In a disappointing defensive performance against the Packers on Thanksgiving, Calais Campbell of the Miami Dolphins wasn't shy about assessing the team's effort. The loss was a major blow to the Dolphins' postseason aspirations.
The Dolphins entered Week 13 with a 5-6 record and a chance to even their season at .500. Every game is crucial for Miami after starting the season 2-6. Since quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned from his injury in Week 8, the Dolphins have shown signs of being a contender. However, their playoff chances were hurt Thursday night as they were dominated by the Green Bay Packers in a 30-17 loss.
After the game, Calais Campbell, one of the leaders of Miami's defense, expressed his frustration with the team missing 20 tackles in Week 13. “That's the game… When we have chances to make tackles in critical situations, we have to make plays,” Campbell said.
Campbell added, “If we play our best football, we can beat anyone. But today was definitely not our best football,” highlighting the disappointment the team felt after their performance.
Although he is in his 17th year in the league and hasn't been at his peak since winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Campbell remains an important contributor to the team's defense. Miami. The Dolphins had the opportunity to trade him to the Baltimore Ravens but chose to keep him due to head coach Mike McDaniel's belief that Miami can still contend for the playoffs and recognizing Campbell's role in this process.
Miami's defense has been solid overall this season, ranking in the top nine against both passing and running attacks. However, their weakness has been getting to opposing quarterbacks, as they currently rank 28th in the league with just 21 sacks in 12 games.
This weakness was on display again in their Thanksgiving game against the Packers. Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love had an easy day against the Miami defense, completing 21 of 28 passes for 274 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The Dolphins failed to sack Love once all game.
The lack of pressure on Love allowed him to analyze Miami's defense, averaging an impressive 9.8 yards per attempt. Although the Dolphins managed to contain running back Josh Jacobs, limiting him to just 2.3 yards per carry, they struggled to stop the Packers' rushing attack as a whole, giving up a total of 114 yards per carry. ground and allowing Jacobs to score a goal-line touchdown in the first quarter.
With Green Bay taking a comfortable 24-3 lead into halftime, Tagovailoa was forced to rely heavily on his passing game in an attempt to come back within the score. He completed 37 passes for 365 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. However, despite his efforts and a 3-2 record since returning from injury, Tagovailoa was unable to get the Dolphins going again in Week 13.
It should be noted that the Packers were without three key players in Thursday night's game – cornerback Jaire Alexander, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and wide receiver Romeo Doubs. Despite a reduced roster, Green Bay was able to pull out the win and improve its record to 9-3 while remaining competitive in the hotly contested NFC North division.
Overall, this loss was a significant setback for the Dolphins' playoff hopes. Calais Campbell's candid assessment of Miami's defensive performance highlights the missed opportunities and tackles that ultimately cost them the game against the Packers. With little time left in the season, it remains to be seen if they can bounce back and make a postseason push.
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