Early Tests For Tua And The Fins

By : Mike Rifkin

The 2022 NFL schedule was released Thursday night and the first four games for the Miami Dolphins could tell us what way the season can go. The four games are at home vs the division rivals New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills, at Baltimore Ravens, and at the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals on a Thursday night. 

Last season the Dolphins ended the season the same way it started with a victory over the New England Patriots. It was the first time since 2000 that the Dolphins swept their division rivals. In the two meetings Patriots quarterback Mac Jones 71.0 completion percentage, 542 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a 63.3 completion percentage, 311 yards two touchdowns and an interception. In the two meetings the Dolphins defense forced three turnovers. Any team coached by Bill Bellichick will be difficult to defeat.

In the two meetings last season the Bills outscored the Dolphins 61-11 including a 35-0 shutout in Miami. Bills quarterback Josh Allen in eight games against Miami 63.2 completion percentage, 1,980 yards (247.5 average per game) 21 touchdowns, five interceptions and a passer rating 106.8. Tua in three games against the Bills has a 56.4 completion percentage, 579 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. Last season the Bills had the number one defense in the NFL so it will be a difficult task to beat them. But if the Dolphins want to be taken as a serious competitor in the AFC East they have to split the series with the Bills.

The second game of the Dolphins seven game winning streak last season was a 22-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens. The Dolphins defense was sensational in that game forcing two turnovers including a fumble return for a touchdown and four sacks of Lamar Jackson. Defense also held Baltimore who averaged 145.8 rushing yards per game to 94. Tagovailoa replaced Jacoby Brissett who started and threw for 158 yards and had a rushing touchdown. 

Then there are the Bengals who were the AFC Champions. The Dolphins last played the Bengals in 2020 and won 19-7. Joe Burrow didn’t play in that game due to his torn ACL. Tagovailoa threw for 296 yards and a touchdown in the victory. The Bengals biggest need this offseason was their offensive line and they added to it bringing in Ted Karras from the Patriots, Alex Cappa from the Buccaneers, and La’el Collins from the Cowboys to protect their franchise quarterback. 

The first four games the Dolphins will play will be three quarterbacks who will definitely be in the MVP conversation and the other game they will be playing the greatest coach in NFL history. If the Dolphins want to be in the conversation for the playoffs it is important that they at least start 2-2. The pressure is on Tua Tagovailoa and new coach Mike Mcdaniel early this season.