Tua Tagovailoa's struggles against elite teams has to concern Miami Dolphins | D'Angelo

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins had a pulse when the defense stopped Bills quarterback Josh Allen inches short of a first down.

Now, with just less than two minutes remaining and the Dolphins trailing by a touchdown, the game was in Tua Tagovailoa's hands.

Just as it was two weeks ago against the Cowboys.

This time, it did not end as well.

Tua's second interception of the game, from the Bills' 40-yard line, ended any chance of a Dolphins celebration Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. And this was not on a tipped pass, or a receiver running the wrong route, or Tua being pressured into a rushed throw.

This was Tua with plenty of time deciding to make his worst throw at the worst time into double coverage.

"We had misfires," coach Mike McDaniel said. "There was a throw issue."

McDaniel was careful not to put a miserable second-half offensive performance in Buffalo's AFC East Division clinching 21-14 victory all on Tua. But that interception with 73 seconds remaining is something that makes a franchise cringe when deciding if this is the guy you want leading this team into the future.

Especially if that commitment is for four or five years for north of $200 million.

Tua had a choice to throw the ball away and hope dynamic receiver Tyreek Hill, who hobbled off the field on the previous play, could get back into the game. Instead, he forced the ball between two defenders to a receiver who had been targeted just seven times since joining the team two months ago, Chase Claypool.

This was an easy pick for Bills safety Taylor Rapp.

"Tried to anticipate the throw, and throw," a distraught Tua said. "And that was the result."

The play capped, perhaps, the ugliest half of the Dolphins season at the biggest moment. Doing something it had not done since 2000 — win a playoff game — and then play deep into January, likely hinged on Miami winning this game.

Dolphins gain 57 yards in second half, Tua throws for 50

Instead, we saw the Dolphins gain a stunning 57 yards, total, in the second half, and Tua throw for 50 yards.

With the division title on the line.

With Miami looking to prevent a historic collapse after sitting atop the division by three games a month ago.

"We just didn’t make the best out of (the) opportunities when we had them," Tua said. "Missed throw, miscommunication on some plays. You just can’t do that. Yeah, you can’t do that."

He did not need the emphasis. Everyone agrees.

Miami had five possessions in the second half; three three-and-out and two drives that lasted four plays.

That's 17 plays.

"It was just herky jerky," McDaniel said. "We had two different penalties. We had misfires. There was a throw issue. There was a drop. It seemed like, we weren't able to get the momentum of the drive going.

"Which is what happens when myself as a play caller decides to pass."

And pass he did. Despite the Bills not taking the lead until 7:16 to play, McDaniel called three running plays in the second half.

"It’s not complementary," said tackle Terron Armstead, who lamented being flagged for a false start early in the fourth quarter, saying "I screwed the team."

"Short drive and they sustain a long drive. Our defense is out there fighting and scratching and clawing. That’s on us to sustain, convert on third downs, and keep drives going."

But this is not something that was unique to one of the most disappointing performances in recent Dolphins history.

Rather, this is something that has become a sticking point since Tua was handed the reins and asked to help the Dolphins overcome more than 20 years of ineptitude.

Tua snapped a personal six-game losing streak against teams with winning records against Dallas with, what at that time, was a career-defining drive that led to Jason Sanders' walk-off, game-winning field goal.

But that high did not last long because what has unfolded since is alarming … a 56-19 thrashing at Baltimore and a forgettable performance against Buffalo.

Win either game and Miami is East Division champs and getting ready for possibly two home playoff games.

Tua now has lost eight of his last nine starts against teams with winning records. And as concerning, he is 10-10 in December and January.

Tua's two lowest quarterback-rating games this season have come the last two weeks, including a season-low 62.7 Sunday. He finished 17 of 27 for 173 yards, two interceptions and one TD against the Bills.

Huge difference in Tua's QB rating vs. teams with winning, losing records

For the season, Tua's average QBR against the 11 teams that entered the game with losing records: 110.5.

Against Philadelphia, Kansas City, Dallas, Baltimore and Buffalo (twice): 83.3.

More: Dolphins let Bills, AFC East and so much more slip from grasp | Habib

Oh, and Miami now travels to Kansas City to open the playoffs on Saturday night. Where it's currently forecast for -2 degrees.

Armstead was asked what he would say in defense of his quarterback, who will come under fire unless Miami somehow is able to flip the narrative in the postseason. That's even after this "juggernaut" led the league in several statistical categories, which all will be smoke and mirrors if it leads to a first-round exit in the playoffs.

"I don’t have to defend 1," Armstead said, referring to Tua's uniform number. "I got to protect 1. He’s a confident guy. He’s locked in, on a mission, a goal. We have all the faith in the world in him. We believe in him."

But does the entire organization?

Tom D'Angelo is a sports columnist, reporter at the Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @tdangelo44.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tua Tagovailoa's late interception seals Bills win over Dolphins