Mike McDaniel gets 100% real on possibly benching Tua Tagovailoa amid Dolphins QB's disappointing string of performances

Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins had a Monday Night to forget against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tagovailoa threw for 253 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the loss, and the Dolphins have been officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Mike McDaniel spoke to reporters after the game about the possibility of benching his star quarterback.

"It would be very rash and short-sighted if I even tried to tackle that option. I have to look at the tape and I'll move on from there." said McDaniel.

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The long-time Dolphins head coach opted against making a quarterback decision in the immediate aftermath of the disappointing loss. However, there's a chance that he will after reviewing the tape from the showdown. Tua Tagovailoa has faced a tough couple of games and hasn't thrown for over 200 yards just once in the past five games.

The Miami Dolphins knew they needed to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers to keep their hopes of a wildcard berth alive. However, Aaron Rodgers and Co. were too hot to handle on MNF. It's now the second straight season that the Dolphins won't be playing in the postseason.

Tua Tagovailoa and Dolphins up against Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16

Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins (6-8) will host the Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) in Week 16. Both teams have been eliminated from playoff contention, so they'll likely be playing for pride in their upcoming showdown.

The Dolphins were on a four-game winning streak before their Week 15 loss to the Steelers on Monday Night Football. Those wins were against the Buffalo Bills, Washington Commanders, New Orleans Saints, and New York Jets. They have fixtures against the Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the New England Patriots to close out the campaign.

The Cincinnati Bengals are fresh off a blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15. That loss ended their playoff hopes, and they now have some tough decisions to make in the offseason. Joe Burrow and Co. have games against the Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, and Cleveland Browns to round up the campaign.

Here's how to watch the Dolphins vs. Bengals Week 16 game:

• Date: Sunday, December 21, 2025
• Livestream: FuboTV and DAZN
• Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
• TV Channel: CBS
• Venue: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida

Edited by Nick Igbokwe