The NFL kicked off its 105th season with record-breaking television numbers, as Fox Sports announced a staggering 17.9 million viewers tuned in for its Sunday singleheader.
But while the league was celebrating its broadcasting success, the Miami Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa were licking their wounds after a humiliating loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
The game unraveled quickly for Miami, with Indianapolis storming to a 20-0 halftime lead before cruising to a 33-8 victory.
Tagovailoa threw two interceptions, completed only 14 passes, and managed just 114 yards through the air. For a quarterback once viewed as the future of the franchise, Week 1 could not have gone much worse.
It also revived an old controversy involving his star receiver, Tyreek Hill. When Hill first joined Miami in 2022, he famously said Tagovailoa was better than Patrick Mahomes.
That comparison came roaring back into focus after Shannon Sharpe‘s scathing comments.
Sharpe calls out Hill and Tagovailoa
“Remember when Tyreek Hill said that Tua is better than Mahomes? You’d really say that after the guy has won two MVPs? You would literally say, ‘Tua is better than Mahomes.’ The guy has had a 5,000-yard season, a 50-touchdown season,” Sharpe said, reminding fans of the remark that drew criticism from the start.
For Sharpe, Sunday’s poor performance was further evidence that defenses have figured out how to exploit Tagovailoa‘s weaknesses.
“When defensive guys watch tape, they know. Here’s a guy that wants to get the ball out quick. He doesn’t want to take a lot of excess hits. So even if we don’t sack him, or we don’t get him, let’s hit him… He doesn’t like contact. Let’s get a little handsy with the guy, let’s put hands on him… That’s what the tape tells us.”
Sharpe’s criticism added fuel to doubts already spreading among Dolphins fans, many of whom wondered if Tagovailoa is even the long-term solution under center.
A long season ahead for Miami
Still, it’s worth remembering that Week 1 is only the beginning of a long NFL season. The Dolphins’ front office and coaching staff continue to stand behind Tagovailoa, who recently signed a $212.4 million deal that makes him the 12th highest-paid quarterback in the league.
The next challenge looms large: a home opener against the New England Patriots.
The rivalry game comes with added intrigue, as rumors swirl that the Kansas City Chiefs are eyeing a reunion with Tyreek Hill following injuries to their wide receiver corps.
For now, Miami desperately needs a bounce-back performance. Another stumble from Tagovailoa could deepen the criticism and add weight to Sharpe‘s harsh assessment.
Whether Hill’s past words were loyalty to a teammate or wishful thinking, Week 1 offered a stark reminder: comparisons to Mahomes remain a dangerous game.
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