Fan Since the 70s
Active Roster
The bolded portions above are exactly what's in question with this team. The Dolphins were not behind to Tennessee, but make no mistake they were not playing a good game. They were largely gifted the lead by Tennessee's unforced errors. Despite that the rehearsed end zone celebrations ran rampant. Late in the fourth quarter -- when they had to get "serious when they needed to be" (noted above) -- they were overwhelmed to the tune of one of the most improbable losses in NFL history. They were 99.7% likely to win that game with four minutes left and lost it.No I don't think the basis of the '80's Redskins was fun and games. That was my point. Joe Gibbs let them have their choreographed fun when they scored, which was considered taboo at the time, but they were serious when they needed to be.
It's a different day and age is all I'm saying. If and when the Dolphins are doing choreographed crap when they're behind by 21, I will agree with you wholeheartedly. Believe me, I have my doubts about McDaniel as well just from his physical stature. How many of these guys actually respect him when he looks like someone they would regularly stuff into a locker during high school?
However, I have to give him his props so far. He's got the Dolphins to the playoffs 2 years in a row for the first time in over 20 years and he did it with what most regard as a below average OL and a defense devastated by injuries 2 years in a row (particularly the secondary in 2022 and the edge guys in 2023).
If that's the way you're playing in a critical game against an inferior opponent at home during a late-season push for the #1 playoff seed and home-field advantage, you have a culture problem. And it consists precisely of the inability to get "serious when they needed to be."
This for example was posted the day after that game: