Tagovailoa hopes to continue his hot streak while playing in cold weather at Green Bay
The Associated Press
Miami (5-6) at Green Bay (8-3)
Day / TIME / TV: Thursday, 7:20 p.m. CST, NBC, Peacock
Series record: Dolphins lead 14-9
Last meeting: Packers won 26-20 at Miami on Dec. 25, 2022
Last week: Dolphins won 34-15 at home over Patriots; Packers won 38-10 at home over 49ers
Dolphins offense: overall (19), rush (16), pass (19), scoring (24)
Packers offense: overall (T-5), rush (3), pass (11), scoring (8)
Dolphins defense: overall (7), rush (9), pass (8), scoring (11)
Packers defense: overall (11), rush (12), pass (11), scoring (10)
Turnover differential: Dolphins minus-1; Packers plus-8
Series record: Dolphins lead 14-9
Last meeting: Packers won 26-20 at Miami on Dec. 25, 2022
Last week: Dolphins won 34-15 at home over Patriots; Packers won 38-10 at home over 49ers
Dolphins offense: overall (19), rush (16), pass (19), scoring (24)
Packers offense: overall (T-5), rush (3), pass (11), scoring (8)
Dolphins defense: overall (7), rush (9), pass (8), scoring (11)
Packers defense: overall (11), rush (12), pass (11), scoring (10)
Turnover differential: Dolphins minus-1; Packers plus-8
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hopes to continue his hot streak in the cold when he and the Miami Dolphins visit Lambeau Field for a Thanksgiving night matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
Tagovailoa has thrown a combined seven touchdown passes without an interception in his past two games, home victories over Las Vegas and New England. He could have a tough time keeping up that pace at Green Bay, where the Thanksgiving forecast calls for high temperatures in the 30s and lows in the mid-20s.
Tagovailoa has thrown a combined seven touchdown passes without an interception in his past two games, home victories over Las Vegas and New England. He could have a tough time keeping up that pace at Green Bay, where the Thanksgiving forecast calls for high temperatures in the 30s and lows in the mid-20s.
The Dolphins have lost their past 11 regular-season or postseason games in which the kickoff temperature has been below 40 degrees, according to Sportradar. The Dolphins’ most recent victory in a game with a kickoff temperature at 40 or lower was a 34-31 overtime triumph at Buffalo on Dec. 24, 2016.
“We’re obviously nowhere near the temperatures where all these other cold teams play at being in Miami, where it’s 80,” said Tagovailoa, who grew up in Hawaii and attended college at Alabama. “Sometimes it gets down to 50, but it just gets nowhere near the teams that make it in long stretches. To me it’s just a mindset, that’s really all it is.”
Tagovailoa already has faced much worse conditions.
He went 20 of 39 for 199 yards with one interception and one touchdown last season when the Dolphins lost a playoff game 26-7 at Kansas City, where it was minus-4 degrees at kickoff with a wind chill of minus-27. Tagovailoa wore a glove on his right hand that night but said he probably won’t do that Thursday.
“I think for a lot of our guys last time that were able to play in that game against Kansas City, it kind of gave you a different perspective of what cold really was,” Tagovailoa said.
The Dolphins (5-6) are seeking their fourth straight victory. The Packers (8-3) have won their past two games, including a 38-10 blowout of the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. This marks the first time the Dolphins have faced the Packers since a Christmas Day 2002 game in which Tagovailoa threw three fourth-quarter interceptions. Green Bay rallied for a 26-20 road win, and it was later determined that Tagovailoa had sustained a concussion during that game.
The Packers realize they’ll face a major challenge containing him and the Dolphins speedy receivers Thursday. Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Tagovailoa is “as good as it gets in this league” at throwing with anticipation. “When the ball’s coming out as quick as it does with him and he puts it on the money, it gives those guys the opportunity to run after catch,” LaFleur said. “And we all know the speed that these guys have — it’s unlike probably any team in the National Football League.”
Familiar faces
Tagovailoa remembers how competitive practices at Alabama were with former college teammates Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney. Jacobs, a running back, and McKinney, a safety, are with the Packers. “Those were fun practices,” Tagovailoa said. “Being able to go against those guys, I know ‘X’ knows what he’s going to get out of me, and I know exactly what he’s going to bring to the table, too.” McKinney is tied for the NFL lead with seven interceptions this season. Jacobs is third in the NFL with 944 yards entering Week 13.
Another Thanksgiving assignment
This marks the second straight year the Packers have followed up a Sunday game by playing on Thanksgiving. They’re hoping to match the success they had last year, when they won 29-22 at Detroit four days after beating the Los Angeles Chargers at home. “We know what we have to do,” Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker said. “Just from us getting a whole bunch of mental reps, we’re going to come out and play fast on Thursday.”
Productive tight ends
Miami’s Jonnu Smith has 188 yards receiving on 15 catches with three touchdowns over his past two games. During Miami’s three-game winning streak, Smith has more catches (18) and targets (23) than Tyreek Hill (15 catches on 18 targets) and Jaylen Waddle (13 catches on 18 targets), Miami’s two leading receivers last season. The Packers have their own quality tight end in Tucker Kraft, who scored his sixth touchdown of the season Sunday.
LaFleur’s milestone
Green Bay’s victory over the 49ers improved LaFleur’s regular-season record to 64-30. He has tied Bill Cowher, Mike Holmgren and Andy Reid for the second-highest win total by a head coach in his first six NFL seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The record is owned by George Seifert, who had a 75-21 regular-season record from 1989-94, his first six seasons as the 49ers coach.
Key matchup
Packers RB Josh Jacobs vs. Dolphins run defense: Jacobs rushed for three touchdowns Sunday and has seven total touchdowns (six rushing, one receiving) over his past five games. He has rushed for 944 yards this season to rank third in the NFL, behind only Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley and Baltimore’s Derrick Henry entering Week 13. The Dolphins allow 106.9 yards rushing per game to rank ninth in the NFL.
Key injuries
Dolphins: CB Kendall Fuller will likely miss his third straight game because of a concussion… LB Anthony Walker Jr. could miss the game after suffering a hamstring injury last week. Coach Mike McDaniel said he doesn’t expect the injury to keep Walker out for an extended period of time… OL Isaiah Wynn (quad, knee) was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Monday and could make his season debut… Packers WR Romeo Doubs left the 49ers game with a concussion… Packers CB Jaire Alexander (knee) has played only one half of football in the past three games. He didn’t play at all Sunday… Packers LB Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) also didn’t play Sunday.
Series notes
Although the Dolphins lead the series, the Packers have won the past three matchups and six of the past eight. Miami beat Green Bay eight straight times before the Packers finally beat them for the first time on Sept. 14, 1997… The Packers intercepted Tagovailoa three times in their most recent meeting. Miami’s Jaylen Waddle had five catches for 143 yards and a touchdown and Tyreek Hill had four catches for 103 yards in that game… Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel and Packers coach Matt LaFleur worked together as assistants with Houston (2006-08), Washington (2011-13) and Atlanta (2015-16).
Stats and stuff
This is the Dolphins eighth time playing a game on Thanksgiving. Miami last played on Thanksgiving in 2011 when it lost at Dallas 20-19. The Dolphins are 5-2 on Thanksgiving… The Dolphins haven’t beaten the Packers since 2014 and have not won at Lambeau Field since 2010… A win would give the Dolphins their eighth victory over an NFC opponent under coach Mike McDaniel… The Dolphins are 3-2 in their past five games since Tua Tagovailoa returned from a concussion in Week 8. During that span, they’re second in the NFL in third down conversions (55.0%), first in fourth down efficiency. They’ve outscored opponents 145-107, and their 29 points per game during that span is tied for fifth. By comparison, they averaged just 10 points per game without Tagovailoa and were the worst scoring offense in the NFL… RB De’Von Achane needs 65 scrimmage yards to reach 1,000 total yards for the first time in a season… WR Tyreek Hill needs one receiving touchdown to reach 80 and become one of four active players to catch 80 TD passes… The Dolphins have held opponents under 100 yards rushing in five straight games… This marks the first time in five decades that the Packers have played on Thanksgiving in back-to-back years. The Packers won 29-22 at Detroit last Thanksgiving. The Packers faced the Lions every Thanksgiving from 1951-63… This marks just the second time since 1923 that the Packers have played at home on Thanksgiving. The other time was a 17-13 loss to the Chicago Bears in 2015… The Packers are 4-0 against AFC teams this season, with all the previous matchups coming against the AFC South. They won 30-27 at Jacksonville, 24-22 at home over Houston, 16-10 at home over Indianapolis and 30-14 at Tennessee… LaFleur has a 64-30 regular-season record. He’s tied for second with Bill Cowher, Mike Holmgren and Andy Reid for the most wins by a head coach in his first six NFL seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. George Seifert won 75 regular-season games with San Francisco from 1989-84, the first six seasons of his tenure… The Packers have won six of their past seven games but they remain third in the NFC North, one game behind Minnesota and two behind Detroit. At 8-3, the Packers have the best record through Week 13 of any team to be third or worse in its division since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger… The Packers have scored 83 points off turnovers this season. Only the Buffalo Bills (84) have scored more points after takeaways.
Week 13 NFL Schedule
All times Central
All times Central
Thursday, November 28 — Thanksgiving
Chicago Bears 20, Detroit Lions 23
New York Giants 20, Dallas Cowboys 27
Miami Dolphins 17, Green Bay Packers 30
Chicago Bears 20, Detroit Lions 23
New York Giants 20, Dallas Cowboys 27
Miami Dolphins 17, Green Bay Packers 30
Friday, November 29
Las Vegas Raiders 17, Kansas City Chiefs 19
Las Vegas Raiders 17, Kansas City Chiefs 19
Sunday, December 1
Los Angeles Chargers 17, Atlanta Falcons 13
Pittsburgh Steelers 44, Cincinnati Bengals 38
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars, 12:00 p.m., FOX
Arizona Cardinals 22, Minnesota Vikings 23
Indianapolis Colts 25, New England Patriots 24
Seattle Seahawks 26, New York Jets 21
Tennessee Titans 19, Washington Commanders 42
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers, 3:05 p.m., FOX
Los Angeles Rams 21, New Orleans Saints 14
Philadelphia Eagles 24, Baltimore Ravens 19
San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Los Angeles Chargers 17, Atlanta Falcons 13
Pittsburgh Steelers 44, Cincinnati Bengals 38
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars, 12:00 p.m., FOX
Arizona Cardinals 22, Minnesota Vikings 23
Indianapolis Colts 25, New England Patriots 24
Seattle Seahawks 26, New York Jets 21
Tennessee Titans 19, Washington Commanders 42
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers, 3:05 p.m., FOX
Los Angeles Rams 21, New Orleans Saints 14
Philadelphia Eagles 24, Baltimore Ravens 19
San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Monday, December 2
Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos, 7:15 p.m., ESPN