Week Four for the Miami Dolphins felt rather a lot like the primary quarter of the 2020 season for the Dolphins as a complete. There was loads of enhancements from final yr’s torpid workforce within the early parts of the 2019 season — however general this workforce’s youth and inexperience proved to be an excessive amount of because the Dolphins butted heads with a superior opponent.

That’s maybe essentially the most irritating piece of the puzzle for the Dolphins. This can be a workforce that has needed to play two legit MVP candidates within the first 4 video games of the season in Josh Allen and Russell Wilson — each of whom have quarterbacked their groups to undefeated 4-Zero data. And in Miami’s different loss, the Dolphins entered the season in opposition to the best coach of all-time,. who loved unveiling a model new offense for the primary time in twenty years. The schedule makers weren’t overly type to a Dolphins workforce that wanted some generosity in the event that they have been going to hit the bottom operating this season.

However who deserves the majority of the blame for Miami’s most up-to-date loss, a 31-23 determination in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks? Listed below are our 5 greatest candidates:

Oct 4, 2020; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) makes an attempt a cross in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks through the first half at Laborious Rock Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports activities

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

This was a full-on “Fitztragic” meltdown efficiency for Ryan Fitzpatrick. One week after he was extremely in rhythm and seemingly couldn’t miss, Fitzpatrick seemingly couldn’t get something proper in opposition to Seattle’s zone coverages early on. Whereas he did endure stress on each of his two interceptions that appeared to affect his throws, Fitzpatrick threw no less than two extra would-be interceptions that have been merely simply dropped by the protection.

His determination making was poor and he appeared to predesignate his reads on a handful of events as an alternative of working progressions to discover a extra out there receiver to focus on with the soccer.

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Oct 4, 2020; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Seattle Seahawks extensive receiver DK Metcalf (14) runs with the ball round Miami Dolphins cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (23) through the first half at Laborious Rock Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports activities

DB Noah Igbinoghene

The rookie had a foul, horrible, no good day in opposition to Seattle. With the Dolphins trailing 17-15, the Seattle Seahawks’ headsets reportedly went out, leaving Russell Wilson to function the offense on his personal. And, conveniently sufficient, that was proper in regards to the time that Seattle appeared to search out Igbinoghene many times. There was the deep crosser for a giant achieve after which the contact cross that got here to Igbinoghene’s facet of the sector — the place he was caught on a block for much too lengthy. Lastly, that drive was capped with a looping landing from Wilson to David Moore within the again nook of the top zone. Igbinoghene appeared to underestimate the room Wilson needed to work with in the long run zone on the play, sagging off in his zone earlier than frantically making an attempt to shut the hole.

That doesn’t even work in Miami’s most egregious gaffe on protection, Igbinoghene’s poor judgement within the remaining 20 seconds of the primary half — when he jumped down out of deep third protection to attempt to bounce a throw from Wilson. That play left Moore streaking down the left sideline and gained 57 yards earlier than Wilson promptly obtained Seattle into the top zone to take a 17-9 lead into halftime lower than 30 seconds after Miami kicked a subject objective to chop the rating to 10-9.

Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores at Laborious Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, September 20, 2020. [ALLEN EYESTONE/The Palm Beach Post]

Head coach Brian Flores

Brian Flores shouldn’t be above critiques for his efficiency in opposition to Seattle — this was not his greatest teaching job. The Dolphins punted the ball again to Seattle early within the recreation after it was dominated that Ryan Fitzpatrick threw an unlawful ahead cross to Mike Gesicki to transform a 3rd down. However each replay of the toss appeared to indicate Fitzpatrick behind the official line of scrimmage — but the Dolphins didn’t problem the play and finally punted the ball again to Seattle as an alternative.

However the root of Flores’ points stems extra so from the choice making. The Dolphins have been 1 of three within the crimson zone and opted to kick subject objectives on 5 consecutive possessions — together with passing up 4th & Three from the 11, 4th & Four from the 27, 4th & 5 from the 25 and 4th & 5 from the 11 as soon as once more on the finish of a 17 play drive.

You may’t “take the three factors” in opposition to quarterbacks like Russell Wilson. That’s how Wilson finally ends up seeing his offense marginalized within the second half and nonetheless magically outscoring the opposite workforce — which is precisely what he did.

Oct 4, 2020; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive finish Emmanuel Ogbah (91) and defensive finish Zach Sieler (92) sack Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) through the first half at Laborious Rock Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports activities

Seattle QB Russell Wilson

Wilson completed 24-34 passing for 360 yards, 2 touchdowns and one interception. The Dolphins managed to sack him twice and, if you happen to’re into silver linings, held Seattle to their lowest level whole of the season to date. Wilson is taking part in as probably the greatest quarterbacks within the recreation and you need to play a full 60 minute effort in opposition to him or he’s going to kill you. Miami performed effectively in opposition to Wilson for in all probability 55 minutes price of recreation clock — however these different 5 minutes have been sufficient to get Seattle excessive.

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The officers

By all the sector objectives, would-be Fitzpatrick interceptions and Noah Igbinoghene’s lapses in protection — Miami discovered themselves down one rating and going through third down on protection close to midfield with a minute left on the clock. RB Chris Carson plunged into the pile and appeared to get a beneficiant spot from the official — and even then the Dolphins appeared to have house between the yard marker and the tip of the ball. But it surely was referred to as a primary down anyway, reviewed and dominated to haven’t any conclusive proof to vary the decision.

Add in Seattle not having a single penalty logged in opposition to all of them recreation (the one Seattle calls got here with an offsetting Miami foul) — together with a no name on a transparent shot to the pinnacle/neck of a defenseless Dolphins’ receiver — and the officers did Miami no favors in Week 4.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports activities

Conclusion

So who’s most in charge for the Dolphins’ 31-23 loss to the Seattle Seahawks? Right here’s our greatest allotment of blame:

Seattle QB Russell Wilson

Dolphins coach Brian Flores

Dolphins CB Noah Igbinoghene

Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

The officers