Football on Thanksgiving is supposed to be about tradition, but for the Miami Dolphins, it felt more like a recurring nightmare. If you tuned in on November 28, 2024, you saw exactly why the "can’t play in the cold" narrative continues to haunt Mike McDaniel’s squad. It was 27 degrees at kickoff. Light flurries were falling. The wind chill dipped to a biting 18. By the time the final whistle blew, the Green Bay Packers had secured a 30-17 victory, and Miami had extended an almost unbelievable streak: 12 straight losses in games where the temperature is 40 degrees or lower.
Lambeau Field is a tough place to play under any circumstances. When you're a warm-weather team that relies on precision timing and world-class speed, it's basically a frozen trap.
The First Half Melt Down
Honestly, the game was nearly over before it really started. Miami won the toss and deferred, a standard move that usually works out fine. Then Keisean Nixon happened. He ripped off a 43-yard kickoff return that immediately put the Dolphins on their heels. Even though the Green Bay offense went three-and-out, the special teams gods had other plans. Daniel Whelan launched a high, spiraling punt into the Wisconsin night, and Miami’s rookie returner Malik Washington muffed it.
Robert Rochell recovered at the 9-yard line. Three plays later, Jordan Love found Jayden Reed for a 3-yard score.
That was the theme of the night: Green Bay pounced on mistakes while Miami struggled to find their footing. The Dolphins' run game was practically non-existent. They finished the night with just 39 rushing yards. When you can't run the ball in the cold, you become one-dimensional, and Jeff Hafley’s defense knew exactly what was coming.
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Josh Jacobs, the Packers' big offseason acquisition, was the hammer. He didn't have a massive yardage night—only 43 yards on 19 carries—but he punched in a 1-yard touchdown late in the first quarter to make it 14-0. He also did damage as a receiver, catching a career-long 49-yarder that essentially iced the game later on. By halftime, it was 24-3. The Dolphins looked like they were still in Miami, figuratively and literally.
Tua's Stats vs. The Reality
If you just look at the box score for dolphins vs packers 2024, you might think Tua Tagovailoa had a monster game.
- 37-of-46 completions
- 365 passing yards
- 2 touchdowns
- 0 interceptions
Those are video game numbers. But context is everything in the NFL. A massive chunk of that production came when the Packers were playing "shell" defense, happy to trade short completions for time off the clock. Tua was sacked five times. He was under duress for most of the night, and the offense lacked that explosive "pop" we usually see from Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Jonnu Smith was actually the focal point for most of the night, hauling in 10 catches for 113 yards. He was the only one who seemed to consistently find soft spots in the zone. Tyreek Hill did manage to snag a 12-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter on a tipped pass, but it was too little, too late.
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The Goal Line Stand That Ended It
The real "what if" moment came early in the fourth quarter. Miami had clawed back to make it 27-11. They drove all the way to the Green Bay 1-yard line. It was second-and-goal. A touchdown and a two-point conversion would have made it a one-score game with nearly ten minutes left.
The Packers' defense turned into a brick wall.
- Second down: Rashan Gary stuffs the run.
- Third down: Keisean Nixon deflections a pass intended for Jonnu Smith.
- Fourth down: Quay Walker storms through the line for a 6-yard sack.
Turnover on downs. Game over.
Why This Game Mattered for the Packers
For Green Bay, this wasn't just a Thanksgiving win; it was a statement. They improved to 9-3 and showed they could win in "bully ball" fashion. Jordan Love looked incredibly poised, finishing with a 129.2 passer rating. He wasn't forcing things. He was taking what the defense gave him, finding Jayden Reed for two touchdowns and letting his offensive line dictate the tempo.
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The Packers' defense is also evolving. They held Miami—one of the most explosive offenses in league history over the last few years—to zero points in the first quarter and forced them to become a check-down-only team.
The injury bug did bite Miami’s secondary, losing Kader Kohou and Cam Smith during the game. This left them vulnerable, and Love took full advantage by spreading the ball to Tucker Kraft and Christian Watson.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
The 2024 showdown between these two teams provided a blueprint for how to beat the "McDaniel Era" Dolphins. If you're looking at future matchups or analyzing the trajectory of these franchises, here is what we learned:
- The Cold Weather Tax is Real: Don't ignore the 40-degree threshold. Until Miami proves they can win a game in freezing temperatures, they are a high-risk bet in November and December road games.
- Green Bay's Versatility: The Packers' ability to win with a balanced rushing attack and a high-efficiency passing game makes them a nightmare for defensive coordinators who try to take away just one element.
- Red Zone Efficiency: Miami's failure to convert from the 1-yard line highlighted a lack of "power" football options. De'Von Achane is great, but in short-yardage situations in the cold, they missed a heavy-hitter.
If you are tracking the Dolphins' progress, keep a close eye on their offensive line health. Without a dominant front, their timing-based passing game collapses against elite pass rushes like Green Bay's. For the Packers, the development of Quay Walker as a legitimate play-making linebacker is the X-factor that could carry them deep into the postseason.
To stay ahead of the curve, monitor the "Kickoff Temperature" stats for Miami’s late-season schedule. History shows that for this specific team, the thermometer is just as important as the depth chart.