REPORT: Dolphins’ biggest offseason move – and their biggest offseason failure – combine to sink their season in loss to

The Miami Dolphins’ season seems all but over following a 20-12 loss to the Texans on Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston. While there’s plenty of blame to go around, two primary culprits stand out: their struggling offensive line and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

The Dolphins’ franchise QB completed 29 of 40 passes for just 196 yards, with a touchdown offset by three costly interceptions. He also suffered three sacks and lost a fumble, contributing to one of the most forgettable games of his career.

Miami’s offensive line had a disastrous outing, though some of that was anticipated due to injuries sidelining their top three tackles—Austin Jackson, Terron Armstead, and Kendall Lamm. Rookie Patrick Paul and Jackson Carman were thrust into starting roles. However, the issues extended beyond the tackles to the interior line, where offseason assurances from the team about their depth proved hollow. Liam Eichenberg and Aaron Brewer, both flagged for holding, were unable to hold up against a disruptive Texans defensive line, particularly Tim Settle Jr.

The lackluster protection and poor run blocking left the Dolphins with just 52 rushing yards on 19 carries (2.7 ypc), forcing Tua to operate under constant pressure. Despite the offensive line’s struggles, Tua—fresh off signing a four-year, $212.4 million extension—couldn’t rise to the occasion. His turnovers proved critical, with each interception highlighting issues. The first was a poor read, easily picked off by a safety; the second was an errant throw intercepted by Derek Stingley; and the third was a stellar play by Stingley, ripping the ball away from Tyreek Hill on Miami’s final offensive snap.

These are the situations where elite quarterbacks are expected to elevate their team, even when the circumstances aren’t ideal. But once again, Tua struggled to deliver when things went awry, raising questions about his ability to overcome adversity in critical moments.

General Manager Chris Grier now faces a pivotal offseason. The offensive line, along with other areas on both sides of the ball, needs serious rebuilding. Yet Grier himself declared before the season that this group was “good enough,” a claim met with skepticism online that now seems validated. Whether Grier will even be trusted to oversee this rebuild remains to be seen, given how poorly his preseason assessments have aged.