As the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals returned to their sidelines, and the emotions started to dissipate after a kerfuffle in Sunday's game, Dolphins coach Brian Flores still found a way to turn his role in the situation into a teaching moment.
Rookie receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. went up to Flores on the Dolphins sideline and tried to fist-bump him to share his approval for the coach walking toward the Bengals sideline to voice his frustrations after return specialist Jakeem Grant took his second cheap shot from Bengals receiver Mike Thomas on a punt return.
Flores did not return the fist pump to Bowden, instead shaking his head and sharing a message to the youngster he hopes the rest of his Dolphins players take heed to if they're going to continue being a member of the franchise's rebuilding effort moving forward.
Do as I say, not as I do.
"I think we've moved past it. We talked about it as a team (Monday). We've got to do a better job of keeping our composure, playing with poise and not getting penalties. ... I'll leave it at that," said Flores, who was unhappy the altercation, and his role in defending his player, took the spotlight away from the Dolphins' 19-7 win.
The family-first moment of solidarity has the potential to galvanize the 8-4 Dolphins, who have seen their eight wins come in the past 10 games and will face their toughest test of the season when the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs return to Hard Rock Stadium next Sunday.
The Dolphins are very much still a work in progress on both sides of the football, far from a finished product like Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs (11-1) have shown during their title defense this season.
Dolphins rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa just completed his fifth career start, in which he threw for a career high 297 yards with a touchdown, in his first game back from a left thumb injury that may not still be 100 percent.
Still, Tagovailoa and the Dolphins offense were able to find a rhythm, particularly during the third quarter of the Bengals game, which saw offensive coordinator Chan Gailey speed up the offense, and Tagovailoa complete 13-of-16 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown.
As for the defense, they limited the Bengals to just 25 net yards on 22 plays in the second half with decisive plays made by Kyle Van Noy, defensive ends Emmanuel Ogbah and Shaq Lawson, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and nickel defensive back Nik Needham to secure the victory.
"These guys, they enjoy playing with each other. They care about each other," Flores said of his players. "They celebrate with one another, good times. They support one another in bad times. I think that's important on a team. I think this is a resilient group. I think this is a hardworking group. ... This is a very supportive team. They play hard for one another."
The Dolphins defense, which ranks 16th in the NFL allowing 355.2 yards per game, is second in scoring defense, allowing opponents to average 17.7 points, and with 21 turnovers forced this season.
And they'll face their most formidable opponent of the season in the high-powered Chiefs offense, which ranks first in the NFL averaging 427.6 yards per game and second scoring 30.8 points per game behind the Green Bay Packers (31.6).
"It'll be a great challenge for us," Flores said of the Chiefs game. "We've got a bunch of guys in our locker room who compete and are tough. We just have to do a good job of preparing. ... Look, it's a very good team, I think we all know that."
The Dolphins will host Kansas City, then the New England Patriots in Week 15, before finishing their regular season on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders in primetime on Dec. 26 and against the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 3 in a game that could determine the AFC East champion.
The Bills, who play the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, hold a 1/2 game lead in the division over the Dolphins, who sit sixth among seven teams in the AFC playoff picture after Sunday's games.
Kansas City has already clinched a playoff spot but is the No. 2 seed behind the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-0 heading into Monday's game) with the Bills at No. 3, Tennessee Titans (8-4) at No. 4, Cleveland Browns (9-3) at No. 5, and the Indianapolis Colts (8-4) at No. 7.
The Raiders (7-5), Baltimore Ravens (6-5) and Patriots (6-6) are still very much in the hunt as well.
"We're in a position where we get to play some meaningful games and that's good. But in order to take advantage of them, you can't be thinking three, four, five weeks ahead," Flores said.
"You got to focus on today, focus on this week, focus on this team, and we've got plenty to focus on with the Kansas City Chiefs."
But the Dolphins like their chances.
"We want to play scrappy. We know we can play with anybody," outside linebacker Van Noy said on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday.
"We're fast. We're physical. We do all the little things. We're just scrappy and grimy. It's not going to come easy. We're just a team that when you get out on the field, you love playing football together and it really shows."
