Tua Tagovailoa makes feelings known on Miami Dolphins’ playoff chances after Thanksgiving Day loss to Packers
NFL quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains confident about his team's playoff prospects, despite the Miami Dolphins' 30-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day.
As reported by Miami Dolphins reporter, Marcel Louis-Jacques, Tagovailoa, who returned to the field last month after recovering from his third NFL concussion, said:
“This one was a tough one for us as a team. I wouldn’t say the dream is dead for our team just yet — anything can happen in this league.”
The data speaks for itself. The Dolphins have now lost their last 11 games (both regular and post-season) when the temperature at kickoff was below 40 degrees (4.4°C), as reported by ESPN.
So, clearly, the struggle continues because the Dolphins lost the Thanksgiving Day game, which took place while the temperature was mid-20 degrees.
Next up, the Miami Dolphins will face the New York Jets in Week 14 on Dec. 8.
Breaking down Miami Dolphins’ playoff chances
Keeping in Tua Tagovailoa’s optimism, here's an analysis of what it will take for the Miami Dolphins to punch the ticket in the postseason.
Currently, the team is second behind the Buffalo Bills (9-2) in the AFC East standings. Having a divisional record of 2-2, the Dolphins are behind the race for the top spot.
Coming to the AFC Wild Card race, the slots are competitive. Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3), Baltimore Ravens (8-4) and Los Angeles Chargers (7-4), hold better records.
On top of that, if we consider the remaining schedule, the Dolphins have to face tough opponents like the 49ers and Browns and the division leader, Houston Texans. Thus, to make the playoffs, Miami must win most of their remaining games, if not all.
Talking about the factors that can affect the Dolphins' chances of making it to the playoffs, the team's 4-4 conference record could be an issue in tiebreaker scenarios. So, improving this metric is needed to stay competitive in the Wild Card race. Another non-negotiable point for Miami to stay in the hunt is consistent performance across offense and defense.
For now, the dream isn’t dead. Yes, it is steep for Miami, but it’s not impossible.