After a disastrous start for the Miami Dolphins, with a 33-8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Mike McDaniel has been singled out as the main culprit, putting his continuity in charge of the team in doubt.
Very early in the season, something that many fans and experts were already pointing out in the preseason has become evident: deficiencies in defense, little offensive creativity and, above all, a team with no capacity to respond.
Mike McDaniel himself described the result as “embarrassing“, while noting that the advantage of falling so low is that now the only possibility is to improve.
“I don’t see how it could be worse,” McDaniel said, however, the team could improve and still continue to lose, so those statements have not had an effect on the impatient Miami fans.
Pressure mounts on Mike McDaniel at Miami Dolphins
In this regard, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk spoke about it on The Rich Eisen Show. Florio recalled that in 2015, coach Joe Philbin was fired after just four weeks after starting with a 1-3 record. For him, owner Stephen Ross’ patience has a very clear limit and everything could be defined in Week 3, where Miami would face Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills, a game that today looks like a very difficult test for Mike McDaniel and his team.
It’s not just a matter of this year. Last season ended with an 8-9 record, no playoff berth and criticism of McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier. So this tournament seems to have started with the burden of a lack of positive results last season. A burden that will only become lighter as they manage to win more games.
“This is the game the Dolphins need. If they don’t win, it could be a very long season for the team and a very short one for the coach,” said Florio.
Miami Dolphins players meeting
The pressure also reached the locker room. According to ESPN, the Dolphins held an unusual players-only meeting before the game against the Patriots. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks explained the reason:
“When you lose like that, it’s easy to get discouraged. The meeting was to make sure we stick together and the belief is still there.”
The gesture reflects an attempt to reinforce unity and avoid internal fragmentation so early in the calendar.
Dolphins vs Patriots schedule
Miami Dolphins will face the New England Patriots on September 14 at 1:00 p.m. ET, in a game that could represent the second strike for Mike McDaniel, or a provisional lifeline.
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