Quirky Miami coach Mike McDaniel is on the NFL's hottest coaching seat due to a 1-5 record. The Dolphins only win came against the winless Jets.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Browns v. Miami Dolphins
Sunday, 1 p.m., in Huntington Bank Field
Record: 1-5.
Last game: Lost to Los Angeles Chargers, 29-27, October 12, in Miami.
Coach: Mike McDaniel, 29-30, fourth year.
Series record: Dolphins lead, 13-9 (counting postseason).
Last meeting: Dolphins won, 20-3, December 29, in Cleveland.
League rankings: Offense is 26th overall (27th rushing, 21st passing), defense is 30th overall (32nd rushing, 20th passing) and turnover differential is minus-2.
Things to watch
1. With Brian Callahan fired in Tennessee, Mike McDaniel and Kevin Stefanski probably rank 1A. and 1B. on the coaches hot seat list. The Dolphins’ only win this year was against the winless Jets. This follows an 8-9 record in 2024, the first sub-.500 season in McDaniel’s 3+ seasons. There is some empathy about the fact his roster has suffered from an organization retreat from free agent spending and an emphasis on drafting, which has not been good under GM Chris Grier. Owner Stephen Ross, who hasn’t spoken to local media since McDaniel was hired in 2022, has professed patience, but empty seats at home games and airplane banners calling for the firing of McDaniel and Grier have intensified. If Ross is waiting for the Dolphins’ bye week to make a decision, that’s six weeks away – after a game in Madrid, Spain against Washington.
2. McDaniel’s quick-pass offense has been slowed by a number of factors. Start with the season-ending dislocated knee injury to receiver Tyreek Hill. With Hill out, the offense is limited to Tua Tagovailoa distributing the ball to three playmakers – running back De’Von Achane (three TDs rushing and three receiving), receiver Jaylen Waddle (three TDs) and tight end Darren Waller (four TDs). Tagovailoa is completing 70% of his passes but only for 6.7 yards per attempt. Through six games, Tua has 11 TDs v. 7 interceptions. Patrick Paul is a solid left tackle, but Miami’s O-line is not good overall. Tua’s quick, short passes are his means of protection. In 2023, McDaniel’s offense was ranked No. 1 in yards and second in scoring. Now it’s 26th in yards and 18th in scoring.
3. The most incriminating statistic of Miami’s season is its No. 32 ranking against the run – 168.5 rushing yards per game. In the last four games, the Dolphins were gashed for 124 yards by the Chargers’ Kimani Vidal, 206 by Carolina’s Rico Dowdle, 81 each by the Jets’ Breece Hall and Justin Fields, and 108 by Buffalo’s James Cook
4. The special teams have had two costly running-into-the-punter penalties that extended scoring drives. Also, they’ve given up a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by New England’s Antonio Gibson.
Did you know … ?
1. Since running back De’Vone Achane entered the NFL as a third-round draft pick in 2023, his 5.5-yard rushing average leads all running backs and is third overall behind quarterbacks Lamar Jackson (6.2) and Jayden Daniels (5.8).
2. Tagovailoa has a league-best passer rating of 123.0 in the red zone. Inside the 20, he is 20 of 27 for 127 yards, with nine touchdowns and no interceptions. No NFL quarterback has done better than that.
3. If the Dolphins get to a goal-to-go situation, odds are they will score a touchdown. They’re 10 for 10 in those situations.
4. The Dolphins under McDaniel are 2-0 against the Browns under Stefanski.
Small world: Mike McDaniel was Browns receivers coach in 2014 … defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver was Browns defensive line coach in 2014-15 … assistant head coach/tight ends coach Jon Embree was Browns tight ends coach in 2015 … DBs coach/pass game specialist Ryan Slowik was Browns outside linebackers coach in 2016 … offensive tackle Kendall Lamm started three games with the Browns in 2019-20 … guard Cole Strange was on the Browns practice squad in 2025 … defensive back Elijah Campbell was on the Browns practice squad in 2018 … kicker Riley Patterson kicked in one game for the Browns in 2023 and was on their practice squad in 2024.