Tua Tagovailoa appears to be growing increasingly frustrated with the media. During the Miami Dolphins’ 28-27 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, the Dolphins made a costly mistake in the third quarter that turned the tide of the game. With 2nd-and-10 from their own 13-yard line, Tagovailoa was unable to handle a shotgun snap from center Aaron Brewer.
The ball ricocheted off Tagovailoa’s hands and rolled into the end zone, where the quarterback made a heads-up play by batting it out of bounds, conceding a safety rather than allowing the Cardinals to score a defensive touchdown.
The miscue was significant. At the time, Miami was leading 20-10, and the safety cut the Dolphins’ lead to a one-score game.
Ultimately, Miami lost by a single point, making the safety a pivotal moment in the contest. It wasn’t hard to draw a line from that mishap to the final result, as it provided Arizona with a crucial momentum shift.
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When asked about the botched snap during a media session on Wednesday, Tagovailoa responded with a hint of defiance. “I’d like to see a lot of other people go back there and try to catch that ball too,” Tagovailoa said, clearly feeling the pressure of criticism.
He added that fielding a snap like that is not as easy as it looks to those who are “sitting down on your couch eating chips.”
While Tagovailoa acknowledged that neither he nor Brewer was at their best on the play, his response highlighted his growing frustration with the relentless scrutiny from the media. The snap from Brewer did appear to be unusually hard, contributing to Tagovailoa’s inability to handle it cleanly.
This isn’t the first time Tagovailoa has shown his frustration with the media. His overall tone was reminiscent of his response when he faced questions about his decision to continue playing football following his latest concussion.
The constant probing seems to be wearing on him, and it’s understandable given the intense spotlight he’s under.
The Dolphins had hoped to get back on track with Tagovailoa’s return last week, but the narrow loss dropped their record to 2-5. Now, they face a critical test as they prepare to travel to Buffalo for a matchup against the Bills on Sunday, a game that feels like a must-win for Miami to keep their season afloat.
As the pressure mounts, Tagovailoa will need to stay focused amid the noise, and the Dolphins will have to rally around their quarterback if they hope to turn things around.
