Tag Archive for: Miami Dolphins

Quick Takeaways from Dolphins’ Collapse vs. Titans

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We’ve seen it all in December.

We saw a 9-2 team, surging and blessed after Leon Lett’s unforgettable Thanksgiving faux pas, drop its next five, giving up 45 in one and 47 in another, and losing in overtime in the clincher.

That was 1993.

We saw a 9-5 team, finally stabilized after the return of Jay Fiedler, fall apart in Minnesota (Cris Carter doesn’t catch a touchdown) and New England (when they stopped running Ricky Williams).

That was 2002.

We’ve seen too many other collapses to count.

So will this be another, following an inexplicable 28-27 home defeat against the Tennessee Titans, a 14-point underdog that made several seemingly game-sealing mistakes prior to the Dolphins’ meltdown? Will we remember this fourth loss of an otherwise entertaining and at times exceptional season, to be the beginning of another untimely end?

Will we all jump off the nearest precipice?

Tua Tagovailoa tried to reassure scarred, scared Dolphins fans that this time, at last, will be different.

“I don’t think this is the same Dolphins team that everyone thinks about,” said Tagovailoa, who played below his season standards against Tennessee. “We’ve got really good players, we’ve got really good coaches, and it’s one loss (at) home this year. It’s not like the world ends because we lost this game. We’re human, we’ll continue to get better from this. This is the NFL. No one’s perfect. So that’s that.”

But Dolphins fans are human too.

They can remember.

And that’s why they’re all spasming in fear at the thought of another massive meltdown.

Here are 5 things that need to change, for these not to be the Same Old Dolphins:

 

1. Mike McDaniel needs to stop getting so cute. The former 49ers run-game coordinator, who has worked wonders on the Dolphins’ rushing attack with almost interchangeable running backs and offensive linemen, is absurdly reluctant to run inside the red zone. When he finally did it, with the Dolphins on short fields following Titans miscues, Raheem Mostert had no trouble finding the end zone. We understand tendencies play a part in the trickery, but this team can do the Old School football thing. No need to be a genius there. McDaniel said after that he understands “I deserve to be second-guessed.” But this isn’t just the second or third or even fourth time.

 

2. Figure out the center-quarterback exchange. This is the most fundamental act in football, yet it’s been an issue all season. It was with Connor Williams, who is adept at everything else and now may be lost for the season with a knee injury. And it’s certainly been with fill-in Liam Eichenberg. Tagovailoa took responsibility for a drive-killing fumble, yet another in the red zone. But he also said it’s because he doesn’t work with Eichenberg much. This week he will. Get it fixed.

 

3. Stop feeling yourselves. We love the personality of this team, after more than a quarter-century of dull Dolphins atmospheres. We love Hard Knocks. We love the collective swagger and the creative celebrations. But as our Chris Kouffman of Three Yards Per Carry pointed out, the Dolphins have played their two worst games after arguably their two best games. They appear to handle adversity better than prosperity. Well, they have some now.

 

4. Get whole. Well, some of this is beyond their control. But it also seems like there’s some load management at work, and it’s too late for that now. Could Jevon Holland and Terron Armstead have played through nagging injuries? Perhaps. Would it have helped? Likely, especially more offensive linemen (Connor Williams) and defensive backs (De’Shon Elliot) started falling. Now Tyreek Hill has tweaked his ankle, somewhat significantly (he said he thought his ankle was “gone” when he did, and that his wife told him to “get the hell back in the game”). If he misses the game with the Jets, it would be nice to have some reinforcements return.

 

5. Get healed (emotionally). They can’t let this linger. So they might want to stay off social media, which is likely to be particularly lovely this week. McDaniel said players were looking inward, without pointing fingers. If they start the latter, with four challenging opponents upcoming (even the Jets will test them), we can start pointing back to past flameouts, and start pointing to an early, ignominious exit.

5 Takeaways from Dolphins’ 45-15 win over Washington

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Despite playing away from home, the Miami Dolphins’ offense revived shades of their early-season dominance witnessed in home games. Notably, their explosive 70-point triumph over Denver in Week 3 was a standout performance. While Sunday’s victory didn’t replicate the 70-point spectacle, it showcased the Dolphins’ offensive prowess and their renewed ability to dissect defenses, a quality that had been less prominent in recent matchups.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa saw limited action after the initial possession of the second half, primarily navigating conservative play calls centered around runs. Nevertheless, Tagovailoa managed to deliver two touchdowns, both in collaboration with Tyreek Hill, who amassed a remarkable 157 yards on just five receptions. Hill’s current pace hints at a ridiculous 2,098 yards for the season, which would be an all-time record.

 

Andrew Van Ginkel shines in the absence of Jaelan Phillips

 

When the Miami Dolphins needed a hero in the absence of the sensational Jaelan Phillips, enter Andrew Van Ginkel. Known for his earlier standout performances, Van Ginkel faced big shoes to fill in for the injured Phillips. Yet, in Sunday’s game, he stepped onto the field with sheer determination. His stats spoke volumes: 2 QB hits, 5 tackles, and a game-changing pick-6. Not to mention, he came close to blocking a punt. Van Ginkel’s impactful contributions in the Dolphins’ win reflect a ‘next man up’ mentality.

 

Did the Vic Fangio defense really hold the NFL’s leading passer to 130 passing yards?

 

Washington QB Sam Howell faced a daunting challenge against the Vic Fangio defense this time around. Despite Howell’s reputation for aerial dominance (in terms of yardage), Fangio’s formidable defensive strategy posed a considerable obstacle. Miami’s defense, notably performing at a high level in recent weeks, has had to overcome hurdles due to injuries to key players like Jaelan Phillips, Jevon Holland, and Jerome Baker. Their resilient ‘next man up’ mindset remained evident. Washington’s offense struggled to find its footing against the tenacious Fangio-led defense, failing to establish any real momentum or success during the game.

 

Tua Tagovailoa: The best QB “In the (World)?”

 

That’s what the Cheetah seemed to imply in a tweet following Sunday’s victory. Sunday’s game further bolstered Tua’s MVP candidacy. He consistently delivered on crucial third downs, notably launching a 78-yard bomb to Tyreek Hill in the first quarter. What stood out was Tua’s ability to avoid sacks throughout Sunday’s game. While credit may go to the offensive line, Tagovailoa’s adeptness at navigating the pocket, evading defenders, getting the ball out quickly, and extending plays was evident.

 

Magic number 3?

 

The Dolphins are on the verge of clinching a second consecutive postseason berth under Head Coach Mike McDaniel. With the magic number at 3 wins to clinch, the Dolphins can taste the postseason. However, their aspirations surpass mere qualification. Miami eyes the division title and a potential first-round bye, lofty yet achievable objectives. Yet, looming over them is the persistent challenge: dispelling the narrative that they struggle against top-tier opponents. As they face formidable teams like Dallas, Baltimore, and Buffalo in upcoming matchups, the Fins aim to rewrite this narrative as the conclusion of the regular season nears end.

Unease Amid Dominance: Miami’s 34-13 Victory Over Jets

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On the heels of Thanksgiving, the NFL debuted its first-ever Black Friday showdown at MetLife Stadium between the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins. The holiday feast may had concluded, but the Dolphins exhibited an insatiable hunger to get back to 8-3. As soon as Miami won the coin toss and elected to defer, confidence soared among fans for good reason. The Dolphins’ defense, statistically superior to the struggling Jets’ offense in every aspect on paper, promised an advantage. This was because the Jets were starting undrafted free agent quarterback Nick Boyle who was thrown into the starting QB role after QB Zach Wilson was benched the week prior. And when the Dolphins defense forced a punt on the Jets’ first possession, Dolphins fans knew that New York’s offense would be the least of their problems throughout the game.

 

And things were going well for the Dolphins, that was until Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa threw his second pick-six of the season with under 2 minutes left in the first half when the score was 10-0. And the narrative that the only thing that could stop this Dolphins team was self-inflicted wounds resurfaced in the classic Dolphins way. Miami would go back on offense with under a minute left in the half after throwing that pick-six, in a half where they should have shut out the Jets. Nevertheless, clinging to a narrow 10-6 lead (Jets missed the PAT, lol), they fervently sought a redemptive offensive drive, with under 60 seconds in the second quarter; aiming to head into halftime without a sour taste in their mouth. 

 

It only took a couple of first downs, up to midfield, with seconds to go when Tua threw his second interception in under 60 seconds. The Jets would take over on their 49-yard line with 2 seconds left in the half.

 

And if it weren’t for the Jets being the Jets, or perhaps Jevon Holland channeling his inner Wide Receiver from his high school days in Oakland, California, the Dolphins would have carried a ‘disappointing’ 10-6 lead into halftime (at best). But Dolphins safety Jevon Holland had other plans. The Jets weren’t content with trailing merely 10-6 heading into halftime; they craved more. This led the coach of an underwhelming team, failing to meet season expectations, to resort to a Hail Mary attempt from midfield, seeking to spark some unforeseen magic.

 

And boy, did that plan backfire.

 

Tim Boyle dropped back and executed the Hail Mary, sending the ball soaring into the end zone where Holland positioned himself perfectly, waiting for the ball to descend right into the breadbasket. And from the Dolphins’ one-yard line, Jevon Holland snatched the ball and dashed 99 yards in the other direction, with the clock hitting zero seconds as he raced down the field.

 

The Dolphins entered halftime with a 17-6 lead in a defensively charged game. As some fans reveled in Miami’s longest interception return since 2002, others remained uneasy with the offense’s performance and their quarterback, who had already tallied two interceptions by halftime, a marked difference from the 2022 season where he threw only eight interceptions the entire season.

 

But in the second half, Miami’s defense took full advantage of every opportunity against the Jets’ offense. Only managing to secure a single touchdown in garbage time, the Jets struggled as the Dolphins defense flexed its muscles. With 7 sacks and 3 turnovers on the day, including one resulting in a touchdown, the Dolphins’ defensive performance clearly dictated the course of the game.

 

However, fortune favored the Dolphins only until the moment 3rd year standout LB Jaelan Phillips was carted off with an Achilles injury in the fourth quarter. Phillips, who had been delivering a season akin to an All-Pro, will be a monumental loss for the Dolphins defensive as his injury likely means he’s done for the season.

 

So perhaps it was the Phillips injury that left fans unsettled despite a double-digit win over a division rival on the road. Still, it’s worth noting that Miami outscored any other team against the Jets this season. Notably, both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined for 200 yards, while running back Raheem Mostert scored two touchdowns on the ground.

 

Perhaps it’s worth extending some leniency to the Dolphins’ offense. After all, they had to contend with one of the league’s elite defenses, despite facing a Jets offense that ranks among the bottom five in the NFL.

 

However, it’s evident that there’s room for improvement. Whether it was Tyreek Hill’s dropped touchdown on fourth and 1 at the beginning of the game or Tagovailoa’s two interceptions, one of which resulted in a pick-six, these are the areas that demand refinement.

For the Dolphins to realize their deep postseason aspirations, one thing remains clear–they must address these concerns while also managing to mitigate injuries to key players.

Tua Tagovailoa will miss the Dolphins' game at New England and possibly more.

NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Dolphins at #2

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Another week of the NFL season can be crossed off as we enter the month of November in what seems to feel like a season that has been flying by. 

 

While some teams don’t want the season to go by, others are desperately praying to get it over with because things have not been going well at all. 

 

The Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots, just to name a few, are teams that fall under the category of wishing there was a skip button to the end of the season. 

 

The Cardinals hold the league’s longest losing streak after they lost their fifth game in a row against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday but after starting out their season 2-1, all of a sudden, the Packers have lost four-straight games and are 2-5. Green Bay’s quarterback, Jordan Love, has really struggled trying to fill Aaron Rodgers’ shoes as he completed just 24 of his 41 passes for 229 yards and an interception in the loss to the Vikings. 

 

The Bears and Giants are dealing with quarterback injuries and are forced to play their second and even third string quarterback which, most of the time, doesn’t end well. Chicago got blown against the Chargers 30-13 and the Giants lost a heartbreaker to the Jets in an extremely ugly game for both teams. 

 

Have the Titans found their quarterback of the future? Will Levis got his first career start on Sunday and it looked like he was playing against high schoolers. The rookie out of Kentucky threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns while allowing star receiver Deandre Hopkins to finally have his best game in a Titans uniform. Hopkins had four catches for 128 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-23 win against the Falcons. 

 

Minnesota’s injury woes continue as they lost quarterback Kirk Cousins for the rest of the season due to a torn achilles he suffered against the Packers. It is absolutely devastating for Minnesota because they looked like a team that finally found their groove after beating the 49ers last week and then going into Lambeau Field and making a statement. Cousins was also having a very good year throwing for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns. It will be interesting to see how this Vikings team will fare going forward. 

 

The San Francisco 49ers have completely fallen off the face of the Earth. What has happened to them? They started out the year 5-0 and have now lost three games in a row. Quarterback Brock Purdy all of a sudden looks like “Mr. Irrelevant” and that Niners defense that is often highly praised has completely disappeared. Don’t look now but the Seattle Seahawks are in the lead in the NFC West division and if San Francisco doesn’t get it together, their hopes for a division title can easily get out of reach. 

And now we can talk about the fastest team on the planet. The revamped ‘Greatest Show on Turf’. The 6-2 Miami Dolphins. 

 

The Dolphins hosted the Patriots on Sunday in what some feared to be a trap game for Miami as they would face the Chiefs in their next game in Germany. But, Miami looked locked in from the get go. 

 

Tua Tagovailoa continued to make his case for the MVP as he threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle each had over 100 receiving yards. Hill had eight catches for 112 yards and a touchdown while Waddle caught seven passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. 

 

But even with all the noise offensively, the story of the day was the return of All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. In his Dolphins debut, Ramsey recorded an interception and showed how much of an impact he can make on this defense for Miami. 

 

Oh, and Tagovailoa is 6-0 in his career against Bill Belichick. So yeah, there’s that. 

 

Below are my power rankings for Week 9.

 

  1. Arizona Cardinals (1 – 7) 

Last Week: 31

Result: Lost vs. Ravens 31-24

 

  1. Green Bay Packers (2 – 5)

Last Week: 30

Result: Lost vs. Vikings 24-10

  1. Carolina Panthers (1 – 6)

Last Week: 32

Result: Won vs. Texans 15-13

 

  1. Chicago Bears (2 – 6)

Last Week: 27

Result: Lost at Chargers 30-13

 

  1. New York Giants (2 – 6)

Last Week: 25

Result: Lost vs. Jets 13-10

 

  1. Washington Commanders (3 – 5)

Last Week: 26

Result: Lost vs. Eagles 38-31

 

  1. New England Patriots (2 – 6)

Last Week: 24

Result: Lost at Dolphins 31-17

 

  1. Indianapolis Colts (3 – 5)

            Last Week: 23

Result: Lost vs. Saints 38-27

 

  1. Los Angeles Rams (3 – 5)

Last Week: 19

Result: Lost at Cowboys 43-20

 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (3 – 5)

Last Week: 21

Result: Lost at Lions 26-14

 

  1. Houston Texans (3 – 4)

Last Week: 16

Result: Lost at Panthers 15-13

 

  1. Tennessee Titans (3 – 4)

Last Week: 29

Result: Won vs. Falcons 28-23

 

  1. Denver Broncos (3 – 5)

Last Week: 28

Result: Won vs. Chiefs 24-9

 

  1. Atlanta Falcons (4 – 4)

Last Week: 17

Result: Lost at Titans 28-23

 

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3 – 4)

            Last Week: 18

Result: Lost at Bills 24-18

 

  1. New Orleans Saints (4 – 4)

Last Week: 22

Result: Won at Colts 38-27

 

  1. Los Angeles Chargers (3 – 4)

Last Week: 20

Result: Won vs. Bears 30-13

 

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (4 – 3)

Last Week: 13

Result: Lost vs. Jaguars 20-10

 

  1. Minnesota Vikings (4 – 4)

Last Week: 15

Result: Won at Packers 24-10

 

  1. New York Jets (4 – 3)

Last Week: 14

Result: Won at Giants 13-10

 

  1. Cleveland Browns (4 – 3)

Last Week: 9

Result: Lost at Seahawks 24-20

 

  1. San Francisco 49ers (5 – 3)

Last Week: 5

Result: Lost vs. Bengals 31-17

 

  1. Seattle Seahawks (5 – 2)

Last Week: 12

Result: Won vs. Browns 24-20

 

  1. Buffalo Bills (5 – 3)

Last Week: 10

Result: Won vs. Buccaneers 24-18

 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (4 – 3)

Last Week: 11

Result: Won at 49ers 31-17

 

  1. Dallas Cowboys (5 – 2)

Last Week: 8

Result: Won vs. Rams 43-20

 

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (6 – 2)

Last Week: 6

Result: Won at Steelers 20-10

 

  1. Detroit Lions (6 – 2)

Last Week: 7

Result: Won vs. Raiders 26-14

 

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (6 – 2)

Last Week: 2

Result: Lost at Broncos 24-9

 

  1. Baltimore Ravens (6 – 2)

Last Week: 3

Result: Won at Cardinals 31-24

 

  1. Miami Dolphins (6 – 2)

Last Week: 4

Result: Won vs. Patriots 31-17

 

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (7 – 1)

Last Week: 1

Result: Won at Commanders 38-31

Week 8 NFL Power Rankings: New team at the top

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Week 8 of the NFL season is already here and some teams have emerged as championship contenders while others might be headed towards the list of pretenders. 

 

Who would’ve thought that the Jacksonville Jaguars were going to start their season 5-2? They came through with a big win against the Saints on a short week and Travis Etienne has shown that he is one of the top running backs in the league. 

 

How about the teams in the AFC North? The Browns, Steelers and Ravens all came out with wins on Sunday. 

 

The Cleveland Browns have arguably the best defense in the league and put it on display after forcing four turnovers against the Colts in their 39-38 victory. Despite their problems at the quarterback position, they are off to a 4-2 start. 

 

The Steelers went on the road (not really) and beat the Rams 24-17. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren each had rushing touchdowns and wide receiver George Pickens caught five passes for 107 yards. 

 

But the team that has emerged as a legitimate contender is the Baltimore Ravens. They put everyone in the league on notice after completely annihilating the then 5-1 Detroit Lions by a score of 38-6. It looked like Lamar Jackson was playing on easy mode as he threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns while 36 yards and a touchdown on the ground. It’ll be interesting to see how this loss will affect the Lions moving forward. Was this just a bad game or were the Ravens just too much for them to handle? They host the Raiders next week on Monday Night Football. 

 

Speaking of too much to handle, the Chiefs routed the Chargers on their home turf 31-17 to move to 6-1 on the season and it seems as if Taylor Swift’s presence is taking Travis Kelce’s game to a whole other level. The tight end had 12 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown. But also, don’t overlook Patrick Mahomes’s 424 passing yards and four touchdowns. 

 

Bill Belichick got his 300th regular season win after his Patriots beat the Bills 29-25 in a game in which the New England offense finally woke up. Mac Jones threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns while Ezekiel Elliott and Kendrick Bourne found their way into the end zone. 

 

Alright and then there are the Dolphins. Miami went on the road to Philadelphia in a prime time game with the Eagles and had trouble moving the ball early in what would turn out to be a 31-17 Eagles victory. 

 

Was the officiating lopsided? Sure. Was Miami missing starters on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball? Absolutely. But there has to be credit given to Philadelphia and the amount of talent they have on both sides of the ball. 

 

The Dolphins just couldn’t get any traction through the ground game and because Miami was missing multiple starters on their offensive line, Tua Tagovailoa had no time to throw and was sacked four times. 

 

On defense, the Dolphins couldn’t figure out how to contain Philadelphia’s receivers. 

 

A.J. Brown had a huge night with 10 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Dallas Goedart had five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. Yes you can say the Dolphins were missing their best two cornerbacks in Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard but again, the Eagles are an elite football team. 

 

With the loss, the Dolphins fall to 5-2 and the narrative surrounding them is if they can beat good teams. Their five wins have come against the Chargers, Patriots, Broncos, Giants and Panthers who have a combined record of 8-25. Can Miami win the big games? As the season unfolds, we’ll have our answer. 

 

Below are my power rankings for Week 8. 

 

  1. Carolina Panthers (0 – 6) 

Last Week: 32

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Arizona Cardinals (1 – 6)

Last Week: 30

Result: Lost at Seahawks 20-10

  1. Green Bay Packers (2 – 4)

Last Week: 25

Result: Lost at Broncos 19-17

 

  1. Tennessee Titans (2 – 4)

Last Week: 26

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Denver Broncos (2 – 5)

Last Week: 28

Result: Won vs. Packers 19-17

 

  1. Chicago Bears (2 – 5)

Last Week: 29

Result: Won vs. Raiders 30-12

 

  1. Washington Commanders (3 – 4)

Last Week: 20

Result: Lost at Giants 14-7

 

  1. New York Giants (2 – 5)

            Last Week: 27

Result: Won vs. Commanders 14-7

 

  1. New England Patriots (2 – 5)

Last Week: 31

Result: Won vs. Bills 29-25

 

  1. Indianapolis Colts (3 – 4)

Last Week: 22

Result: Lost vs. Browns 39-38

 

  1. New Orleans Saints (3 – 4)

Last Week: 21

Result: Lost vs. Jaguars 31-24

 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (2 – 4)

Last Week: 19

Result: Lost at Bears 30-12

 

  1. Los Angeles Chargers (2 – 4)

Last Week: 15

Result: Lost at Chiefs 31-17

 

  1. Los Angeles Rams (3 – 4)

            Last Week: 18

Result: Lost vs. Steelers 24-17

 

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3 – 3)

Last Week: 14

Result: Lost vs. Falcons 16-13

 

  1. Atlanta Falcons (4 – 3)

Last Week: 23

Result: Won at Buccaneers 16-13

 

  1. Houston Texans (3 – 3)

Last Week: 17

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Minnesota Vikings (3 – 4)

Last Week: 24

Result: Won vs. 49ers 22-17

 

  1. New York Jets (3 – 3)

Last Week: 13

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (4 – 2)

Last Week: 16

Result: Won at Rams 24-17

 

  1. Seattle Seahawks (4 – 2)

Last Week: 12

Result: Won vs. Cardinals 20-10

 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (3 – 3)

Last Week: 11

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Buffalo Bills (4 – 3)

Last Week: 8

Result: Lost at Patriots 29-25

 

  1. Cleveland Browns (4 – 2)

Last Week: 9

Result: Won at Colts 39-38

 

  1. Dallas Cowboys (4 – 2)

Last Week: 7

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Detroit Lions (5 – 2)

Last Week: 4

Result: Lost at Ravens 38-6

 

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (5 – 2)

Last Week: 6

Result: Won at Saints 31-24

 

  1. San Francisco 49ers (5 – 2)

Last Week: 3

Result: Lost at Vikings 22-17

 

  1. Miami Dolphins (5 – 2)

Last Week: 1

Result: Lost at Eagles 31-17

 

  1. Baltimore Ravens (5 – 2)

Last Week: 10

Result: Won vs. Lions 38-6

 

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (6 – 1)

Last Week: 2

Result: Won vs. Chargers 31-17

 

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (6 – 1)

Last Week: 5

Result: Won vs. Dolphins 31-17

Week 7 NFL Power Rankings: Dolphins rise to top

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There are no more unbeaten teams after a wild Week 7 of the NFL season. I repeat: no more unbeaten teams. 

 

What does that mean? Well, the 1972 Miami Dolphins can pop the champagne as they celebrate another year of being the only team in NFL history to have a perfect season. 

 

Both the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles lost their first games this year on the road and their quarterbacks did not play well. 

 

Of course, the 49ers could easily still be undefeated if their kicker, Jake Moody, cashed in on a 41-yard game winning field goal, but that’s not how the story ended for San Francisco. It’s worth taking into account that offensive stars Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel had to exit the game due to injury but Cleveland did what they could and kept attacking that stingy Niner defense.

 

The Eagles were hoping to start out 6-0 as they faced off against the Jets on the road in East Rutherford, but their offense looked lost. They couldn’t get anything going with the run game as running back D’Andre Swift had tallied just 18 yards on 10 attempts. Quarterback Jalen Hurts did not look comfortable as he threw three interceptions and was sacked five times even with the Jets missing their star cornerback Sauce Gardner. But it did not matter because Robert Saleh’s defense was up for the task and played lights out to hand Philly their first loss of the year. 

 

Flipping it over to the rest of the league, a couple of highly talented teams in the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs had some ugly wins on their home turf against subpar opponents. But at the end of the day, a win is a win in the stat sheet I guess. 

 

The Jacksonville Jaguars blew out the Indianapolis Colts 37-20 as Jacksonville’s defense forced four turnovers that included three picks against quarterback Gardner Minshew. 

 

Baltimore snuck out with a victory against the Titans in London while the Texans got a much-needed win at home against the Saints. 

 

The Detroit Lions continue to win football games while Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys were able to fend off the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football.

 

The Miami Dolphins were in a little bit of trouble against the Carolina Panthers after finding themselves down 14-0, but there was no panic with the best offense in the league. 

 

Raheem Mostert had a huge day running for 115 yards and two touchdowns, Tyreek Hill had six catches for 163 yards and a touchdown and Tua Tagovailoa threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns. Miami ended up winning 42-21 and are 5-1 on the season, their best start in 20 years. 

 

Below are my Week 7 power rankings.

 

  1. Carolina Panthers (0 – 6) 

Last Week: 32

Result: Lost at Dolphins 42-21

 

  1. New England Patriots (1 – 5)

Last Week: 31

Result: Lost at Raiders 21-17

  1. Arizona Cardinals (1 – 5)

Last Week: 29

Result: Lost at Rams 26-9 

 

  1. Chicago Bears (1 – 5)

Last Week: 26

Result: Lost vs. Vikings 19-13

 

  1. Denver Broncos (1 – 5)

Last Week: 30

Result: Lost at Chiefs 19-8

 

  1. New York Giants (1 – 5)

Last Week: 28

Result: Lost at Bills 14-9

 

  1. Tennessee Titans (2 – 4)

Last Week: 22

Result: Lost vs. Ravens 24-16

 

  1. Green Bay Packers (2 – 3)

            Last Week: 25

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Minnesota Vikings (2 – 4)

Last Week: 24

Result: Won at Beats 19-13

 

  1. Atlanta Falcons (3 – 3)

Last Week: 19

Result: Lost vs. Commanders 24-16

 

  1. Indianapolis Colts (3 – 3)

Last Week: 13

Result: Lost at Jaguars 37-20

 

  1. New Orleans Saints (3 – 3)

Last Week: 12

Result: Lost at Texans 20-13

 

  1. Washington Commanders (3 – 3)

Last Week: 27

Result: Won at Falcons 24-16

 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (3 – 3)

Last Week: 18

Result: Won vs. Patriots 2-17

 

  1. Los Angeles Rams (3 – 3)

            Last Week: 20

Result: Won vs. Cardinals 26-9

 

  1. Houston Texans (3 – 3)

Last Week: 23

Result: Won vs. Saints 20-13

 

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (3 – 2)

Last Week: 16

Result: Bye Week

 

  1. Los Angeles Chargers (2 – 3)

Last Week: 14

Result: Lost vs. Cowboys 20-17

 

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3 – 2)

Last Week: 11

Result: Lost vs. Lions 20-6

 

  1. New York Jets (3 – 3)

Last Week: 21

Result: Won vs. Eagles 20-14

 

  1. Seattle Seahawks (3 – 2)

Last Week: 8

Result: Lost at Bengals 17-13

 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (3 – 3)

Last Week: 15

Result: Won vs. Seahawks 17-13

 

  1. Baltimore Ravens (4 – 2)

Last Week: 10

Result: Won at Titans 24-16

 

  1. Cleveland Browns (3 – 2)

Last Week: 17

Result: Won vs. 49ers 19-17

 

  1. Buffalo Bills (4 – 2)

Last Week: 6

Result: Won vs. Giants 14-9

 

  1. Dallas Cowboys (4 – 2)

Last Week: 7

Result: Won at Chargers 20-17

 

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (4 – 2)

Last Week: 9

Result: Won vs. Colts 37-20

 

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (5 – 1)

Last Week: 2

Result: Lost at Jets 20-14

 

  1. Detroit Lions (5 – 1)

Last Week: 5

Result: Won at Buccaneers 20-6

 

  1. San Francisco 49ers (5 – 1)

Last Week: 1

Result: Lost at Browns 19-17

 

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (5 – 1)

Last Week: 4

Result: Won vs. Broncos 19-8

 

  1. Miami Dolphins (5 – 1)

Last Week: 3

Result: Won vs. Panthers 42-21

 

NFL Power Rankings Week 6: Dolphins back in top 5

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With Week 6 of the NFL in the books, there was certainly a lot to unpack. From season-ending injuries to major upsets, the league continues to show its unpredictability.

 

There are only two teams left with perfect records: Philadelphia and San Francisco. But looking at the other end of the spectrum, Carolina is still seeking their first win of the season. 

 

It has been a rough first five weeks for Bryce Young and the winless Carolina Panthers. Turnovers were the story of the game for Carolina as they got blown out on the road in Detroit. Young threw two interceptions and has now thrown four in five games this year. It doesn’t get easier for the Panthers as they head down to South Florida next week to play one of the league’s best teams in the Miami Dolphins. 

 

Let’s talk about New England for a second. What has happened to Bill Belichick and his New England Patriots? New England got embarrassed at home and Mac Jones’s struggles continued. Jones looked absolutely rattled by New Orleans’ defense as he completed just 12 of his 22 passes for 110 yards. Oh, and he also threw a couple of picks. And to make things worse, the Patriots have been outscored 72-3 in their last two games. Woah.

 

Speaking of the number 72, the Denver Broncos have been one of, if not, the biggest letdown in the league this season. Bringing in Sean Payton was clearly not going to help Russell Wilson guide this team to consistently find ways to win. And it doesn’t help when the defense just looks lost week after week. Denver gave up 234 rushing yards to the Jets and couldn’t bring down Breece Hall as he ran for 177 yards and a touchdown. If it wasn’t for a come-from-behind win against the Chicago Bears, the Broncos would easily be at the bottom of my list. 

 

The Chicago Bears. Let’s give them props for winning their first game in 346 days. Yes, you read that right. Justin Fields played lights out, throwing for 282 yards and four touchdowns. But the story of the game was D.J. Moore. Moore had eight catches for 230 yards and three touchdowns to help lead the Bears to a 40-20 victory in Washington on Thursday Night Football.

 

The Cardinals are an interesting team. They go from blowing a game against the Giants one week to beating the Cowboys another week. But it seems like they’ve run out of gas as they’ve lost by double digits in their last two games against the 49ers and Bengals. Arizona had no answer in containing Ja’Marr Chase as the star wide receiver had a total of 15 catches for 192 yards and three touchdowns. With the status of quarterback Kyler Murray being uncertain, it’s looking like a long season for the Cardinals. 

 

The offensive line for the New York Giants continues to be a disappointment and they have not been doing Daniel Jones any favors as they allowed seven sacks in their loss to the Dolphins. It seemed as if every time Jones dropped back to pass, he was getting tossed to the ground by Miami’s defensive line. Jones eventually had to exit the game due to neck soreness. A positive note that New York can take out of the game was that they forced a couple of interceptions that included a 102-yard pick-six. But don’t look now Giants fans. Your New York Football Giants are headed to Buffalo next week. Yikes. 

 

It looked like the Bills were jetlagged in their 25-20 loss to the Jaguars in London. Buffalo was down early in the game and despite their efforts to make a comeback, it was too little too late. Give credit to Jacksonville though. They had a very good offensive approach, especially through the ground game. Travis Etienne ran all over Buffalo’s defense as he had 26 carries for 136 yards and two touchdowns. But I think the main story is the injury to Bills star linebacker Matt Milano. According to reports, Milano suffered a season-ending knee injury during the first quarter and the Bills took another major blow to their defense. They’ve now lost Milano and Tre’Davious White in the span of two weeks. 

 

The Philadelphia Eagles cruised by the Los Angeles Rams to start their season out 5-0 and the San Francisco 49ers look like the most complete team in the NFL after making the Dallas Cowboys look like a deer in headlights. To top it off, George Kittle had a hat trick, catching three touchdowns in San Francisco’s 42-10 victory. 

 

Shifting over to South Florida, the best offense in the league is back at it again. Whether it’s in the air or on the ground, the Dolphins looked unstoppable. Aside from a couple of careless interceptions from Tua Tagovailoa, Miami looked flawless on both sides of the ball. Tyreek Hill had eight catches for 181 yards and a touchdown. Rookie running back De’Von Achane made his presence known as he had 11 carries for 151 yards and a touchdown although there were some reports that Achane was suffering from a knee injury after the game. There are no reports of the severity of the injury.  

 

On the defensive side, defensive tackle Zach Sieler had a day, tallying six tackles and two sacks. After a disappointing loss to Buffalo in their last game, Miami looks like they are back to being the team to beat in the AFC. With a matchup against the winless Carolina Panthers in their next game, the Dolphins could very well be headed towards a 5-1 start to the season. 

 

Below are my Week 6 power rankings.

 

  1. Carolina Panthers (0 – 5)

Lost vs. Lions 42-24

 

  1. New England Patriots (1 – 4)

Lost vs. Saints 34-0

 

  1. Denver Broncos (1 – 4)

Lost vs. Jets 31-21

 

  1. Arizona Cardinals (1 – 4)

Lost vs. Bengals 34-20

 

  1. New York Giants (1 – 4)

Lost vs. Dolphins 31-16

 

  1. Washington Commanders (2 – 3)

Lost vs. Bears 40-20

 

  1. Chicago Bears (1 – 4)

Won vs. Commanders 40-20

 

  1. Green Bay Packers (2 – 3)

            Lost vs. Raiders 17-13

 

  1. Minnesota Vikings (1 – 4)

Lost vs. Chiefs 27-20

 

  1. Houston Texans (2 – 3)

Lost vs. Falcons 21-19

 

  1. Tennessee Titans (2 – 3)

Lost vs. Colts 23-16

 

  1. New York Jets (2 – 3)

Won vs. Broncos 31-21

 

  1. Los Angeles Rams (2 – 3)

Lost vs. Eagles 23-14

 

  1. Atlanta Falcons (3 – 2)

Won vs. Texans 21-19

 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders (2 – 3)

            Won vs. Packers 17-13

 

  1. Cleveland Browns (2 – 2)

Bye Week

 

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (3 – 2)

Won vs. Ravens 17-10

 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (2 – 3)

Won vs. Cardinals 34-20

 

  1. Los Angeles Chargers (2 – 2)

Bye Week

 

  1. Indianapolis Colts (3 – 2)

Won vs. Titans 23-16

 

  1. New Orleans Saints (3 – 2)

Won vs. Patriots 34-0

 

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3 – 1)

Bye Week

 

  1. Baltimore Ravens (3 – 2)

Lost vs. Steelers 17-10

 

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (3 – 2)

Won vs. Bills 25-20

 

  1. Seattle Seahawks (3 – 1)

Bye Week

 

  1. Dallas Cowboys (3 – 2)

Lost vs. 49ers 42-10

 

  1. Buffalo Bills (3 – 2)

Lost vs. Jaguars 25-20

 

  1. Detroit Lions (4 – 1)

Won vs. Panthers 42-24

 

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (4 – 1)

Won vs. Vikings 27-20

 

  1. Miami Dolphins (4 – 1)

Won vs. Giants 31-16

 

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (5 – 0)

Won vs. Rams 23-14

 

  1. San Francisco 49ers (5 – 0)

Won vs. Cowboys 42-10

 

Tyree Hill and Jaylen Waddle are giving the Miami Dolphins the most dynamic receiving duo in the NFL.

5 Takeaways from Miami’s 48-20 Loss to Buffalo

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The Disappointing Fangio Defense: 

 

In what has been a challenging start to the season for the Miami Dolphins, the performance of their defense, led by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, has been a major letdown. After four weeks of play, the Dolphins’ defense finds itself at the bottom of the league, ranking worst in success rate, second-worst in passing success, and third-worst in rush EPA and success. To make matters worse, they sit at the 21st spot in passing EPA and a dismal 26th in EPA/play. Against the Buffalo Bills, this defense allowed quarterback Josh Allen to have a field day without applying sufficient pressure, unveiling effective blitz packages, or really making him feel uncomfortable in the slightest. The decision to leave second-year UDFA Kader Kohou on an island against All-Pro WR Stefon Diggs backfired spectacularly, as Diggs racked up three touchdowns and 120 receiving yards, with two of those touchdowns coming in the first half. The absence of halftime adjustments compounded the defensive woes, underlining the urgent need for significant improvements in Miami’s defensive game plan.

 

Abandoning the Run Game: 

 

While it’s understandable that the Dolphins leaned heavily on their passing game, given the early deficit, Coach McDaniel conceded that he should have stuck with the run game more. Rookie De’Von Achane, a bright spot, found the end zone twice and displayed promise. However, the Bills’ defensive strategy of employing cover two effectively limited deep passing opportunities for Miami’s wide receivers. Opponents are increasingly adapting to Miami’s high-flying offense by focusing on preventing deep passes. This necessitates a strategic adjustment in the Dolphins’ game plan to counter these defensive tactics.

 

Concerns on the Offensive Line

 

After three nearly flawless weeks, the Dolphins’ offensive line encountered a considerable setback, surrendering a total of four sacks to the Bills. This marked a significant departure from the mere one sack allowed in the first three weeks of the season. The absence of center Connor Williams forced the Dolphins to thrust Liam Eichenberg into the center position, where he faced a challenging day. Eichenberg’s struggles not only affected the offensive line but also contributed to LT Terron Armstead’s injury. An unfortunate collision with Armstead’s knee forced him to exit the game prematurely. Tua Tagovailoa found himself under constant pressure, and it was evident that he was rattled. Miami must urgently address this concern at the center position to ensure the protection of Tagovailoa’s health.

 

Injuries Taking Their Toll

The Dolphins were dealt a harsh blow with the loss of Terron Armstead, expected to be sidelined for weeks, is a significant setback. The unavailability of LB Jaelan Phillips and C Connor Williams due to injuries further exacerbated issues, impacting both the pass-rushing and pass-protection aspects of Miami’s game plan. These injuries disrupted Miami’s strategy and undoubtedly contributed to their struggles on the field.

 

A Shot at Redemption

 

Defeats may sting, but they also provide the opportunity for redemption. In the grand finale of the regular season, the Dolphins will host the Bills—a team they have a peculiar knack for defeating at home, even if Buffalo’s backyard proves elusive. Could it be for the division title? After all, a win in Miami is worth two in Buffalo, isn’t it? If the Dolphins aspire to dethrone the Bills and crown themselves AFC East champions, there’s a captivating journey ahead and a lot of work to be done.

 

Every Record from Dolphins’ 70-20 Win Over Denver

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Just how dominant was the Miami Dolphins 70-20 win over the Broncos? Well, the Dolphins broke or tied 13 records in their 70-point performance on Sunday.

 

Here is the full list:

 

Team records including postseason

  • The Dolphins amassed 70 points in a single game, setting a franchise record
  • Miami also scored the most touchdowns in a single game in franchise history (10)
  • A total yard mark of 726 is the most in team history 
  • Miami ran for 350 yards on the backs of Raheem Mostert, De’von Achane, and Chris Brooks
  • The Dolphins tied a team record by scoring 35 points in the second half of Sunday’s game.
  • Lastly Miami tallied 10 Point After Attempts in a single game with 10, which also set a franchise record.

 

Individual records including postseason

 

  • Rookie RB De’Von Achane put up four touchdowns in Sunday’s game. That’s the most touchdowns in a game by a rookie.
  • Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane scored 24 points apiece, setting individual and tying team records for both. 
  • Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane put up 4 touchdowns apiece, setting individual and tying team records for both.
  • Rookie RB De’Von Achane rushed for the most yards in a single game by a rookie with 203.
  • Tua Tagovailoa has thrown for 1,024 yards in 3 games… The most passing yards through 3 games in franchise history.
  • Tyreek Hill has 412 receiving yards through 3 games. That’s the most receiving yards through 3 games in Dolphins history.
  • Jason Sanders tied a team record with 10 PATs in a single game. 
Tua Tagovailoa, with Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, had an uncharacteristically poor performance in the loss against San Francisco.

5 Takeaways from Dolphins’ Week 1 Triumph Over the Chargers

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The Miami Dolphins opened their 2023 campaign with an electrifying victory, outlasting the Los Angeles Chargers 36-34 in a thrilling showdown. Here are five key takeaways from this Week 1 clash:

 

  1. Tua Tagovailoa Returns in Style

After an arduous nine-month wait since his last meaningful game due to a season-ending concussion in December 2022, Tua Tagovailoa made an impressive comeback. Showing no signs of rust, Tagovailoa’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. He completed 28 of 45 passes for a staggering 466 yards. Notably, a crucial 47-yard connection with Tyreek Hill on a pivotal third-and-10 in the late stages of the game set the stage for a game-deciding four-yard touchdown pass to Hill. Tagovailoa’s resilience and skill were on full display.

 

  1. Vic Fangio’s Timely Defensive Adjustments

The Dolphins’ defense faced a stern test throughout the game, struggling to contain the Chargers’ offensive prowess. However, it was Vic Fangio’s late-game adjustments that turned the tide. Fangio’s strategic blitzes on consecutive plays disrupted the Chargers’ offense, leading to a Justin Herbert intentional grounding and a key sack by Zach Sieler. Justin Bethel and Jaelan Phillips combined for a pivotal game-ending sack. While not without its challenges, Fangio’s timely defensive tactics ultimately delivered the stops required for victory.

 

  1. Overcoming Costly Turnovers

Overcoming adversity is a hallmark of a resilient team, and the Dolphins demonstrated just that. Despite turning the ball over twice within the 5-yard line, they refused to be discouraged. The first blunder occurred early in the game when Tagovailoa and Connor Williams mishandled a center-quarterback exchange. Later, an ill-advised pass by Tagovailoa resulted in an interception by J.C. Jackson. The Dolphins’ potent offense on Sunday proved capable of surmounting these setbacks.

 

  1. J.C. Jackson’s Unforgettable Play

In a rare sequence, a drive that commenced with a touchback and less than 10 seconds left in a half concluded with a successful field goal. This remarkable turn of events was made possible by a crucial play from J.C. Jackson, who drew a penalty by interfering with Erik Ezukanma. Jason Sanders capitalized on the extra play, nailing a 41-yard field goal. However, Jackson’s challenging day continued as Tyreek Hill burned him on a 35-yard touchdown pass later in the third quarter.

 

  1. Concerns in Dolphins’ Run Defense

The Dolphins’ defense faced challenges in stopping the run, with several alarming moments during the game. Notable among these was Austin Ekeler’s 55-yard dash through a gaping hole created by a Chargers’ offensive line that appeared five yards wide. Furthermore, the Chargers executed an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive without completing a single pass. Allowing 243 yards on 40 rushing attempts, including three touchdowns, raised concerns, especially considering that the Chargers’ rushing offense ranked 30th in yards per carry and yards per game in 2022. Improvement in run defense is imperative to ease the burden on Tagovailoa in the competitive AFC East.

Offensive Line’s Redemption

One of the most significant points of redemption in this game was the performance of the Miami Dolphins’ offensive line. Often criticized in recent times, the offensive line stepped up admirably. Despite uncertainties leading up to the season opener, the unit collectively delivered an outstanding performance. Players like Austin Jackson, Liam Eichenberg, and Kendall Lamm assumed key roles, filling in for injured teammates. Most notably, the offensive line succeeded in protecting Tua Tagovailoa, offering him the necessary time for his quick releases. Impressively, the offensive line kept formidable Chargers’ defensive ends Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack at bay, not conceding a single sack. While not without its initial challenges, such as Connor Williams’ snapping issues, the offensive line’s overall performance showcased significant improvement. These developments bode well for the Dolphins as they look to establish a more formidable presence upfront.

The Miami Dolphins’ Week 1 victory not only highlighted their offensive firepower and resilience but also illuminated areas for potential defensive improvement. With Tua Tagovailoa back in the mix and an evolving offensive line, the Dolphins are poised for a promising season as they navigate the competitive landscape ahead.