For the third time in four weeks, my Most Valuable Phin from the game is a defensive player. While Miami’s injury depleted defense didn’t have their best day, one player rose above the rest and handled his business with stone-cold ferocity.
Phillips, a California kid who had never played in snowy conditions before Saturday, warmed up — and I use that term loosely — before the frigid game shirtless, wearing nothing but team-issued shorts and his cleats. Immediately, the tone was set.
Hearing about how the Dolphins would struggle in the wintry conditions all week, head coach Mike McDaniel made it clear to his team that overcoming the elements was going to have to be a ‘mind-over-matter’ type situation.