The Miami Dolphins came into the 2025 season with a mantra of “they say, we do,” and used it to respond to every criticism that got doused South Florida’s NFL franchise all offseason.
After watching Miami’s abysmal performance in the 33-8 season-opening loss to the Indianapolis Colts, I’m starting to wonder what exactly “we do” besides fold when the heat gets turned up?
That’s the best way to explain Miami’s tragic debut against a Colts team nobody expected anything special from.
This wasn’t the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, or the perennial contenders like the Kansas City Chiefs, or the AFC East juggernaut Buffalo Bills.
These were the Colts, but on the other side was the Mike McDaniel Dolphins, and it’s pretty clear that when his teams face adversity they wilt.
Think about it.
All of this franchise’s worst fears were activated in Sunday’s loss to the Colts, which nearly got a shutout, but Dolphins tailback De’Von Achane concluded a nine-play, 65 yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown reception, which was followed by a two-point conversion.
That was the offense’s only respectable drive of the game because…..
The tight end Miami signed to replace Jonnu Smith, who was traded to Pittsburgh, wasn’t able to play because of a troublesome hip injury he supposedly suffered in his one week of football practice after coming out of retirement.
Subsequently, Miami’s tight ends were targeted four times all game, and Tanner Conner brought down two receptions for 20 yards.
Then the biggest-ticket item in free agency, starting right guard James Daniels, lasted all of three plays before a pectoral injury got him sidelined for the game, and forced the most troublesome group of backups on the field.
Kion Smith replaced Daniels and got streamrolled on a couple of plays that led to Tua Tagovailoa’s three turnovers.
Tagovailoa looked like the inept quarterback his team should move on from while Daniel Jones’ play was efficient in his first regular-season start for his new team.
Tagovailoa committed three turnovers (two interceptions and a lost fumble created by a sack) in the first half, contributing to the massive snap disparity that was a story line of the game.
And if losing the top free agent addition wasn’t bad enough, the top cornerback (Storm Duck) in the team’s least-experienced unit was sidelined by a left ankle injury he suffered in the second quarter, further testing the team’s troublesome depth.
That forced veteran Rasul Douglas into action two weeks after being signed.
And finally, a Dolphins defense that prided itself on creating pressure only produced one sack.
Aren’t they supposed to be the backbone of this defense?
“Disappointed, but not discouraged,” Jaelan Phillips said. “You’re going to get kicked in the mouth sometimes. It’s about how you respond.
“This doesn’t shake our confidence, but shows us that we still have a lot of things to work on.”
Based on Week 1, there’s no other way we can view the 2025 Dolphins as anything different than the mentally and physically fragile franchise McDaniel has coached the past three seasons.
It’s just one game, but a preview that should make you turn your nose up at the featured film.
“We want to build off this, that’s what we’re looking forward to. I don’t want to overreact, but we don’t want to under react to this,” Tagovailoa said. “We want to make sure we get this right so it never happens again.”