike McDaniel made a decision late in the Miami Dolphins’ international win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday that left plenty of fans scratching their heads.

With less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter and the game tied, Miami was near the goal line and could’ve opted for an easy field goal on fourth down to take the lead. But instead of kicking a field goal, the team went for it and failed to put any points on the board.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s former trainer Nick Hicks is among those who disagreed with McDaniel’s decision. He went so far as to call it a “fireable offense.”

While it’s true that Miami still won the game, the overtime period could have potentially been avoided entirely if the team had kicked a field goal in that late-game situation.

The Dolphins won Sunday’s game on the ground, as their offense finished the game with more rushing yards than passing yards. Running back De’Von Achane led the way for them in that category. He totaled a game-high 120 rushing yards, marking his second consecutive game with triple digits in that stat.

Achane accumulated a season-high 174 rushing yards in Miami’s improbable win over the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 9. He also rushed for two touchdowns in that game. In the win over the Commanders on Sunday, Achane didn’t score a touchdown, but fellow back Ollie Gordon II did.

Although some are calling for McDaniel’s head, he could maybe keep his job if he can help the team get back into the playoff race, and Miami has been surprisingly successful lately. The Dolphins are now winners of three of their last four contests following Sunday’s win in Spain, and they’re on their first winning streak of the season, even though it’s just two games.

Miami has a winnable next game on its schedule as well, as the team will take on the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 30. New Orleans seems to be in play to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, as it owns a record of just 2-8 on the season. That’s tied for the worst record of any squad in the NFC.