Dolphins: Tyreek Hill inadvertently sends a message to MVP voters
The Miami Dolphins were getting a lot of attention around the league entering Monday night's matchup with the Tennessee Titans, and rightfully so. The 9-3 Dolphins were a win over a two-touchdown underdog away from claiming the AFC's top seed through 14 weeks and furthering the MVP candidacy of two of their stars in Tyreek […]
The Miami Dolphins were getting a lot of attention around the league entering Monday night's matchup with the Tennessee Titans, and rightfully so. The 9-3 Dolphins were a win over a two-touchdown underdog away from claiming the AFC's top seed through 14 weeks and furthering the MVP candidacy of two of their stars in Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa.
All three of those potential goals took a sizeable hit in the Dolphins' 28-27 loss to the Titans. Sure, the Dolphins control their own destiny to the top seed, but more obstacles popped up on the injury front again that'll make it tough to get there. Two of the team's most important players in Hill and center Connor Williams suffered significant injuries in the first quarter, which were felt though Hill's absence and shoddy offensive line play for much of the game.
And it's Hill's absence that really emphasized how legitimate Tagovailoa's and Hill's MVP candidacies really are.
Hill left the game with the Dolphins leading 7-0 late in the first quarter and driving near midfield after being hip-dragged and horse collared down to the ground by Titans CB Sean Murphy-Bunting. After his injury, the Dolphins ended up punting after a hold by Liam Eichenberg, who replaced Williams, set them back. Miami's offense clearly lost a couple of gears with Hill on the sideline.
And that's where the distinction between the two Dolphins stars became clear as far as who the true MVP candidate on the team is. The Dolphins' offense is a shadow of itself without Hill in the game. Michael Irvin talked about it on the Rich Eisen Show last week. You build an entire offensive system around Hill, and that seems to be what Miami's offense is. Take Hill out of the game, and the entire house of cards comes tumbling down.
Tagovailoa looked uncomfortable and indecisive against Tennessee's defense, which was torched by Gardner Minshew just a week prior. He had multiple throws in the first half which could have been picked but weren't. He wasn't able to evade pressure and make plays happen in improvisational situations.
By just watching the plays unfold on the sideline, Hill proved just as much through his inaction as he did ripping off highlight reel touchdowns week after week: that he's clearly the most important player on the Miami Dolphins and – given how explosive Miami's offense has been this year and what it looks like without him – a legitimate MVP candidate in the NFL this year.
Forget 2000 receiving yards and forget the top seed for the moment. Miami is going to need Hill on his feet and playing like an MVP in two weeks when the murderer's row finish comes against the Cowboys, Ravens, and Bills to perhaps stay on top of just the AFC East. Heck, next week's return matchup against the porous Jets that they demolished on Black Friday is far from a given based on how they looked last night.
Dolphins fans better hope that Hill isn't down for any significant amount of time, because if he is, there might be a division title on the line when the Buffalo Bills come to town on January 7.
Tyreek Hill provides update on his injured ankle
The Dolphins’ star receiver met with the media after Miami’s loss to the Tennessee Titans
