Dolphins gave up on their playoff chances with head-scratching 4th quarter vs. Steelers

Billy Heyen

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Dolphins gave up on their playoff chances with head-scratching 4th quarter vs. Steelers image

ESPN color commentator Troy Aikman was very confused.

The Miami Dolphins were huddling up. They didn't go onside after their first touchdown.

It was the fourth quarter, and a loss ended their playoff chances. And the Dolphins weren't going quickly despite being down 28-3.

They only went onside, with 2:32 left, after scoring to get within 28-15. 

"I'm trying to make this all make sense," Aikman said.

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The reality? The Dolphins had more or less given up already.

That's what Pat McAafee wrote on X:

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Even with a win on Monday night against the Steelers, the Dolphins would've had a lot of work to do to make the playoffs.

But their loss to the Steelers ended their season. The final three weeks won't mean anything except draft positioning.

Would they have completed a miracle comeback from down 28-3? Hey, it's happened once before, on a much bigger stage.

It was unlikely. But it was darn near impossible with no sense of urgency in play.

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Senior Editor