Dolphins’ Face Harsh Reality After Crushing Week One Loss
The Miami Dolphins are heading into the second week of their 2025 NFL season with far more questions than answers.
NFL Writer Doug Farrar, of Athlon Sports, did not hold back in his latest column.
He painted a grim picture for the 2025 Miami Dolphins after just one game into the season.
Farrar makes note of the loss the Dolphins were handed by the Indianapolis Colts, and how this is far greater than just a one-week stumble.
In fact, Farrar highlights that Miami’s season may already be lost before it truly began.
Dolphins Struggle Against Colts
With a crushing loss to the Colts on Sunday, the Dolphins put out a questionable product on the field that some had predicted long before the season began.
The Dolphins’ offense struggled mightily, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at the center of it.
Tagovailoa completed 14 of 23 passes for 114 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
That isn’t getting it done for a quarterback that at one time was among the league’s elite at passing the football.
In addition, Doug Farrar wrote that this once high-octane, pass-efficient Dolphins offense, was all but that.
“It continued one of the NFL’s great dichotomies — how can the Dolphins have a quarterback this incapable of throwing deep consistently, when they also have the best deep receiver of his generation in Tyreek Hill, not to mention 2021 first-round pick Jaylen Waddle, and free-agent acquisition Nick Westbrook-Ikhine? Three great deep receivers and no great deep passing quarterback is a recipe for frustration,” wrote Farrar.
Moreover, Farrar continued to note that the Dolphins’ defense was unable to provide any relief.
“As it was, the Dolphins became the first team in the NFL in at least 47 years (since 1978) to allow scores on every opponent drive. It was good for Mike McDaniel’s team that the Colts only had seven drives.”
With the Dolphins having their fair share of turmoil on the defensive side of the ball, their week one showing was all but positive.
“That was the defense, which somehow made Daniel Jones look like an unholy combination of Johnny Unitas, Bert Jones, and Andrew Luck all at once,” wrote Farrar.
Farrar Notes Miami Had This Coming
In his column, Farrar indicates that the Dolphins had this coming all along, highlighting the signs of dysfunction that have lingered on in Miami.
The Tyreek Hill saga continues to swirl.
Some reports suggested Hill wanted out of Miami, while other moments show him standing fully behind his quarterback and coach.
That kind of uncertainty adds to the noise.
On top of that, the Dolphins made a questionable choice in trading cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
A move that left uncertainty in the secondary, which was noticeable on Sunday.
And it didn’t stop there.
Farrar continued to add to the long list of issues surrounding the Dolphins.
“Multiple players have said off and on the record that the 2024 team did not show the effort and focus required for success. That put the onus directly on head coach Mike McDaniel, who has lost most if not all of the juice he had as an offensive genius and original thinker back when the team hired the former San Francisco 49ers run game coordinator and offensive coordinator before the 2022 season.”
It is clear that the loss Miami suffered on Sunday, holds more weight under the surface.
Looking ahead, the Dolphins don’t have time to sulk.
The NFL doesn’t wait.
Farrar’s words ring truth and a potential reality the Dolphins must face.
Can Miami fight back, or are they headed for another grim season?
Broncos HC Sean Payton Praises Legend After Historic Milestone
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton moved up the coaching ranks in Week 1, and he surpassed a franchise legend to do it.
The Broncos beat the Tennessee Titans, logging a historic victory over rookie No. 1 overall draft pick and quarterback Cam Ward. With that, Payton earned his 171st regular-season victory, good for the 19th most in NFL history.
Payton overtook legendary Broncos HC Mike Shanahan in the process.
Broncos HC Sean Payton Reacts to Passing Mike Shanahan on Regular Season Wins List
GettyDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on during a game against the Tennessee Titans.
Payton spoke candidly about the milestone after Denver’s 20-12 win that was also his 19th as Broncos head coach.
“There’s certain times where you feel age. When I see good friends, they stay the same. When you see your good friends’ children growing up, you feel age. And you guys have heard me say before, I grew up on Mike Shanahan going to school at Eastern Illinois. At that time, he was the one guy that made it out, and made it into the NFL,” Payton told reporters via teleconference on September 8. “He’s been a tremendous close friend and, I would say, confidant. So, when I hear that, you don’t pay attention to that.
“I don’t know where that master list is, and it’s not something you look at. It’s kind of like, ‘All right.’ But it does put in perspective, maybe, how fortunate, how long the career has been. And then, how many good players I’ve been able to coach. And look, let’s hope I have a chance to win a second Super Bowl like Mike Shanahan. ”
Payton could end the 2025 season 11th on the all-time coaching wins list, overtaking Chuck Knox, but that would require an undefeated season from the Broncos. If the Broncos match last season’s win total, Payton could get as high as 13th.
To do that, Payton would have to pass to active coaches Pete Caroll of the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens HC John Harbaugh.
Payton also passed another legend and two-time champ, Tom Coughlin, in the Broncos’ victory.
Sean Payton: Mike Shanahan ‘Going in Hall of Fame’
GettyMike Shanahan of the Denver Broncos motions on the field during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Shanahan is still the Broncos’ all-time winningest coach, and Payton sees more accolades on the way for his “close friend.”
“This is his year. This year, the next year, very soon, he’s going in the Hall of Fame,” Payton said. “Probably should have been in two, three years back. But that’s coming real quick. And so, something like that is – I think you reflect on it more than you focus on it.”
Perhaps Payton can pay tribute to Shanahan by emulating his Super Bowl run as he wishes.
Shanahan notched the Broncos’ first two Super Bowl wins, getting them in back-to-back seasons in 1997 and 1998.
Shanahan is still the Broncos’ all-time winningest coach.
Payton has been open about talking about reaching the Super Bowl with the 2025 Broncos, citing them among his previous title-contending teams. Fittingly, Shanahan has been vocal in support of that idea.
“They’ve got a chance to win the big one, and that’s what their goal is,” Shanahan said, per Tomasson on September 6.
Payton and the Broncos’ next test will be on the road against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2.
