Miami Dolphins: At Least They Lose Correctly

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry with an incredible one handed catch Shot by Miami Dolphins

Disappointment.

That wasn’t the theme for the season for the Miami Dolphins season, but it seems that we’ve all been disappointed by this team’s performance on the field. However, even though this team has disappointed by not winning games, the true frustration that stems from the fans all over the city is that this team doesn’t seem to care about getting better in the future.

When the Dolphins utterly failed to sit out Ryan Tannehill, Jarvis Landry, Lamar Miller, and Ndamukong Suh it was showing to the community that this team isn’t ready to quit. Though the principle behind never quitting necessarily isn’t a bad thing, it’s a bad thing when there is nothing to play for.

Thankfully, in spite of Miami playing most of it’s starters, it didn’t matter. The Indianapolis Colts came into town with a sparingly filled Sun Life Stadium and they defeated Miami 18-12. The game was pretty putrid to watch and to those who stayed the entire game, to those who watched every snap on television, you’re the real MVP.

What’s even crazy about this game was that the Dolphins were trying to win and they still managed to lose. On the final drive of the game, the Dolphins had a chance to seal a victory but once again when they hit the red zone, the offense fell into a ditch. On the five-yard line, only down six points with 30 seconds remaining on the clock and Miami still couldn’t come through with the win. Tannehill was sacked on the final play of Miami’s drive by Robert Mathis, in what Tannehill labeled as “cadence issues” between him and his offensive lineman Jamil Douglas.

“I feel for him. I’ve been there,” said Tannehill. “I’ve been that guy numerous times in my career. So I can relate to him. And I feel for him, and he’ll be a better player because of it.”

https://vine.co/v/iquMExJDx5u

His coach Dan Campbell also chimed in and said this…

“He feels like it’s on his shoulders and it’s not,” said interim coach Dan Campbell, who spoke to Douglas. “ … There were enough mistakes to go around, offensively and defensively.”

Campbell was right because the way that the Dolphins played was pathetic.

Miami didn’t reach 20 points for the 12th time this season. Ryan Tannehill got sacked six times, and Charlie Whitehurst looked like a decent player. The Dolphins just lost to a third string quarterback.

The irony of this game was that four years ago both Indianapolis and Miami were among the worst in the league. In Miami people came up with the for the “Suck For Luck” campaign where Miami would tank their games to get the future hall of fame quarterback. What’s ironic is Indianapolis ended up getting Luck and four years later both of these teams are still among the worst in the league.

Indianapolis started off the game by recording a safety, and then they never looked back as they scored the next six points in a row. It took the Dolphins almost two-quarters to score their first points because the Colts played serious red zone defense. During the lone trip in the first quarter when the Dolphins made it to the red zone, Indianapolis brought pressure, and it worked. They forced quarterback Ryan Tannehill into a big interception that could’ve cut the lead to two points.

That never quitting attitude is the type of mentality that is needed when your team when they are getting ready to make a big playoff push and continue to play in big games. However, because of the way that this season has gone, the Dolphins don’t have an opportunity to make the playoffs. Why not start preparing for the next season?

The bright spot is because of the loss the Dolphins might move up the draft board. Entering the game they would’ve gotten the No. 8 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, and their loss could increase their chances to get a better spot. The last time the Dolphins attempted to change their franchise fate by winning meaningless games late in the year it cost them an opportunity to draft the aforementioned Andrew Luck, and they settled for a starting quarterback named Ryan Tannehill out of Texas A&M. We’ve seen for the last four years the effects of a decision to not lose late in the season. 

Another bright spot is that wide receiver Jarvis Landry became the first Dolphins player to have 100 catches and 1,000 yards in the same season.

If you’re looking for anything else bright, get happy that Miami has a chance to defeat New England next week.

D’Joumbarey A. Moreau covers sports in Miami-Dade & Broward County. You can follow him on Twitter@DJoumbarey.

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