Likes and dislikes from the Miami Dolphins loss to the Packers

Like: Waddle’s got wheels

After two games on the west coast where he was mostly a non-factor, Dolphins wide receiver has exploded back onto the scene. On the first play of Miami’s second drive, Waddle hauled in a 10-yard crossing route and took it 84 yards to the end zone, making it the longest offensive touchdown scored on Christmas Day in NFL history. He finished with five catches for 143 yards and a score, making it his second-straight 100-yard game and his sixth of the season.

The Miami offense is at its best when Waddle is as much of a threat as fellow receiver Tyreek Hill. The two combined for nine catches for 246 yards and a touchdown, with both averaging 25-plus yards per catch. So far this season, Hill has 1632 receiving yards and Waddle has 1260. The comparisons to Miami’s legendary Marks brothers seemed premature at the start of the year, but the two Dolphins receivers are putting up the numbers to back them up.

Dislike: Where’d the running game go?

After such a promising performance while battling the elements in Buffalo last week, it felt like the Dolphins took a step back against the Packers. Part of that is due to Dolphins head coach and play caller Mike McDaniel not utilizing the running game as he did against the Bills. After rushing for 56 yards in the first quarter, the Dolphins only managed 26 yards in the rest of the game.

Everything was there for the Dolphins to just rely on their running game. They had success the previous week against Buffalo, both running backs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. were available, the offensive line was relatively healthy, and the Packers were 29th in the league in rushing yards allowed. Despite all of that, Miami only ran the ball four times in the fourth quarter. McDaniel decided to let Tagovailoa try and make plays in the passing game, and it cost him.