What Stood Out from the Dolphins 33-27 Loss?
The Miami Dolphins entered Week Two with a pretty simple goal: defeat the New England Patriots. For starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, this had been a simple task throughout his career, doing so successfully eight times without losing once to the former dynasty. Along with that, the Dolphins had defeated the Pats four consecutive times, losing their last matchup when backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was forced in. Unfortunately for Tua and the Fins, their dominance against the new era of the Patriots was finally put to an end. The Dolphins showed several things in the heartbreaking 33-27 loss. In this piece, you will find the three main takeaways that cost the Dolphins another game.
De’Von Achane, Certified Top-Five RB
One thing is certain for the Dolphins’ offense: De’Von Achane has solidified himself as a top-five running back in the National Football League. This almost goes without saying. The third-year RB has unmatched speed, along with elite agility and excellent pass-catching skills. Achane showcased all of this in the Dolphins' 33-27 loss, totaling 11 rushes for 30 yards while catching eight passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. The Dolphins’ starting RB would’ve added a second touchdown to his outstanding stat sheet on a late play in the fourth quarter, but instead he stepped out at the 25-yard line.
Miami has now benefited from Achane’s skills for the second straight week, as he also caught a receiving touchdown late in the contest for their first score of the day. This was one of Chris Grier’s very few wins from the last few years, selecting Achane out of Texas A&M, where he dominated while also running track. His 4.32 40-yard dash time says all you need to know about the RB. His speed will leave all defenders chasing after him. The Dolphins will be blessed by Achane’s presence for the next few years, even if they decide a full rebuild is the option this team needs.
Anthony Weaver Was Simply Outcoached, Bottom-Three Defense
Finally, the Miami Dolphins were able to muster up enough strength to shut down a drive on defense. It only took them 13 tries. That’s right, the Dolphins allowed opposing offenses to score on 13 straight drives, dating back to the 2024 season. It was yet another long day on defense for Miami. Not only were they allowing Drake Maye to do what he wanted, but Rhamondre Stevenson led the team in receiving yards. Stevenson caught five passes for 88 yards, being effective when pressure approached Maye.
This was something the Dolphins saw quite often in their Week One loss, where Daniel Jones would dump a pass off to rookie TE Tyler Warren, effectively changing the game due to Miami’s lack of coverage. Anthony Weaver’s unit struggled heavily to contain the Patriots on third downs, allowing New England to convert seven of its 12 attempts while also holding possession for 33 minutes. Here’s what stumps all Dolphins fans: Weaver and Miami had one of the best defenses in football last season, although it didn’t always seem that way. Now, the team can barely get its offense on the field without allowing a score. Fans called for Weaver to become this team’s next head coach, but he has so far shown struggles even as the team’s coordinator.
What Does the Future Look Like for Tua Tagovailoa After the Season?
2025 was, and still is, a pivotal season for not only Tua Tagovailoa, but this entire Dolphins organization. It was finally a chance for Tua to prove he was worth his massive contract, while Mike McDaniel and Chris Grier fought for their jobs. Instead, the last two weeks have proved several things: maybe this team would be better off if it entered a complete rebuild. Week One was a total disaster for Tua, who went 14-for-23 with 114 yards, three turnovers, and a touchdown that came on a checkdown in garbage time. Not only did Tua struggle with turnovers, but the Dolphins’ “franchise” QB looked shaky even on his completions.
Week Two started off looking like the same story. Tagovailoa was picked off on his first pass attempt of the day, a horrendous throw that was thankfully bailed out by offsetting penalties. Here’s where the script flipped: Tua had a very solid outing, that was, until the final two drives of the game. The Dolphins’ offense showed flashes of its former dominance, with Tua leading the unit down the field consistently, going 26-for-32 with 315 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. You may wonder why this question is being posed. That’s because Tua again failed to come through for the Dolphins when the game truly mattered.
The Dolphins and Patriots went back and forth all day, both teams exchanging long and electric special teams returns. Miami jumped out in front with a 74-yard punt return TD thanks to Malik Washington, while Antonio Gibson answered directly after with a 90-yard kickoff return. Tua took the field as Miami trailed 30-27, steadily leading the Dolphins down to midfield before the two-minute warning. On fourth-and-nine, Tagovailoa evaded pressure and delivered a pass right to the Patriots’ defense. This isn’t the first instance where Tagovailoa ended a meaningful Dolphins drive with an ugly turnover. During their 2023 playoff season, Miami gave the ball away in a brutal loss to the Titans, then again against the Bills with the AFC East on the line. There’s one question that can be left in the minds of all Dolphins fans: Is Tua Tagovailoa really going to be the guy that leads them to success?
