Here are a few of the prime takeaways from the Miami Dolphins’ 23-21 loss to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday:
Teddy Bridgewater has ups and downs, then exits
Dolphins quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, beginning rather than Tua Tagovailoa (concussion), left the sport within the third quarter with an obvious damage to his proper (throwing) hand. Bridgewater, whose improvised landing move to working again Raheem Mostert gave the Dolphins a 14-7 lead within the third quarter, ended 12 of 19 for 161 yards, one landing, one interception (a pick-6) and a 85.7 passer score. No, Bridgewater wasn’t good. But he gave his group an opportunity to win regardless of throwing that interception that was returned for a landing on his remaining play. The Dolphins (8-8) trailed 16-14 when Bridgewater left, and rookie Skylar Thompson took over to complete the sport. By the best way, large receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. was the Dolphins’ third quarterback. — Chris Perkins
Skylar Thompson struggles
Skylar Thompson, the rookie seventh-round choose from Kansas State, ended ended 12 of 21 for 104 yards, one landing, one interception and a 66.4 passer score. Thompson had his troubles after coming into the sport for Bridgewater late within the third quarter. For instance, on a second-and-7 on the Dolphins’ 38-yard line Thompson threw a brief, off-target move to fullback Alec Ingold, who was primarily taking part in one-handed contemplating he wore a solid on his proper hand to guard a damaged thumb. Thompson ought to have run for the primary down. The Dolphins ended up punting on that possession. But it’s powerful responsible Thompson, who made one begin this season (Minnesota) however didn’t end the sport as a consequence of hitting his hand on the helmet of a defensive participant, very like the damage that put Bridgewater out of Sunday’s recreation.
That Dolphins participant was proper to have issues
He was proper. The different day I advised you a few Dolphins participant, regardless of the doldrums of the previous few weeks, addressing Miami nonetheless having an opportunity to make the playoffs. “I’ll hold my tongue,” the participant mentioned. Perhaps he had perception into the damage scenario that triggered Pro Bowl left deal with Terron Armstead (toe, pectoral, knee, hip) and Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard (knee), along with Tagovailoa (concussion), to overlook the sport as a consequence of accidents. Whatever the case, the Dolphins struggled mightily and don’t seem to have a lot offensively past large receiver Tyreek Hill (4 receptions, 55 yards; one carry, 2 yards, one landing).
Tyreek Hill is Dolphins’ offense … Period.
Hill, the Dolphins’ MVP this season and Pro Bowl choice, had a 2-yard dashing landing within the second quarter to tie the sport at 7. It’s turning into obvious Hill is the Dolphins offense. Hill entered the Patriots recreation with a franchise-record 113 receptions for a franchise-record 1,632 yards. New England restricted his position Sunday and guess what? The Dolphins struggled to attain touchdowns. Yes, they’ve large receiver Jaylen Waddle, tight finish Mike Gesicki and working backs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. But you recognize what? Those guys had 19 mixed touchdowns earlier than the Patriots recreation and now they’ve 21 mixed. And you noticed how Tagovailoa struggled the earlier 4 video games. If Hill doesn’t do it for this offense, it doesn’t get executed. Apparently, New England coach Bill Belichick received that memo.
Christian Wilkins, Superman
Defensive deal with Christian Wilkins, who had six tackles Sunday, continued his glorious season in opposition to the Patriots. His 92 tackles for the season are probably the most by a defensive lineman prior to now decade, in accordance with the Dolphins. Wilkins, the 2019 first-round choose from Clemson, is within the remaining yr of his contract and due for a giant payday this offseason.
The offensive line was a multitude, however performed properly
The Dolphins offensive line, which allowed two sacks Sunday, turned in an admirable efficiency. The offensive line, which was dealing with fierce move rushers in Matthew Judon (15.5 sacks, second within the NFL) and Josh Uche (11.5 sacks, tied for tenth), began with out Armstead, its greatest participant, after which misplaced his substitute, Kendall Lamm, for the second half. Greg Little got here in and performed left deal with for the second half. On prime of that, left guard Liam Eichenberg was returning to the beginning lineup for the primary time in eight video games after being sidelined with a knee damage. Yet the mixture of middle Connor Williams, Eichenberg, Lamm/Little, proper guard Robert Hunt and proper deal with Brandon Shell performed properly sufficient to win regardless of their fourth-quarter safety points. Hats off to these guys, offensive coordinator Frank Smith and offensive line coach Matt Applebaum.
Linebackers flip in respectable efficiency
The Dolphins linebackers, led by Elandon Roberts (10 tackles) and Jerome Baker (six tackles), however together with Andrew Van Ginkel, Jaelan Phillips, Melvin Ingram, Bradley Chubb, and Duke Riley, have been low-key this season however they turned in a good efficiency at New England. Consider how the linebackers’ efficiency lined up with what linebackers coach Anthony Campanile mentioned occurs, on and off the stat sheet, when his guys have a very good recreation.
“I think communication certainly is the No. 1 thing that’s not going to obviously appear on the stat sheet,” Campanile mentioned. “But once we’re having a very good recreation, that’s actually what it’s. You see guys flying round. And I say this lots, that large performs or constructive performs defensively are sometimes executed due to anticipation and with the ability to take the assembly room to the sport.
“And if I have a little bit of an idea or some clarity that, ‘Hey, this is one of two things right here as opposed to one of 10 things,’ I’m going to be able to react a lot faster.”
That’s sort of what occurred Sunday because the linebackers performed as if they knew what was going to occur earlier than it occurred. They performed quick and aggressively. Unfortunately, it wasn’t practically sufficient for a victory.
Run recreation seems
The Dolphins ended with 86 yards on 27 carries. They entered the sport final within the league in dashing makes an attempt at round 22 per recreation. In the primary half that they had 62 yards on 19 carries (3.3 yards per carry), which appeared to set the stage for a robust second half. But issues didn’t work out that approach. Technically, the Dolphins’ first landing, a 2-yarder by Tyreek Hill, was a run as a result of it was a lateral from Teddy Bridgewater. But coach Mike McDaniel did properly to stay with the working recreation, which saved New England’s protection off steadiness and likewise gave Bridgewater and Skylar Thompson a possibility to throw off of play-action.
Penalties creeping up once more
The Dolphins, who had 5 penalties for 34 yards within the first half, ended with 9 penalties for 71 yards. It was their highest whole for penalties and penalty yards since having 10 for 97 yards in a 24-16 loss to Minnesota. The Dolphins, who’ve stayed within the prime half of the league on penalties and yards for a lot of the season, entered the sport sixth in penalties (97) and 14th in penalty yards (763). As an instance of how penalties haunted the Dolphins contemplate the early-fourth quarter alternate when Tyreek Hill had an unlawful shift penalty on a third-and-9 that negated an 11-yard achieve by Skylar Thompson. On the next play, third-and-14, Thompson’ move bounced off Hill’s arms and Jonathan Jones recorded an interception on the Patriots’ 37-yard line. On the flip facet, New England had a vital running-into-the-kicker penalty that allowed the Dolphins to transform a fourth-and-1 and rating their solely landing of the primary half. But the Patriots ended with simply 5 penalties for 35 yards.
This group is choking
The Dolphins are choking. They’re now on a five-game shedding streak. They entered the Patriots droping 4 in a row and contemporary off their first winless December since 1993, once they began 9-2, misplaced their final 5, completed 9-7 and missed the playoffs. The Dolphins’ final victory that yr was Thanksgiving when Dallas’ Leon Lett jumped on that blocked area aim try, the Dolphins recovered the unfastened ball and gained the sport on a Pete Stoyanovich 19-yard area aim. The Dolphins’ final victory thus far this yr is a 30-15 determination in opposition to Houston on Nov. 27.
Mike McDaniel’s recreation administration has been pricey
On the heels of the pivotal Marcedes Lewis debacle final week in opposition to Green Bay, the place Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel did not problem the Packers’ 31-yard move to the Dolphins’ 7 that was an incompletion off the grass, McDaniel botched an enormous sequence early in Foxborough. On what was an apparent 29-yard catch by Tyreek Hill to the New England 27, the officers known as him out of bounds earlier than two ft have been down. Instead of a redeeming pink flag, McDaniel was silent. Then, on a carbon-copy 24-yard sideline catch to the Dolphins’ 41 by Tyquan Thornton, McDaniel did throw the flag, and was clearly rebuffed. Huge sequence. He must get significantly better. — Steve Svekis
Chris Grier performed injury-history roulette, and misplaced large in Foxborough
The Dolphins normal supervisor threw warning to the wind when he chosen Tua Tagovailoa, with a 2019 dislocated hip necessitating one in every of his 4 surgical procedures whereas in school, at No. 5 within the 2020 NFL draft. The Tagovailoa choice got here after gifted cornerback Xavien Howard, signed to a giant contract earlier than the 2019 season, and earlier than big offers have been handed out to deal with Terron Armstead on this offseason after which the move rusher Bradley Chubb on the commerce deadline this season. Tagovailoa has missed 9 begins (and chunks of different video games) to damage of the 43 video games since he was named starter in 2020. Howard has missed 27 video games in his seven seasons, Armstead has been out for 41 video games in his 9 seasons since being named an NFL starter, and Chubb has been unavailable for 25 video games, with subsequent Sunday the conclusion of his fifth season. All 4 of these gamers missed Sunday’s recreation.
Talk about shedding streaks
The Dolphins entered the 49ers recreation in Santa Clara having gained 10 of their 11 coin flips, deferring every time to obtain the second-half kickoff. But how the coin has turned. The Patriots grew to become the fifth consecutive Dolphins opponent to win the coin toss. The first opponent to win the toss had been the Pittsburgh Steelers. So, in video games the place Miami has gained the coin toss, the Dolphins are 7-3. In coin-toss losses? 1-5.
Dolphins’ protection nonetheless did its standard good job in opposition to Mac Jones
Coming into the Dolphins recreation, Mac Jones’ offense had averaged 14.3 factors a recreation in opposition to Miami. The 17 factors Sunday inched that common as much as 15.0 a recreation. Sadly, it wasn’t sufficient to get Miami’s fifth consecutive win over Bill Belichick.
Christian Wilkins with but extra performs for non-positive yardage
For the 14th time within the Dolphins’ 16 video games, the Pro Bowl snub logged at the least one play the place the offense was held to no achieve or detrimental yardage along with his sack, after which a batted move. The solely two video games the place Christian Wilkins didn’t have a sack, deal with for loss, move defensed or deal with for no achieve? Both Bills video games.
Comparing Tyreek Hill’s 2022 with Ricky Williams’ 2002 and Dan Marino’s 1984
The final time every of the Dolphins’ predominant offensive yardage data for a season (passing, dashing, receiving) has been damaged, it has been by an enormous quantity. Tyreek Hill who has climbed to 1,687 receiving yards following his 55 yards in Foxborough on Sunday, is now 298 forward of Miami’s previous report, 1,389 by Mark Clayton in 1984, with another recreation left. Clayton’s accomplishment got here within the 16-game season of 1984, so this stands as extra of an apples-to-apples comparability. Hill’s quantity is a chunky 21.5% greater than the report he broke. Clayton’s 1,389 had damaged a report set the yr earlier than by Mark Duper (1,003) by 38.5%.
And, extremely, in contrast with the record-breakers for Dolphins in dashing yards or passing yards, the 38.5% is the smallest determine. When Ricky Williams roared for 1,853 dashing yards in 2002, it broke a mark of 1,258 yards by Delvin Williams in 1978, the league’s first 16-game season. That represented a betterment by 47.4%. Of course Dan Marino’s 5,084 passing yards in 1984 represented probably the most full decimation of the earlier membership mark (Bob Griese’s 2,473 in 1968), greater than doubling it (105.6%). Hill would wish to complete with at the least 237 yards in opposition to the Jets (1,924 for the season) to enhance upon Clayton’s report by a higher proportion than Clayton beat Duper’s 1,003.
The Belichick-Shula tracker
The Dolphins couldn’t, for the fifth time in a row, push again Bill Belichick’s march towards Dolphins legend Don Shula’s NFL-record 347 wins (328 within the common season). The Pats win leaves the six-time Super Bowl winner 18 wins from tying Shula.
On deck: New York Jets, Hard Rock Stadium, day and time TBD
The Dolphins haven’t misplaced at house to the Jets since 2015 … Depending on Teddy Bridgewater’s standing subsequent week, the starting-quarterback matchup might be a battle of South Florida highschool grads, with Miami Northwestern’s Bridgewater vs. University School’s (Davie) Mike White.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com