Dolphins' Mike McDaniel talks losing road games in playoff atmospheres

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel believes his team can take positives from dropping two road games played in playoff-like atmospheres this fall. 

"It was a very important thing," McDaniel said about the club's latest experience after the Dolphins fell to 5-2 via Sunday's 31-17 defeat at the Philadelphia Eagles (6-1), per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "I kind of knew that going into the game that it was going to be that type of atmosphere and I think that’s very important for our team being on the younger side to experience. Those are critical. You have to feel what it’s like to play such a good team on the road. Your margin for error is so small, and it’s an important building block along your progression for the season, you know. If you’re going to lose games, you want it to be against a really good team, and you want it to hurt." 

The Dolphins tied Sunday's game 17-17 thanks to a pick-six that occurred with 4:02 to play in the third quarter but then couldn't keep Philadelphia star wide receiver A.J. Brown out of the end zone before the period expired. Miami's Tua Tagovailoa later threw an awful interception in the fourth quarter, and the Eagles subsequently put the game to bed with another touchdown. 

McDaniel's Dolphins lost a road playoff game at the Buffalo Bills when Tagovailoa was out injured this past January and more recently suffered a 48-20 defeat at Buffalo's Highmark Stadium in Week 4 of the current campaign. The coach suggested Sunday night his team will bounce back beginning with this coming Sunday's home contest against the 2-5 New England Patriots.

"The collection of coaches and players in the locker room right now are hurting because they feel like they left some plays on the field for sure," McDaniel continued. "You know, losses, if approached the right way, if you’re not pointing fingers and you’re looking internally, can be a good thing too."

As of early Monday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the Dolphins as the betting favorites at -155 odds to claim the AFC East title and at least one home playoff game. The defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are currently on track to earn home-field advantage throughout the postseason tournament, though, meaning McDaniel and company would have to notch at least one road win in a hostile environment to complete a trip to Super Bowl LIX if the season ended today. 

Miami and Kansas City play against each other in Frankfurt on Nov. 5.