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Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel wants to make sure his team is only focused on the New York Jets, not the chilly weather conditions they will be playing in.
McDaniel, 42, said during his news conference Friday that the divisional game is about playing the Jets and not the cold.
“I think every team is unique to itself. Not to discount that, but you have to make sure the opponent is the Jets, not the weather,” McDaniel said.
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Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel stands on the field prior to a game against the New Orleans Saints at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on November 30, 2025. (Rich Storry/Imagn Images)
“I think we have a lot of reasons to not have any concerns about elements of temperature and humidity. Realistically, these guys have all played football in those elements. It’s going to be about playing the Jets, and it’s not going to be about playing cold.”
Since Tua Tagovailoa took over as Dolphins quarterback, the team has struggled when playing in the cold. The Dolphins are 0-7 in games started by Tagovailoa when the temperature is below 46 degrees, according to The Palm Beach Post.
The temperature when the Dolphins play the Jets is expected to be around 40 degrees.
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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa gestures during a press conference after the Dolphins defeated the Los Angeles Rams 23-15 in an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
The 27-year-old said they are paid to play football regardless of the weather.
“It’s a mentality, it’s a mindset,” Tagovailoa said at a news conference Wednesday.
“This is what we get paid to do — play football, whether it’s raining, snowing, sleeting, hot, cold. No matter what, we’ve got to go out there and play and do our job.”
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The Dolphins are 5-7 but have won three straight to keep them on the brink of the playoffs. If the Dolphins want to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot, they will need to beat the Jets (3-9) on the road in New Jersey.
The Dolphins play the Jets at 1:00 PM ET Sunday.
