Take a break.
No, actually, take a break with the Miami Dolphins celebrating a 39-17 win towards Cleveland by having a bye week.
That’s the first-place Miami Dolphins, too, as their win with Buffalo’s loss put them atop the AFC East.
This was as complementary a sport as they’ve had shortly with the protection shutting down Cleveland’s robust operating sport and the offense persevering with to level up massive factors.
Here are 10 ideas on the sport:
1. Stat of the sport: Nick Chubb 11 carries, 63 yards. At half, he had 16 yards on six carries. Cleveland’s massive likelihood Sunday was for Chubb to hit his 105.1-yard common in video games. Until he ran for a 33-yard landing in a 30-10 sport, his noteworthy play was a fumble attributable to defensive deal with Zach Sieler. The Dolphins have given up massive yards to speedy quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson and Justin Fields however haven’t given up a 100-yard sport to a operating again this yr.
2. Player of the Game: Tua Tagovailoa. The first “M-V-P” chant started at Hard Rock Stadium within the second half. He accomplished 25 of 32 for 285 yards and three touchdowns. He hasn’t thrown an interception since he returned from his concussion 4 video games in the past. And this offense? It’s the primary time since 2009 that the Dolphins scored 30 factors in three straight video games.
3. The 17 factors the Dolphins protection gave up? It says why the combat for a house playoff sport issues. The Dolphins protection has given up a mean 32.8 factors on the highway via 5 video games. They haven’t given up greater than the 24 factors to Minnesota at residence. Cleveland’s offense entered Sunday averaging 24.9 factors a sport (identical because the Dolphins). After a gap drive for a landing, the Dolphins protection took over. It wasn’t simple, as added accidents to their secondary meant they ended the sport with reserves like Elijah Campbell, Justin Bethel and Eric Rowe within the secondary with former practice-squader Verone McKinley. Sure, it helped taking part in a profession backup in Jacoby Brissett (22-35, 212 yards, sacked thrice). But right here had been Cleveland’s possessions after the primary drive: Fumble, turnover on downs, punt, finish of half, subject purpose, landing, turnover on downs.
4. If you surprise why the Dolphins, like most groups, win the coin toss and defer the choice, Sunday confirmed why. The Dolphins blew open the sport within the within the center 4 minutes of the sport. First, the protection held Cleveland to a 37-second possession on the finish of the primary half and the Dolphins received the ball with 1:31 left. Tua ended a 53-yard drive with a good looking 14-yard move to Trent Sherfield for a landing with 32 seconds left within the half. That made it 17-7. They then took the second-half kickoff and Raheem Mostert ran the ultimate 24 yards of a 70-yard drive for a landing. Dolphins led, 24-7. Those back-to-back possessions are what groups wish to seize video games and that’s what the Dolphins did on Sunday.
5. Here’s what you haven’t heard about a lot this season: The Dolphins offensive line. You didn’t once more Sunday as the massive Cleveland defensive menace, Myles Garrett, was saved quiet. The Browns entered as a high speeding staff, but it surely was the Dolphins who had 18 carries for 87 yards at half (4.8-yard common). The Dolphins performed three struggling defenses in Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland. They managed them, too, with the road taking part in its half. This line was a narrative of the offseason, as two free brokers had been purchased to shore it up within the annual make-over. The distinction is that this season’s additions are working within the offense of coach Mike McDaniel, offensive coordinator Frank Smith and line coach Matt Applebaum.
6. Did the Dolphins strike delicate gold on the commerce deadline? The commerce that made headlines was for Bradley Chubb, and he had some influence Sunday with three tackles and a half-sack. But the fifth-round decide traded to San Francisco for Jeff Wilson Jr. is paying massive dividends. He got here from the identical offense in San Francisco and appears it. He had 17 carries for 119 yards and a landing on Sunday. That adopted his nine-carry, 51-yard sport in his Dolphins debut final week towards Chicago. It’s a great swap of expertise, a struggling Chase Edmonds for a productive Wilson.
7. Everything went to script Sunday as Buffalo misplaced to Minnesota in additional time, 33-30. That places the Dolphins a half-game up within the the AFC East. There’s a protracted method to the top, in fact, however who noticed this coming? Buffalo has a better journey to the top of the season. Here’s their schedule: Cleveland, at Detroit, at New England, New York Jets, Miami, at Chicago, at Cincinnati and New England. AFC East opponents apart, the Bills play one successful staff (Cincinnati) the remainder of the way in which.
8. Quick hits:
* Christian Wilkins continued his robust season with seven tackles (three solo), a sack and deal with for loss;
* Special staff issues included a 48-yard kickoff for the Browns to open the sport, and Jason Sanders lacking two additional factors. That follows a missed 29-yard subject purpose final week;
* It’s the primary Dolphins 7-3 begin since 2001.
9. Every good season has surprising finds. Undrafted cornerback Kader Kohou has been one (as I’ve written in a column). Receiver Trent Sherfield is one other because the third receiver on this offense. Cedric Wilson was the free-agent purchase from Dallas, however he has six catches for 63 yards this season. Erik Ezukanma had an enormous preseason as a fourth-round rookie. Sherfield, although, does a little bit of every part — receiving, blocking, particular groups — that coaches love. His 14-yard landing was a well-run path to the again of the top zone that received him open. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle would be the without end focus of this offense. But Sherfield’s 4 catches on 4 targets for 63 yards on Sunday present he has change into a contributor on this offense. He additionally needs folks to learn about it as he was referred to as for taunting after a fourth-quarter catch for 27 yards.
10. Next week: Bye. The Dolphins get one of many later bye weeks (there are two later weeks of byes). They entered Sunday remarkably wholesome, one thing McDaniel famous not too long ago.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com