The Dolphins Defense Struggles in Chilly Conditions at Lambeau
The Dolphins’ defense had a tough time tackling in the cold weather at Lambeau Field, but coach Mike McDaniel attributed the 20 missed tackles to poor technique rather than the frigid temperatures, which hovered in the mid-20s. Defensive lineman Calais Campbell agreed, saying the team would not use the weather as an excuse.
While the conditions were certainly a challenge, Green Bay players noticed the impact of the cold on the Miami team. “Them boys looked cold out there,” said running back Josh Jacobs. Safety Xavier McKinney added, “It’s hot in Miami, and then you come here and play in that cold weather, you get affected by it. So I think it affected everybody on that team.”
Despite a rough start to the game, including a muffed punt that led to the first touchdown and 10 penalties, McDaniel refused to blame the cold for the team’s performance. “We weren’t failing to snap the ball before a delay of game or false-starting because of the cold,” he said. “I think the tape will show that, when we watch the tape. But like anything else, eventually you have to overcome it if you’re trying to do anything in this league.” The loss dropped the Dolphins to 5-7 on the season, leaving them two games back of Denver for the No. 7 seed in the AFC.