Dolphins’ alarming offensive struggles against playoff teams continued vs. Buffalo

While injuries have taken a huge toll on the Dolphins in recent weeks, the struggles of their offense continue to be alarming as Miami limps into the postseason following a 21-14 loss to Buffalo.

On Sunday night while its depleted defense made four key stops, the Dolphins’ offense was shut out in the second half and could not take advantage of those extra opportunities to come back.

“They did much better than we did across the board,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “It’s very disappointing starting with, I’m always looking at myself. We did some things that were self-inflicted wounds and we didn’t play with the same throwing, catching, blocking we normally do. We got outexecuted substantially.”

After taking a 14-7 lead at halftime, the Dolphins were held to only three first downs in the second half. Two of those came on Miami’s final drive with one via penalty on a pass interference call that moved the ball into Bills territory at the 40-yard line.

Two plays later, Tua Tagovailoa was intercepted on a ball thrown into double coverage intended for Chase Claypool that Taylor Rapp hauled in to seal the win for Buffalo.

The Dolphins only mustered 57 total yards in the second half and went 0 for 4 on third downs.

“I think Buffalo did a good job possessing the ball, especially that third quarter,” left tackle Terron Armstead said. “I think we had three plays that third quarter just off the top of my head. Just weren’t able to get first downs and sustain drives to get more plays, more reps, more opportunities.”

Tyreek Hill, who caught seven passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, was not on the field on the play that resulted in the game-sealing interception after dropping a pass and taking a hard hit on the previous play.

“We had a concept for the coverage and Taylor Rapp was a little further outside of Chase Claypool than Tua recognized and he and Chase didn’t connect,” McDaniel said. “That’s a hard play to make, and I could have put them in a better position to do it. You win or lose as a team. You win as a group and you lose as a group and they out-executed us for sure.”

While the loss was frustrating, it wasn’t a unique example of the Dolphins’ offensive struggles in recent weeks and throughout the season against some of the top teams in the NFL.

The absence of injured starting running back Raheem Mostert and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle have contributed to some of their recent woes.

But the Dolphins have averaged 16.5 points against the six playoff opponents with winning records they faced this season, and went 1-5 during that stretch with the lone victory coming Dec. 24 against Dallas — a game in which Miami got 15 of its 22 points from kicker Jason Sanders. Miami averaged 325.7 total yards and 217.2 passing yards in those games.

The Dolphins averaged 36.1 points this season in their other 11 games — all against opponents with losing records. Miami averaged 442.5 total yards in those games and 301.9 passing yards in those games.

Miami was outgained 473-275 and 345-167 in passing yardage. The Dolphins’ total yards were their second-lowest output of the season and fewest since they were held to 244 yards in a 31-17 loss at Philadelphia on Oct. 22.

“I think we did have opportunities,” Tagovailoa said. “We just had to make the best out of those opportunities. Missed throw, miscommunication on some plays, you just can’t do that.”

Tagovailoa, who completed 17 of 27 passes for 173 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, finished with a season-worst 62.7 passer rating. During the Dolphins’ past three games, Tagovailoa has completed 63 of 102 passes for 703 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions.

In those six games against playoff teams, Tagovailoa has completed 132 of 203 passes for 1,394 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. In the other 11 games against teams with losing records, Tagovailoa went 256 for 357 passing for 3,230 yards, 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Tagovailoa finished as the NFL’s passing yardage leader (4,624 yards), and became the first Dolphins quarterback to do so since Dan Marino in 1992.

But Sunday night’s game marked the first time this season Tagovailoa threw multiple interceptions in consecutive games after also throwing two in last week’s 56-19 loss at Baltimore.

“We need him not to turn the ball over and still be aggressive while doing that,” McDaniel said. “That’s the name of the game for every quarterback and that’s what Tua does. If there’s a player that I feel very confident can handle things when they don’t go his way, that’s Tua. That’s the player he is. That’s what you want from your QB. He takes full accountability. I look forward to him getting back out there.”