Dolphins’ Struggles in Cold Weather Continue with 30-17 Loss to Packers

Despite quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s hopes of changing the narrative surrounding the Miami Dolphins’ performance in cold weather, the team fell short once again, losing 30-17 to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. The loss, which came in temperatures hovering around 27°F (-2.7°C) with a wind chill of 18°F, extended Miami’s painful winless streak in games played in freezing conditions.

With this latest defeat, the Dolphins (5-7) have now lost 12 consecutive regular-season or postseason games when the kickoff temperature is 40°F (4.4°C) or lower. Their most recent win in such conditions came in December 2016, when they triumphed 34-31 in overtime at Buffalo.

For Miami to have any hope of reaching the playoffs for the third consecutive year, they will need to break their cold-weather jinx. The Dolphins finish the regular season with road games against the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets, where they will need to perform better in the chill to keep their playoff hopes alive.

While the cold temperatures weren’t the only factor in their loss, the Dolphins seemed out of sync compared to the momentum they had built during a three-game winning streak. Tagovailoa threw for 364 yards, completing 37 of 46 passes and throwing two touchdowns, but was sacked five times and struggled without much support from his team.

Miami found itself playing catch-up early in the game, as the Packers jumped out to a commanding 24-3 lead in the first 37½ minutes. The Dolphins were plagued by mistakes, including a muffed punt by Malik Washington that set up Green Bay’s first touchdown and six first-half penalties. In a critical goal-to-go situation in the first half, Miami was forced to settle for a field goal, and in the fourth quarter, they failed to score after having second-and-goal at the 1-yard line.

The defense, already shorthanded without linebacker Anthony Walker and cornerback Kendall Fuller, lost nickel corner Kader Kohou and cornerback Cam Smith to injuries during the game, further hindering their chances.

Although Miami threatened to make a comeback in the fourth quarter, their red zone struggles proved fatal. After scoring a touchdown and forcing a punt with a key stop on third-and-1, the Dolphins drove into the red zone again but failed to convert. De’Von Achane was stopped on second down, and on third and fourth down, Tagovailoa’s attempts failed, including a sack on the final play.

With the game slipping away, the Packers sealed the victory, leaving the Dolphins out in the cold once more. As Miami looks ahead to the final stretch of the season, the team will need to overcome not just their cold-weather woes but also their costly mistakes if they hope to make a playoff push.