When the Miami Dolphins head to Wisconsin for a Thanksgiving game against the Green Bay Packers, the weather forecasts project an unsurprisingly chilly night at Lambeau Field.
According to The Weather Channel, the Dolphins should expect the temperature to be in the 20s at kickoff with wind gusts that’ll make it feel even colder. Tua Tagovailoa says he’s ready for the challenge.
“I’m excited to kill narratives, so let’s go. Bring it on,” Tagovailoa said Sunday after a 34-19 win against the New England Patriots. “We’ll enjoy this win, but this next one is going to be big for us, and we’re excited to go down to Green Bay and show everybody on primetime what we can do.”
The Dolphins have earned a reputation for high octane offense in the South Florida sunshine, but an inability to keep it firing on all cylinders it in the cold. Last season, Miami led the NFL in offensive yardage and was second in scoring, but their year came to an end with a 26-7 playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in freezing weather.
“Cold weather game. It’s going to be real football weather,” Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle said of the upcoming game in Green Bay. “They’re bringing their best. We’re bringing our best. Thursday night football, man, that’s what it’s all about.”
The Dolphins are riding a three-game win streak that has pulled them from a 2-6 start to the year into contention for a spot in the playoffs. But the Packers improved to 8-3 on Sunday with a blowout win against the San Francisco 49ers.
Failures in cold weather isn’t the only narrative the Dolphins will have to shake. The team also has a reputation for winning against subpar opponents, but failing to beat contenders.
Last season, the Dolphins were 10-1 against teams that finished with a losing record and 1-5 against opponents that ended the year above .500. So far in 2024, the 5-5 Los Angeles Rams are the only team the Dolphins beat that have more than three wins.
Miami is trying its best to erase a rough start to the season and the team has found its groove in the last couple weeks. But Thursday will say a lot about whether or not the team has actually turned a corner.
