Marcel Louis-Jacques
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Miami Dolphins take no delight in a loss, irrespective of how shut the sport is.
The Dolphins have been 12½-point underdogs getting into Thursday evening's recreation in opposition to the Buffalo Payments however hung with the five-time reigning AFC East champions for three-and-a-half quarters earlier than a pair of essential errors price them in a 31-21 loss.
“No ethical victories, that is for certain,” quarterback Tua Tagovailoa mentioned after the sport. “There's undoubtedly some issues that we will take away which might be good and as much as par with our customary of how we function inside our offense. … By no means good to lose, no matter how a sure particular person could have felt they carried out. This can be a group sport. We win collectively, we lose collectively.”
The Dolphins fell to 0-3 this season and have misplaced seven straight video games in opposition to Buffalo. The loss comes after per week of hypothesis relating to coach Mike McDaniel's job safety, however for many of the recreation, Miami didn't play like a group whose coach is on his means out.
After a 52-yard opening kick return from Dee Eskridge, the Dolphins scored on their opening drive for the primary time this season however allowed 14 straight factors to Buffalo instantly after. The Payments appeared able to stretch their lead even additional halfway via the second quarter, however Matt Prater missed a 39-yard discipline purpose and the Dolphins tied the rating with a 16-play drive simply earlier than halftime.
Miami tied the rating once more with 12 minutes remaining within the fourth quarter and compelled a punt on the Payments' ensuing drive; defensive sort out Zach Sieler was flagged for roughing the punter, nevertheless, paving the way in which for the Payments' game-winning landing.
“I've received to be higher,” Sieler mentioned after the sport. “I am unable to be making silly errors like that.”
Tagovailoa threw an interception on the next drive to successfully seal the sport.
The Dolphins' quarterback mentioned there was no added emphasis this week to show something to exterior critics, however that the group needed to “get this factor proper for one another.”
He mentioned there have been some positives to remove from the sport; Miami transformed 10-of-15 third down makes an attempt and set a brand new season excessive with 130 dashing yards.
However McDaniel mentioned {that a} loss is a loss, and he did not really feel any delight seeing his group compete in a recreation it in the end misplaced.
“I am by no means happy with a loss. We got here right here to win,” he mentioned. “I refuse to take ethical victories as the top coach of the Miami Dolphins.”
Dolphins followers flew a banner over Laborious Rock Stadium earlier than final week's loss to the New England Patriots calling for the group to fireplace each McDaniel and common supervisor Chris Grier. McDaniel mentioned he did not imagine the gesture was “private” and that he wasn't spending time worrying about his job safety.
Extensive receiver Tyreek Hill, who caught his first landing of the season Thursday, mentioned the Dolphins “did one thing lots of people did not count on us to do” by taking part in a detailed recreation in Buffalo. He mentioned he believes the group is “transferring in the best course.”
He additionally spoke to his head coach's fiery demeanor after the sport and praised him for his management and playcalling.
“I really like Coach McDaniel. I really like him to dying, man,” Hill mentioned. “Clearly, he gave me an opportunity to return to Miami and play, and I do not take that with no consideration. To see how he coached and to see how he led me at present, it was a phenomenal factor to see. So cannot wait till subsequent week.”
This marks the Dolphins first 0-3 begin to a season since 2019, once they completed 5-11. Of the 117 NFL groups since 2000 to begin a season 0-3, solely the Houston Texans in 2018 made the playoffs.
Miami is not targeted on historical past because it prepares for its Week 4 recreation in opposition to the New York Jets on Monday Night time Soccer, however Hill mentioned the Dolphins aren't able to give up on this season.
“It is all about how do you need to be remembered?” he mentioned. “Do you need to be the 0-3 group that simply was like, ‘hey, we simply going to throw within the towel and simply say hey, it is over with,' or are we going to be remembered because the group that began off 0-3 and located a strategy to flip it round going into the fourth recreation?
“We received nice captains, nice management who do an important job of setting the usual day-after-day at follow and likewise within the locker room. So we received a phenomenal factor going proper now.”
