The Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers met for a Thanksgiving night game in Week 13. It was an ugly game for the Dolphins, who needed to come away with a win to keep their playoff hopes alive and to end the narrative that they struggle against good teams and in cold weather. Both narratives are alive and well after Thursday night’s showing.
Miami looked out of sorts from the start of the game and never really found their rhythm. They tried to claw their way back into the game in the third quarter, but self-inflicted wounds, poor tackling, and an offense that could not do the basics was too much for Miami to overcome.
We reacted throughout the game, and you can check out our recap below.
Final Score
Dolphins 17 – 30 Packers
Immediate Reactions
First Quarter
Packers first possession
Green Bay opened on offense, beginning with a rush from running back Josh Jacobs for a yard. After a false start penalty on the Packers and an incomplete pass, quarterback Jordan Love just got rid of the ball on a second-straight incomplete pass. The pass was initially ruled a fumble but replay overturned the ruling, leading to a Packers punt on the three-and-out.
Packers second possession
Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington muffed the return on the punt, with the Packers falling on the ball. Green Bay started the drive at the Miami nine-yard line, beginning with a Jacobs run for six yards, then tried again for no gain. Love then threw to wide receiver Jayden Reed for the three-yard touchdown.
What a rough start to the game for Miami. The defense did their job, only to have Washington fall as he was trying to catch the pass. There was not much the defense could do there. Now the offense is going to have to do something to make up for this hole the team is already in.
Packers 7-0.
Dolphins first possession
The rough start to the game continued for Miami, with tight end Jonnu Smith called for a false start on the first attempted play. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw two passes to running back De’Von Achane on the next two plays, gaining 11 yards and seven yards on the plays to pick up a first down. An offsides penalty on the Packers gave Miami a 1st-and-5, only for the Dolphins to give back the five yards with a false start on tight end Julian Hill.
On 1st-and-10, the Dolphins lost a yard on a one-yard run from Achane. Miami lost another three yards on a fake screen that was supposed to turn into a draw play, but Achane ran past Tagovailoa before the handoff could be made. The Dolphins have up another 15 yards after the play on an unnecessary roughness penalty on Smith. After a three-yard run from running back Raheem Mostert on 3rd-and-29, the Dolphins punted.
The Dolphins are pressing right now, or something. This does not look at all like the team that has won three-straight games. They need to get the nerves and excitement out, settle down, and get back to playing like they have been recently. Just an ugly start.
Packers third possession
The Packers opened their third possession at their own 24-yard line, but quickly moved into Miami territory. Love began the attack through the air, gaining 33 yards with passes on four of the first five plays of the drive. Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou was injured on the one incomplete pass during the early part of the drive as he tried to intercept a deflected pass. Green Bay turned to the running game as they moved down to the Miami 41-yard line, with Jacobs gaining two yards, 11 yards, and one yard on three carries. Running back Emmanuel Wilson gained five yards and 15 yards on two attempts before Jacksons ran for six yards on 1st-and-Goal, followed by a one-yard touchdown run.
Already 14-0 Green Bay. The Dolphins’ offense has to have a better performance on their second possession or this is going to get really ugly really fast. Not sure what is happening with the defense right now, but they are struggling to stop anything the Packers are doing – and the possibility of not having Kohou only makes it worse.
Packers 14-0
Dolphins second possession
Miami opened their drive with a Tagovailoa pass to Smith for 11 yards, then Tagovailoa threw to fullback Alec Ingold for two yards as the first quarter ended.
Second Quarter Reactions
Dolphins second possession (continued)
Ingold caught a short pass in the flat for a 13-yard gain to pick up a first down and move Miami into Packers territory. Achane picked up 13 yards on a run, with Ingold sealing the hole for Achane’s run. After a one-yard loss on an Achane run, Miami faced a 2nd-and-11 from the Packers’ 32-yard line, with Achane turning a pass behind the line of scrimmage into a five-yard gain despite being hit as soon as he caught the pass. On 3rd-and-6, Tagovailoa threw a short pass on a drag route to Hill, leading to a 4th-and-4.
Miami lined up for the conversion attempt, but the Dolphins were called for a delay of game penalty, leading to a field goal attempt from kicker Jason Sanders. The offense came back on the field, however, after a neutral zone infraction by the Packers, giving Miami their five yards back. Tagovailoa worked his way through his progressions to eventually find wide receiver Jaylen Waddle on a crossing route for a 16-yard gain. Achane was stopped for a six-yard loss on first down, followed by a screen pass to Washington for no gain and an incomplete pass.
Sanders came back out to connect on a 33-yard field goal.
At least the offense moved the ball, but field goals are not going to cut it.
Packers 14-3.
Packers fourth possession
The Packers began the drive with a 23-yard run from Reed, with defensive tackle Benito Jones injured on the play. At the Dolphins’ 47-yard line, however, the drive stalled, with a pass from Love to Jacobs gaining three yards, a Jacobs run for one yard, and an incomplete pass led to a punt.
Okay defense, way to bounce back after giving up the big play on the first snap. Now the offense needs to turn this into a game.
Dolphins third possession
The Dolphins started at their own six-yard line after a holding penalty was enforced on the punt return. The Packers assisted some of the first play with an offside penalty, then Tagovailoa connected with Mostert for a 14-yard gain and a first down. An offensive holding penalty backed Miami into a 1st-and-20, with Tagovailoa finding Smith for 14 yards, giving Miami a chance to make up for the penalty.
The next two plays, however, were sacks of Tagovailoa, leading to a Miami punt.
Ouch. Come on offense. This game has been a penalty fest, and the Dolphins better find a way to stop this bleeding quickly or else they may as well have not shown up.
Packers fifth possession
Green Bay’s drive started with 3:03 remaining in the half and at their own 38-yard line. Love looked to quickly move the Packers back down to add to their lead, starting with an eight-yard pass to wide receiver Dontavyion Wicks. As the clock approached the two-minute warning, running back Chris Brooks gashed his former team for an 18-yard run, taking the ball to the Dolphins’ 36-yard line. After a false start backed them up five yards, the Packers gained 21 yards on a pass to wide receiver Christian Watson.
Jacobs picked up three yards on 1st-and-Goal from the Miami 20-yard line before the Dolphins used their first time out. Love threw to Brooks in the flat on 2nd-and-7, gaining five yards, with cornerback Cam Smith injured on the play. After the timeout for Smith’s injury, Love threw to Reed on a screen pass for the touchdown.
Just everything going wrong for Miami so far. Penalties are crushing the team. There is no rhythm. Injuries are mounting – though Benito Jones did come back into the game, at least. The offense is not scoring and the defense cannot stop Green Bay. This may already be out of reach for Miami if they cannot complete the double-up before and after halftime right here.
Packers 21-3.
Dolphins fourth possession
An incomplete pass deep toward wide receiver Tyreek Hill started the drive before Tagovailoa was forced to scramble for a nine-yard gain. They converted on a short pass to Smith for seven yards. An 11-yard pass to Smith was followed by an incomplete pass, again targeting Hill over the middle of the field. A five yard pass to Achane brought up 3rd-and-5 with 31 seconds remaining as Miami used their last timeout.
Tagovailoa found Washington for five yards, but the hit as soon as the receiver caught the ball jarred it loose and led to an incomplete pass. Tagovailoa then threw way too high for Achane on fourth down, leading to the turnover on downs at the Packers’ 38-yard line.
Nope. Just nope. The Dolphins have no rhythm tonight. Tagovailoa looks like he is trying to force things, and he is missing badly on passes because of it.
Packers sixth possession
With 22 seconds on the clock and three timeouts, the Packers attacked. A pass to tight end Tyler Kraft picked up 17 yards as cornerback Jalen Ramsey bounced off the initial attempt to stop the tight end. After a timeout, Love again found Kraft, this time for nine yards. After a timeout, Brooks gained eight yards, with the Packers using their timeout with three seconds remaining. The Packers then connected on a 46-yard field goal with no time remaining.
Packers 24-3.
Halftime Thoughts
Just miserable. Nothing about this first half was good. Nothing about this first half needs to be remembered. Miami better come out fired up in the second half, or the idea of killing narratives, of climbing back into the AFC playoff picture, of being a relevant team in 2024 is all out the window. This has been an embarrassing performance on a national broadcast and is why the Dolphins are not viewed as an actual contender.
Trying to find anything good from this first half is impossible. The defense has allowed the Packers to walk all over them. The offense has struggled to do the basics. And the penalties are killing the team.
This has been a miserable performance and a miserable watch.
Third Quarter Reactions
Dolphins fifth possession
Miami opened the drive at their own 23-yard line, with Tagovailoa finding Tyreek Hill for two yards. A pass to tight end Julian Hill gained five yards, but a delay of game immediately gave back the yardage. Tagovailoa then looked deep toward wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr., but the ball was overthrown and the Dolphins punted on a three-and-out start to the half.
Down 21 points, the Dolphins move the ball two yards. The commentators even pointed out that everything Miami is doing right now looks difficult. They have zero answers for the Packers.
Packers seventh possession
Miami forced the Packers into a 3rd-and-6, potentially forcing a three-and-out, but Love threw to Watson for a 46-yard gain down the sideline, flipping the field and moving Green Bay to the Miami 28-yard line. On the next play, Love threw to Jacobs for a 15-yard gain, giving the Packers a 1st-and-10 from the Dolphins’ 13-yard line.
A two-yard run from Chris Brooks seemed to continue the Packers march to the endzone, but on 2nd-an-8, linebacker Jordyn Brooks anticipated the screen pass to Chris Brooks and blew up the play for a four-yard loss. Love was able to find Reed for nine yards on 3rd-and-12, moving the Packers up to the Dolphins’ six-yard line, but forcing them to settle for a field goal.
At least it was not a touchdown. That is a win at this point. Jordyn Books made a great play to stuff Chris Brooks. Even if it sparks something from the defense, this game is out of hand unless Miami finds their explosive, deep passing attack again.
Packers 27-3.
Dolphins sixth possession
Miami started their drive with a 26-yard run from Mostert, only to have a holding penalty on Tyreek Hill cost the team 10 yards. Tagovailoa then found Smith for a 13-yard gain before an end-around from Mostert picked up a yard. On 2nd-and-9, Miami picked up eight yards on a pass from Tagovailoa to Washington.
Miami was stuffed for no gain on a run from Mostert on 3rd-and-Inches. On 4th-and-1, Tagovailoa found Smith for 16 yards and a first down, keeping the Dolphins’ possession alive.
Tagovailoa then found Waddle for a 16-yard gain, moving the ball to the Packers’ 14-yard line. Then a short pass to Achane allowed the running back to weave through the defense and find the endzone. Miami converted the two-point attempt on a pass to Waddle, with the receiver laying out and dragging his toes for the completion.
At least there was something for the Dolphins. They are down 16 with 2:43 remaining in the third quarter. If they really are going to make something happen, the defense has to make an immediate stop here. Or, was this just window dressing on what is a blowout loss in the cold on primetime to a good team?
Packers 27-11.
Packers eighth possession
Miami gave up a first down on the first play of the drive, a 10-yard pass from Love to Wicks, but then shut down the drive. An incomplete pass, a pass to Wicks for nine yards, and a stop of Jacobs in the backfield for a two-yard loss led to a quick punt from the Packers.
Okay, the defense showed up. Now the offense needs to put up points right here and now.
Dolphins seventh possession
Miami opened the drive with a 13-yard pass to Tyreek Hill, with offensive tackle Kendall Lamm injured on the play. After the stoppage for the injury, Mostert ran for three yards as the clock reached the end of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter Reactions
Dolphins seventh possession (continued)
After the break, Miami drew the Packers offside for a free five yards. Now facing 2nd-and-2, the Dolphins converted for a first down on a three-yard run from Achane. Tagovailoa then threw to Hill over the middle for a 24-yard gain, followed by an Achane run for a yard and an Achane catch for three yards. On 3rd-and-6, Beckham caught a pass for nine yards.
Waddle added 12 yards on a catch over the middle, moving the ball to the Packers’ nine-yard line and a Miami first down. Achane then picked up eight yards on a run – but was stuffed for no gain on the next play. An incomplete pass to Smith set up 4th-and-Goal from the one-yard line, Tagovailoa was sacked as the Packers ran an all-out blitz, leading to a turnover on downs.
The Dolphins needed that. Right there, literally a yard away, and they cannot punch it in. The play to Smith was a good design, but it felt telegraphed and the defense recognized it too easily. Miami could have pulled to within a score. Instead, it remains a 16-point game with 9:33 remaining.
Packers ninth possession
Green Bay came out looking to run the clock, starting with a four-yard run from Jacobs out to the Dolphins’ 12-yard line. A holding penalty on Ramsey negated an incomplete pass – giving the Packers a free first down.
Love then threw to Kraft, who rumbled up the sideline for a 16-yard gain. Love then threw a short pass over the middle to Jacobs, who turned up field, ran through multiple tackle attempts, and turned the play into a 49-yard gain. After an incomplete pass, Kraft caught a pass two yards down the field and turned it into a 10-yard gain.
On 1st-and-Goal from the nine-yard line, Jacobs picked up two yards on a run. Wicks came up just short of the endzone on a pass from Love, with an unnecessary roughness penalty backing them up to the Dolphins’ 15-yard line, with Green Bay converting the field goal.
Miami does not seem interested in tackling people at this point. They are shooting for the legs or trying to make the big hit rather than trying to secure the runner and stop the play.
Packers 30-11.
Dolphins eighth possession
The Dolphins started the drive at their 33-yard line, then immediately gave back seven yards as Tagovailoa was sacked. Tagovailoa continued to drop back on evey play of the seven-play possession, picking up eight yards on the next play, followed by Hill for 30 yards, an incomplete pass, Waddle for nine yards, Smith for 15 yards, and Hill for a 12 yard touchdown on a pass that was targeting Smith but was tipped and Hill reacted to it for the score. The Dolphins failed on the two-point conversion.
The Dolphins decide to start moving the ball now? Perfect timing.
Packers 30-17.
Packers tenth possession
After recovering the onside kick attempt by the Dolphins, Green Bay started the drive with a two-yard run from Jacobs. Miami then immediately called timeout. Jacobs was then stuffed for a three-yard loss as defensive tackle Zach Sieler burst through the line. After an incomplete pass deep toward Watson on a play when the Dolphins got away with defensive pass interference, Green Bay punted on the three-and-out possession.
The Dolphins do not have enough time to make any real comeback.
Dolphins ninth possession
An offensive holding penalty started Miami’s possession. Tagovailoa threw to Smith on 1st-and-20 from the Dolphins’ 10-yard line, picking up five yards. After an incomplete pass, Miami again went to Smith gaining 10 yards, then 11 yards on the next play. Mostert picked up a yard on the next snap, with a timeout called after that. On 2nd-and-9, Tagovailoa was sacked, ending the game.
Just an embarrassing game.