In a disappointing defensive performance against the Packers on Thanksgiving, Calais Campbell of the Miami Dolphins didn’t hold back in his assessment of the team’s effort. The loss dealt a major blow to the Dolphins’ postseason aspirations.
The Dolphins entered Week 13 with a 5-6 record and a chance to even their season at .500. Every game is crucial for Miami after starting the season 2-6. Since quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s return from injury in Week 8, the Dolphins have shown signs of being contenders. However, their playoff chances took a hit on Thursday night as they were dominated by the Green Bay Packers in a 30-17 defeat.
Following the game, Calais Campbell, one of the leaders of Miami’s defense, expressed frustration over the team missing 20 tackles in Week 13. “That’s the game right there… When we have opportunities to make tackles in critical situations, we have to make plays,” Campbell said.
Campbell added, “If we’re playing our best ball, we can beat anybody. But today was definitely not our best ball,” highlighting the disappointment felt by the team after their performance.
Despite being in his 17th year in the league and no longer at his peak since winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Campbell remains an important contributor to Miami’s defense. The Dolphins had an opportunity to trade him to the Baltimore Ravens but chose to keep him due to head coach Mike McDaniel’s belief that Miami can still make a run for the playoffs and recognizing Campbell’s role in that process.
Miami’s defense has been solid overall this season, ranking within the top nine against both passing and rushing attacks. However, their weakness has been getting to opposing quarterbacks, as they currently rank 28th in the league with only 21 sacks through 12 games.
This weakness was evident once again in their Thanksgiving matchup against the Packers. Green Bay’s quarterback, Jordan Love, had a field day against Miami’s defense, completing 21 out of 28 passes for 274 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. The Dolphins failed to sack Love even once throughout the game.
The lack of pressure on Love allowed him to pick apart Miami’s defense, averaging an impressive 9.8 yards per attempt. While the Dolphins managed to contain running back Josh Jacobs, holding him to just 2.3 yards per carry, they struggled to stop the Packers’ rushing attack as a whole, giving up a total of 114 rushing yards and allowing Jacobs to score a goal-line touchdown in the first quarter.
With Green Bay taking a commanding 24-3 lead into halftime, Tagovailoa was forced to rely heavily on his passing game in an attempt to mount a comeback. He completed 37 passes for 365 yards and two touchdowns without any turnovers. However, despite his efforts and going 3-2 since his return from injury, Tagovailoa couldn’t rally the Dolphins in Week 13.
It’s worth noting that the Packers were without three key players during Thursday night’s game – cornerback Jaire Alexander, linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, and wide receiver Romeo Doubs. Despite being shorthanded, Green Bay managed to secure the win and improve their record to 9-3 while staying competitive in the highly-contested NFC North division.
Overall, this loss was a significant setback for the Dolphins’ playoff hopes. Calais Campbell’s blunt assessment of Miami’s defensive performance highlights the missed opportunities and tackles that ultimately cost them the game against the Packers. With limited time left in the season, it remains to be seen if they can bounce back and make a postseason push.