Dolphins embarrassed with abysmal offensive performance in Monday night loss to Titans

MIAMI GARDENS — As the Miami Dolphins play a stretch of early-season games without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the season could easily be slipping away from them.

Already on their third starting quarterback in four games in 2024, homegrown product Tyler “Snoop” Huntley couldn’t provide much for a struggling offense, and the Dolphins dropped an embarrassing 31-12 decision to the Tennessee Titans on Monday night.

The Dolphins (1-3), against the same opponent as last December’s “Monday Night Football” blown-lead debacle, handed the Titans (1-3) their first win. Miami missed out on a chance to gain a game on the rest of the AFC East — as the Bills, Jets and Patriots all lost Sunday — against a previously winless opponent.

Worse yet, the Dolphins now worry about the status of standout edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who exited with a right knee injury after spending his offseason rehabbing a torn Achilles in the same leg.

Huntley, a Hallandale High alum, went 14 of 22 for 96 yards. He added 40 yards rushing with a late touchdown, one which snapped a Dolphins drought of 10 consecutive quarters without getting into the end zone.

Star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle were limited to eight combined catches for 59 yards. Hill was seen visibly frustrated on the sideline late in the game, amid a Miami scoring drive that saw three illegal shift penalties called, truly capturing the extent of the team’s struggles to operate, even in its one successful series.

It turned into a game of two backup quarterbacks early, as the Titans had starter Will Levis exit with a shoulder injury in the first quarter. No quarterback threw for 100 yards Monday, as Mason Rudolph managed the game for Tennessee, going 9 of 17 for 85 yards.

As Titans kicker Nick Folk converted five field goals, Tennessee pounded Miami on the ground. Tony Pollard had 88 yards rushing and a touchdown on 22 carries, and fellow tailback Tyjae Spears went for 39 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts.

The Dolphins had 184 total yards and were held under 100 deep into the second half.

An ugly game that saw the two teams muster five combined field goals deep into the third quarter finally had a touchdown with six minutes remaining in the third period. Spears took it in from 7 yards out after being set up by a 41-yard scamper from Pollard.

The 10-point lead, 16-6, felt nearly insurmountable at that point with the way the Dolphins offense was moving.

Another pair of Folk field goals, including a third from beyond 50 yards, made it a 16-point game before Miami finally got into the end zone with 3:36 remaining.

Huntley scored himself from a yard out, but the Dolphins failed on the ensuing 2-point try, which could’ve made it a one-possession game.

Huntley was later called for intentional grounding in the end zone for a safety. And Pollard scored in the final seconds to add to Tennessee’s winning margin.

The Dolphins turned a 9-3 deficit to 9-6 early in the second half off a boost from the defense and special teams.

Jason Sanders connected on a 56-yard field goal after a 27-yard punt return from Braxton Berrios that put Miami near field goal range, where one first down put the team within Sanders’ viable distance. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks came through for a big third-down sack to end the Titans’ previous series, when they were backed up in Dolphins territory.

The Titans took their 9-3 lead into halftime as Folk booted three long field goals in the first half, of 53, 52 and 47 yards, the last of which came as time expired in the first half.

The early going featured a pair of turnovers.

Dolphins outside linebacker dropped back in coverage on the edge, and Levis didn’t see him, throwing a quick short pass right at him. The football went off Ogbah’s chest and then was pinned between his knees before touching the ground as he was able to gain possession.

Miami, though, also turned it over on its opening drive. Huntley threw to Hill in the flat, and Hill dropped it. With the pass deemed backward by replay assist, with a clear recovery by the Titans’ Arden Key, it was a turnover for Miami.

The Dolphins now have a quick turnaround off the Monday night game, traveling to New England to face the Patriots on Sunday afternoon.

This story will be updated.