Tyreek Hill praises Mike McDaniel after debut victory

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel JIM RASSOL/THE PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK

Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill praises HC Mike McDaniel after debut victory

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 9/12/22

The Miami Dolphins opened the 2022 NFL regular season with an impressive 20-7 home win over the New England Patriots in the team debuts of head coach Mike McDaniel and star wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

Hill led his new team with eight receptions for 94 yards against the Patriots, and McDaniel quickly became a fan favorite when he elected to keep his offense on the field for a fourth-down gamble late in the second quarter. That decision resulted in a 42-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

Three patriots in the area. None make the tackle.

Fourth down gamble. It’s 17-0 Miami.

Everything’s going the Dolphins’ way. @abc6 #foreverne #nevsmia pic.twitter.com/3xtosi7CV7
— Ian Steele (@IanSteeleABC6) September 11, 2022

Hill addressed his coach's call while speaking with reporters after the victory.

"He’s got a lot of cojones," Hill remarked about the fourth-down play, per Jenna Lemoncelli of the New York Post.

Mike McDaniel is going to need a wheelbarrow for WHAT?!

Tyreek Hill talks about the gutsy decision to go on 4th down at the end of the second quarter (a touchdown). pic.twitter.com/5pdN7hUBDO
— Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis) September 11, 2022

Meanwhile, McDaniel gave all of the praise to his players after he was awarded the ceremonial game ball.

"So, I didn’t do s---," McDaniel said. "If you want to get me emotional, guys it means the world to me… all the buildup. I’m so proud. We could feel it during the game, things weren’t necessarily going the way that we wanted to, but we didn’t crack, we were complementary."

"I am just so proud of you."

Go inside the locker room after our week one win! pic.twitter.com/MZL8Nnpgpo
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 11, 2022

The 1-0 Dolphins next play at the 1-0 Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 Sunday. Baltimore smashed the New York Jets 24-9 on Sunday in a game that wasn't even as close as the score suggests.

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