The Miami Dolphins almost pulled out a victory despite being down 31-3 to the New England Patriots on Sunday. Last week, they almost held on to a 10-6 lead to beat the Seahawks in Seattle.
Yet the Dolphins didn't get the win in either situation. And for their star receiver, that's a serious problem.
"We can't be an almost team," Jarvis Landrytold the Miami Herald after the Dolphins fell 31-24 to the Patriots. "That (expletive) is over."
The Patriots jumped on the Dolphins early, getting out to a 21-0 lead in the first half. The Dolphins, though, knocked Jimmy Garoppolo out of the game and then mounted a comeback. Ryan Tannehill threw two second-half touchdowns, Kenyan Drake ran in another and the 'Fins had a chance to win the game on a 29-yard Hail Mary. But the bid fell short.
"This is a bottom-line business," Dolphins cornerback Byron Maxwellsaid. "We have to play better and come out with a victory. It's on our back. We should want it."
It's becoming a recurring theme for the Dolphins, and one that Landry and Maxwell have a right to be upset about. They had the Seattle Seahawks on the ropes for 59 minutes last week, yet surrendered the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds.
With a home game against Cleveland slated for next week, an 0-3 start is a possibility for the Dolphins if they don't stop being an "almost team" soon.