‘It Was Ugly in All the Ways Miami’s Doubters Feared’: Dolphins Get Grim Take After Week 1 Loss

Defensively, Miami was unable to contain Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, who had a standout game with 272 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Miami’s inability to stop the Colts’ offense highlighted weaknesses in their defensive scheme, raising questions about their readiness for the season. The absence of key players and questionable coaching decisions also contributed to the defensive breakdown.

The loss has ignited discussions about the future of head coach Mike McDaniel, who is under pressure to deliver results after a disappointing previous season. Many fans are already speculating about potential changes if the team does not quickly turn things around. The franchise’s lack of urgency in addressing their weaknesses could make this season particularly challenging.

NFL Analysis Drops Grim Take on Miami Dolphins After Week 1 Loss

Miami’s Week 1 loss to the Colts may have started the ball rolling when it comes to their potential position in the 2026 Draft. This is detailed more in an analysis by Dan Graziano for ESPN.

Again, I didn’t enter the season expecting Miami to be one of the NFL’s worst teams. But a lot of people did, and I’ve certainly been wrong before. It’s possible the defense never gets fully healthy and looks this vulnerable all season. It’s possible Tagovailoa keeps struggling, though he has generally played well under Mike McDaniel when healthy. This program might never rediscover the promise it showed in 2022 and 2023, when the Dolphins made the playoffs in McDaniel’s first two seasons.

It’s important to note that Tagovailoa has $54 million in fully guaranteed money in 2026 and will almost certainly still be the Dolphins’ starter at least through that season (if healthy). But if this season bottoms out and the Dolphins are picking at or near the top of what’s thought to be a QB-rich draft, it’s not a huge leap to expect them to think about the future at that position.

Despite the grim outlook, there were brief moments of promise, such as a late touchdown that offered a glimmer of hope. However, the overall performance left little room for optimism, as the team must now regroup and address critical issues before their next game.

Miami’s opening game highlighted the significant hurdles it faces this season. As they seek to bounce back from this disappointing start, the team will need to make swift adjustments on both sides of the ball if they hope to meet the expectations set during the offseason.