Good start reversed by Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a desperate team.
The 3-2 Dolphins, after two straight road losses, are back home on Sunday to face the 3-1 Chicago Bears, who lead the NFC North.
While the Bears are coming off three straight wins and then last Sunday’s bye, the Dolphins are in pain if not turmoil.
“Every loss hurts,” Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said. “When you put in 110 hours of work in a week and you get kicked in the (privates), it (angers) you.”
Over the past two weeks, Miami was routed by the New England Patriots 38-7 and then lost 27-17 to the Cincinnati Bengals.
In the latter game, the Dolphins led 17-0 late in the third quarter when the Bengals rattled off 27 consecutive points, including two defensive touchdowns on turnovers by Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
It’s enough to sour Miami’s mood.
“It’s definitely not the same as when we were 3-0,” Dolphins right tackle Ja’Wuan James said when asked about the environment inside the Miami locker room. “But, at the same time, I don’t see any guys wavering. Everyone is focused on (the Bears).”
One of Miami’s biggest problems right now is its offensive line, where two starters – guard Josh Sitton and center Daniel Kilgore – are out for the season due to injuries. In addition, starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil has a concussion and is unlikely to play this week.
Sam Young replaced Tunsil during the Bengals game, and guard Ted Larsen and center Travis Swanson have taken over for Sitton and Kilgore, respectively.
Gase defended Tannehill’s pocket presence this week, seemingly laying the blame on the injury-plagued offensive line.
“When a (lineman) gets beat so fast that (Tannehill) can’t defend himself,” Gase said, “unless he’s Houdini, not many guys get away.”
To make matters worse for Dolphins blockers, next up is Chicago’s Khalil Mack, who is perhaps the best pass rusher in the NFL.
Mack, the fifth overall draft pick in 2014 by the Oakland Raiders, was a Pro Bowl pick in each of the past three years before being traded to Chicago for this season due to a contract holdout.
In four games this season, he has 24 quarterback pressures, five sacks, four forced fumbles, two passes defensed, one interception, one fumble recovery and one touchdown.
He is also the first NFL player in 13 years to have a sack and a forced fumble in four straight games.
“You’re not going to slow (Mack) down,” Gase said.
The Dolphins better figure out something or they will be a .500 team by Sunday night.
SERIES HISTORY: 13th regular-season meeting. Dolphins lead series, 8-4. The teams haven’t played since 2014, when the Dolphins won 24-14.