MIAMI — The Miami Dolphins came into the 2025 season with a mantra of “they say, we do,” and used it to respond to every criticism that got doused on South Florida’s NFL franchise all offseason.

After watching Miami’s abysmal performance in the 33-8 season-opening loss to the Indianapolis Colts, I’m starting to wonder what exactly can the Dolphins say “we do” besides fold when the heat gets turned up?

That’s the best way to explain Miami’s tragic debut against a Colts team nobody expected anything special from.

This wasn’t the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, or a perennial contender like the Kansas City Chiefs, or the AFC East juggernaut Buffalo Bills.

These were the Colts, but on the other side was the Mike McDaniel Dolphins, and it’s pretty clear that when his teams face adversity they wilt. At least that’s what three seasons and one game’s showing us “we do.”

“It was a collection of how to lose football games in the National Football League,” McDaniel said, summarizing his team’s performance, which featured miscues in all three phases of the game. “We have a lot of corrections to make and it’s only going to be made through hard work.”

Or a better roster?

Or better coaching?

At this point, it’s hard to say which one was more troubling in the debut.

Think about it.

All of this franchise’s worst fears were activated in Sunday’s loss to the Colts, which nearly got a shutout, but Dolphins tailback De’Von Achane concluded a nine-play, 65 yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown reception, which was followed by a two-point conversion.

That was the offense’s only respectable drive of the game because ...

The tight end Miami signed to replace Jonnu Smith, who was traded to Pittsburgh, wasn’t able to play because of a troublesome hip injury he supposedly suffered in his one week of football practice after coming out of retirement.

Subsequently, Miami’s tight ends were targeted four times all game, allowing Tanner Conner to bring down two receptions for 20 yards.

And by the way, Tyler Warren, the tight end Miami passed on drafting with the 13th overall pick, finished the game with seven receptions for 76 yards. He was taken by the Colts one pick after Miami drafted defensive lineman Kenneth Grant.

Then the biggest-ticket item in free agency, starting right guard James Daniels, lasted all of three plays before sustaining a pectoral injury that got him sidelined for the game, and forced the most troublesome group of backups on the field.

Kion Smith replaced Daniels, who seemed fine walking out of the locker room, and got streamrolled on a couple of plays that contributed to Tua Tagovailoa’s three turnovers.

Tagovailoa, who put a deep shot to Tyreek Hill too high, allowing it to be picked off, then got intercepted by defensive end Laiatu Latu on a intermediate pass intended for Malik Washington in the middle of the field, looked like the inept quarterback his team should move on from while Daniel Jones’ play was efficient (115.9 passer rating) in his first regular season start for his new team.

Tagovailoa committed three turnovers (two interceptions and a lost fumble created by a sack) in the first half, contributing to the massive snap disparity that was a major storyline of the game, where the Colts nearly doubled Miami’s 211 total yards.

“I wouldn’t say I’m pressing. It’s part of the game,” Tagovailoa said when asked about his multiple turnover games. “I thought that’s a wild comment, that I turn the ball over in bunches. That’s crazy.”

But it’s ACCURATE!

This was the seventh time Tagovailoa has committed at least three turnovers since 2020 according to ESPN Research, and only one quarterback (Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence) has more in that span, with eight.

Tagovailoa lost a fumble and threw multiple interceptions for the fourth time in his career, and this is the second time in his last three starts he has done it, which includes last year’s humbling loss to the Houston Texans.

But those were the offensive issues, which is only one half of the Dolphins’ piss poor debut.

If losing the top free agent addition wasn’t bad enough, the top cornerback (Storm Duck) in the team’s least experienced unit was sidelined by a left ankle injury he suffered in the second quarter, further testing the team’s troublesome depth at two problematic spots.

That forced veteran Rasul Douglas into action two weeks after being signed.

And finally, a Dolphins defense that prides itself on creating pressure only produced one sack.

Aren’t they supposed to be the backbone of this defense? The same defense that allowed the Colts to score on all seven of their possessions in the season opener, becoming the first time since 1977 to accomplish the feat.

“Disappointed, but not discouraged,” said pass rusher Jaelan Phillips, who got carved up in coverage on a few of those Warren receptions. “You’re going to get kicked in the mouth sometimes. It’s about how you respond.

“This doesn’t shake our confidence, but shows us that we still have a lot of things to work on.”

Based on week one, there’s no other way we can view the 2025 Dolphins as anything different than the mentally and physically fragile franchise McDaniel has coached the past three seasons.

It’s just one game, but a preview that should make you turn your nose up at the featured film being unveiled over the next 17 weeks.

“We want to build off this, that’s what we’re looking forward to. I don’t want to overreact, but we don’t want to underreact to this,” said Tagovailoa, whose 51.7 passer rating was the second worst of his six-year career. “We want to make sure we get this right so it never happens again.”

____

©2025 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.