The Phinsider
The Miami Dolphins visited the Carolina Panthers in Week 5, with both teams hoping to improve on their 1-3 records to start the 2025 NFL season. Miami also had to answer the question of how the team adapts following the season-ending injury to wide receiver Tyreek Hill during the second half of the team’s game last week.
Miami opened the game dominating the Panthers, forcing turnovers and scoring at will. Then everything changed, and the Dolphins struggled to do anything offensively. The Miami defense wore down throughout the game and Carolina chipped away to take a lead at 20-17 and 27-24 in the fourth quarter.
This game is likely the one that breaks the Dolphins season. They came out and looked miserably to start the year, but they looked like they were putting it together in Weeks 3 and 4, playing well against the Buffalo Bills then winning against the New York Jets. To start this game as well as they did, then just completely fall apart, this could be the game that ends anything Miami might still think of themselves.
This was unacceptable and embarrassing.
Dolphins 24 – 27 Panthers
Miami received the opening kickoff after the Panthers won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. The Dolphins came out firing, even without Hill, picking up 10 yards on a pass to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle on first down to move out to near midfield. Three plays later, facing a 3rd-and-6, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa waited for tight end Darren Waller to spring free down the seam, connecting for a 34-yard gain. Two runs and a sack later, Miami had backed up 12 yards and had to settle for a field goal.
Miami did not come out shying away from the passing game. On 10 offensive plays, the Dolphins called for passes on eight of them. They need to make sure they are staying balanced throughout the game, but they clearly are not afraid to pass – and without Hill dominating the first read for Tagovailoa, the Dolphins’ passing game may be more effective than expected.
Dolphins 3-0.
Carolina began at the 24-yard line, picking up 29 yards on a 3rd-and-8 pass as quarterback Bryce Young threw to wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan down the right side of the field. After Miami was called for a defensive holding penalty, the Panthers were well into Miami territory when running back Rico Dowdle picked up seven yards on a reception. On 2nd-and-7, Young fumbled as linebacker Bradley Chubb pressured him, with the linebacker falling on the ball for the Miami takeaway.
The Dolphins’ struggles with takeaways seem to be over. They still do not have an interception, but that is the fourth fumble recovered in five quarters of football. Now Miami needs to score and start to put this game away early.
Miami opened with the ball at...
