Here are a number of the prime takeaways from the Miami Dolphins’ victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Hard Rock Stadium:
Starting quick (for a change)
Having a lead on the finish of the primary quarter is an efficient factor, one thing the Dolphins skilled Sunday in opposition to Pittsburgh for the second time this season. The Dolphins’ opening-drive landing in opposition to the Steelers marked the primary time they scored a landing on their first possession, and in addition marked essentially the most factors they’ve had in a primary quarter this season.
The Dolphins’ earlier opening possessions resulted in two area objectives (New England and Cincinnati), two punts (Buffalo and Minnesota), an interception (vs. Baltimore) and a security (vs. New York Jets). The Dolphins’ 13-0 first quarter lead marked their highest-scoring first quarter this season and solely the second time they’ve ended the primary quarter with a lead this season. They led New England (3-0), trailed Baltimore (7-0), Cincinnati (7-3) and the Jets (5-0), and have been tied with Buffalo (7-7) and Minnesota (0-0). — Chris Perkins
Secondary can’t keep wholesome
The harm bug hit the defensive backs as soon as once more as security Brandon Jones (knee) left the sport late within the third quarter with an obvious left leg harm. Cornerbacks Keion Crossen (knee) and Kader Kohou (indirect) have been seen on the sector going by means of pregame exercises however each have been inactive, that means the Dolphins have been already down a starter (Needham) and a key contributor and part-time starter (Kohou). And you already know cornerback Byron Jones (Achilles) has been out all season.
Brandon Jones was changed by a mixture of Verone McKinley and Clayton Fejedelem, the latter making a key third-down cease early within the fourth quarter. The McKinley-Jevon Holland duo reunited a pair that was collectively at Oregon. Cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Noah Igbinoghene began the sport with cornerback Justin Bethel approaching for the nickel (5 defensive backs) package deal. Bethel had an interception within the first quarter.
Turnover margin
The Dolphins gained the turnover battle, 3-0. That’s price celebrating. The Dolphins entered the Steelers sport at minus-5 for the season, and minus-7 through the previous three video games. Igbinoghene had the game-winning interception on the Dolphins’ 1-yard line with 18 seconds left. Holland had what seemed to be the game-clinching interception with 2:57 remaining, selecting off a Kenny Pickett cross that was meant for Diontae Johnson. Bethel had an interception within the first quarter for the Dolphins’ second interception of the season and first since Holland within the opener in opposition to New England.
Brian Flores, the ex-Dolphins coach, seems on area earlier than sport
We noticed ‘Flo’ preserve his Dolphins reunion low key. He briefly chatted with kicker Jason Sanders, dapped up NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe, talked to quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell and did a walk-and-talk with Kim Bokamper, the previous Dolphins defensive standout and present sideline reporter. Flores, who additionally spoke briefly with Igbinoghene, was on the sector about two hours earlier than kickoff and nonetheless carrying pants and a sports activities coach.
Pass safety (and no cross rush)
The Dolphins stored Tagovailoa upright with good cross safety, one thing that hasn’t been a standard incidence. Tagoaviloa wasn’t sacked and was hardly touched. This is large information. The Dolphins allowed eight sacks and 29 quarterback hits the previous two video games. The return of left sort out Terron Armstead, the workforce’s finest offensive lineman, helped solidify issues. Beyond that, nevertheless, the remainder of the road — left guard Liam Eichenberg, middle Connor Williams, proper guard Robert Hunt and proper sort out Brandon Shell — did nicely in its 1-on-1 assignments. And let’s not neglect working backs Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert and tight ends Mike Gesicki, Hunter Long and Durham Smythe.
Penalties
The Dolphins cleaned up the penalty drawback, a minimum of for one sport. They had 5 penalties for 30 yards in opposition to Pittsburgh. They had 21 penalties for 199 yards the earlier two video games. The Dolphins began out poorly with two penalties for 15 yards within the opening 5 and a half minutes. But they put a lid on issues and performed a disciplined sport.
AFC East isn’t any joke
The division-leading Buffalo Bills had a bye and are nonetheless atop the AFC East with a 5-1 document. But the Dolphins gained and at the moment are 4-3. The Jets defeated Denver, 16-9, and at the moment are a decent 5-2 (4-0 on the street), and poised to make a run at a wild-card spot. In a downer for Jets followers, nevertheless, working again Breece Hall might need sustained a torn ACL. Still, the AFC East is trying fairly good. New England (3-3) hosts Chicago on Monday Night Football. If the Patriots win each workforce within the division could have a profitable document.
Running sport resurfaces
The Dolphins ended up dashing for 111 yards on 27 carries, their second-best complete of the season behind the 137 yards in opposition to the New York Jets. Raheem Mostert led the way in which with 79 yards on 16 carries. The Dolphins had 66 yards dashing on 12 carries at halftime. That would have been the fifth-best dashing complete for the Dolphins this season, trailing solely the 65 yards within the opener in opposition to New England and the 41 yards in opposition to Buffalo. It would have been simply behind the 73 yards in opposition to Minnesota. The working sport isn’t a completed product. Chase Edmonds couldn’t convert on a fourth-and-3 from the Steelers 14-yard line. But the working sport did sufficient for a victory.
Tua was residing dangerously
Pittsburgh dropped a minimum of three potential interceptions with security Terrell Edmunds having a pair. That means Tagovailoa, who missed the previous two video games whereas in concussion protocol, should be residing proper. Tagovailoa now has 9 touchdowns and three interceptions for the season. Tagovailoa ended 21-for-35 passing for 261 yards, one landing and no interceptions and a 92.7 passer score. But keep watch over these near-interceptions.
Special groups clear issues up
Kicker Jason Sanders was 3 for 3 on area objectives, and punter Thomas Morstead punted six occasions for a median of 42.7 yards per punt, together with 4 punts contained in the 20-yard line. Beyond that, the Dolphins didn’t make any of the absent-minded particular groups performs which have plagued them the previous 4 video games. Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson made his debut at punt returner with one return for 1 yard. Even the snapshots of unhealthy issues turned out nicely. When Bethel missed a sort out on a punt return and ended up on the bottom on his stomach, Morstead ran all the way in which down the sector to pat him on the again and assist him to his toes.
Some of Mike McDaniel’s sport administration in house video games has been, um, fascinating
At fourth-and-3!!! — from simple area aim vary — to take a two-score lead within the second half in opposition to a rookie quarterback, McDaniel went for it? And referred to as a Chase Edmonds dive play? Coach McDaniel continued a sample of inexplicable moments in sport administration whereas on the Hard Rock Stadium sideline. In the season opener in opposition to the Patriots, with 1:11 left and the Dolphins forward 20-7 and in area aim vary, McDaniel referred to as for a roll left by Tua Tagovailoa, apparently giving the quarterback the choice to throw, which the lefty did, throwing throughout the sector incomplete. The teaching on the play needed to be easy: Do not throw the ball, and don’t exit if bounds. With the Patriots having one timeout left, the play was to run the ball twice — and even kneel twice, leaving a fourth-down play with 25 seconds left within the sport and the Pats out of timeouts.
Against the Bills, the Dolphins confronted a third-and-11 at their very own 1, up 21-17 with the Bills having no timeouts remaining with 1:40 left. Getting a game-clinching first down was now not in play. The name ought to have been a dive play. Then, punt with underneath a minute left. Basic. Instead, the Bills not solely received the “Butt Punt” for a security, however received the ball again with 1:25 left. The protection did a wonderful job to forestall a profitable area aim try after an distinctive Thomas Morstead security punt, as Buffalo was at Miami’s 41 when time expired. But, with 40 fewer seconds, the Bills would have had no likelihood.
Then, in opposition to the Vikings, McDaniel, down 24-16 went for a two-point conversion with 1:24 left. It was an odd name, particularly with a backup quarterback taking part in and a working sport that has sleep-walked by means of the video games at Hard Rock Stadium this season. Additionally, getting into Week 6, on two-point conversion tries with 1:24 or much less left in video games for the reason that starting of 2021, the NFL had been a horrific 4 for 25 (16.0% success fee). If the Dolphins had gotten the sport to extra time 24-24, the momentum and crowd would have been roaring of their favor. Just kick the factors in that circumstance. Jevon Holland and Noah Igbinoghene bailed him out on Sunday night time, however, actually, a bizarre sample. — Steve Svekis
The penalties are vastly completely different, relying on whether or not Terron Armstead is on the market
It might be no large shock that the Dolphins turning into a flag-infested mess coincided with Terron Armstead lacking sport time together with his painful toe harm. Before the play the place Armstead exited within the first quarter of the Jets sport on Oct. 9, the Dolphins have been averaging 5.82 penalties per 60 minutes common penalties per sport with 35.2 yards with these flags. Afterward? The dirty-laundry hindrance has flown as much as 10.13 penalties per, with virtually triple digits in yards (99.2). So, with him again, how did it shake out? The Dolphins had 5 on Sunday night time.
Finally, the interception drought ended!
The quantity of taking part in time for the reason that Dolphins’ first interception of the season, 5:08 into the season opener in opposition to the New England Patriots stretched to 365 minutes and 13 seconds earlier than Justin Bethel hauled in a Kenny Pickett overthrow down the left sideline as Chase Claypool clipped toes with Bethel and fell. It was the longest such dry stretch with out a choose in a single season for the reason that 386:19 in 2011. And, then, Jevon Holland and Noah Igbinoghene had large interceptions within the ultimate minutes.
Tyreek Hill’s manufacturing — irrespective of the quarterback — has been superb
After his 72 yards in opposition to the Steelers, Hill has (773) yards by means of seven video games, on tempo for 1,877 for the 17-game season, sufficient to crush the Dolphins season receiving-yardage document of 1,389, set by Mark Clayton with Dan Marino throwing him darts in a record-breaking, 16-game 1984. On prime of the receiving yards, Hill has additionally drawn 100 yards in penalties. On a per-60-minutes foundation and together with penalty yardage, Hill has averaged 204.5 yards per sport with Teddy Bridgewater, 106.3 with Tua Tagovailoa and 97.7 with Skylar Thompson. Amazing begin to his season.
What have been the zebras pondering?
The officers blew an enormous name on a cross that would have buried the Steelers 10-0. Tua Tagovailoa hit tight finish Mike Gesicki on the sternum ultimately zone. However the Steelers defensive again, pulled down one in all Gesicki’s arms earlier than the arrival of the ball. Should have been a PI and a first-and-goal on the 1.
If the Bears lose tomorrow, we could have historical past within the AFC East
The final time the AFC East had all of its groups with profitable information by means of the NFL’s Week 7 was … Never. And, if the Patriots prime the Bears on Monday night time, that historical past can be made, with the Buffalo Bills at 5-1, the New York Jets at 5-2, the Dolphins and Patriots at 4-3.
The dropped-interception pixie mud that Tua Tagovailoa had in 2020 is — fortunately — again this season
That rookie 12 months, Tagovailoa had 9 passes — in solely 290 throws, thoughts you — that hit the arms of defenders, solely to be dropped. Four occasions in opposition to the Steelers on Sunday night time, Tagovailoa threw passes that hit a Steeler defender in each of his arms however ended up as incomplete passes. This is on the heels of a dropped game-turning pick-six by the Bills’ Matt Milano on Sept. 25, and beforehand a fourth-quarter throw that was equally dropped by the Patriots within the opener. Also, the Ravens, when up 35-21, couldn’t get a deal with on what would have been a rally-killing tip-ball choose, on a cross Tagovailoa positioned proper into the arms of meant receiver Jaylen Waddle.
An unlimited distinction within the degree of strain utilized on the protection by the groups’ passing video games wasn’t as evident Sunday night time
Entering Week 7, the Dolphins had the NFL’s third-most yards gained by way of cross interference, defensive holding and unlawful contact with 129 (119 yards in 4 cross interferences, and 5 every with a holding and a contact). The workforce within the No. 1 place was Denver at 161 yards, with 151 approaching, however the Raiders, with solely 4 video games performed, had 140 yards for a whopping 35 yards a sport, forward of the Broncos’ 32.2 a sport. At the opposite finish of the spectrum? Sunday’s opponent, the Steelers had been the beneficiaries of a mere 14 yards, entered Week 7 within the No. 32 place. The Steelers did exceed their weekly common when Noah Ibinoghene was referred to as for unlawful contact within the fourth quarter, whereas the Dolphins receivers drew no such penalties.
Finally, the Dolphins followers noticed the Raheem Mostert manufacturing from this 12 months’s street video games
In the Dolphins’ three street video games, Mostert had churned out 282 complete yards, whereas, within the trio at Hard Rock Stadium, he had been restricted to 91 complete yards. On Sunday night time, Mostert logged 109 complete yards and the lone Dolphins landing.
Was releasing Sony Michel a mistake?
One of the understated causes the Los Angeles Chargers edged the Denver Broncos on Monday night time have been the three third-and-1 carries by Michel that every resulted in first downs. Michel salvaged a sport that would have been a short-yardage catastrophe for the Chargers, who have been 1 for 4 of their different yard-to-go performs on third and fourth down. Michel pushed the Chargers right into a tie for the NFL lead with Tampa Bay (who had three in Week 6) with 16 such conversions. When it involves conversion share, the New Orleans Saints led the NFL with 9 conversions in 9 tries, the league’s solely excellent workforce within the class. The Dolphins rank tied for eleventh with 9 conversions, however they’ve are available 17 tries, and Miami’s .529 success share ranks twenty fifth within the NFL. The groups with the fewest have been the Texans (4 of 11) and the Bears (4 of seven), and Houston’s .364 conversion share can be the league’s worst. The Steelers improved to eight for 9 of their tries within the first half in opposition to the Dolphins.
On deck: At Detroit Lions, Ford Field, Sunday, 1 p.m.
The Lions who fell to 1-5 with Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys have simply the worst protection the Dolphins have confronted this season. Combined with the Dolphins taking part in the sport in Michigan indoors, the circumstances will likely be ripe for the Dolphins to pile up the passing yards and factors. … The Dolphins have gained all three of Tua Tagovailoa’s begins at an indoor stadium, which Ford Field is.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com