The Wide World of Dirt

Show’s over, folks. Nothing to see here.

The Miami Dolphins traveled to Houston for a week 15 matchup with CJ Stroud and the Texans where they fell 20-12 to take their eighth loss of the season.

Though this loss doesn’t eliminate them from postseason contention, the large, singing lady is warming up in the dressing room with the pianist.

A Summary of Sorts

Despite receiving the opening kickoff, the Miami offense stalled out on their second series when Tua Tagovailoa got sacked by Danielle Hunter and Henry To’oTo’o on third down, forcing a Jake Bailey punt.

Texans’ running back Joe Mixon took off for 20 yards over the first two plays before a surprise Tank Dell run went for another 15 yards, putting Houston into Miami territory.

Two short passes to Robert Woods and Nico Collins preceded a 3rd & 2 that fell incomplete, sending out Ka’imi Fairbairn out for a successful 44-yard field goal.

Following an encroachment penalty before the first snap, Miami still managed to go three-and-out on its next series, even when they needed to gain five yards.

Luckily for Miami, the defense stepped up and forced a three-and-out of their own when Zach Sieler sacked Stroud on a 3rd & 3 to bring out the punt team.

De’Von Achane stepped up on the next drive, making a statement in his home state by gaining 35 yards over 6 plays, but a Robert Jones holding call on 3rd & 7 erased a 6-yard gain for Tua. The drive ended two plays later with a 55-yard field goal courtesy of Jason Sanders.

Miami’s defense held Houston down as losses on first and second downs led to a second-straight three-and-out, handing Miami an opportunity to take control.

A roughing the passer call moved the ball down near the 50, but a sack-fumble on third down wound up in the hands of Texans’ lineman Tim Settle Jr.

Stroud rolled out on first down from the Miami 28 and ripped a pass along the sideline into the arms of Dell on a comeback route to plant the Texans in the red zone where Stroud tossed a six-yard touchdown just three plays later to Collins.

While a short pass moved Miami into Houston territory as soon as the drive started and their field position was aided by a low block penalty, the drive stalled out at the 18-yard line where Sanders nailed another kick from 36 yards.

Now inside the two-minute warning, the Texans scrambled to get back to the line between plays, leading to a botched snap on the fourth play of the drive that ended up in the hands of Jordyn Brooks heading the other way.

Two penalties wiped two plays off the board, leaving Miami with just 30 seconds left in the half to do something. Coming out of the team’s second timeout, Tua tossed his first interception since the Rams game, this time to Calen Bullock.

The pick gave Houston an opportunity to boot three more points through the uprights to end the half.

Kicking off to Houston to start the second half looked like it would prove positive for Miami as they stifled the drive at their own 44, but Houston’s perfectly executed fake punt set up another six-yard TD pass from Stroud to Collins.

A Malik Washington screen went for 14 to move Miami over the 40 before the Grant DuBose injury took place, resulting in a major 15-yard penalty. What followed was a drive destined to stall out until Tua connected with Tyreek Hill for 21 yards to move the chains on a 3rd & 16 play.

The drive could have ended with a 30-yarder off of Sanders’ boot, but an offsides penalty influenced McDaniel to throw away the points and go for it. Tagovailoa got the ball to Jonnu Smith on 4th & 2 for a 7-yard score before Sanders missed the ensuing extra point, bringing the score to 20-12.

A Chop Robinson sack on third down produced a three-and-out, allowing Miami to even up the game at 20 if they could just replicate their previous drive.

Another fourth-down conversion was necessary as Jonnu Smith’s gritty catch-and-run for nine yards kept the chains moving, but a 3rd & 5 pass from Tagovailoa found the waiting hands of Texans’ DB Derek Stingley Jr.

13 plays, 58 yards, all for naught.

From there, the two teams took turns punting before Tagovailoa and the offense returned to the field with 1:44 left in the fourth quarter, still down 20-12.

On the very first play of that drive, Tua threw a deep pass to Tyreek, and Tyreek got outmuscled by Stingley with the former LSU Tiger snagging his second pick of the game to extinguish Miami’s chances.

I feel like I’m losing my mind.

The defense put together a magnificent performance that will go completely unsung in this embarrassing loss.

This game was a defensive struggle, but when the defense only gives up 181 yards of total offense, your team should win that ball game when it has an offense powered by Tua, Tyreek, and Waddle.

Well, in some deference to the offense, Waddle left the game in the second quarter with an apparent knee injury. Thankfully, Mike McDaniel assuaged the concerns of many when he confirmed that it wasn’t a serious injury on Monday.

Waddle’s absence was felt, though. The Dolphins’ offense proved incapable of slinging the ball vertically, opting for more screens and checkdowns.

When the ball did travel further than five yards beyond the line of scrimmage, it got picked off practically every time. The Texans’ defense conjured up a fantastic gameplan to thwart what Miami likes to do.

To no one’s surprise, the running game failed to produce again.

The Dolphins combined for 19 carries and 52 total rushing yards.

They haven’t rushed for over 82 yards since their week 9 loss to Buffalo where they had 149 rushing yards. This team looked virtually unstoppable when they could run the ball, and all of a sudden, they simply forgot how to do it.

Both teams averaged 4 yards per pass attempt or less. Simply put, this was an awful football game that was completely winnable, and Miami gave it away.

Give it up for game 15…

Mike McDaniel’s former boss and team rolls into Hard Rock Stadium for a week 16 showdown between two teams on life support.

The Niners walk into South Beach after a similarly-demoralizing defeat against the Rams on Thursday Night Football, leading to a mutiny of veteran edge rusher De’Vondre Campbell after he refused to enter the game in the second half.

While there is reason to keep plowing ahead because making the postseason remains theoretically possible, the Dolphins are basically dead-in-the-water until proven otherwise.

A team that can’t run the ball or throw deep will not make the postseason, even if the defense plays incredible football for all four quarters.

Again, San Francisco is a team that Miami can beat, but at this rate, I’m not entirely sure they are capable of doing so.

(Credit: Viacom/Nickelodeon)