McDaniel: Dolphins have to 'put up or shut up' to take next step

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel knows there's little room for error if his team is to clinch a playoff spot.

"At some point, if we want to make the next step, we're going to have to put up or shut up," McDaniel said after his team lost its fourth straight game Sunday.

"I didn't foresee standing up here in this situation," he added. "I know the team feels the same way. Apparently, we needed another gut check."

The Dolphins fell to 8-7 on the season after losing 26-20 to the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day.

McDaniel lamented costly penalties and his offense's turnovers.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for 200 yards in the first half but struggled in the second portion of the contest, throwing three interceptions in the final three drives.

McDaniel said the ball "got away from Tua, which is not characteristic for him by any means."

"He was executing at a pretty high level to start the game," McDaniel said. "I don't know where that went, but that's something that him and I will (overcome)."

The Dolphins passer acknowledged his role in the team's loss postgame.

"It's terrible how everything ended," Tagovailoa said. "Like I told the guys, that's on me."

Tagovailoa said he put too much power in his throw for the first interception, while "some communication errors" led to the second pick. He described the final interception to seal the win for the Packers as "not a good ball."

The 24-year-old has now thrown six touchdowns to five interceptions during the team's four-game slide.

Despite Tagovailoa's struggles, McDaniel called the loss an "overall team failure."