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Cold weather remains the Miami Dolphins’ kryptonite, as their three-game winning streak came to an end on Thanksgiving night with a 30-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers at a frigid Lambeau Field.
Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks was unhappy with their performance, saying after the loss that they played “soft” and the “elements played a part” in their performance.
Packers running back Josh Jacobs agreed with Brooks’ assessment, telling reporters the Dolphins “looked cold out there”
The Dolphins entered Thursday having lost 11 straight games when the temperature at kickoff was 40 degrees or below. Their last victory in a game with those weather conditions was against the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 24, 2016, one year before Tua Tagovailoa’s freshman season at Alabama.
Tagovailoa said coming into the game that he was “excited to kill narratives” when asked about the team’s struggles in cold weather. Temperature at kickoff at Lambeau was 27 degrees, with the wind chill making it feel like 18 degrees.
Things couldn’t have started worse for the Dolphins. The defense forced a three-and-out on the opening possession, but Malik Washington missed a catch on the punt. The Packers recovered at Miami’s nine-yard line and scored three plays later when Jordan Love hit Jayden Reed.
After the Dolphins punted on their first possession, the Packers drove 76 yards for another touchdown to take a 14-0 lead at the end of the opening quarter. They later went up 24-3 at halftime.
Tagovailoa had a good statistical game, finishing 37-of-46 for 365 yards and two touchdowns. He did miss some throws in critical moments that contributed to the Miami’s struggles on offense.
The Dolphins got down to the Packers’ one-yard line trailing 27-11 early in the fourth quarter. Tagovailoa missed a throw to Jonnu Smith on third down, then got sacked on fourth down to end the drive and any shot of a comeback.
Miami’s defense got gashed by allowing 388 total yards and 7.3 yards per play. That unit held each of the last three opponents under 20 points and fewer than 100 yards rushing. The Packers racked up 114 yards on the ground.
The loss dropped the Dolphins to 5-7 overall and two games behind the Denver Broncos for the final wild card spot in the AFC. They likely won’t have to worry about cold weather for awhile, as their next three games are home against the New York Jets, at NRG Stadium with a retractable roof against the Houston Texans and home against the San Francisco 49ers.
Weather could be a factor in the Dolphins’ final two games, as they are on the road against the Cleveland Browns in Week 17 before wrapping up the regular season against the Jets at MetLife Stadium.
These next three weeks will be Miami’s best chance to potentially get back in the playoff race.
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