Tyreek Hill’s frustration boiled over following the Miami Dolphins’ 33-8 season-opening loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The Dolphins star wideout, known as the NFL’s “Cheetah,” summed up the performance bluntly: “This was a big kick in the balls for us.” It capped a rare off-year Dolphins’ stretch for Hill, who hasn’t recorded a reception of 30 or more yards in nearly 12 months.

When asked about the drought, Hill laughed before cutting off the reporter: “Are you trying to p*ss me off?” He acknowledged the concern but offered no clear explanation as he said, “I don’t know, bro. I don’t know. I’m just grateful to be here. I know my job. Hey, it will come. It is gonna come. I feel like this week, we got a great opportunity to go out there, make some plays, and move past last week. It will come sometime, I hope.”

In the 2024 regular season, Hill caught 81 passes for 959 yards across 17 games. Those totals marked his lowest full-season numbers in receiving yards since 2019. His longest catch in that season was 80 yards, which came in Week 1 against the Jaguars. He hasn’t logged a 30-plus-yard reception since that catch, through the end of 2024 and his first 2025 game.

Dolphins’ line injuries hurt pass protection, while Tua Tagovailoa missed time with a concussion and hip issues. Tyreek Hill played the 2024 season with wrist ligament damage but had surgery in the offseason.

Stats show Hill still racks up catches but lacks the explosive 30-plus-yard plays that define him. This decline in deep receptions appears to fuel the tension in media interactions. Tyreek Hill says he knows his role and expects big plays against the New England Patriots.

Tyreek Hill locks in for the Patriots showdown

In their Week 5 matchup last season, the Dolphins edged the Patriots 15–10, with Tyreek Hill contributing six receptions for 69 yards in a game defined by defense. But despite his steady involvement, Hill went the entire 2024 campaign without recording a reception of 30 yards or more — a sharp departure from his reputation as one of the league’s premier deep threats. That trend carried into Week 1 of 2025, where Hill posted four catches for 40 yards in a 33-8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice projected another uphill battle, picking the Patriots to win 27-19. “It’s worth noting the Patriots have been horrible during their visits to South Beach this decade. New England has dropped its last five in Miami, losing by an average of 13 points in those games. Yet, I can’t overlook what former Giants castoff Daniel Jones, and the Colts did to the Dolphins last week, making Mike McDaniel’s crew look like it didn’t belong on the same field,” Filice wrote. He added: “Until I see the Dolphins wake up, I can’t pick them to win.”

The matchup against New England offers Hill a chance to reset. He has a track record of success against the Patriots, and his battle with cornerback Christian Gonzalez will be central to Miami’s game plan. With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa coming off a turnover-heavy opener, the Dolphins need Hill’s speed and route-running to stretch the field and spark explosive plays. A breakout performance could not only swing the outcome against the Patriots but also mark a turning point in Hill’s season.