The Miami Dolphins entered their Week 10 contest against the Indianapolis Colts facing significant roster challenges, according to Dolphins Wire.
Playing without starting quarterback Malik Willis and center Aaron Brewer, the team ultimately fell 24-22 at Lucas Oil Stadium, sliding to a 1-8 record on the season, per Yahoo Sports.
Kyle McCord made his first NFL appearance under center for Miami, completing 53.1% of his passes for 209 yards while rushing for a touchdown.
The offense saw production from eight different receivers, including Caleb Douglas and Malik Washington, who also contributed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert.
Ollie Gordon II led the ground game with 76 rushing yards and a team-high four receptions for 39 yards.
Defensively, the Dolphins held the Colts to 17 points in the second half, though the Indianapolis defense scored on a fumble recovery, as noted by USA Today Sports Data.
Miami forced two interceptions off Daniel Jones, including one returned for a score, but the game remained out of reach due to special teams errors.
Kicker Zane Gonzalez missed two field goals and an extra point, proving to be a decisive factor in the narrow defeat.
The reliability of the kicking game is now a major concern for the franchise as they prepare for the next stage of the season, according to local reports.
Looking ahead, Miami faces a difficult divisional matchup against the Buffalo Bills next week, as cited by league data outlets.
The team continues to navigate the complexities of relying on a backup quarterback to manage the offense during a difficult campaign.
The coaching staff must address these deficiencies quickly to remain competitive in their upcoming schedule, as reported by the outlets.