By admin 
Jeff Hafley’s Dolphins produced season highs in points and rushing yards Sunday, but three turnovers and situational breakdowns left Miami 0-5. The head coach’s decisions offered both a usable blueprint and a warning about what must change during the bye.
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Right: He committed to the running game.
Miami rushed 34 times for 217 yards, averaging 6.4 yards. Ollie Gordon II received 18 carries, Malik Willis ran eight times and receivers Chris Bell and Malik Washington combined for 44 yards on two attempts. Hafley did not abandon the ground game immediately after falling behind, and that commitment kept the offense functional.
Right: He expanded the rookie receiving role.
Kevin Coleman Jr. drew seven targets, caught his first NFL touchdown and made a 23-yard reception on the final drive. Giving Coleman meaningful work was a forward-looking choice for a young roster.
Right: Miami kept attacking late.
The Dolphins cut an 18-point deficit to seven and attempted an onside kick with 45 seconds remaining. The comeback failed, but Hafley managed the final quarter with appropriate urgency.
Wrong: The passing plan exposed Willis’ limitations.
Cincinnati safety Jordan Battle intercepted Willis on consecutive possessions. Battle had publicly discussed a tell in Willis’ delivery, and Miami did not sufficiently protect its quarterback from disguised coverage and late decisions. More defined reads, play-action and movement were needed earlier.
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Wrong: The goal-line sequence wasted Miami’s advantage.
The Dolphins reached the Cincinnati 1 late in the third quarter after Gordon’s 13-yard run. Willis then took an eight-yard sack, Miami threw incomplete and the drive ended with a field goal. With the rushing game dominating, the sequence should have prioritized downhill runs or a fast, low-risk throw.
Wrong: Special teams were not ready at kickoff.
Dohnte Meyers returned the opening kick 81 yards to Miami’s 10, and Cincinnati scored three plays later. Riley Patterson later missed an extra point, and the onside kick went out of bounds. The opening failure was especially damaging because it forced a winless team to chase the game immediately.
Moving forward, Hafley’s best choice is to treat Sunday’s rushing success as the offense’s identity rather than a temporary adjustment. His most urgent correction is creating a safer structure for Willis. Miami showed it can move the ball; the bye must be used to ensure that quarterback decisions and situational calls stop giving those gains away.
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This story was originally published October 12, 2026 at 2:23 PM.