The Miami Dolphins benched rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in favor of wily veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick during Week 16’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night.
With playoff implications hanging in the balance, Dolphins head coach Brian Flores opted for Fitzpatrick’s superior experience to give the offense a spark. It marks the second time Tagovailoa has been benched in a game this season.
Naturally, social media had some thoughts on the matter, as Fitzpatrick wound up tapping into his trademark Fitzmagic to lead the team to three scores and a truly stunning 26-25 victory.
It’s difficult to figure out how Flores is making this work so well. During the NFL Network telecast, it was said Fitzpatrick and Tagovailoa haven’t divided the locker room, and that the players support both field generals fully.
The most logical explanation is that Fitzpatrick has the savvy and football IQ at this point in his career to give the Dolphins juice. Unfortunately for Tagovailoa, that means swallowing his pride and riding the pine while he learns the NFL game.
This doesn’t mean Miami is giving up on Tua as the long-term answer under center. It’s more a matter of Fitzpatrick giving a playoff contender a superior chance to win right now in 2020.
Oh, and there was some real Fitzmagic happening Saturday night. Despite getting facemasked while he released a deep ball on the Fins’ final possession, Fitzpatrick completed a 34-yard pass to Mack Hollins down the left sideline. The Checkdown provided the crazy footage:
They don't call him Fitzmagic for nothin' @MiamiDolphins
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) December 27, 2020
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/O0XrfCTL52
With a 15-yard penalty tacked on, suddenly the Dolphins were in field goal range. Jason Sanders hit the game-winner from 44 yards away, just after Derek Carr and the Raiders drove for a go-ahead kick, leaving only 19 seconds on the clock.
Apparently that was too much time for Fitzpatrick to pull something out of his magic hat. He wound up completing nine of 13 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown in the final quarter.
Dread him. Run from him. Fitzmagic still arrives. pic.twitter.com/0sMkMCrvUL
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 27, 2020
“U up?” – the Dolphins to Ryan Fitzpatrick
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) December 27, 2020
The Dolphins have pressed the emergency Fitzmagic button pic.twitter.com/qLpHFyErvP
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 27, 2020
Coach Flores: “Make no mistake about it…Tua’s our guy. We’re just going to put Fitzpatrick in at the end of any game we have a chance to win for the next 10 years.”
— Cousin Sal (@TheCousinSal) December 27, 2020
#Raiders defense after Fitzpatrick lights up their defense #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/cnz7ZVZwsP
— Kuzma’s Hair Sylist (@elmomanifesto) December 27, 2020
All it took was Fitzpatrick showing up to make this game awesome.
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) December 27, 2020
Brian Flores coach of the year in my opinion. Understanding the pulse of the team understanding where Fitzpatrick is better than tua and still providing tua quality reps in his rookie season.. Whatever it takes to win and make the playoffs #brilliant
— Charles Woodson (@CharlesWoodson) December 27, 2020
It’s fair to say that the #Dolphins clearly need some WR reinforcements and that it can be part of the problem. But it’s also fair to say that Tua just hasn’t been as impressive as other rookie QBs thus far.
— Doug Moore (@DMooreNFL) December 27, 2020
He’s been pulled twice this season for Fitzpatrick. Not a good sign.
At this point I’m convinced Ryan Fitzpatrick stays in the league long enough to hold Arch Manning’s clipboard, then replace Arch to come from behind in a must-win game
— James Holzhauer (@James_Holzhauer) December 27, 2020
This turned into a 34-yard completion. We have reached the pinnacle of Mt. Fitzpatrick. pic.twitter.com/MgDjIpS5jH
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) December 27, 2020
Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins come back to win vs. the Raiders, 26-25 ✨ pic.twitter.com/CENlQW4fA2
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 27, 2020
Dude Ryan Fitzpatrick strikes again. Drunkest game of the week guarunteed. What a legend.
— hydrated king chris long (@JOEL9ONE) December 27, 2020
Santa Clause has a beard. Fitzpatrick has a beard. Santa Clause is Ryan Fitzpatrick! #FinsUP https://t.co/dzFed7KioI
— DolphinsTalk.com (@DolphinsTalk) December 27, 2020
There is no playbook for how to handle a rookie QB. But #Dolphins coach Brian Flores continues to make the right calls. FitzMagic for the win, while Tua watches and learns. Miami stays alive in a thriller while the #Raiders… don’t.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 27, 2020
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