Dolphins Survive Saints Thanks to Defense, Achane - Not Tua
The Miami Dolphins walked away with a 21-17 win over the New Orleans Saints, but let’s be honest - this one wasn’t about quarterback Tua Tagovailoa lighting it up. It was about a defense that refused to break, and a rookie running back who continues to look like the spark plug of this offense.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick put it plainly after the game: this wasn’t about “bailing out” the offense. It was about doing their job - and doing it when it mattered most.
“Honestly, we don't even see it as bailing him out,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s just doing our job. No matter how many times we get called out there, we have to go out there and do our job and get the ball back to them.”
That mindset is the backbone of what the Dolphins are trying to build - a team that plays complementary football, where one unit picks up the slack when the other is struggling. And on Sunday, the defense had to carry the load.
Tua Struggles Again
Tagovailoa was under pressure early and often. The Saints defense got to him four times - tied for his second-highest sack total of the season - and that pressure clearly rattled the rhythm of Miami’s passing game. Tua finished the day 12-of-23 for 157 yards, matching his season-low completion percentage (52.2%) and posting his fourth-lowest passer rating of the year (55.9).
He also tossed his 14th interception of the season, this one coming in the red zone just one play after Fitzpatrick forced a fumble with a sack. It was a moment that could’ve been a turning point - a chance for Miami to capitalize - but instead, it turned into a missed opportunity. Head coach Mike McDaniel later said he would’ve preferred Tua go to tight end Darren Waller instead of forcing it to Jaylen Waddle in the end zone.
And it wasn’t just the interception. Tua had a few more passes that could’ve easily been picked off. His timing looked off, his decision-making a step slow, and the offense as a whole never found its groove in the second half, managing just 141 total yards - only 81 of those through the air.
“It starts with me, starts with my performance, how I distribute the ball,” Tua said postgame. “When I'm able to distribute the ball well, the operation (goes well). The run game helps with that.”
Achane Keeps Rolling
Thankfully for Miami, De’Von Achane continues to be the X-factor. The rookie running back racked up 134 yards on the ground, pushing him past the 1,000-yard mark for the season - an impressive feat considering the Dolphins’ recent shift toward a more run-heavy approach.
Tua had nothing but praise for his backfield mate.
“He’s so versatile,” he said. “You can align him in the slot.
You can align him in a receiver stance, in a running back position, you name it. Just the diversity that he gives our offense is what I think makes him very special, outside of the ability to run and catch.”
Achane’s emergence has been a lifeline for an offense that’s been inconsistent through the air in recent weeks. But McDaniel knows that with success comes attention - and as the final stretch of the season approaches, defenses will start game-planning to take Achane away.
“Ultimately in the pass game there were some plays that weren't made,” McDaniel said. “I wouldn't say Tua played his best game. I just know it was a little herky-jerky in the pass game.”
Looking Ahead: The Passing Game Must Catch Up
McDaniel was clear - the Dolphins need more balance, and they need it soon. While the run game has been a strength, it’s only a matter of time before defenses start selling out to stop it. And when that happens, Miami will need Tua and the passing attack to be ready.
“There were some plays made in the second half by Tua, but there were some plays that we’d like to have back,” McDaniel said. “That’s a collective for sure. At some point, we're going to have to execute in the near future because in the NFL, if you have success in a phase or success in running the ball, people will overcommit and you'll eventually need to pass to win.”
That’s where the concern lies. Tagovailoa - a quarterback who once led the league in passer rating (2022), passing yards (2023), and completion percentage (2024) - is not playing like that guy right now. He currently ranks 23rd in passer rating, 16th in touchdowns, and leads the league in interceptions.
Still, Tua remains focused on the bottom line.
“The main objective for what I'm supposed to do as I go out there to lead that offense (is) score one more point or however many more points than the opposing team,” he said. “So regardless of what that looks like, whether the game is asking me to throw for a set amount of yards or however many touchdowns, I’m just more fascinated with the wins. So I’m glad we got a team win.”
Bottom Line
The Dolphins escaped with a win, and in the NFL, that’s never something to take for granted. But if Miami wants to be more than just a playoff team - if they want to contend - they’ll need more from their quarterback.
The defense is doing its part. Achane is doing his.
Now it’s time for Tua and the passing game to find their rhythm again.
Because at some point, the Dolphins will face a team that won’t let them run their way to victory. And when that day comes, they’ll need the guy under center to carry them.