Miami Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa lose to Patriots: The Tape Don’t Lie, a review

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins are 0-2 after a 33-27 loss to the New England Patriots in their 2025 home opener at Hard Rock Stadium.

Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, DeVon Achane and Malik Washington had their moments, but in the end, Miami came up short.

The Dolphins defense gave up 33 points for a second consecutive game and once again could not get off the field on third downs.

Many coaches believe “The Tape Don’t Lie,” and that list includes Dolphins coach McDaniel.

“The game tape survives time,” McDaniel says.

Some good moments for Tua Tagovailoa, but troubling ones, too

Tua Tagovailoa’s statistical line would have been marred if a first-quarter interception wasn’t overturned due to offsetting penalties. Tua either isn’t seeing the field as well as he usually does and/or doesn’t have the velocity on some passes that he’s had in the past. Neither is great.

One thing Tua will likely always have is touch. His corner route pass to Jaylen Waddle for a touchdown was elite. And credit to Miami’s offensive linemen on that play for creating a safe pocket.

Mike McDaniel suggested Tua’s under-throw on a 47 yard completion to Tyreek Hill was somewhat by design. Tua conceded he’s told Tyreek he’s not going to throw it 80 yards. It is what it is. No, Tua does not have a cannon, but he did actually still throw that ball pretty far.

Tua’s understandable desire to avoid contact and to avoid running if at all possible would be a detriment to any offense. It just is. Now, the Dolphins want Tua to protect himself and he is. But it does put some limitations and damper on the offense.

Tua made a few impressive throws, particularly on outs. But he also made some unexpectedly inaccurate throws. That has been the case in the first two games. At times he’s seemed tentative, unsure and maybe even a little skittish.

On the final third down of the game, Tua simply runs out of bounds instead of taking a shot for Jaylen Waddle, who was running toward the sideline in his line of sight, or turning upfield to run for it.

On Tua’s fourth down interception late in the fourth quarter it seemed he did not see a floating linebacker.

Tua overthrew a wide open Tyreek on a critical fourth-quarter throw. He’s just been sailing some passes. Why?

Sep 14, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) looks for a passing option against the New England Patriots during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Miami’s defense once again not nearly good enough

Tight ends are going to destroy Miami’s defense in the middle of the field all season if they do not tighten up their zone coverages.

Rookie cornerback Jason Marshall appears to move toward the middle of the field, biting on play-action, as Patriots receiver Mack Hollins was about to beat him toward the corner of an end zone for a touchdown. When you play a lot of young players, these things are going to happen.

The Dolphins are going to need rookie defensive tackle Kenneth Grant to emerge pretty quickly as an impactful member of the trenches, particularly against the run. It’s coming along slowly. Slowly.

Tyrel Dodson leads the Dolphins with 4 missed tackles in the first two games, according to PFF. He does have a team-leading 12 stops. But he’s graded only 43.8 in pass coverage. His play can be better.

Jaelan Phillips just missed on a sack after a clean defeat of the Patriots left tackle and that led up to a huge third-quarter passing play from Drake Maye.

The Dolphins defense struggled with runs up the middle and short passes in the middle. You know how they talk about strength up the middle in baseball? Yeah, hasn’t happened for these Dolphins.

Sep 14, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) carries the football against Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler (92) during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

De’Von Achane is the most electric player on the Dolphins offense right now. He is also the player most likely to take short pass and turn it into a huge gainer. Even more than Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle.
Just before halftime, Achane showed once again he has the surprising strength to power his way into the end zone when that mighty might power is called upon.
Rookie guard Jonah Savaiianaea has a long way to go. Considering his physical tools, it seems he’s been too easily defeated at times by quickness as well as power. It’s early. He’s a rookie. He’s growing. But it’s a little bit concerning. Is he having a hard transition from the right side of the line in college to the left side in the pros?
Whatever it is Ollie Gordon has to get down in terms of alignment and assignment, Miami needs him to do it ASAP. And there were clearly mistakes against the Patriots, including a dead-ball fourth-quarter penalty. But Miami could really, really use the emotional lift from OG’s combination of size, speed and power. They need him to figure it out soon.
Linebacker Willie Gay, Jr. had only a few snaps but made big plays and needs to be on the field more, starting Thursday night at Buffalo. It’s been all bad mojo and energy for Miami and Gay is all about positive mojo and energy. He plays with a fire in his belly and Miami needs more of that.
Let’s see a few more of those packages with Chop Robinson joining Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb on the field at the same time.
Ollie Gordon has a nice late block on Malik Washington’s punt return touchdown.
Matthew Judon, Cam Goode and K.J. Britt were among the Dolphins who appeared to have a shot on the Patriots kickoff return touchdown. Ifeatu Melifonwu may have had a shot at an angle but pulled up lame.

Jonah Savaiianaea and right tackle Larry Borom were beaten for a critical sack on third down late in the fourth quarter.
On the final offensive play of the game for Miami, a fourth down, Kion Smith is beaten by Milton Williams for a sack.
If De’Von Achane doesn’t step out of bounds at the Patriots 26 near the very end of the game, and he scores a touchdown, the entire narrative of the game, the season and the state of the franchise is slightly or perhaps more-than-slightly altered this week. But Achane did, in fact, step out of bounds.

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Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins’ The Tape Don’t Lie: Dolphins OL and D struggle again