The Miami Dolphins looked like they were for real after their 33-20 victory over the New England Patriots in Week 1, but since then the team has suffered a number of injuries that eventually led to their 29-10 defeat in Buffalo last week. Could their playoff hopes be affected this early in the season?
The team's injury report is as extensive as it gets, and with a number of injuries to contributing players coupled with tough matchups in the next four weeks, the Dolphins could be facing danger very early in the 2014 season. Over the next four weeks Miami will face the Chiefs (0-2) at home, visit the Oakland Raiders (0-2), host the Green Bay Packers (1-1), and travel to Solider Field for a game against the Chicago Bears (1-1).
But they'll be without running back Knowshon Moreno over that time span after he dislocated his elbow against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The team was hopeful they could use both Moreno (the cutback runner) and Lamar Miller (the power runner) in their offensive attack, but that's out of the cards for the next month. Additionally, tight end Charles Clay has been slowed by a knee injury and was limited in practice this week again, which has been affecting Ryan Tannehill's ability to attack the middle of the field. These are two key playmakers the Dolphins were relying on to succeed this year.
But that's not all. Nearly the entire offensive line is banged up: center Mike Pouncey has yet to play this year after undergoing major hip surgery in June; left tackle Branden Albert has been limited in practice all week due to a shoulder injury; starting right guard Shelley Smith didn't practice at all due to a knee injury and is expected to miss time; and backup guard Billy Turner was limited in practice with a foot issue.
The Dolphins offense was expected to surprise this year under offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, who has blamed himself for the offensive woes, especially in the passing game. Ryan Tannehill is seemingly still struggling in his third year and is just 49-of-81 passing for 419 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in the team's first two games. He's also tied for last in the NFL with Tom Brady for pass yards per attempt (5.17).
"You can count the number of throws you think are errant, you can count the number of drops, you can count the protection issues when there is pressure on the quarterback," Lazor said in this Miami Herald article. "They are all true, but when it's all of that together, that's on the coordinator. I am very disappointed by the job I've done in the passing game, but I'm very encouraged about where we're headed."
Their next four games aren't easy, as they will face a desperate Chiefs team in need of a win, travel to the West Coast to play Oakland, and then face two obvious playoff contenders in the Packers and Bears. If Miami goes 1-3 over that stretch, they could find themselves digging themselves out of a hole after only Week 6.
