Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 2 Recap: Jaguars Loss, Offensive Lapses, and Defensive Lessons Learned

After a dominant Week 1 win, the Miami Dolphins’ road trip to Jacksonville ended in disappointment, as they fell to the Jaguars 27-20 in a game that exposed key flaws in their offense and tested their ability to adapt to a tough opponent. What began as a back-and-forth battle quickly tilted in the Jaguars’ favor in the third quarter, with Trevor Lawrence leading two scoring drives and the Dolphins struggling to find their rhythm on offense. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, this loss isn’t just a setback—it’s a wake-up call, highlighting areas that need urgent fixes before they face even tougher competition in the coming weeks. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 2 Recap: Jaguars Loss, Offensive Lapses, and Defensive Lessons Learned breaks down the defining moments of the game, analyzes where the Dolphins went wrong, and explores what they need to adjust to get back on track.

The biggest issue for the Dolphins on Sunday was their offensive inconsistency— a stark contrast to their Week 1 dominance. Tua Tagovailoa, who looked nearly flawless against the Texans, finished the game 24 of 38 for 268 yards and one touchdown, but he also threw his first interception of the season (a late pass that was picked off by Jaguars cornerback Darious Williams) and struggled to connect with his receivers on key third downs. The Dolphins converted just 3 of 11 third-down attempts, compared to 7 of 14 in Week 1, and they were held to just 85 rushing yards (3.2 yards per carry) against a Jaguars run defense that ranked 22nd in 2023. Part of the problem was the Jaguars’ game plan: they focused on shutting down Tyreek Hill (who finished with 6 catches for 58 yards, well below his Week 1 total of 105) by using double teams and press coverage, forcing Tagovailoa to look to secondary options. “They made it tough for us to get Tyreek involved, and we didn’t adjust fast enough,” offensive coordinator Frank Smith said after the game. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 2 Recap: Jaguars Loss, Offensive Lapses, and Defensive Lessons Learned emphasizes this offensive struggle because it’s a reminder that the Dolphins can’t rely solely on their speedsters— they need a more balanced attack to beat teams that scheme to stop Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

While the offense struggled, the Dolphins’ defense showed flashes of promise but ultimately couldn’t contain the Jaguars’ dynamic duo of Lawrence and Travis Etienne. Etienne, who the Dolphins focused on stopping all week, rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, exploiting gaps in Miami’s run defense that weren’t visible in Week 1. Lawrence, meanwhile, was efficient and poised, completing 22 of 30 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns, including a 35-yard strike to tight end Evan Engram in the third quarter that gave the Jaguars a 20-13 lead. The Dolphins’ pass rush, which they prioritized in practice, managed just 1 sack and 3 pressures— a far cry from their Week 1 performance— and Lawrence was rarely forced to make quick decisions. Defensive end Jaelan Phillips, who vowed to “make a statement” this week, finished with just 2 tackles and no sacks, while linebacker Mohamed Kamara saw limited snaps in blitz packages. “We didn’t execute our game plan on defense— we let Etienne get going early, and Lawrence had too much time in the pocket,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio admitted. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 2 Recap: Jaguars Loss, Offensive Lapses, and Defensive Lessons Learned highlights this defensive shortfall because it shows that the Dolphins still have work to do to stop elite offensive duos— a critical skill if they want to compete with teams like the Chiefs and Ravens later in the season.

One bright spot for the Dolphins was Jaylen Waddle’s standout performance, which offered a glimpse of how the offense can adjust when Hill is shut down. Waddle finished the game with 8 catches for 123 yards and a touchdown, including a spectacular 40-yard catch in the second quarter where he outran two Jaguars defenders to haul in a deep pass from Tagovailoa. His touchdown— a 10-yard reception in the fourth quarter— cut the Jaguars’ lead to 27-20 and gave the Dolphins a chance to tie the game late. “Jaylen stepped up today when we needed him most— he’s proven that he can be a No. 1 receiver when teams focus on Tyreek,” Tagovailoa said after the game. Waddle’s performance was especially impressive considering he’s been dealing with a minor ankle injury, and it’s a sign that the Dolphins’ offense doesn’t have to be one-dimensional. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 2 Recap: Jaguars Loss, Offensive Lapses, and Defensive Lessons Learned explores this bright spot because it’s a building block for the offense— if Waddle can consistently produce like this, the Dolphins will be much harder to defend, even when Hill is double-teamed.

Special teams, which was a strength in Week 1, had mixed results against the Jaguars, with a costly mistake that swung momentum in Jacksonville’s favor. Kicker Jason Sanders made both of his field goal attempts (from 39 and 43 yards) and his only extra point, but punter Jake Bailey had a critical miscue in the third quarter: his 32-yard punt was returned 15 yards by Jaguars returner Jamal Agnew, setting up Jacksonville at the Dolphins’ 35-yard line. The Jaguars capitalized on the good field position, scoring a touchdown two plays later to take a 20-13 lead. The Dolphins’ coverage unit also struggled at times, allowing Agnew to average 10.5 yards per punt return— well above his 2023 average of 7.8 yards. “That punt return was a momentum killer— we can’t give teams easy field position like that,” special teams coordinator Danny Crossman said. On the positive side, Jaylen Waddle looked sharp in his return role, averaging 12 yards per punt return, but it wasn’t enough to offset Bailey’s mistake. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 2 Recap: Jaguars Loss, Offensive Lapses, and Defensive Lessons Learned highlights this special teams miscue because it’s a reminder that even small mistakes can cost games— especially against talented opponents like the Jaguars.

Finally, the loss has given the Dolphins a chance to reset and address their flaws before they face the Buffalo Bills in Week 3— a critical divisional matchup that will test their ability to bounce back. Head coach Mike McDaniel has already announced that the team will focus on fixing their third-down conversion rate and run defense in practice this week, and he’s emphasized that the loss isn’t a reflection of the team’s overall potential. “We learned more from this loss than we did from our Week 1 win— it’s exposed areas we need to fix, and we’re going to attack those issues head-on,” McDaniel said. The players have also embraced the opportunity to improve; veterans like Christian Wilkins and Hill have organized extra film sessions, and the team’s energy in Monday’s practice was surprisingly high. Miami Dolphins 2024 Week 2 Recap: Jaguars Loss, Offensive Lapses, and Defensive Lessons Learned concludes with this reset because it’s how great teams respond to adversity— they don’t dwell on losses; they learn from them. With a tough schedule ahead, the Dolphins need to fix their offensive inconsistencies and defensive lapses quickly, but Sunday’s loss has shown that they have the talent and resilience to do it. As they prepare for the Bills, all eyes will be on whether the Dolphins can turn their lessons into wins— and prove that their Week 1 success was no fluke.