If you thought Week 2 would calm the Miami circus, sorry — it only turned the volume up. With Mike McDaniel staring at a 0-2 hole, the what-if chatter about his future just took a sharper turn. And the real kicker? The answer might be to look internally.

Yes, Sports Illustrated senior reporter Albert Breer talked about what seems to be an unavoidable situation: a future without Mike McDaniel. And that chatter might grow louder after Thursday’s game vs the Bills. And that future might have DC Anthony Weaver in it.

“Another thing that’s lingering here is that his defensive coordinator, Anthony Weaver, is beloved inside the building and is seen as a future head coach. If there comes a point where this goes the wrong way, could Steven Ross say ‘I want to take a look at Anthony Weaver’ as the HC? I think you could eventually get there,” he said on a recent episode of The Rich Eisen Show. And that prediction might not be too far off.

In his first season leading the Dolphins‘ defense, Weaver guided a unit that ranked among the NFL’s elite—fourth in total yards allowed (around 314.4 per game), fifth in first downs allowed, and sixth at extinguishing opponents’ third and fourth down efforts. Then there is this ability to make things fun and connect with players.

“He’s a fun coach to play under. He really established an exciting culture and allows us a lot of room to just grow within it, so I’m enjoying myself a lot,” Jevon Holland said last year.

And the pressure Mike McDaniel is facing ahead of the Buffalo trip just adds to the idea. “You’ve got a standalone game. You and I both know how that can affect things, maybe against the best team in football on Thursday night. It’s a big spot coming up for Mike McDaniel,” Breer added.

Yes, he’s going to be facing arguably the best team in the league with a 0-2 record. A humiliating loss could very much speed up his dismissal. Because the first two games gave us no reason to believe he’s the man to lead this team.

Week 1 saw the offense sputter for just 211 yards (lowest under McDaniel) against the Colts, followed by a nail-biting 33-27 loss at home to New England. Now, Thursday’s prime-time tilt at Highmark Stadium looms like a must-win, a stage where perception and pressure collide. He’s pinned against the wall right now, sure. But at least he’s got the locker room.

The locker room hasn’t given up on Mike McDaniel just yet

Mike McDaniel has maintained that he cannot be bothered to worry about his “job security.” What perhaps helps is that even though fans have been harsh, his players continue to voice their support for him.

LB Chop Robinson, as unhappy with the defense as the next person, refused to put the blame on the HC. “At the end of the day, it’s not him out there on the field,” Robinson said. “It’s us out there playing the game, making the mistakes on the field and stuff like that. So at the end of the day, it may look bad for him, but it’s really on us. We’ve got to get it better.”

“He’s a players’ coach who believes in his players,” added left tackle Patrick Paul. “We love him.”

That players’ public support carries weight for two reasons. One, it shields McDaniel temporarily — nothing rattles ownership like visible unrest in the locker room. Two, it complicates any midseason shake-up: firing a coach still embraced by his team risks splitting the locker room and turning a tactical move into a culture crisis.

So, McDaniel might not have the fans on his side. Maybe not even the front office. But the locker room hasn’t given up on him just yet. That being said, he needs a good showing in the Bills game to build on that trust.