The Dolphins came under heavy criticism after blowing two touchdown lead to the Titans with less than five minutes remaining on Monday. Photo Credit: Denny Simmons/The Tennessean /USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs in a touchdown past Miami Dolphins safety Elijah Campbell (22) during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla., Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. Photo Credit: Denny Simmons/The Tennessean /USA TODAY NETWORK

Raheem Mostert scored two touchdowns a minute apart in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s game against the Tennessee Titans. The first gave the Miami Dolphins a 20-13 lead while the second put them up 27-13, a seemingly insurmountable lead with only 4:34 remaining.

Then, what looked like it would be a sloppy victory for the Dolphins turned into a brutal loss.

Will Levis and the Titans moved the ball down the field quickly, covering 75 yards over nine plays in less than two minutes. Tennessee got aggressive after the touchdown and went for two, trying to cut the deficit to six. The Titans were successful. The Dolphins couldn’t pick up a first down and punted the ball right back to Tennessee.

The Titans briskly moved down the field, getting to the Miami six-yard line in only three plays. A rare delay of game penalty on the defense moved the ball to the three. Derrick Henry scored from there.

If anything, the Titans could be criticized for leaving too much time on the clock. It’s hard to be too choose about when you score when needing a touchdown. Still Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins had 1:49 left and needed only a field goal to win the game.

Miami never got that close. The Dolphins did pick up a quick first down and were seemingly well positioned to get another, facing a fairly modest third-and-three. But Tagovailoa completed one pass for only a yard, then was sacked on fourth-and-two.

It was a sloppy game for the Dolphins. Tagovailoa fumbled the ball on the two-yard line, though that was largely offset but a pick-six on Tennessee’s ensuing possession. Bradley Chubb made a four-point mistake in the second quarter, slamming his helmet in frustration after missing a sack against Will Levis. But given that it was a third down and Levis’ scramble did not pick up a first down, the Titans weren’t going to get anything more than a field goal. Instead, they made Chubb pay and scored a touchdown.

Despite that, with less than five minutes remaining, Miami had a two-touchdown lead at home against a 4-8 team. Heck, the Dolphins needed only a field goal with just under two minutes remaining. None of that mattered. They couldn’t come through. And the consensus among football fans on Monday night was simple — the Dolphins choked.

The loss moved the Dolphins out of the top seed in the AFC, one game behind the Baltimore Ravens. Miami still holds a two-game lead over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East. But after playing the Jets in Week 15, the Dolphins will finish with games against the Dallas Cowboys, Ravens and Bills. So, there’s a definite need to right the ship quickly.

About Michael Dixon

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