Since 2002, there have been only three NFL teams that failed to score more than 13 points in any of their first four games:
— The 2004 Miami Dolphins
— The 2019 Miami Dolphins
They can’t score yet, and as such, they can’t win yet either.
asserted
they → fail → games
And while it’s no secret that this Dolphins season is about setting the team up for better days in 2027 and beyond, first-year coach Jeff Hafley — to his credit — isn’t waiting until next year to want improvement.
asserted
Hafley → ’ → improvement
He craves it now, even with his team off to a 0-4 start after a 15-10 loss at Minnesota on Sunday.
asserted
team → crave → Sunday
“We’ll get there,” Hafley said after Sunday’s game.
asserted
Hafley → get → game
“And don’t get me wrong, guys.
asserted
me → get → ?
I’m not happy.
asserted
I → ’m → ?
I want to win the game and I think you can sense that, right?
asserted
you → want → that
Do I need to do better?
asserted
I → need → ?
Do we all?
asserted
we → do → ?
We had a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter, and that needs to be the next step.”
asserted
that → have → quarter
Miami’s 85 passing yards was the franchise’s lowest in a game since it managed 55 on Dec. 10, 2010 — and the Dolphins actually beat the New York Jets that day.
asserted
Dolphins → manage → Jets
(In fairness, the Dolphins’ total against the Vikings would have been 153 if a 68-yard touchdown pass by Malik Willis didn’t come off the board because receiver Chris Bell stepped out of bounds by maybe an inch, at the most, before making that catch.)
asserted
Bell → come → catch
But that’s how slim the margin is right now for the Dolphins.
asserted
margin → ’ → Dolphins
If Bell’s shoe was one size smaller, who knows what would have happened.
asserted
what → know → ?
“You hate the feeling of continuing to get better without actually gaining wins on the win column,” Willis said.
asserted
Willis → hate → column
“But as we see, we’re going out there and competing. ...
asserted
we → see → ?
There’s no question that the guys are getting better.
asserted
guys → ’ → ?
We’re getting better as a team and as a unit.
asserted
We → get → unit
And I think we’ve just got to continue to grow and learn.”
asserted
we → think → ?
For those who prefer all the gloom and doom, there are tons of numbers: the 0-4 record, the NFL-worst 11.5 points per game, the loss of top running back De’Von Achane for the season to a torn ACL and the fact that the Dolphins are the only team in the NFL to not hold a lead for a single second this season.
asserted
Dolphins → prefer → second
The rookie linebacker had 18 tackles Sunday, the most by a first-year Miami player since that stat began officially being tracked in 1994.
asserted
stat → have → 1994
The previous Miami rookie mark was by Zach Thomas, who had 16 against Arizona in 1996.
asserted
who → have → 1996
Miami didn’t allow a touchdown — Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson passed one up in the final seconds to run out the clock — and the defense had what appeared to be its best outing of the season.
asserted
what → allow → season
Hafley lauded Rodriguez afterward.
asserted
Hafley → laud → Rodriguez
“For him to lead our defense in a place like this and give up 15 points, I think that’s really, really hard and it’s really impressive,” Hafley said.
asserted
Hafley → lead → points
“He just keeps getting better and better, but it doesn’t surprise me because it’s the way he works and prepares.”
asserted
he → keep → me
What’s working
There’s been a bend-but-don’t-break trend on the defensive side over the last seven quarters.
asserted
working → work → quarters
Miami allowed touchdowns on both of Kansas City’s first two drives in Week 3 — and has given up just one TD in 16 possessions (excluding a kneel-down) to the Chiefs and Vikings since.
asserted
Miami → allow → Chiefs
What needs help
asserted
needs → need → help
It’s tough to score in the NFL and tougher to score when you don’t have the football.
asserted
you → ’ → football
Miami was 2 for 9 on third-down opportunities against the Vikings and ran only 37 plays.
asserted
Miami → run → plays
Minnesota ran 72 and enjoyed a 2-to-1 differential in time of possession.
asserted
Minnesota → run → possession
RB Ollie Gordon had Miami’s lone touchdown, broke off a 53-yard scamper and finished with 100 yards on just nine carries.
asserted
Gordon → have → carries
With Achane out, the Dolphins need much more of that.
asserted
Dolphins → need → that
The defense, on a day when there was a lot of good, just didn’t have an answer for Hockenson.
asserted
defense → be → Hockenson
The Vikings threw his way 13 times — and he made 13 catches for 119 yards.
asserted
he → throw → yards
The Dolphins lost CB Reese Taylor in the second quarter to a quad injury.
Key number
15-1 — That’s the combined record of Miami’s first four opponents.
asserted
That → lose → opponents
Up next
The Dolphins return home Sunday to take on Cincinnati (2-2), in a game that precedes a bye week for both clubs.
asserted
that → return → clubs
The Aporia
