Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa knows he needs to step up: 'I'm not playing up to the standard that I've played in years past'
In the NFL, quarterbacks get all of the credit and much of the blame, depending on which side of the coin their team falls on.
Unfortunately for Miami Dolphins starter Tua Tagovailoa, the latter applies to him this season. Through the first three games, Tagovailoa and the Dolphins' offense have not lived up to what they've done in previous years. Tagovailoa knows this and told the Miami Herald as much Thursday.
"I'm not playing up to the standard that I've played in years past, and knowing the standard that I can play to," Tagovailoa told the Miami Herald. "It starts with me. Offensively, I have to get our [offense] going, and the defense has to feed off that."
Tagovailoa and the Dolphins are 0-3 this season and host the 0-3 New York Jets in Week 4 on "Monday Night Football." This formerly explosive Dolphins offense has been lackluster at best in 2025, speaking to Tagovailoa's point about playing to his standard. At certain points of his career, Tagovailoa has led the NFL in passer rating, passing yards and completion percentage, even as recently as last season.
The explosiveness of Miami's offense has suddenly disappeared, due in large part to the Pro Bowl quarterback's lack of production this season. His average of 191.7 yards per game is the lowest since Tagovailoa's rookie season in 2020. In 2024, Tagovailoa passed for over 260 yards per game. In 2023, he averaged 272 yards per game.
Last summer, Tagovailoa signed a massive four-year $212 million extension, which raised the level of expectation even higher in Miami. He followed that up by playing in 11 games and throwing 19 touchdowns, 7 interceptions and passing for 2,867 yards. The Dolphins finished the season 8-9, missing the playoffs. So far this season, he's thrown 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions for 575 yards.
Miami's offensive woes have also put head coach Mike McDaniel on the hot seat. Losing a fourth consecutive game would certainly make that seat much hotter and attract more criticism for his quarterback.
It's not an easy task to be in his shoes, but I'm very happy with where his mind is at and where his focus is at because if he was a weaker-minded individual ..." McDaniel said. It's tough for any quarterback during any losing streak.. He's focused on being 1-0 against the New York Jets, and that's why I know he's capable."