As the Miami Dolphins head to Kansas City for the first round of the playoffs, their recent struggles and injuries are the critical storyline heading into their NFL Wild Card Weekend game against the Chiefs.
The Dolphins’ struggles are not just a consequence of injuries but also reflect their inability to win critical games both at home and on the road.
After a fast and high-profile start to 2023, the Dolphins’ recent struggles and inconsistency threaten to derail what was a promising season. The question becomes: Can they overcome injuries, offensive struggles and the cold this weekend?
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Miami Dolphins’ key injuries down the stretch haven’t helped
The Dolphins have faced challenges with major injuries in recent weeks, putting them at a significant disadvantage entering the playoffs. It’s been tough losing players like Bradley Chubb, who suffered a season ending ACL tear and Xavien Howard who has a foot injury. The loss of two massively important players on defense have had a profound impact on coach Mike McDaniels’ team.
Chubb’s absence is particularly felt because of his leadership both on the field and in the locker room. The defense, which had improved greatly during the first half of the season, was expected to be a strength for the Dolphins making up for some inconsistencies on offense. Now, Vic Fangio’s unit is just trying to keep it all together.
The offense has also suffered injuries that have led to more inconsistent scoring. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been dealing with a shoulder injury but is expected to play despite discomfort. The offensive line has also been hit hard with injuries to starters like Terron Armstead, Austin Jackson and Robert Hunt. This has caused reshuffling on the line and increased pressure on Tua.
There is also the ankle injury concern for one time MVP candidate Tyreek Hill. Hill missed two games at the end of the regular season but his outlook is slightly more optimistic as he is expected to play in Kansas City on Saturday. Despite the fact he’ll play, the injury has taken away much of his explosiveness and presents a problem for McDaniels and the Dolphins chances against Hill’s former team.
Injuries haven’t been the only problem for the Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins also face significant challenges that go beyond their injury list. Winning big games against more stout opponents has been a struggle. Much like the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC, Miami struggles against the league’s better teams and looks a shell of itself in those matchups.
This raises doubts about their ability to handle pressure during playoff games. This pattern is noticeable in both home and away games indicating issues that are now at the forefront as they prepare for a frigid game this weekend, neutralizing one of their core strengths —speed.
The Miami Dolphins present a paradox on offense: they average 30.1 points per game this season but when facing the top five teams on their schedule they only manage an average of 18.4 points per game. Miami has particularly struggled scoring in games against the Chiefs and two other AFC teams that they might encounter in the playoffs – Buffalo and Baltimore.
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Dolphins’ issues won’t be resolved this season
As the Miami Dolphins begin their journey in the playoffs this weekend against the defending Super Bowl champions Chiefs, both their injury struggles and inconsistencies on offense won’t be solved quickly.
While the injury impact can’t be denied, Miami’s overall problems are more complex and will require work during the offseason both on roster management and retooling their offensive system.