Dolphins in free fall to start season after loss to Titans on Monday night

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Mike McDaniel looked like a deer in headlights when cameras spotted the third-year Miami Dolphins coach.

While starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa paced the sideline and remained on injured reserve for the second straight day because of his concussion in Week 2, the Dolphins were busy inserting their third backup quarterback in two weeks.

It didn't matter how hard McDaniel stared at his play call sheet, he had no answer offensively. To make matters worse for him, the Titans faced similar odds.

But Tennessee's first-year coach Brian Callahan and backup quarterback Mason Rudolph didn't shy away when starter Will Levis suffered a right shoulder injury on a first down in the first quarter.

It was Titans 31, Dolphins 12 in the “Monday Night Football” game that you probably didn't watch because there was a better game to watch or live stream.

McDaniel and the Dolphins entered the season after two straight playoff losses and were hoping to take the next step together. They thought they had a Super Bowl window. But the reality is that window was slammed shut when these two teams met in Week 14 on “Monday Night Football” last season.

Tennessee scored two touchdowns with 2:40 remaining in the finale last year to beat Miami in a game that ended the Dolphins' chances of winning the AFC East and handed them a playoff loss in frigid Kansas City.

This year's contest just confirmed how far the Dolphins are from a year ago – when they scored 70 points against the Denver Broncos in Week 3 – and how far they are from playoff aspirations for the third straight year.

Tagovailoa is on the line until Week 8, and there's no telling how low the Dolphins' season will sink by the time he returns.

It's not like starting quarterback Tyler Huntley didn't try to just throw it deep to star receiver Tyreek Hill. But the first time he didn't throw it far enough and the second time he threw it just a little far. That was it.

Huntley scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 3:36 left and threw an interception on the two-point conversion. He was the Dolphins' leading rusher with 40 yards.

Hill had four catches for 23 yards and a fumble that was lost on the first drive of the game. Starting running back De'Von Achane had 18 total yards and No. 2 receiver Jaylen Waddle had 36 yards on four catches.

The Dolphins had 40 plays and 84 net yards with 10:45 left in the game and finished the game with 169 total yards after their fourth quarter score.

McDaniel also didn't show much creativity, unlike Callahan's game-winning call that resulted in a touchdown.

Titans backup running back Tyjae Spears lined up in shotgun formation. There was a fake handoff to Tony Pollard who was stuck in traffic. And then a juke and 7-yard run by Spears into the end zone with six minutes left in the third quarter.

Pollard scored a 3-yard touchdown with 24 seconds left to cap the Titans' night.

Callahan and the Titans improve to 2-2 after responding to adversity, with Levis' shoulder an issue they will have to address another day.

Meanwhile, just a month into the 2024 season, McDaniel and the Dolphins are in free fall looking for answers.

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