Without their breakout QB, the Miami Dolphins flamed out from one of the most surprisingly awesome teams in the NFL to a frighteningly mediocre one. Trading injuries, Teddy Bridgewater and Skylar Thompson have struggled to patch in Tua Tagovailoa’s work in three back-to-back losses to the Bengals, Jets and Vikings. 

Miami was 3-0 — even surviving the Butt Punt — with Tagovailoa at the helm, the only team able to beat the Bills so far this season. In that game, he only threw one touchdown, but in the game before, he threw a ridiculous six and for 469 passing yards. 

Tagovailoa has been sidelined the last two weeks after a string of head injuries resulting in a concussion that at one point, horrifyingly appeared to leave the QB unable to control his hand movements. He was taken out of the stadium in an ambulance. 

Why he was on the field for that second hit became a national storyline fans wanted answers for. The 24-year-old was controversially allowed to continue playing after suffering a first, scary hit that caused him to lose his balance walking against the Bills four days prior. The NFL has since adjusted its concussion protocol to remove doctors’ ability to clear a player who’s noticeably lost motor coordination.

With Tagovailoa fully healed, the Dolphins look to regain steam against one of the league’s worst teams that shockingly upset Tom Brady’s Buccaneers a week ago. Though they, too, are unlikely to start their QB Kenny Pickett, who suffered a concussion on Sunday.

Dolphins stat munchies:

• The Dolphins rank 13th in yards after the catch (YAC). Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and the rest of their receiving core are shifty with the ball!

• Miami is second in yards gained by passing. Tagovailoa’s big game against the Bills will do that!

• The Steelers have dropped just 3.9% of on-target passes, the sixth-fewest in the NFL. Their receivers are on point when called on!