The Dolphins’ fatal flaw can’t be on the offensive side of the ball, can it?

The Miami Dolphins offense can cook like no other unit we’ve seen in a long time. Mike McDaniel has perfectly calibrated pre-snap motion, the running game, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Tua Tagovailoa to form the Greatest Show on Surf. It’s a diabolical mix of talent and scheme that’s borderline impossible to stop.

And that’s why the Dolphins’ collapse against Tennessee was so alarming. With 1:49 remaining in the game, no timeouts, and needing only to get within field goal range for a shot at the win, Miami gained just 16 yards before failing to convert a fourth and 2.

Dolphin players were tackled in-bounds on several occasions, and with a running clock, there’s little to no time for pre-snap motion. That might not have made a difference if Hill were healthy and on the field, but not 15 minutes prior, over on ABC, the Giants faced a similar scenario, and their rookie, back-up QB was able to get the requisite yardage for a game-winning attempt.

While I’m not saying Miami is screwed when it faces future two-minute drills, it is something to watch. That is, if it happens. To the Fins’ credit, they’ve blasted opponents in victories this year, and have only been put up against the clock, with the game on the line, one other time.

That was a 21-14 loss to Kansas City in Germany, which they also failed to convert while running out of downs. In fact, the combination of McDaniel and Tagovailoa hasn’t completed a walk-off win since they’ve been paired. The closest example was in Week 2 against Baltimore a year ago, and even then Miami had the two-minute warning and a timeout to work with in that memorable 42-38 shootout win. (A Tua TD with 14 ticks remaining was the difference in that one.)

Again, what I’m complaining about is minor when juxtaposed next to Miami’s overall success with McDaniel, Tagovailoa, Hill, etc. I know I would rather not sweat out wins than rely on last-second execution to sneak out victories. Unfortunately, for Dolphins supporters, the playoffs don’t work like that.

The Philadelphia Eagles stomped opponents until the Super Bowl last year and were on their way to a title until the NFL happened. Well, on Monday night, Miami was less than three minutes from holding the reins for a first-round bye when things went off the rails, and suddenly, they were trailing after being in control all game.

To that point, each of the Dolphins’ four losses this season were kind of ugly. Miami was outclassed by Buffalo and Philly; they played the Chiefs tough, but face-planted on the doorstep of a comeback; and somehow managed to let Will Levis shove their faces in it.

Six of Miami’s nine wins this year were by double digits, with the three other nailbiters coming against the Chargers, Patriots and Raiders. However, you don’t get brownie points for clutch wins over organizations with a combined record of 13-26.

At the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious, there’s not always time to run your offense, and a two-minute drill before half is a hell of a lot different then one with the outcome in the balance. That’s why phrases like “system quarterback” are thrown around when talking about Tagovailoa.

While I think that’s an absurd thing to say about a team and QB breaking all sorts of offensive records, often, winning requires going off-script, or improvising. And winning ugly is the final piece Miami needs to truly contend.