Welcome to the first game recap of the 2025 NFL regular season. The game between the Colts and Dolphins is over with the Colts dominating the Dolphins 33-8. Today was an emotional day for the Colts faithful as the Colts placed former owner Jim Irsay into the ring of honor.  

Coming into this game today, the Dolphins won four straight season opening games as the Colts lost eleven straight season opening games and even though the Colts were 1.5-point favorites, they absolutely dominated, controlled, and completely outworked today. Even though it is the first game of the season, Mike McDaniel and Chris Grier need to find a way to figure this out now, not in a couple of weeks, but right now. Next Sunday the Dolphins play the Patriots at home, then go to Buffalo on a Thursday night, then play the Jets on Monday Night Football. If the Dolphins somehow lose those next three critical divisional games, both Grier and McDaniel’s seats will be blazing with fire. Today’s performance was completely embarrassing and unacceptable by the offense, defense, and special teams.  

Heading into the states, Daniel Jones went 22/29, 272 passing yards, a passing touchdown, and two rushing touchdowns. Jones completely outplayed Tagovailoa and simply was the better quarterback today. Jonathan Taylor had 71 yards rushing on 18 attempts and Michael Pittman Jr led the Colts in receiving with 80 yards, 6 receptions and a receiving touchdown. The Colts offense scored on every single drive and was too physical for the Dolphins defense. Physicality is something the Dolphins have mentioned they have gotten better at, but today it seemed like more of the same today and it cannot be a trend early for this season. Bradley Chubb registered the only sack for the Dolphins defense. 

For the Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa was terrible today, along with the entire team. Three total turnovers will not win you many games in the NFL and with this being a make-or-break year for Tua and the Dolphins, games like the one played today the team can’t afford this to happen. Tagovailoa finished with 114 passing yards, a passing touchdown, 2 interceptions, and a fumble. He finished the day with a passer rating of 51.7. For a player being paid over $50 million a year, Tua must be better as this team will go as far as he will go. Offensively, Tua was not the only one that hurt the Dolphins today, Coach McDaniel abandoned the run once again today. The Dolphins finished the day averaging 6.5 yards per carry on only 12 carries in total. In comparison, the Colts had 40 carries. The only positive Dolphins fans saw today was De’von Achane scoring the only touchdown the Dolphins had today.

Coach McDaniel has abounded the run too many times before and that was an issue last year as the Dolphins had no run game which is why the offense struggled, same thing today happened, and it seems nothing has changed. Tyreek Hill led the team in receiving yards with only 40 yards on 4 receptions and was seen visibly frustrated on the sideline early in the game. The last thing this team needs a a complete meltdown from the locker room involving a star player.

With some injury updates, starting cornerback Storm Duck left the game early along with guard James Daniels. It was an ankle for Duck and a pectoral injury for Daniels. McDaniel stated that he does not know the severity of their injuries yet.  

This has been said, but the Dolphins have a red alert, and it is a must win next Sunday against the Patriots. Any Dolphin fan could agree that the problem is not that they lost, but how they lost. Every aspect of the game the Dolphins looked soft and that will not be tolerated this year. For Grier, McDaniel, and Tagovailoa, the big 3 of this franchise; must figure it out for the sake of their future here in Miami. 

Cover Photo Credit: FinsXtra