The Miami Dolphins’ heartbreaking 28-27 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday spoiled what previously appeared to have been a successful return to the lineup for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

The loss dropped the Dolphins to 2-5 on the season, leaving them with even less room to maneuver if they want to make a push for a third straight playoff berth.

Despite the loss to the Cardinals, the Dolphins barely moved up in the national rankings, although they remain firmly in the bottom third of the league.

Based on our survey of NFL power rankings from 10 national media outlets:Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, NFL.com, The Ringer, USA Today, The Sporting News, The Athletic, Yahoo! Report on sports and bleachers — the Dolphins only lost an average of 0.1 points.

The Dolphins’ average rating increased from 25.0 to 25.1, with a high of 23 (Yahoo! Sports) and a low of 30 (CBS Sports). The Dolphins even moved up in four of the rankings.

Here is the breakdown of the Dolphins’ ten power rankings heading into Week 9 of the 2024 regular season, along with associated commentary.

Sports Illustrated

Ranking: 24

Last week: 25

Analysis: The Dolphins lost, but did anyone else feel the world restored watching Tua Tagovailoa complete about four perfectly coordinated backhandoffs amid a flurry of moves and hit fullback Alec Ingold for a first down try on a wide open swing pass? Anyway, I thought the Dolphins were a Jordan Poyer pick away from eliminating Arizona on Sunday. Poyer just missed a Kyler Murray toss (a tough angle, I don’t blame Poyer) and a few plays later a ball slips out of Tagovailoa’s hands and crosses the back of the end zone.

Professional Football Discussion

Ranking: 26

Last week: 25

Analysis: The season could come down to Sunday’s game in Buffalo.

CBS Sports

Ranking: 30

Last week: 29

Analysis: It was a horrible home loss to the Cardinals on the day Tua Tagovailoa returned to the lineup. They are in big trouble as they head to the Bills this week.

NFL.com

Ranking: 23

Last week: 26

Analysis: Tua Tagovailoa’s return to action after missing four games with a concussion was a resounding success in that he played well, clearly didn’t suffer from rust, and only took three hits and a sack during his 38 pass outing. If it’s wins you’re looking for, then Sunday wasn’t as positive, as the Dolphins suffered their fifth loss in their last six games. There were still a few offensive hiccups here and there, and don’t forget Aaron Brewer’s high shotgun blast over Tua’s head, which led to an Arizona safety that allowed for the Cardinals to get back into the game. But overall, the operation with Tagovailoa at QB was night and day different from how things played out under any of his backups during his absence. Miami’s pass defense is coming off its worst game of the season, even while pressuring Kyler Murray at a decent rate.

The ringtone

Ranking: 25

Last week: 24

Analysis: With Tua Tagovailoa back after his concussion in September, this passing game has returned to its usual mode of operation. Tagovailoa took the ball out of his hands at a faster rate than any quarterback in the league in Week 8, needing a season-low 2.23 seconds to throw it. This type of speed can help protect the quarterback from hits, but it makes it difficult to develop routes. The Dolphins just don’t seem to get the same type of intermediate throws as before, and yards after the catch on short throws just don’t have as much impact as they used to. The fact that Tagovailoa struggled to find explosive throws downfield against a poor Arizona defense is a sign that there are deep problems in this offensive scheme.

USA Today Sports

Ranking: 24

Last week: 24

Analysis: The league’s lowest-scoring offense is naturally operating at a much higher level with QB Tua Tagovailoa on the field. Yet, curiously, the defense allows more than five points less per game when Tagovailoa is not playing.

Sports news

Ranking: 23

Last week: 24

Analysis: The Dolphins saw their entire offense wake up from Tua Tagavoiloa, with the running backs doing the most damage to steal the spotlight from Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Unfortunately, Miami’s pass defense went into the tank against Kyler Murray.

Athletics

Ranking: 29

Last week: 27

Analysis: The Dolphins have made headlines throughout the Mike McDaniel era (now two and a half seasons) with a flashy, fun offense, but it’s worth wondering what long-term success that will yield. Tua Tagovailoa returned Sunday and the Dolphins gained 377 yards and converted 11 of 15 third downs and still lost. Miami has lost in the wild-card round in both full seasons under McDaniel and will have a chance to make the playoffs this year.

Yahoo! Sporty

Ranking: 24

Last week: 23

Analysis: What a disheartening loss. The Dolphins got Tua Tagovailoa back and if they won Sunday at home against the Cardinals, a 3-4 record wouldn’t have been bad. Taking a lead in the fourth quarter and losing is a big blow.

Money launderers report

Ranking: 24

Last week: 27

Analysis: The good news for the Miami Dolphins is that the team got quarterback Tua Tagovailoa back on Sunday and scored the most points of the season. The bad news is that Miami hasn’t scored as many points as Arizona and at 2-5, the Dolphins’ chances of making the playoffs are quickly dwindling.

For the record, the Dolphins’ next opponent, the Buffalo Bills, has an average rating of 3.3 and is ranked third or fourth in all ten outlets.