Here are a few of the high takeaways from the Miami Dolphins’ 31-27 victory over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field:
Tyreek Hill is The Man
OK, so that you already knew broad receiver Hill, the NFL’s main receiver, is the Dolphins’ MVP this season. Hill was a one-man gang once more on Sunday at Detroit together with his 12 receptions for 188 yards. He had deep receptions, brief receptions, yards after the catch, and confirmed good fingers. It’s stuff we see from Hill each week but it surely’s all the time superb. Entering the Lions recreation he had 773 receiving yards by way of seven video games, a franchise file. He had no less than 10 receptions and 150 yards in three of his first six video games with the Dolphins, the primary time in NFL historical past that had been accomplished.
It’s simple to see why Hill, a Pro Bowl choice in every of his earlier six seasons, is blazing a path to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. — Chris Perkins
Tua Tagovailoa regains timing
Last week there was discuss quarterback Tagovailoa being a bit off in his timing with receivers. There was no such discuss Sunday as Tagovailoa was sharp and in sync together with his receivers.
Tagovailoa ended 29 of 36 for 382 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 138.7 passer ranking.
Against Pittsburgh final week, Tagovailoa was making a return after a two-game absence whereas within the concussion protocol. He had three or 4 passes that ought to have been intercepted.
But Tagovailoa returned to his common correct self towards the Lions, placing the ball the place it wanted to be in site visitors and for the receivers to get YAC. And he made a few good runs with well-timed slides.
Yeah, there have been a few underthrown passes to Hill, however even these are turning into fortune this season as many have resulted in unbelievable receptions by Hill or defensive go interference calls.
Secondary shaky early, regains footing late
You knew there would in all probability be struggles with the injury-riddled defensive backfield. And there have been. But they ultimately recovered and turned in a strong second half to contribute to the victory. And they confirmed why they proceed to be the most effective success story on this staff.
Safety Verone McKinley III and cornerback Kader Kohou began, which means the Dolphins had two undrafted rookies within the beginning lineup alongside cornerback Xavien Howard and security Jevon Holland.
Additionally, cornerbacks Keion Crossen and Noah Igbinoghene, coernabck/security Justin Bethel and security Clayton Fejedelem contributed.
The Dolphins have been taking part in their first recreation with out security Brandon Jones (season-ending knee damage), who was commonly the eighth man within the field to supply run assist and maybe the most effective defensive again at blitzing. As play started Sunday, Jones had the NFL’s quickest sack, in line with NFL Next Gen stats, at 2.13 seconds towards New England’s Mac Jones within the opener. The second-fastest in Dolphins security Jevon Holland at 2.17 seconds towards Buffalo’s Josh Allen.
We’ve stated it earlier than, and we’ll say it once more: the secondary is a shining instance of how the union of gamers, coaches and entrance workplace is meant to work.
‘Soft’ a part of the schedule
The Dolphins are benefiting from the so-called “soft” a part of the schedule having defeated Pittsburgh and Detroit, and whereas having three different “softies” within the coming weeks.
Next week the Dolphins are at Chicago (3-5), then host Cleveland (2-5), have a bye, after which host Houston (1-4-1 getting into the Sunday afternoon recreation towards Tennessee).
Get by way of this a part of the schedule with simply three or 4 losses and the Dolphins are set for the rugged ending a part of the schedule that options consecutive highway video games at San Francisco, on the Los Angeles Rams, and at Buffalo, adopted by a Christmas Day recreation towards Green Bay, a recreation at New England after which the finale towards the New York Jets.
Run recreation surfaces once more
Running again Raheem Mostert (14 carries, 64 yards) led a operating recreation that compiled 109 yards on 23 carries. That’s excellent news as a result of the Dolphins’ operating recreation has been on and off this season. But at Detroit, the bottom recreation helped the Dolphins get off to a great begin and end the sport strongly.
The Dolphins entered averaging 85.4 yards per recreation dashing, twenty ninth within the league.
The Dolphins have now rushed for greater than 100 yards in three of their previous 4 video games. They’re 2-1 in these video games, shedding to the Jets (season-best 137 yards dashing) and defeating the Steelers (111 yards) and Lions (107 yards).
Scoring offense
The Dolphins scored 4 touchdowns whereas posting 31 factors, their second-best complete of the season behind the 42 factors at Baltimore.
The Dolphins scored on three landing passes and a rush. Three of the touchdowns have been within the crimson zone (at or contained in the opponents’ 20-yard line) and the opposite was a 29-yard reception by Waddle, one in every of his two touchdowns on the day.
By the way in which, the Dolphins once more went to the direct snap once more for a dashing landing. This time it was fullback Alec Ingold who shifted behind heart Connor Williams, took the snap and plowed into the top zone for a 1-yard fourth-quarter landing. Last time it was tight finish Durham Smythe towards the New York Jets.
McDaniel on fourth down, the rundown
Coach Mike McDaniel gambled on a fourth-down conversion try and the Dolphins gained. He’s been fairly good on fourth downs. The Dolphins are a powerful 5 of 10 on fourth downs this season.
Against Detroit, the Dolphins confronted fourth-and-4 at their very own 44-yard line within the first quarter whereas trailing, 7-0. Tagovailoa hit broad receiver Jaylen Wadddle for a nine-yard acquire. But two performs later rookie broad receiver Braylon Sanders fumbled after a reception.
Regardless, the Dolphins have been good on fourth-down makes an attempt.
One of the Dolphins’ 10 fourth-down makes an attempt was the faux punt towards Minnesota two weeks in the past on fourth-and-1 from the Dolphins’ 34-yard line with 13:31 left within the third quarter and the Dolphins trailing, 10-3. The Vikings punted 4 performs later. No hurt accomplished.
Most just lately, McDaniel opted to go for it on fourth-and-3 towards Pittsburgh within the third quarter from the Steelers’ 14-yard line, declining the prospect to go up by 9 factors. Running again Chase Edmonds was stopped for no acquire. But Pittsburgh ended up punting.
Most famously, McDaniel went for it on fourth-and-7 towards New England. That one resulted in a 42-yard landing go from Tagovailoa to Jaylen Waddle.
In between:
* Successful fourth-and-1 direct snap to fullback Alec Ingold towards Baltimore for a 1-yard acquire within the second quarter when the Dolphins trailed, 14-7. The drive ended 4 performs later when the Dolphins punted from their very own 27;
* Successful fourth-and-1 towards Baltimore for a 1-yard acquire when Tagovailoa went up the center from the Dolphins’ 45-yard line when the Dolphins trailed, 14-7, on the two-minute warning. The drive ended two performs later when Tagovailoa’s go to Waddle was intercepted. The Ravens turned it right into a landing and a 21-7 halftime lead;
* Unsuccessful fourth-and-4 at Cincinnati with 57 seconds left from the Bengals’ 45-yard line. Teddy Bridgewater threw to Hill brief proper;
* Unsuccessful fourth-and-1 on the Jets with 7:36 left from the Dolphins’ 34-yard line whereas trailing, 33-7. Mostert went proper finish and was thrown for a 4-yard loss. The Jets scored for a 40-17 lead;
* Unsuccessful fourth-and-7 from the Jets’ 14-yard line with 1:06 left and the Dolphins trailing, 40-17. Skylar Thompson threw incomplete brief proper to Myles Gaskin;
* Successful fourth-and-5 from the Dolphins’ 48-yard line with 6:08 remaining within the fourth quarter and the Dolphins trailing 16-10. Bridgewater threw to Hill for a 14-yard acquire. Three performs later Waddle misplaced a fumble;
* The Dolphins lined up for a fourth-down try on fourth-and-1 towards New England however the Patriots have been known as for a impartial zone infraction.
Playing good(er)
The Dolphins aren’t a dumb staff, however they’ve performed that position at occasions. Turnovers and penalties are each key areas to observe going ahead in that regard.
The Dolphins ended with seven penalties for 55 yards at Detroit, they usually sustained a turnover (misplaced fumble by rookie broad receiver Braylon Sanders) within the Lions victory.
Two key penalties (taunting by linebacker Elandon Roberts; holding by left guard Liam Eichenberg) haunted the Dolphins within the first quarter on their method to a 14-0 deficit.
The Dolphins misplaced the turnover battle to Detroit, 1-0, however gained the sport.
The Dolphins entered the Lions recreation minus-2 in turnover margin, tied for twentieth within the league. They have been tied for sixth in penalties (48) and eighth in penalty yards (374).
The Dolphins, in line with CBS broadcast, entered the sport committing 19 extra penalties than their opponent, the league’s largest differential. By halftime that margin swelled to 23.
The Dolphins have been charged with three penalties within the first half, however had seven that have been declined.
AFC East groups are highway kings
The Dolphins are actually 2-2 on the highway having defeated Detroit and Baltimore (in a miraculous comeback) whereas shedding to Cincinnati and the New York Jets.
The Dolphins are at Chicago subsequent week.
Interestingly, the AFC East opened play Sunday with a collective 10-5 (.667) highway file. The Dolphins have been the one staff within the division with a shedding broad file. The Jets have been 4-0, the Bills have been 3-1, and the Patriots are actually 3-2 after defeating the Jets.
The Jets and Bills have been at residence Sunday.
The NFC East opened play Sunday with a 9-3 (.750) highway file. They have been the one two divisions with successful highway data. Philadelphia and Dallas have been at residence Sunday whereas the New York Giants and Washington have been on the highway in afternoon video games.
This staff is mentally robust
The Dolphins confirmed unimaginable toughness and struggle within the Detroit victory. That’s nothing new. They’ve accomplished that every one season. But it was a powerful second half exhibiting for the Dolphins to attain 13 third-quarter/second half factors and maintain Detroit scoreless.
Despite early points with penalties, the Dolphins obtained it collectively, discovered their footing, and gained a recreation towards an inferior opponent, a necessity within the NFL.
Tyreek Hill emphatically put himself again on tempo to interrupt the NFL season receiving-yards file
It was not presupposed to be this simple. Entering Week 8. Hill was 152 yards behind the quantity he would wish to get again on tempo to interrupt the NFL season receiving-yardage file — The Lions’ Calvin Johnson’s 1,964 from 2012. He was previous 152 yards a pair minutes into the third quarter! Now, at 961 yards, Hill is on tempo for two,042 yards. — Steve Svekis
Since the drafting of Jaylen Waddle, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has turn out to be a first-possession machine for Dolphins
In the 17 video games the place Tagovailoa and Waddle have each began video games for the Miami Dolphins, Tagovailoa has excelled on the primary possession of video games. Tagovailoa’s stats in that timeframe: An distinctive 108.6 passer ranking (70-88, 666 yards, 4 landing passes, one interception), placing a mean of two.8 factors per first possession on the scoreboard).
What a recreation by Zach Sieler
Jared Goff hadn’t had a singe go batted on the line this season. Sieler obtained two, after which added an enormous second-half sack.
The previous two visits to Ford Field have been disastrous for Dolphins beginning offensive linemen
Joe Philbin’s 2014 squad had gotten on a roll as they traveled to Ford Field at 5-3 and the winners of three in a row. Their offensive line was anchored by Pro Bowl left deal with free-agent import Branden Albert. However, throughout that recreation, Albert obtained rolled up on, ending his season. And the Dolphins offense misplaced a level of its consistency. Then, on Sunday, left guard Liam Eichenberg was carted off. His damage wasn’t proven on a replay, although it did seem to happen after Mike Gesicki had caught the landing go from Tagovailoa. Players don’t get carted off fairly often. Luckily, the Dolphins seemingly don’t play in Detroit once more for eight extra years.
With followers itching to see Miami commerce for a operating again, bear in mind Mike McDaniel’s NFL origins
McDaniel, till this season, had spent his whole profession for Broncos and Washington coach Mike Shanahan or Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco. The Shanahan operating recreation throughout these 23 seasons (1995-2008, 2010-13, 2017-21) has by no means had a number one rusher for a season who was picked within the first spherical of a draft. Four seasons have been led by second-round picks. The different 19 have been led by gamers chosen after the one hundredth draft choose (or who had been launched by a earlier staff). In reality, in 5 of these years the main rusher had been undrafted, or an undesirable free agent. The Dolphins have more cash invested within the place than Denver, Washington or 49ers ever did.
The listing — 1995-98, 2001: Terrell Davis, 196th choose of draft; 1999: Olandis Gary, 127; 2000, ‘05: Mike Anderson, 189; 2002-03: Clinton Portis, 51; 2004: Reuben Droughns, signed off the road; 2006: Tatum Bell, 41; 2007: Selvin Young, off the road; 2008: Peyton Hillis, 227; 2010: Ryan Torain, 139; 2011: Roy Helu, 105; 2012-13: Alfred Morris, 173; 2017: Carlos Hyde, 57; 2018: Matt Breida, off the road; 2019: Raheem Mostert, off the road; 2020: Jeff Wilson, off the road; 2021: Elijah Mitchell, 194
Broncos’ latest futility, regardless of an elite protection, and its Dolphins connection
Denver, earlier than its 21-17 win in London towards Jacksonville on Sunday, had a three-game shedding streak the place their protection had allowed fewer than 20 factors in every recreation. It was the primary time such a shedding streak had occurred for the reason that 1-15 2007 Dolphins had a four-game shedding streak the place they’d allowed 17 factors or fewer (46 factors, 11.5 factors a recreation, allowed within the skid from Oct. 28-Nov. 26 towards the Giants in London, the Bills, the Eagles and the Steelers).
On deck: At Chicago Bears, Soldier Field, Sunday, 1 p.m.
The Dolphins head right into a stadium the place they haven’t misplaced in 34 years, and lengthening that win streak would arrange Miami to make hay with residence video games arising towards the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans. The Dolphins might be examined by uber-mobile second-year quarterback Justin Fields (on tempo for 901 dashing yards this season). The early forecast doesn’t portend any chilly fronts or rain occasions.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com