Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa put together another tremendous performance in the team’s Week 8 victory over the New England Patriots.
Tagovailoa completed 30 of his 45 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns in the 31-17 win, as he remains undefeated against future Hall of Fame coach Bill Belichick, with the Dolphins sweeping the Patriots in the 2023 regular season.
Despite the big numbers put up by Tagovailoa, he also had an interception and fumble, allowing the Patriots to keep the game competitive. His interception came in the first quarter on an incredibly poor throw which ended up in the hands of Patriots safety Kyle Dugger. New England made quick work of the short field and took a 7-0 lead.
Tagovailoa’s fumble came on the first play in the second half, setting up the Patriots deep in Miami territory. This time Vic Fangio’s defense stood tough and only allowed a field goal. However, the 38-yard make by rookie Chad Ryland cut Miami’s lead to 17-10, making it a one-score contest.
Despite the turnovers, Tagovailoa remained level-headed as Miami’s run game struggled to gain any momentum. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel discussed the improvement of Tagovailoa’s poise following critical mistakes during his postgame interview.
“He was able to make plays after being frustrated which has been one of the reasons he has had success,” said McDaniel. “He’s learned in such a short period of time how to be critical of yourself but not handcuff yourself as well. Because if you’re self-lashing for a series or a quarter, you’re not going to like the results of your play.”
Tagovailoa indeed didn’t allow these turnovers to make him conservative with his play. On the drive following the interception, it took him just six plays to lead the offense on a scoring drive, resulting in a 42-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to Tyreek Hill.
On the drive following the fumble, Tagovailoa led the Dolphins on a nine-play, 77-yard drive ending in a touchdown for Raheem Mostert from the goal line. Tagovailoa completed four out of five passes for 67 yards on that drive, as the Dolphins extended their lead to 24-10.
It’s encouraging to see Tagovailoa bounce back quickly from crucial mistakes which are oftentimes the reasons for a loss. New England was coming off a major upset of the Buffalo Bills the previous week, and another divisional win could have put the Patriots back in the mix for a playoff spot.
The MVP candidate Tagovailoa deserves credit for overcoming adversity and leading Miami’s offense to 31 points on a day where he had multiple unforced errors and a stagnant running game.
The Dolphins are headed to Germany for a Week 9 battle against quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. This game provides another chance for Tagovailoa and the Dolphins against great competition to show they’re contenders and not pretenders.
