MIAMI GARDENS — It’s going to be cold in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Tua Tagovailoa has not been playing well and for the Miami Dolphins that’s a concerning combination headed into a game at the New York Jets.”it’s a mentality, it’s a mindset,” Tagovailoa said. “This is what we get paid to do – to play football regardless of if it’s raining, it’s snowing, it’s sleeting, it’s hot, it’s cold. Regardless, we’ve got to go out there and play and do our jobs.”Tagovailoa needs to lead the Dolphins to victory in order to improve upon a career record of 0-7 in games where the temperature at kickoff is 46 degrees or colder.It may be around 41 at kickoff when the Jets (3-9) host the Dolphins (5-7) at MetLife Stadium.Miami has won three in a row and four of five and can improve their odds of a winning season and a 2026 return for coach Mike McDaniel with yet another win.”If you’re not mathematically eliminated, the best thing to do is worry about your game beating the next opponent,” McDaniel said the team remaining in “In the hunt” for playoffs graphics.Tua Tagovailoa trying mental resets Tagovailoa, 27, is in his sixth NFL season and it’s been his worst.Tua’s league rankings among quarterbacks are startling: passer rating (23rd), passing yards (19th), average pass length (23rd) and interception percentage (27th).”We know what it looks like when he’s in a groove, and we know what it looks like when he’s not having his best day,” McDaniel said. “The answer is never just ‘All right, super easy, one thing.’ There’s layers to a lot of things.”Tagovailoa said mechanics were off on some of his misfires against the Saints.”Just bringing my feet with from my eyes,” Tua said. “Because I could be faced this way [Tua turns his body to the side] and I’m just bringing my eyes. I can’t really throw it like that, so just bring it, that’s it.”But more interestingly, Tua confided a strategy to regain traction when things are going poorly in a series, a quarter or a game. It’s called a “reset” technique.”I think for me, it’s my reset and how I do reset for myself is my senses,” Tua said. “Whether that’s touching my fingers, touching grass, whatever that is, breathing in the air, what I smell through that, just using my senses to bring myself to become present. I would say that helps me reset.”Tua needs a reset after recent struggles. He can increase the chance McDaniel returns, and increase the chance he is Miami’s projected 2026 starter, by playing well in the final five weeks.Dolphins’ offensive identity leans toward runMcDaniel and the Dolphins want to run and have been more effective this season when the offense leans run over pass.In cold-weather December and January games at New York, Pittsburgh and New England, Miami wants to be able to run the ball and play a physical brand in the trenches.That should benefit Tagovailoa, who feels balance is needed.”Of course, the winning aspect of it, very important for us, but it’s also how we continue to get better,” Tua said. “The backend of the year, you can’t just lean on one particular style of play. As it gets into the deeper parts of December, early January and then the postseason, you’ve got to be able to pass the ball and pass the ball efficiently before you can start getting the run game going and whatnot.”One thing Tagovailoa has done is be available for all 12 Miami games. He’s protected his healt by sliding and getting rid of the ball. But even Tua conceded that very late in the last game, he could have more aggressively attacked on a 3rd-and-4 run that resulted in just a 3-yard gain.”I’ve got to make the right decision for the team and for us to keep us on the field,” Tua said of the have-to-have-it situation. “I’ve got to be better there so that’s it.”McDaniel cited two specific outstanding plays Tagovailoa made in Miami’s most recent game.Tua completed a 21-yard laser to Greg Dulcich with velocity, accuracy and self-assuredness. And Tua pump-faked to help create space for Jaylen Waddle to haul in a 22-yard reception between three Saints defenders.Tua struggled pretty badly in that game. Miami is seeking the answer to why there haven’t been more plays like “40 and 46″ as McDaniel explained.What did Tua do right on those two plays?”The conviction of my footwork,” Tagovailoa said. “Conviction through the progression.”Some local and national football analysts have questioned if Tua is playing with tentativeness, if he cannot physically make some plays he did in the past and if he’s lost confidence.Any or all of those things may be true. And there is only one person who can change the narrative that he has regressed and/or is in decline.Tua. Starting in Miami’s next game. In the cold. In New Jersey.Miami Dolphins’ Chop Robinson Shows what he’s capable of Tua Tagovailoa Miami Dolphins need better play down the stretchMiami Dolphins’ Austin Jackson Playing through ‘turf toe realm’ painJoe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa aims to snap 0-7 record in cold weather