He was, in every sense of the word, spectacular.
The decisions were flawless. The throws were as cool and crisp as the fall Chicago air. The chemistry with not one, not two, but eight different receivers was spot on.
On Sunday, for the 10th time in 12 quarters, Ryan Tannehill was a franchise quarterback. He ran like Duper. He threw like Marino. He led like Shula. For the first time in his three year career, Ryan Tannehill was, without a doubt, the best player on a football field for an entire 60 minutes.
But it's over now. Done with. Kaput. Nothing but a pleasant memory. As Joe Philbin told the team in the locker room following the game, it's now on to Jacksonville.
Because for Ryan Tannehill and the Miami Dolphins, there is no time to dwell on this victory. If history shows us anything, it's that.
They beat New England. They lost to Buffalo and Kansas City.
They beat the Raiders. They lost to Green Bay.
Last season, they beat the Jets, the Steelers, and the Patriots. They were one measly win away from a January date with the Bengals.
They got shut out in Buffalo. Then they were pummeled by the Jets.
History shows us that Ryan Tannehill, and, in effect, the Miami Dolphins are about as inconsistent as they come. This team, and their quarterback, are the quintessential Jekyll and Hydes of the NFL. One week they'll look ready for February football. The next they'll look like a team gearing up for April's (May?) draft.
Sitting at 3-3, with four of the next six games on the road, there is simply no time to bask in yesterday's glory, no matter how sweet it was. Because the reality is this: A loss on Sunday, scratch that, anything but a convincing win on Sunday, and yesterday's win is nothing more than exactly what Joe Philbin, Ryan Tannehill, and the Miami Dolphins have been over the past two seasons:
A tease. A mirage. The Lucy's to our Charlie Brown's.
But it doesn't stop against Jacksonville. In fact, it's only just the beginning. Miami is supposed to beat the Jaguars. It really shouldn't even be close.
The real test starts the next week, with San Diego. And then the next week after that, with Detroit. And then the week after that with Buffalo. And then the week after that with Denver.
That's when the wins start meaning something. That's when playoff talk becomes something more than an eye rolling conversation starter.
Beat three of those four teams, and then Ryan Tannehill gets the franchise label. Enter December with seven wins, and then the Jim Harbaugh talk goes away for good.
Because we've seen this movie before, at least I have, and as good as it is at times, the ending is always, and I mean always, a heartbreaker.
The season is still young, as Mike Wallace said yesterday, there's still a lot of football left to be played, and the signs are promising, don't get me wrong.
Ryan Tannehill has played some of the best football of his career over the past three weeks. Starting with Oakland, Tannehill has completed 72 percent of his passes (68 for 94) for 799 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. In that time span he's accrued an excellent 105.7 passer rating.
It's not just Tannehill. Charles Clay seems to be coming back to his old form. Jarvis Landry has emerged as a top playmaker on both offense and special teams. Mike Wallace seems to finally be comfortable and happy. The defense is ranked fourth in the entire league.
But if this team, and their quarterback, do not use this win as a building block for something much, much greater, than I fear yesterday's fine performance will be just that- a fine performance on one Sunday in October.
Because we've seen this before. You know who these guys are, and you're kidding yourself it you think otherwise. They're the model of inconsistency, and have been for over two seasons now.
Yesterday's win must be the start of something new, something more. It has to change the narrative. The script absolutely must be rewritten.
There is no time to dwell. Not at 3-3. Not in a jam packed conference like the AFC.
With ten weeks remaining, the real season starts now.
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