The Phinsider
effete (adj) - having lost forcefulness, courage, or spirit
It was a great day for Miami Dolphins fans around the world.
Thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs’ backups rallying from behind to secure a Week 18 win over the Denver Broncos coupled with the Dolphins easily taking care of business against a weak New York Jets team on the road, Miami is heading to the playoffs for the third season in a row!
The reward for such a showing was immediately bestowed upon those in charge as Stephen Ross announced that both General Manager Chris Grier and Head Coach Mike McDaniel would return for the 2025 season.
Tua Tagovailoa, who went for over 300 yards and 4 touchdowns in the contest, was seen skipping hand-in-hand with star wideout and all around happy guy Tyreek Hill (10 recs, 122 yds, 2 TDs) all around the team facility.
Then my mushrooms wore off and as my face stopped melting, my brain started to.
Against the Browns, Miami trotted out backup quarterback Tyler Huntley along with a myriad of other reserves due to abundant injuries. That story was much the same against the Jets, with Huntley again back under center, Tyrell Dodson at linebacker, Storm Duck at corner, and Kendall Lamm somewhere along the offensive line.
As with Cleveland, the Dolphins’ opponent had more losses than wins to go with a fairly anemic offense and the Fins needed a win in order to stay in playoff contention.
It all seemed very familiar. That gave me a tinge of hope since the last time all of those elements were in play, the team did well and dominated the Browns.
As this game went along, there were even more similarities: Dodson nabbed an interception (giving him 3 on the year despite only playing in a handful of games). Then Jake Bailey punted like garbage and, even though that looks bad on paper, I took comfort in the consistency. MM got in on the action too by tossing out another obviously doomed challenge and I knew they were in business.
Alas.
Despite the parallels, the game against the Jets didn’t turn out the same as its predecessor. The Fins would fall 32-20 to the soon-to-be-Rex-Ryan-led-again jumbos, turning the clock back for Aaron Rodgers to a degree not seen since the last time he played Miami.
Why the change from Week 17? What was so different this time around?
Oh yeah. For one, Huntley played like hell. He was rolling in Cleveland to the point that fans were looking to him as the surefire QB2 for next season. Based on his performance in New York, he may just be sure fired instead.
Huntley went 25/41 for 227 yds, 1 TD, 2 INTs, and four (4!) fumbles, though he only lost one.
His escapability and play extension-ism was M.I.A. as he added only 16 yards on 3 carries en route to getting thumped by...
