Mike McDaniel, the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, has said that tough times this season would show what kind of character the team has. He was impressed with how his team handled a recent three-game losing streak and credited that character for the Dolphins’ win over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night.
“That’s why I was proud of the effort,” McDaniel said. “And I’ve been proud of the week-by-week commitment to getting better as a football team even when the results weren’t necessarily showing up in the win column.”
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins (3-6) now have a big chance in the next two weeks, as they will play two home games against teams with losing records, starting Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders (2-7).
The Raiders have lost five straight games, with three of those losses by more than 15 points, including last week’s defeat to Cincinnati. Their offense is averaging just 280.2 yards per game, which is the fourth worst in the league.
“I think it’s going to show the character of the people in this building,” said Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs. “I think everybody in this building and everybody in this locker room is strong enough to forget about the past and focus on the now and the next eight games.”
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce has said that quarterback Gardner Minshew will remain the starter despite his struggles. Minshew has completed 67% of his passes but has only thrown six touchdowns, along with eight interceptions and four fumbles.
Minshew, who was benched after five games earlier this season and nearly lost his starting job to Desmond Ridder, remains optimistic. “It could be tough, man, no doubt about it,” Minshew said.
“But I’ve been there before, been through it, and excited for the opportunity ahead. That’s really all we have. We got these days to prepare, and we got a game coming up. We’re focused on that and letting it rip.”
Minshew will face a Miami defense that is coming off one of its strongest performances of the season. The Dolphins’ defense, ranked 10th in the league, didn’t allow a touchdown against the Rams and has forced three turnovers in the last two games.
Miami has also held its opponents to just 32% on third-down conversions, the third-best mark in the NFL this season.
“This league is about enduring and getting better,” said Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. “I talked to the guys about having faith in the middle of the season. It’s so long, and it’s so grueling that it exposes the frailties. And if you’re not willing to push yourself and constantly get better throughout, then you’ll have a failing season.”
