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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Big-game spotlight still too bright for Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa

By Michael Isaac Jacobs | Last updated 11/10/23

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa throws a beauty of a lefty spiral that wide receiver Tyreek Hill calls the most accurate ball in the NFL. Tagovailoa trains hard, says the right things before and after games and has the statistics to hang with the elite QBs.

Statistics are fun for fantasy football, but Dolphins fans dream of Tagovailoa leading his team to prime-time wins. Thus far, he has yet to play well against top-notch opponents. Miami is 6-0 against teams with losing records, 0-3 against teams over .500.

Tagovailoa had plenty of opportunities but failed to secure a signature comeback versus Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9. It was the Dolphins defense that kept Miami in the game and gave Tagovailoa a chance, but he could not do something as basic as securing the ball from his center Connor Williams.

"Then with the last play of the game, I'm always going to blame myself. I've got to catch the ball," Tagovailoa said, per ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques. "Whether that's getting in a better position to catch it or whatever it is, can't end the game like that when we have an opportunity like that against a really good team."

This cannot happen at the crescendo moment, and it's quite common for some noteworthy NFL QBs. It's hard to forget Tony Romo's extra-point fiasco or Dak Prescott handing the ball to his teammate instead of the referee. Neither Romo nor Prescott ever won the big one.

Tagovailoa must learn from this mistake and be more head-strong if he wants to avoid the same fate.

"Tua fumbles it, and that's the way the game ends...On a wayward snap...Go figure," - Rich Eisen on the call. pic.twitter.com/e3OeDPXrrX
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 5, 2023

Week 9 was not the result head coach Mike McDaniel wanted. He's had to fend off reporters for weeks now without irritating anyone like a beekeeper making sure the hive stays healthy. Even for his media-savvy abilities, this loss had to sting.

"To win in any right against any opponent is something not to take for granted," McDaniel said, per Louis-Jacques. "But that's on us collectively from coaches and players alike. If you want the narrative to change, change the narrative."

For McDaniel, the easiest way to stop the buzz about not being able to master a team with a winning record would be for his QB to elevate in pressure situations.

Tagovailoa has done it — just not at the highest level. He rose to historic college football fame when he led Alabama to a second-half victory over Georgia in the 2018 National Championship Game. Tagovailoa relieved starter Jalen Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles QB who defeated the Dolphins on national television, when head coach Nick Saban made a QB change.

Maybe Tagovailoa won't have the confidence to become that guy as a professional, but he does have support from everyone who matters in the organization.

"I feel like this year, having Tua as vocal as he's been this whole entire year... It's gonna be a beautiful thing," Hill said, per Bleacher Report's Francisco Rosa. "Seeing how much he has took ownership of that position of not just quarterback, franchise quarterback — it's a beautiful thing."

Beautiful things sometimes take time to blossom. The spotlight will shine into Tagovailoa's eyes at some point before the season comes to an end. When it does, there is no reason not to believe his teammates and coaches, who know him best. If he squints and drops the ball again, it won't look pretty.

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