First of all, I, on behalf of FL Teams, hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
However, for Miami Dolphins fans, they did not enjoy a good Christmas.
On Christmas Day, the Green Bay Packers traveled down to South Beach and used their defense to defeat the reeling Dolphins, 26-20.
With their loss, the Dolphins drop to 8-7, but still remain the No. 7 seed in the AFC. The Packers improve to 7-8, meanwhile, and are currently half a game outside of the playoffs. Here are my (upsetting) game takeaways.
1. The concerns for Tua are back.
Tua came out firing early on Sunday. On the very first play of the game, Tua found Jaylen Waddle across the middle for an 84-yard touchdown. It was all Waddle, as he used his speed to create open space down the sideline while missing tackles before entering the end-zone. Credit has to be given to Tyreek Hill, too, who used his speed to follow Waddle down the sideline and set a crucial block on Packers strong safety Adrian Amos.
Speaking of Hill, in the second quarter, Tua found the cheetah open on a deep route for a 52-yard reception. Hill was marked down at the one-yard line. On the very next play, Jeff Wilson Jr. punched the football into the end-zone for a one-yard rushing touchdown, giving Miami a 17-10 lead.
However, Tua was a completely different quarterback in the second half. He threw three interceptions, all of them coming in the fourth quarter and on the final three drives.
Packers CB coach Jerry Gray surprisingly yelled at Green Bay at halftime, and it woke the secondary up. Jaire Alexander, De’Vondre Campbell, and Rasul Douglas recorded the interceptions.
With the loss, the Tua concerns are officially back. This is his fourth straight loss, and he’s completed less than 50 percent of his passes. Furthermore, Tua threw three interceptions on the three most important drives of an important game that determines Miami’s playoff chances. Is there a QB change incoming in Miami? We will find that out in the off-season. For now, there are still two regular season games left, and maybe a playoff game.
2. Aaron Rodgers showed his December self.
The Packers have won three straight games, and it all starts with Aaron Rodgers, who’s been playing well.
Rodgers completed 24-of-38 passes for 238 yards and a passing touchdown. Also, Rodgers moved past Dan Marino into eighth place on the NFL’s all-time pass completions list.
3. Miami’s receivers are world-class.
Despite the loss, Miami’s elite receiving core proved to be unstoppable yet again.
Jaylen Waddle highlighted the receiving core with an 84-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. The penguin finished with 143 receiving yards and a touchdown on five catches.
Also, Tyreek Hill had 103 receiving yards on four receptions.
4. Keep running the football.
The main turning point was with two minutes remaining in the first half when Raheem Mostert fumbled with the Dolphins leading 20-10. The Packers drove down the field and it was at that moment that Dolphin fans knew they lost the game.
Despite the fumble, Mostert was averaging 5.6 yards per rush. But yet again, Mike McDaniel stopped running the rock. So, Mostert finished with 45 rushing yards on eight carries.
Jeff Wilson Jr. also played well. In addition to his short one-yard touchdown, Wilson had 37 yards on nine carries.
Next up, the Dolphins travel to Foxboro in a huge AFC East game with the Patriots. Kickoff is 1 PM on CBS.