Tyreek Hill believes Dolphins can learn from loss to Chiefs: 'We just can't be a bunch of front-runners'

Miami was held to a season-low seven points in Saturday night’s wild-card loss to Kansas City, but the Dolphins are putting their best foot forward despite the disappointing exit.

Star wide receiver Tyreek Hill believes the Dolphins have the right core of players to reach their Super Bowl aspirations, but they have lessons to learn from the 26-7 defeat. 

Hill expressed his belief to reporters after the game, as per the team transcript, that this team has what it takes to win if they united again. He mentioned they have all the necessary elements for success, pointing out the improvement in the defense. He stressed the importance of the offense being able to effectively execute drives to support the defense, and not just lead from the front. Hill is optimistic that they will learn from this experience and make improvements for the next year.

Playing in one of the coldest games ever recorded in an NFL game, the high-powered Dolphins offense was put on ice. Miami mustered just 264 yards of total offense, struggled to move the chains (1 of 12 on third-down conversions) and failed to see a red-zone possession against the Chiefs. 

Tua Tagovailoa couldn’t overcome a slow start that included a second-quarter interception which led to Kansas City securing a 10-0 lead. Without an effective rushing attack at his side, Tagovailoa was constantly under duress (two sacks, 16 pressures), seemed hesitant to throw the ball downfield and finished with a season-low 51.3 completion percentage (20-of-39 passing for 199 yards).

Hill, the scorer of Miami’s only touchdown on a 53-yard throw by Tagovailoa, attributes the disruption of the Dolphins’ offensive rhythm to Chiefs’ cornerbacks.

“Hill acknowledged that they did well in engaging us at the line of scrimmage. He also mentioned that Chiefs Defensive Coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, instructs his corners not to stress about anything over the top because they have safety backup, and the defensive backs effectively engage the fast players. Hill applauded their technique and sound play, particularly the physical corners. He gave special mention to Sneed, McDuffie, and others for their excellent work.”

The Dolphins’ offensive struggles on Saturday night were actually an extension of the difficulties they faced towards the end of the season. Their 2023 campaign concluded with a three-game losing streak. During this period, Tagovailoa had a passer rating of 66.5, a significant drop from his 105.4 rating in the first 15 games. Miami’s latest performances were a stark contrast to their earlier offense, which had led the NFL in terms of yards per game (401.3) and passing yards per game (265.5), and was second in points per game (29.2).

Tagovailoa characterized the 2023 season as one filled with many highs and lows. He noted that several team members who began the season with them weren’t able to see it through to the end due to various injuries. Despite these challenges, he insisted that the team would not resort to using them as a justification for any shortcomings. Underscoring the fluctuating nature of the year, he simply described it as a season of ‘ups and downs’.

In 2023, Tagovailoa had an exceptional season, achieving career-best results with 4,624 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, 388 completions, and a completion percentage of 69.3. These outstanding performances led to his first Pro Bowl nomination. The 25-year-old demonstrated his ability to efficiently and reliably manage Mike McDaniel’s innovative offense. This was highlighted by his participation in all 17 games of the season, a significant improvement from the previous year when injuries sidelined him for five matches, including Miami’s postseason game.

As Tagovailoa approaches the final year of his rookie contract in 2024, the stakes will heighten. However, when questioned about any increased pressure due to his breakout season ending on a disappointing note, the Dolphins quarterback remained self-assured. He voiced his wish to leverage the positive progress achieved so far.

“He stated, “I’m not under any pressure whatsoever. I have complete confidence in my abilities. I trust entirely in what I can contribute to our organization. However, our current focus is on tonight’s events. We will take time to digest this and determine how we can learn and improve for the coming year.”