WATCH: ‘Game manager’ Tua Tagovailoa shuts critics with a ‘keep talking’ celebration after scoring a 60-yard passing touchdown against the Jets

Tagovailoa has 325 completions for 3,921 yards and 25 TDs in 2023.

WATCH: ‘Game manager’ Tua Tagovailoa shuts critics with a ‘keep talking’ celebration after scoring a 60-yard passing touchdown against the Jets

Tua Tagovailoa during the New York Jets game after completing a 60 yard touchdown pass in the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on December 17 (Image via Screengrab/YouTube)

Tua Tagovailoa proved that he could win games without Tyreek Hill. Unlike the Miami Dolphins wide receiver, who has the utmost faith in his quarterback, there are a few who think otherwise.

The Dolphins were dealt a massive blow before facing the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium. Moments before kickoff, they announced that their All-Pro receiver would miss the game. Hill’s absence from the team meant the spotlight would be on Tagovailoa to deliver the goods.

The good news was that Jaylen Waddle was fit and ready to go alongside veteran running back Raheem Mostert, who is having the season of his career to back their QB up. In front of them was a New York Jets side that required a much-needed victory last week.

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Miami got off the block quickly, with Mostert scoring his 17th rushing touchdown. Then Tua already had 11 completions for 66 yards when he connected with a brilliant 60-yard dime to Waddle in the second quarter. The 24-year-old was quickly proving that he can still throw a defense-splitting pass, and it doesn’t have to be Hill on the end of it.

Tua Tagovailoa brings the Miami Dolphins one step closer to the playoffs

Hill’s 97 receptions for 1,542 yards and 12 touchdowns in the first 13 games were not missed by the Dolphins. Mike McDaniel‘s team brushed aside the Jets, who lost their quarterback Zach Wilson due to a head injury.

Veteran Trevor Siemian replaced him but threw two picks as opposed to doing damage control. The game ended in a 30-0 shutout for Miami. It was the first time since September 2021 that the Broncos and Jets did not score a single point in an NFL game.

WATCH: ‘Game manager’ Tua Tagovailoa shuts critics with a ‘keep talking’ celebration after scoring a 60-yard passing touchdown against the Jets
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagvailoa (Image via Sky Sports)

A major reason for the win was Tua Tagovailoa’s 21-of-24 passes for 224 yards with one touchdown. However, during the post-match press conference, the Pro Bowler claimed it was a team effort.

It’s a team sport. I went out there when #10 [Tyreek Hill] was warming up. I went up to him and told him, ‘Dude, if you can’t go, we got you, brother.’ It’s a team sport. It’s going to take all of us. We got a lot of other guys that we trust and that we believed in to keep on the team, and that’s what happened out there.

While this one result may not change Cam Newton’s perspective, the firm believers in Tua Tagovailoa know they can count on him when it matters the most. After doing the double over the Jets, McDaniel’s team is now 10-4 for the season and has one foot into the playoffs. 

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