Bye Week Playoff Setback Hits the Miami Dolphins

In the NFL, a bye week is supposed to be a reset—a chance for teams to heal injuries, refine strategies, and build momentum for the stretch run. But for the Miami Dolphins this season, the mid-November break turned into something far different: a unexpected turning point that derailed their playoff push. Bye Week Playoff Setback Hits the Miami Dolphins isn’t just about a few bad games after a rest; it’s about a perfect storm of injuries, roster gaps, and divisional rivals seizing control—all of which combined to turn a promising season into a fight for survival. Before their bye, the Dolphins sat at 7-3, tied with the Buffalo Bills for first place in the AFC East. A month later, they’re 9-5, a game behind the Bills, and staring at a brutal final two weeks that could end their playoff hopes entirely.

Bye Week Playoff Setback Hits the Miami Dolphins began with a blow no team can afford: a key injury to a star player during a non-contact practice. On the Wednesday before their bye week, wide receiver Tyreek Hill—who was on pace for a 2,000-yard season—tweaked his hamstring while running a routine route. Initial reports suggested he’d miss just one game, but the injury lingered, keeping him out for three weeks. Hill’s absence left a massive hole in the Dolphins’ offense, which relies on his speed to stretch defenses and create space for other playmakers like Jaylen Waddle. “Tyreek is irreplaceable,” Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith admitted after the team’s loss to the Jets post-bye. “He’s not just a receiver—he’s a game-changer. When you take that away, everything else has to adjust, and we didn’t adjust quickly enough.” Without Hill, the Dolphins’ passing offense dropped from 300 yards per game to 220, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa struggled to find consistent targets.

Bye Week Playoff Setback Hits the Miami Dolphins also exposed a critical flaw in the team’s roster: lack of depth on defense. During the bye, the Dolphins learned that starting defensive end Jaelan Phillips would miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles—an injury he’d aggravated during practice. Phillips, who had 7.5 sacks before the bye, was the anchor of the Dolphins’ pass rush, and his loss left the team with no proven replacement. Rookie defensive end Cam Smith, who was forced into a larger role, recorded just one sack in four games post-bye, and the Dolphins’ pass rush fell from 11th in the NFL in sacks to 23rd. “We thought we had depth at defensive end, but we didn’t,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said. “Jaelan’s injury showed us a weakness we didn’t address in the offseason, and it’s hurt us badly.” The Dolphins’ defense, which had held opponents to 20 points per game before the bye, allowed 28 points per game after, including a 45-17 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Bye Week Playoff Setback Hits the Miami Dolphins was made worse by the Bills’ simultaneous momentum shift. While the Dolphins were dealing with injuries and inconsistency, the Bills were winning three straight games—including a critical overtime victory over the Dolphins in Week 14. The Bills’ win not only gave them a one-game lead in the AFC East but also exposed the Dolphins’ defensive vulnerabilities, as Josh Allen threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns. “The Bills took advantage of our struggles,” Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard said. “They knew we were missing Tyreek and Jaelan, and they attacked those weaknesses. That game was a wake-up call, but by then, it was already too late.” The Miami Dolphins’ loss to the Bills was more than just a divisional setback—it was a psychological blow, as it showed they couldn’t compete with the AFC’s top teams without their full roster. To make matters worse, the Bills’ remaining schedule is far easier than the Dolphins’, giving them little chance to catch up.

Bye Week Playoff Setback Hits the Miami Dolphins also included a strategic misstep that cost the team valuable points: a failure to adjust to opposing defenses. After the bye, teams began using “cover-2” zone defenses to limit the Dolphins’ passing game, forcing Tagovailoa to throw into tight windows. Instead of adapting by running the ball more, the Dolphins stuck with their pass-heavy scheme, leading to three interceptions and several three-and-outs. Running back Raheem Mostert, who had 800 rushing yards before the bye, touched the ball just 10 times per game post-bye, and the Dolphins’ rushing offense dropped from 120 yards per game to 85. “We were too stubborn,” Smith said. “Teams were taking away our passing game, and we didn’t switch to the run soon enough. That’s on me—I should have adjusted the game plan faster.” The Miami Dolphins’ inability to run the ball not only hurt their offense but also kept their defense on the field longer, leading to more fatigue and more points allowed.

Bye Week Playoff Setback Hits the Miami Dolphins wraps up with the team staring at a make-or-break final two weeks. The Dolphins face the Baltimore Ravens (13-2) at home this week and the Bills on the road in Week 18—a pair of games that will likely decide their playoff fate. To make the playoffs, they’ll need to beat both teams, something no one expects them to do without a healthy Hill and Phillips. “We’re not giving up,” Tagovailoa said in a recent press conference. “We know the odds are against us, but we’re going to fight until the end. This team has heart, and we’re going to show that in these next two games.” For the Dolphins, the bye week will go down as a missed opportunity—a chance to reset that instead turned into a downward spiral. In the end, Bye Week Playoff Setback Hits the Miami Dolphins is a cautionary tale about the importance of roster depth, injury prevention, and strategic flexibility in the NFL. And if the Dolphins don’t turn things around quickly, it could be the story of their 2025 season.