Tua Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards for the Dolphins last season. He appears to have an early lead in 2024 as well, in passing yards and leadership.
“It was one of those deals where we just needed to get our head out of ass,” he said following the game, via @FinsXtra. “That was it. It was, ‘OK, yeah, we’re just going to come out here, it’s hot; these dudes are probably going to give up a little.’ No, we got punched in the mouth, and that’s what you get.”
The Jaguars got Tagovailoa’s best after that halftime speech. He threw for 338 yards and a touchdown, an 80-yard strike to Tyreek Hill late in the third quarter that cut Miami’s deficit to 17-14. The quarterback then orchestrated a pair of fourth-quarter scoring drives to set up Miami’s walk-off, 20-17 win over Jacksonville. The Dolphins didn’t take for granted the play of its special teams in that fourth quarter, punctuated by Jason Sanders’ 52-yard field goal with no time remaining.
It was an important step toward erasing the narrative that has plagued Miami, the inability to beat quality opponents.
“That game we don’t win the last two years,” head coach Mike McDaniel said following the contest, via Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. McDaniel added that Jevon Holland’s forced fumble with Travis Etienne heading to the end zone was likely the play of the game. Jacksonville would’ve taken a 24-7 lead with just over two minutes left in the third quarter.
Tagovailoa, according to Hill, didn’t just let his play do his talking. He demanded accountability from his locker room with Miami down 17-7 at halftime.
Hill overcame an eventful morning to post 130 yards on seven receptions, including a timely celebration after his touchdown. Jaylen Waddle (five catches, 109 yards) also topped 100, including a critical 13-yard reception on the team’s game-winning drive.