Miami’s offense managed to score just one single touchdown throughout their entire 2026 preseason, averaging a pathetic 7.3 points across three exhibition games. That alone tells you plenty about how rocky things are looking for them before the regular season even kicks off. And they aren’t alone in their struggles, with the Falcons earning an outright ‘F’ grade for their own messy summer amid serious quarterback uncertainty. The league is watching these teams, wondering if these early stumbles are a warning of what’s to come.
Dolphins Drowning and Patriots’ Depth Dilemma
The Dolphins went winless, finishing 0-3 in their preseason contests. It felt like a preview of potential trouble. That lone touchdown? It came from a 14-play, 93-yard drive led by incoming starter Malik Willis way back in Week 1. They’re a young team, still trying to figure things out, which is obvious when you look at their completely revamped quarterback room behind Willis, trading away Quinn Ewers and acquiring Kyle McCord. You have to wonder if they have enough to compete when the real games begin.
Over in New England, things aren’t much better, despite a Super Bowl appearance to build on. Coach Mike Vrabel laid it out simply, telling reporters, “I do not think we have a very deep team.” That lack of depth, especially on defense, was glaring in their loss to Cleveland, where the Dillon Gabriel-led offense hung 17 points in the first quarter alone. Plus, the Christian Gonzalez contract extension saga continues to hang over the whole organization, making for a turbulent summer in Foxborough. These aren’t the kind of headlines you want as you head into September.
Buffalo’s Big Start and the Rams’ Return
On the brighter side of the league, the Buffalo Bills are looking sharp. First-year coach Joe Brady went a perfect 3-0 in the preseason, even without playing his starters much. Still, we got a brief, exciting glimpse of Josh Allen connecting with new wideout DJ Moore, hooking up on three of their four targets for 61 yards and leading back-to-back scoring drives. Allen looked to be in midseason form already, which is incredible to see. Their defense also flashed some real potential with veteran pass rusher Mike Dana, set to be a key part of the rotation alongside Bradley Chubb and rookie T.J. Parker. Meanwhile, the Rams saw Aaron Donald return, which is always huge for them, and they earned an “ace” grade for their summer. Even Fernando Mendoza had an uneven debut with the Raiders, showing that every team had their storylines.
With the NFL rocketing towards the start of the 2026 regular season, we’re just over a week out from when these games actually count. These preseason grades are more than just numbers; they set the tone. Will Miami find an offense beyond a single touchdown? Can the Falcons get their quarterback situation figured out, or is that ‘F’ grade a sign of disaster? We’ll all be watching to see which teams can shake off the summer rust and come out swinging when the real action kicks off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply