The Miami Dolphins couldn’t have asked for a rougher start to their season, falling 33–8 on the road to the Indianapolis Colts in a game that exposed flaws on both sides of the ball. From the opening kickoff, the Dolphins looked overmatched, and by the time it was over, this performance ranked as the low point of the Mike McDaniel era.
Miami’s struggles began almost immediately. Guard James Daniels exited on the first drive with a pectoral injury, and moments later, Tua Tagovailoa overthrew Tyreek Hill for an interception. The Colts turned that mistake into points, capping off a long march with Jonathan Taylor powering through Miami’s front seven. Another turnover came shortly after when De’Von Achane whiffed on a blitz pickup, leading to a strip sack of Tagovailoa. Indianapolis didn’t hesitate, cashing in with a short touchdown run to push the lead to 17–0.
Things only got worse as the game went on. Miami’s defense failed to contain Daniel Jones, who looked poised and precise all afternoon. He completed 22 of 29 passes for 272 yards and a score, rarely pressured and never forced into a turnover. Tight end Tyler Warren emerged as a matchup nightmare, piling up seven receptions for 76 yards, while Michael Pittman Jr. added a wide-open touchdown catch that highlighted Miami’s busted coverage.
By halftime, the Colts were up 20–0 after another field goal, and the Dolphins had nothing to show for their offensive possessions. Tagovailoa’s nightmare continued in the second half, throwing directly into the arms of rookie pass rusher Laiatu Latu on a baffling interception. The Colts kept building, running for 156 yards as Taylor and the offensive line dictated the tempo, eventually stretching the score to 30–0.
Miami finally cracked the scoreboard in the fourth quarter, when Tagovailoa hit Achane on a screen for a late touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion. But it was far too late, and Indianapolis added one more field goal to finish the blowout at 33–8.
The stats told the story. Miami managed just 211 total yards compared to the Colts’ 418. Tagovailoa finished 14-of-23 for 114 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions, and a lost fumble, marking one of the worst outings of his career. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined for just 80 receiving yards, while Achane’s 55 rushing yards were a lone bright spot in an otherwise stagnant ground game.
Defensively, Miami was bullied up front and couldn’t generate pressure, registering just a single sack all game. The secondary was leaky, the tackling inconsistent, and the Colts scored on every drive until garbage time.
It was a humbling day for a team with playoff ambitions, and now the Dolphins will have to regroup quickly before hosting the New England Patriots in Week 2.
Check out LifeWalletSports.com to get connected with all of our NIL athletes and partnered brands
