In Week 8, the Miami Dolphins looked revived after routing the Atlanta Falcons 34-10. But by Week 9, those hopes had completely evaporated. When the scoreboard at Hard Rock Stadium froze at 28-6 in favor of the Baltimore Ravens, head coach Mike McDaniel’s reaction made one thing painfully clear: change is coming.

“You give yourself no excuse, and the players no excuse, because on game day you have no excuse,” McDaniel said postgame, visibly frustrated with yet another self-inflicted collapse.

“I have to continue to find ways to reach people…Sometimes it cost people their opportunity to play and their jobs. If it’s not a better option for the team, or irresponsible…then you have to recreate a different set of circumstances to get it done.”

Miami, sitting at 2-7 and third in the AFC East, has run out of excuses and likely patience. Three turnovers, zero takeaways, and three red-zone failures summed up their latest showing.

McDaniel’s words carry weight. Jobs are on the line. As the trade deadline looms, nobody in the locker room looks safe. Because right now, nothing about this team is clicking.

The offense’s red-zone efficiency has been just 57.7%. Additionally, the same mistakes keep haunting them every week. Pre-snap penalties, busted protections, missed tackles, and mental lapses on key downs. 

The frustration was evident as McDaniel and running back Ollie Gordon II argued on the sidelines. The argument was clearly about the call that gave away a 36-yard gain. What happened next just added to the misery. A fumble gave Baltimore its first touchdown.

Usually, franchise quarterbacks are safe when trade talks heat up. But sadly (or maybe as per fan demand), Tua Tagovailoa is under fire too.

Mike McDaniel runs out of patience with Tua Tagovailoa

That fourth-and-2 throw to De’Von Achane that the Dolphins missed? In the post-game press conference, Mike McDaniel addressed Tua Tagovailoa’s mistake on that exact play. The pass was overthrown, and the Ravens took over possession, effectively killing Miami’s drive and momentum.

McDaniel called it part of a “multitude of failures in a critical situation,” pointing to miscommunication and poor execution that doomed the attempt.

Miami’s offense looked sharp early: 225 yards in the first half, 10 first downs, possession dominance. But the same ghosts showed up again: penalties, turnovers, and Tua’s inconsistency when it mattered. One interception, 261 yards, 62.5 percent completion, two sacks, and zero touchdowns.

“We were minus three [in turnovers], they were three for three in the red zone and we didn’t score a touchdown,” McDaniel said. “You have to cross your t’s and dot your i’s in the National Football League. It’s very disappointing. Unfortunately, we will have to sit on the disappointment for 10 days.”

Tua now leads the league with 11 interceptions. The numbers don’t lie, and McDaniel’s words confirm this harsh reality. The question isn’t whether something will change: it’s who pays the price.