Miami Dolphins offensive keys against the Green Bay Packers

The Miami Dolphins offense appears to be back on track after putting up 29 points on the road in bad weather against the Buffalo Bills last week.

They are set to take on a below average Green Bay Packers defense. I fully expect for Tua Tagovailoa to make a statement after not making the Pro Bowl.

Here are the three major keys to the Dolphins’ offense putting up big numbers against the Packers this week.

ONE

RUN. THE. FOOTBALL.

When we look at the success of the Dolphins’ offense last week it all comes back to their ability to run the football. When Raheem Mostert got going early it greatly helped Tua and the passing offense.

In the fourth quarter when they became more pass happy the offense slowed, only scoring 3 points.

In the first three quarters though they were marching up and down the field. Mostert was playing the best he has played all year. When he was tired Salvon Ahmed, despite not playing much this year, came in and was productive as well.

This made it easier on Tua, Jaylen Waddle, and Tyreek Hill to be productive through the air.

The total production of this offense is going to fall squarely on their ability to run the football.

When the Dolphins get too reliant on the pass; the offense struggles. We saw that happen against the Los Angeles Chargers and San Francisco 49ers.

TWO

Mike McDaniel has to find a way to get Waddle the ball. Seeing Waddle have a big game against the Bills was much needed. He had disappeared against the 49ers and Chargers.

In the Dolphins’ two worst offensive games of the year Waddle had a combined three catches for 40 yards. It is unacceptable for one of the most explosive players in all of football to be that lacking in production.

Plus, the offense is way more explosive when you have to worry about both Waddle and Hill.

It is impossible to account for all of that speed.

It is absolutely imperative that both Hill and Waddle have big games. I am not concerned about Hill having a productive game. He has been consistent all year, but even when you look at his numbers. His bigger games happen when Waddle is a consistent threat on the other side.

THREE

This is the most important thing for the Dolphins to figure out this week.

They have to capitalize in the red zone. If they had scored touchdowns, instead of settling for field goals in the first quarter last week that would have been an entirely different game.

They made it to the red zone four times last week. They only scored two touchdowns. That is a huge difference in that game.

I know the Packers are not great this year, but if you do not score touchdowns Aaron Rodgers can beat you. Because he will score touchdowns.

Part of this falls on Tua and part of it falls on McDaniel for the playcalling. It seems like whenever the Dolphins get within 10 yards of the goal line they throw the ball a ton.

There is little effort to try and run the ball when it is goal to go. It seems to always be a quick slant or some kind of back shoulder fade.

That needs to change.

The Dolphins have to figure out how to run the ball in the red zone. That is a major key to scoring touchdowns and not settling for field goals.

Ultimately when you play against good teams with good quarterbacks this is the difference in the game. We saw it cost the Dolphins last week, hopefully we do not see it again.