Tagovailoa fails to impress on belated debut but Miami Dolphins still prevail
Ayear ago I wrote a column about how the Dolphins fanbase was cheering of the “Tank for Tua” as they hoped the team would finish dead last and get to select the then presumed number one pick – Tua Tagovailoa.
A week later Tua left a college game with a hip injury and missed the rest of the season dropping him down the draft order.
Come April, when Miami came on the clock with the fifth pick, Tua was sitting there ready to join the team.
The former Alabama quarterback was one of four taken in the first round of the draft, with Joe Burrow going to Cincinnati before Tua, Justin Herbert and Jordan Love after, to the Chargers and Packers respectively.
After eight weeks Tua finally debuted on Sunday and while his debut was less than impressive, throwing for 93 yards, a touchdown and giving up a fumble, the Dolphins still managed a win.
Jordan Love is the only of the three not to see a snap yet as he sits behind the future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers and the other two quarterbacks, both had considerably better days than Tua, statistically.
Justin Herbert was thrown into the mix in week two of the season after a medical mishap led to Teddy Bridgewater being pulled from the game – the team doctor pierced his lung with a painkilling injection. Herbert has performed like a star and becomes a fantasy must-start racking up points, both on the ground and through the air.
In Cincinnati Joe Burrow was under centre from game one and, like Herbert, has been very exciting to watch. Burrow picked up a win on Saturday, just his second from the Bengals eight so far, having thrown 11 touchdown passes and over 2200 yards, the thirdmost in the league.
Herbert’s total yardage is 400 yards lower, but he has connected with receivers for 15 touchdowns in his six games as a starter. But
here’s the kicker.
Both Herbert and Burrow are with losing teams, they are the stars of the organisation, even in their first season. These players are being put in positions where their growth and confidence could be stunted as they have to make risky throws, game-changing decisions and carry the fans hopes.
In Miami, Tagovailoa has more than that. On Sunday the coach
ing staff out schemed a muchvaunted Rams team and made the job of their quarterback easy. Yes, Tua gave up a fumble on his first passing attempt, but after that, his defense handed him easy possessions. His first touchdown pass was after an interception leaving the offense only eight yards from goal.
Next, the defence scored on a fumble, before the special teams scored on a punt return, for the
Dolphins final scoring drive of the game Miami started on the Rams one yard line after an interception.
Tua Tagovailoa may not have had the best stats of the rookie quarterbacks this weekend, but he has the best chance to win. In Miami, he has a coaching staff and a team ready to support his growth.
Around the rest of the league, Kansas City left the New York Jets still seeking their first win of the season with a 35-9 victory.
At the same time, Pittsburgh the Steelers started the season with seven straight wins after 28-24 win over division rival Baltimore Ravens.
The Cleveland Browns offense had a night to forget as they lost to the Raiders 16-6 while the New England Patriots lost their fourth game in a row as the Buffalo Bills took control of the AFC North.
Despite leading 24-3 late in the third quarter, the Chargers lost, with the Broncos fighting back to win 31-30.
The Indianapolis Colts comfortably beat the Detroit Lions on the back of a strong three-touchdown fourth quarter, while the Titans losing to the Bengals put the teams tied at 5-2.
It took overtime for the Saints to beat the Bears 26-23, while the Seahawks hung on to overcome the 49ers and stay in charge of the NFC West.
The Dallas Cowboys season to forget continued as they started their third quarterback in three weeks. Despite the change, the Eagles run out 23-9 victors.