It has been a rough two weeks for the Miami Dolphins to begin the 2025 season. Losing in humiliating fashion to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 spelled doom for their year. However, a close loss to a divisional rival in the New England Patriots in Week 2 somehow seemed like an even worse outing for the team as a whole. Calls from the fans to fire head coach Mike McDaniel became a common sight on social media.
As a result, entering the game against the juggernaut Buffalo Bills, Miami wasn’t given much of a chance. However, through the first half, a 14-14 score had breathed new life into the organization, with many fans willing to give the team and McDaniel, in particular, their deserved props.
Fans Coming Around on Mike McDaniel?
After the first two games, the disdain for their head coach was nearly universal among the Dolphins fans. Going beyond social media, a banner flying overhead the stadium could also be seen supporting his firing.
At the time, the former offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers brushed those comments off as the fan base being passionate. Moreover, he believed that winning games could solve all of the organization’s problems.
As it turns out, his idea might have some truth to it. A competitive first half against a true Super Bowl contender gave fans some much-needed hope to cling onto. With two touchdowns bookmarking the half, fans took to social media to give him some credit.
One fan summarized the entire half for the Dolphins in one go, stating, “Love the fight that we’ve seen from the Dolphins in the first half! This is by far the best they’ve looked all season. Any questions of the team quitting on Mike McDaniel I feel have been answered in this 1st half. Now, this defense needs to stop/do anything!”
Love the fight that we’ve seen from the Dolphins in the first half! This is by far the best they’ve looked all season. Any questions of the team quitting on Mike McDaniel I feel have been answered in this 1st half. Now, this defense needs to stop/do anything! #phinsup
— Josh Moser (@TheMozKnowz) September 19, 2025
He wasn’t the only one who believed that the first half was an answer from the roster’s collective belief in their head coach. NFL insider Albert Breer, too, believed the game was an inside look into where the locker room stands for Miami.
He took to X, claiming, “The Bills are obviously still the better team, but the Dolphins haven’t quit on Mike McDaniel and his staff.” However, a large part of the praise stemmed from the work the Dolphins did on their final possession in the period.
The Bills are obviously still the better team but the Dolphins haven’t quit on Mike McDaniel and his staff.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 19, 2025
One fan went so far as to say, “Mike McDaniel job safe for another week,” while another believed that security could be boiled down to the final possession alone. “Mike McDaniel might have saved his job on that drive.”
Mike McDaniel might have saved his job on that drive
— Jacob (@crappthoughts) September 19, 2025
Another fan demanded, “Give Mike McDaniel his flowers,” with his main reasoning stemming from the fact that “that was textbook time management right there.” Other fans shared similar sentiments, too.
Give Mike McDaniel his flowers — that was textbook time management right there.
— Tony Branco (@TonyRBranco) September 19, 2025
A joyous night for the Dolphins led one fan to relent and confess, “Gotta give Mike McDaniel his flowers on that drive before the half. That was masterful clock management, leaving the Bills with only 8 seconds.”
Gotta give Mike McDaniel his flowers on that drive before the half. That was masterful clock management, leaving the Bills with only 8 seconds.
— Chad Auber (@Chauber7) September 19, 2025
A 14-point tie being celebrated sounds like an unfortunate case of underselling how good Miami can be. But, after the way the first two weeks had gone for the organization, any positive moment was cause for celebration.
It remains to be seen if the work against Buffalo was an exception to the norm or the new standard for the Dolphins. But, for the time being at least, it has given fans in Miami something to look forward to.
