The Miami Dolphins entered the season with modest expectations. Playoffs weren’t a lock, but most thought the team could at least be competitive. Three weeks later, the Dolphins have fallen flat. They sit winless, look disorganized, and through September may be the most disappointing team in the NFL.
Much of that failure lies on defense. Miami ranks 27th in total yards allowed and gives up more than 32 points per game – the worst mark in the league. The struggles aren’t just about missed tackles or coverage busts. A single stat, highlighted by NFL analyst Brett Kollman on X, explains the nightmare: the Dolphins blitz more than any team in football, yet rank dead last in creating pressure.
Blitzing Without Results
Normally, blitzing is designed to shake quarterbacks and cover for a weak defensive front. But when those extra rushers don’t hit home, the scheme collapses. That’s exactly what’s happening in Miami.
Next Gen Stats reports the Dolphins are blitzing on nearly 40 percent of dropbacks, the highest rate in the league. But according to Pro Football Focus, they generate pressure less than 20 percent of the time. The result is quarterbacks facing Miami have had all day to throw, posting a passer rating above 110 – near the bottom of the NFL by defensive standards.
Those numbers are more than trivia. They reveal why Miami has been bleeding yards and points. Aggression without payoff leaves the secondary exposed, and opposing offenses have been happy to take advantage.
Offense Can’t Bail Them Out
A leaky defense can sometimes be masked by a fast-scoring offense. That isn’t the case here. The Dolphins’ once-creative attack has gone quiet. Tua Tagovailoa has struggled with turnovers, while ESPN Stats & Info notes Miami sits near the bottom in third-down conversion rate. Playcalling has looked predictable, and the ground game hasn’t been consistent enough to keep drives alive.
When a team can’t move the ball and can’t stop anyone, games spiral quickly. That’s been Miami’s reality so far.
The schedule gives them one lifeline. Up next is the New York Jets, another team searching for answers. It’s a chance for Miami to reset after a long week of preparation. Still, unless their blitzes start landing and their offense finds rhythm, the Dolphins risk being defined by one of the strangest and most damaging defensive stats in the league.
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