The Miami Dolphins had a disastrous Week 17.
The calamity was illustrated on Tuesday’s episode of Hard Knocks In Season with the Miami Dolphins.
They lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 56-19. They lost a shot at the AFC’s No. 1 seed. And they lost Bradley Chubb for the season.
However, their opportunity to become AFC East champions, a goal and message established before the final game, was not lost.
“This is a very important moment, because, like, it’s very defeating, and we have to guard against our team’s human nature,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on the sideline. “Human nature is to say, ‘F— it, I don’t care.’ Nah, dude, let’s take this ass whooping and apply it. All we have in front of us is winning the AFC East.”
The message of looking forward wasn’t only being propagated by Miami’s head coach, despite the setback’s unilateral and disheartening nature.
Immediately after McDaniel is shown delivering his message to Tagovailoa, Hard Knocks cuts to Tagovailoa hearing the same sentiment from linebacker Duke Shelley.
“Shelley informs the QB, “We have a big one coming up this weekend.”
A big one, indeed.
The Dolphins will square off against the Buffalo Bills in the final game of the 2023 regular season on Sunday night, with the winner coming away with the AFC East crown.
Miami has already secured a spot in the playoffs, but if it wins, a postseason home game is on the horizon.
Despite the Dolphins’ most significant defeat of the season, McDaniel and Miami ensured they kept their focus on the future.
Hard Knocks: In Season with the Miami Dolphins airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and is available to stream on Max until the end of the Dolphins’ season.
