Calais Campbell delivers a blunt blow to the Dolphins defense after the loss to the Packers

The Miami Dolphins entered Week 13 with a 5-6 record and had a chance to get back to .500 this season. After falling behind to 2-6, every game counts for Miami. And the Dolphins have looked like contenders since quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned from IR in Week 8. However, the team failed to improve its playoff chances Thursday night after being dominated by the Green Bay Packers 30-17.

After the game, Dolphins defensive lineman Calais Campbell lamented the 20 tackles Miami missed in Week 13, like ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques on making plays,” Campbell said.

“If we play our best ball, we can beat anyone. But today was definitely not our best ball,” Campbell added, via Adam Beasley of the Pro Football Network.

Although the 17th-year veteran has lost a step since being named Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, he is still a key contributor to the Dolphins’ defense. The team had the opportunity to trade the 38-year-old defensive tackle to the Baltimore Ravens, but head coach Mike McDaniel fought hard to keep the six-time Pro Bowler, believing Miami could still compete after the season and realizing what role Campbell would play in this process.

Calais Campbell and the Dolphins defense failed in Week 13

Miami’s defense has been solid overall this season. The team ranks in the top nine in the league in both passing and running. However, the Dolphins have not consistently gotten to the quarterback in 2024, ranking 28th with just 21 sacks in 12 games.

That weakness came to the fore again in Miami’s Thanksgiving matchup against the Packers. Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love played with impunity for most of the contest. He completed 21/28 passes for 274 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. And the Dolphins failed to sack Love once.

The lack of pressure allowed the fifth-year passer to pick apart Miami’s defense, averaging an exceptional 9.8 yards per attempt. While the Dolphins successfully shut down Josh Jacobs and held the All-Pro RB to just 2.3 yards per attempt, the Packers totaled 114 rushing yards and Jacobs had a goal-line score in the first quarter.

Tagovailoa was forced to vent as the fight quickly spiraled out of control and Green Bay took a 24-3 halftime lead. He completed 37 passes for 365 yards and two scores with no turnovers. After going 3-2 in five starts since returning from a four-game absence due to another concussion, Tagovailoa failed to catch up with the Dolphins in Week 13.

The Packers were without three key players on Thursday evening. The defense was missing cornerback Jaire Alexander and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, while wideout Romeo Doubs was also out. Despite playing short-handed, Green Bay won, improving to 9-3 and keeping pace with a highly competitive NFC North.