Sports can be cruel. One minute you’re screaming at the TV because your franchise quarterback is finally back, sliding safely and looking like his old self, and the next, you’re watching a ball sail through the uprights as time expires. That’s the emotional whiplash of the Miami Dolphins vs Arizona Cardinals matchup from October 27, 2024.
It was supposed to be the "Welcome Home" party for Tua Tagovailoa. After missing four games due to a concussion suffered against Buffalo, Tua stepped back onto the Hard Rock Stadium turf with a mountain of pressure on his shoulders. For three quarters, it felt like the Dolphins had finally remembered how to play football. Then, Kyler Murray happened.
Why the Dolphins vs Arizona Cardinals Game Felt Different
Usually, when a team scores 27 points—a season-high at that point for Miami—they walk away with a win. Not this time. Arizona rolled into South Florida and basically played spoiler in the most clinical way possible.
Kyler Murray was electric. He didn’t just play; he conducted. He finished 26-of-36 for 307 yards and two touchdowns. But it wasn't just the stats. It was the way he scrambled away from a Jalen Ramsey blitz to find Michael Wilson for a score. It was the way he fed Trey McBride, who basically owned the middle of the field with 124 receiving yards on National Tight Ends Day.
Honestly, the Dolphins' defense, which had been the league's top-ranked unit against the pass, looked human for the first time in a while. They couldn't get a sack. Not one. When you give a guy like Kyler that much time to breathe, he’s going to carve you up.
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The Return of Tua Tagovailoa
Tua's performance was actually pretty sharp, considering the layoff. He went 28-of-38 for 234 yards. The highlight for most fans wasn't even a throw—it was a third-quarter scramble where he actually slid. The crowd gave him a standing ovation for essentially "not getting hit." It’s a weird thing to cheer for, but after everything he’s been through, it made sense.
But there was that one play. The safety.
A fumbled snap in the third quarter that bounced out of the end zone. Two points for Arizona. In a game decided by exactly one point (28-27), that "oops" moment haunts the tape.
Key Matchups That Swung the Momentum
If you look at the box score, you’ll see Marvin Harrison Jr. finally having that "rookie breakout" game everyone was waiting for. He caught six passes for 111 yards. One of those was a fingertip touchdown where he just barely got a knee down in the end zone. Jalen Ramsey was in coverage, and honestly, he played it well—Harrison was just better in that moment.
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On the other side, Miami’s ground game was actually humming.
- De'Von Achane: 97 rushing yards and a receiving TD.
- Raheem Mostert: Two rushing touchdowns.
- Total Rushing: 150 yards.
The Dolphins were balanced. They were moving the sticks. But the Cardinals' defense, led by Budda Baker and his 12 tackles, did exactly what they needed to do: they bent, but they didn't break when it mattered. They limited Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to relatively quiet afternoons by their standards.
The Game-Winning Drive
With about five minutes left, Arizona got the ball back at their own 11-yard line. Miami just needed one stop. Just one. Instead, Kyler Murray methodically marched them 73 yards down the field. He was 10-for-10 on his final ten passes of the game.
James Conner, who had been bottled up most of the day, started finding lanes. A 17-yard burst here, a short plunge there. By the time Chad Ryland stepped onto the field for a 34-yard field goal, the result felt inevitable.
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Ryland nailed it. Game over. Cardinals 28, Dolphins 27.
What the History Books Say
Before this 2024 meeting, these two teams hadn't seen much of each other. Historically, the Dolphins have dominated the series, leading 10-4 all-time before this loss. But the Cardinals have been a thorn in Miami's side lately.
This game was a microcosm of Arizona's season—resilient, slightly chaotic, but capable of high-level offensive explosions. For Miami, it was a reminder that even with Tua back, the margin for error in the NFL is razor-thin.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're looking back at the Miami Dolphins vs Arizona Cardinals tape for future matchups, here is what stands out for both teams:
- Dolphins Pass Rush Concerns: Without a consistent edge presence (missing guys like Jaelan Phillips), Miami's secondary gets exposed. They have to find ways to manufacture pressure without blitzing their best corners into oblivion.
- Kyler's Maturity: Murray's ability to stay in the pocket and wait for Harrison and McBride is a massive step up from his "scramble-first" days.
- Tua's Health and Playcalling: Mike McDaniel’s offense looks completely different with Tua under center, but the red zone efficiency and "fluke" mistakes (like safeties) have to be cleaned up if they want to beat playoff-caliber teams.
- The "Safety" Factor: Never underestimate the impact of special teams or "random" scoring. That safety was the literal difference between a win and a loss.
Keep an eye on the injury reports for future games between these two, as the Cardinals' defensive line depth took a hit during this game with Naquan Jones going down. For Miami, it's all about keeping Tua upright and ensuring the defense doesn't lose its identity when facing elite mobile quarterbacks.