A win is a win — and for a team clinging to relevance, the Phin will take it. While Miami is only 4-7 on the season, they have their first 2 game win streak and notched 3 victories in 4 games. But, even with the Bye Week here and two manageable games after that, any hope of a miracle push to the playoffs feels overcome by Mike McDaniel and his terrible management in the win.
Finding a Way — Somehow
Tua Tagovailoa was steady but unspectacular, running a conservative attack that seemed designed more to avoid disaster than to create opportunity. The Dolphins moved the ball in spurts and mostly due to Devon Achane playing like a man possessed. But McDaniel’s play-calling repeatedly stalled drives — opting for sideways plays, short screens into crowded fronts, and head-scratching third-down designs that killed momentum.
The run game was the only real ace in the hole for McDaniel. Achane led the charge notching 120 yards on the ground and 45 on the pass game. Ollie Gordon added a decent day with his limited touches as well scoring a TD along with 9 carries for 45 tough yards.
It’s a wonder why McDaniel only dialed up 7 carries in the 1st Half. Thankfully he came to his sense in the 2nd Half. But after beating the Bills by pounding the ball from the 1st Qtr on and watching the Bills struggle from passing too much, you’d figure McDaniel would have learned the lesson.
McDaniel’s Decisions Nearly Cost Them
It’s impossible to ignore the questionable choices from the Dolphins’ sideline and this poor management haunts all the good.
Not kicking the Field Goal for the lead and allowing the Commanders to go down the field for the winning kick instead of a tying field goal was the showstopper of dumb. Commanders would have had only roughly 1:30 seconds with no time outs, under pressure to score or lose.
Instead, McDaniel ran the ball inside from the 2 yards line and gave Washington the chance to go down the field for the win. And they would have if not for a narrowly missed field goal. Let’s remember the Commanders had already missed and mid-range kick already.
Baffling.
McDaniel flashes brilliance — but this season has also exposed tendencies toward overthinking and abandoning the run at the worst moments. Once again, Miami needed players and some luck, not play design, to bail the team out.
Luck Played Its Part
Let’s be honest: you can bet with the best pay per head that Miami was fortunate.
Washington missed opportunities, committed avoidable penalties, and turned the ball over at critical moments. A late Commanders drop and a misfired throw on what could have been a game-winning drive gave Miami breathing room they didn’t earn.
The Dolphins didn’t dominate. They survived. And sometimes survival feels like luck wearing teal and orange.
And all the struggles revolve around McDaniel… and unfortunately so does any hope of making the impossible run over the last six games of the season.
The Win Still Matters
At 16–13, it wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t clean. It wasn’t the kind of performance that restores faith in the long-term direction of the team.
But it was a win — and with the season on the brink, Miami simply needed one.
The defense stepped up. The offense did just enough. And even with McDaniel’s miscues, even with luck playing a starring role, the Dolphins found a way across the finish line.
In a season like this, you’ll take it — but you can’t pretend it means the problems are fixed.
Let’s see what comes of the rest of the season and if McDaniel can finally overcome his boneheaded flaws.
