Mike McDaniel Says Only Positive After 33-8 Loss Is There’s Nowhere to Go But Up
After a season-opening meltdown in Indianapolis, the Dolphins coach called the defeat 'embarrassing' but said the team remained intact and is focused on correcting course for Week 2.
Mike McDaniel said the one bright spot after Miami’s season-opening 33-8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts is a simple, if stark, one: it cannot get any worse.
The Dolphins were overwhelmed on the road Sunday in a performance McDaniel called “embarrassing flat out,” surrendering three touchdowns to Daniel Jones and failing to score until the fourth quarter when Tua Tagovailoa threw a touchdown pass and the team completed a two-point conversion.
“I would say the good news and the positive is I don’t see how it could be worse,” McDaniel said Monday. “And I also believe in the coaches and players to get it fixed because it’s just a shame. You work behind the scenes for months on end, and you don’t show any of it — it’s frustrating. But that can be a good thing and that’s what I saw from the positive. Also, you could tell, as frustrating as it was, the team didn’t splinter and the effort still remained.”
Tagovailoa had two interceptions and lost a fumble, and backup quarterback Zach Wilson was put in during the game’s closing moments. The Dolphins finished with a minus-four turnover margin, a deficit McDaniel said prevented the team from displaying the work it had put in during the offseason.
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, who spent the first part of his career with the New York Giants, accounted for three touchdowns — one passing and two rushing — as Indianapolis built a decisive lead. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill, the subject of offseason trade rumors, was visibly frustrated on the Miami sideline as the Colts pulled away.
McDaniel, in his fourth season as Miami’s head coach, said he was motivated to correct course ahead of a Week 2 AFC East matchup with the New England Patriots. “The way we lost probably is an overall better way to learn an absolute lesson that never changes,” he said. “I’m very motivated to get together with the team, watch the tape and keep it real and get ready for our next opponent — home game against the New England Patriots. They’re not going to feel sorry for us in the least, nor should they.”
The Patriots opened the Mike Vrabel era Sunday with a 20-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Miami’s home kickoff against New England is scheduled for 1 p.m. the following week.
The defeat drew sharp public criticism from former Jets coach Rex Ryan, but McDaniel emphasized that the roster’s effort did not collapse despite the result. He said coaches and players must translate preparation into execution, and promised a focused review of game film to address the Dolphins’ errors.
Miami will return home with questions about its offense, ball security and consistency in execution as it prepares for an AFC East rematch. McDaniel said the performance was a painful reminder of the standards the team must meet and indicated the organization intends to respond quickly in practice and preparation for Week 2.