Mike McDaniel -- Too many Dolphins failed to execute vs. Colts - ESPN

INDIANAPOLIS — Tua Tagovailoa wasn't good enough in the Miami Dolphins' season-opening 33-8 loss Sunday to the Indianapolis Colts.

But in his defense, no Dolphins player was.

In his first start since Week 16 of last season, the Dolphins quarterback completed 14-of-23 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown but threw two interceptions and lost a fumble for his second multiturnover game in his past three starts.

Tagovailoa's 51.7 passer rating was the lowest of his career in a game he didn't leave early with an injury. Sunday also marked his fewest passing yards in such games since Week 18 of the 2021 season.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he needed to review the film to fully digest Tagovailoa's performance but said Sunday's result wasn't all on his quarterback's shoulders.

«It was something left to be desired… there's throws he makes nine times out of 10, and he didn't make them today,» McDaniel said. «Definitely not all on him — too many people failed at the execution of their jobs for him to have anything extra on his shoulders.

»Like the rest of the team, (his performance) wasn't good enough."

Miami's offense was held scoreless in the first half by a Colts defense that finished 24th in points allowed last season. The Dolphins struggled to get anything going from their opening possession, as Tagovailoa turned over the ball on three of their first four drives.

The Dolphins finally got on the board midway through the fourth quarter on an 11-yard pass from Tagovailoa to running back De'Von Achane.

McDaniel noted that it's difficult to play quarterback in the NFL when facing «surprise pressures.» According to NextGen Stats, Tagovailoa was pressured on 26% of his dropbacks and failed to complete any of his three pass