It wasn’t excellent, however the 2022 Miami Dolphins honored the 1972 staff the easiest way they may.
They did what the Dolphins from 50 years in the past did all 17 occasions they took the sphere: They received.
With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa again from lacking two video games with a concussion, the Dolphins began robust and held on late to prime the Pittsburgh Steelers, 16-10, on Sunday night time at Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami (4-3), edging the staff the place ex-coach Brian Flores discovered a touchdown spot as an assistant, snapped a three-game dropping streak and earned the franchise’s five hundredth win all-time. The Dolphins, internet hosting their first Sunday night time sport since 2017, earned their first win on “Sunday Night Football” since a 2004 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Tagovailoa went 21 of 35 for 261 yards and a landing. While he wasn’t intercepted, he had a number of shut calls with Steelers defenders dropping possibilities at choosing him off.
A protection depleted by a number of accidents at cornerback whereas lacking defensive finish Emmanuel Ogbah and having security Brandon Jones go down within the second half with a knee harm held on with late stops and compelled three turnovers.
Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett was 32 of 44 for 257 yards, a landing and three interceptions, the final of which was grabbed by cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, tapping each toes in bounds on a cross to the pylon with 18 seconds left.
On Pittsburgh’s penultimate likelihood, the Steelers drove all the way down to Miami’s 15-yard line, however back-to-back penalties from third-and-1 – an unlawful shift after which a maintain – put Pittsburgh right into a third-and-16. Pickett was intercepted by Dolphins security Jevon Holland.
The Dolphins then went three-and-out to provide the Steelers a closing likelihood. Pickett transformed a fourth-and-6 to tight finish Pat Freiermuth earlier within the closing sequence to maintain Pittsburgh alive forward of Igbinoghene’s game-sealing interception.
Sunday night time began with Tagovailoa going 6 of seven on the opening drive for 68 yards and throwing a landing to operating again Raheem Mostert within the flat that he took 8 yards for the rating. Tagovailoa had completions to Jaylen Waddle for 20 yards, Tyreek Hill for 17 and tight finish Mike Gesicki for 18 yards as he discovered comfortable spots within the Pittsburgh zone protection early, oftentimes off run-pass possibility motion.
Mostert had 79 speeding yards on 16 carries, plus 4 receptions for 30 yards. Waddle completed with 88 receiving yards on 4 catches. Hill had seven receptions for 72 yards.
Miami particular groups ace-turned-nickel cornerback Justin Bethel got here up with an interception that was sandwiched by a pair of first-quarter subject objectives that prolonged the Dolphins lead, 13-0. Bethel, who has been pressured into defensive snaps because of accidents at cornerback, was operating downfield with Steelers receiver Chase Claypool, who fell on his route as Pickett’s cross went up.
The Bethel interception was the Dolphins’ first for the reason that opening defensive collection of the season for Miami, when cornerback Xavien Howard tipped a cross to the tip zone for a choose from security Jevon Holland in opposition to the New England Patriots. It was the primary takeaway general since Week 3 in opposition to Buffalo.
Still transferring the ball properly early, the Dolphins settled for subject objectives on their second and third drives of the night time. Then, these holes that had been open in the course of the sphere began closing up.
The Steelers methodically drove down the sphere on a 13-play, 86-yard drive that consumed 7:29 of the second quarter and was capped by a Pickett landing cross to rookie wideout George Pickens, 1-on-1 in opposition to cornerback Noah Igbinoghene.
Adding one other subject aim from Jason Sanders earlier than halftime, the Dolphins led, 16-10, on the time that the 1972 undefeated staff was honored at intermission. But Miami and coach Mike McDaniel handed up the chance to tack on three extra and make it a two-possession sport in the course of the third interval.
Facing fourth-and-3 from the Pittsburgh 14-yard line, the Dolphins ran an inside run to Chase Edmonds that went nowhere, turning the ball over on downs.
Jaelan Phillips recorded a sack early within the second half when Zach Sieler utilized inside strain and Phillips was there on the surface to scrub it up.
The Dolphins subsequent head to Detroit to play the Lions within the first of back-to-back street video games in opposition to NFC North groups, with the Chicago Bears to comply with Nov. 6.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com