The Miami Dolphins have been under pressure all season — and much of that weight has fallen directly on head coach Mike McDaniel. Ahead of the Dolphins’ Thursday night game against the Buffalo Bills, an NFL insider made it clear that while the franchise wants to keep McDaniel, his job security isn’t guaranteed if certain issues arise.
“However, there’s a caveat. If fans suddenly stop showing up to the stadium or if players stop playing for him, that can alter the situation,” Ian Rapoport said.
The game itself was competitive, with the Bills ultimately pulling out the win. But one of the most questionable moments came just before halftime. Bills quarterback Josh Allen appeared to botch a kneel-down, possibly resulting in a fumble.
“Right before halftime of the Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills game on Thursday night, there was an odd play in which Josh Allen appeared to fumble while trying to take a knee in a botched quarterback-center exchange. Allen then picked the ball up, tossed it to an official and made his way off the field. But it wasn’t immediately clear if Allen’s knee ever hit the ground with possession to officially give himself up,” CBS Sports’ Austin Nivison wrote.
On Friday, McDaniel addressed the situation and confirmed that the Dolphins plan to raise the issue with the league.
“McDaniel said the Dolphins believe Josh Allen fumbled on this play but he also heard a whistle and he didn’t want to throw a tantrum but he will be talking to the league about it,” Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported.
Follow The Jugo Mobile on WhatsApp
is it just me or was this not kneeled down??
this is a live ball Josh Allen tossed to the ref
watch it again pic.twitter.com/L0Zwxyk9i6
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) September 19, 2025
Even if the NFL determines that it was a fumble, it’s unlikely any action will be taken now that the game is over. Still, the question remains: did Allen’s knee actually touch the ground while he had possession? The replay is inconclusive, and it’s unclear whether he had fully given himself up.
McDaniel is still waiting for a response from the league. While it’s unlikely to change the outcome, the situation adds another wrinkle to an already pressure-filled season in Miami — and one more storyline to watch moving forward.
