As the Miami Dolphins faced off against the Green Bay Packers at the iconic Lambeau Field on Thanksgiving night, the brutal cold weather may have had more of an effect than anticipated. The Dolphins suffered a disappointing 30-17 loss, marking a significant setback in their playoff aspirations.

"I feel like we let the elements control the way we played," stated Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks, expressing his frustration about the team's performance in the mid-20 degree temperatures. Brooks highlighted that the Dolphins missed a staggering 20 tackles during the game, a statistic that underscored the team’s struggles on both sides of the ball.

“I thought we were soft,” he continued, addressing reporters post-game. “I don’t know if guys were too cold. I don’t know what it was. I felt like the elements played a part in how we played as a group, and so those were the results we got.”

The chilly conditions seemed to compound the issues for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has historically faced challenges in colder games, entering this matchup with an 0-7 record when temperatures dipped below 45 degrees. Tagovailoa's struggles in such conditions have followed him throughout his career, with an underwhelming eight touchdowns against 10 interceptions in those games.

However, the Hawaii native demonstrated resilience during the game, throwing for 365 yards, two touchdowns, and maintaining a passer rating of 114.2 without any interceptions. But his individual performance was overshadowed by the team’s glaring shortcomings, as the Dolphins found themselves in a deep hole, trailing 24-3 at halftime.

While Miami attempted to rally in the second half, their efforts were not enough to offset the early deficit, resulting in a crucial loss that snapped their three-game winning streak. This defeat has put the Dolphins in a precarious situation as they battle for the final AFC Wild Card spot, currently being chased by the Denver Broncos, who hold a 7-5 record.

With the playoff race heating up, the Dolphins will need to regroup quickly and bounce back from this bitter defeat if they hope to contend for a spot in the postseason. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Brooks’ candid critique will serve as a wake-up call for his teammates moving forward.