The Phinsider
The Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts met Sunday afternoon as the 2025 NFL season kicked off. Miami came out looking to get a fast start on the year and put last year’s disappointment behind them. None of that happened, however, as the team looked completely lost on the field, with no emotion or fight as Indianapolis ran all over them throughout the game.
The entire game was a disappointment from a Dolphins-fan perspective. Miami simply never showed up. There was nothing positive to try to find from this game – everyone underperformed, head coach Mike McDaniel was outcoached, and the team failed to look competitive at any time in the contest.
Even on their one touchdown drive, the team had 12 men in the huddle on 4th-and-Goal, then had to use a timeout on the two-point conversion try.
This was absolutely an embarrassing performance for Miami.
Dolphins 8 – 33 Colts
The Colts opened the game with the ball after winning the coin toss and electing to receive. They drive directly on the shoulders of quarterback Daniel Jones, named the starter over Anthony Richardson this summer, calling pass plays on seven of the eight plays on the drive. Rookie tight end Tyler Warren caught three passes during the possession, gaining 43 yards. On 3rd-and-8 from the Dolphins’ nine-yard line, Jones attempted to scramble for the first down, but linebacker Matthew Judon was able to level the quarterback and force Indianapolis to settle for a field goal.
Not exactly the start the defense was hoping to have. Miami’s struggles with covering tight ends feels like it has been going on for decades. At least they held for the field goal.
Colts 3-0
Miami started with good field possession after a 37-yard kick return from wide receiver Dee Eskridge. Running back De’Von Achane added nine yards on his first carry of the season, getting the Dolphins into Colts territory. Two short passes from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle bookended a two-yard loss by Achane, and Miami faced a 3rd-and-8. Tagovailoa looked deep to Hill on an in-breaking route, but the ball sailed and safety Cam Bynum picked off the errant pass.
Starting right guard James Daniels left the field slowly after the loss by Achane. He was questionable for the game with an ankle injury, but this appeared to be something different. The replay howed his arm getting wrenched backwards as he fell during the play. The interception was just a bad throw from Tagovailoa.
Indianapolis came out more balanced in their play calling in their second drive. Running back Jonathan Taylor touched the ball on eight of the first 13 plays of the drive, picking up 27 yards rushing and 22 yards receiving. A sack from Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb ended the first quarter.
