NFL analyst rips apart "soft" Dolphins over cold weather record after losing in Green Bay
Emmanuel Acho's assessment of the Miami Dolphins highlighted a team struggling to compete in challenging weather conditions. Acho, a prominent NFL analyst, delivered his evaluation following the Miami Dolphins' 30-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
"I was watching the game before it even kicked off. It was the Mike McDaniel was out there, and head coach Matt Lafleur was out there, and he looked so cold. The head coach looked so cold the players are a reflection of their coach. What frustrates me is just how soft the dolphins played."
The statistics are undeniable. Miami's cold-weather record has not been good with 12 consecutive losses when the temperature at kickoff is below 40 degrees. Their last victory in such conditions was December 24, 2016 - a distant 34-31 overtime win against the Buffalo Bills.
Dolphins' playoff hopes after loss
Kickoff temperatures at Lambeua Field hovered around 27 degrees, with wind chill dropping to 18 degrees. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had earlier expressed confidence about competing in freezing conditions but it quickly became clear the Dolphins wanted little to do with the weather. The Packers dominated the first half behind a strong running game and punishing defense, outscoring Miami 24-3 en route to a 30-17 win.
Coach Mike McDaniel admitted tactical mistakes. After a promising 70-yard drive, the Dolphins stalled at a critical moment. On a crucial fourth-down play near the end zone, Tagovailoa was sacked, ending any real comeback hopes.
"There is a play call that I'd absolutely like to have back," McDaniel told reporters post game.
The fourth-down attempt fell apart spectacularly. Alec Ingold tripped, Miami's backup receivers were tightly covered, and Tagovailoa found no escape routes. Tyreek Hill and Jonnu Smith, two of Miami's most productive players, were not on the field for this play.
Tagovailoa reflected on the breakdown.
"I had seen Alec [Ingold] fall and as I got through to Jaylen [Waddle], I couldn't really navigate to see if he won his matchup or not," he explained post game.
The quarterback was left scrambling with no viable options.
The Dolphins are still in the thick of the AFC playoff picture at 5-7 but will likely need to win out or lose just one game the rest of the way. They'll have two games in potentially cold weather when they visit the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. There's a good chance the Dolphins have to navigate some potentially brutal weather conditions late in the year to make the postseason.