MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.: Tua Tagovailoa clutched the ball and dropped again to go close to the 50-yard line as receiver Tyreek Hill blew previous double protection. With two defenders operating at full pace however nonetheless a number of steps behind Hill, Tagovailoa launched the ball in Hill’s route. Touchdown, Miami.
A downfield go from Tagovailoa to Hill is for certain to occur sooner or later every week. Still, it puzzled the Patriots within the first quarter of Sunday’s 31-17 win by the Dolphins. Miami will want its high gamers to maintain performing when it faces the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs this week in Frankfurt, Germany.
“Tua did a fantastic job of selling the fake,” Hill mentioned, “the corner and the safety bit up, and the rest was history.”
Just as essential because the play itself was that it got here on a drive after Tagovailoa had thrown an interception.
Tagovailoa has made it a degree of emphasis to reply higher to in-recreation errors, and it was the second time in three video games that he had a landing go on the drive instantly following a choose.
“Tua was locked in,” coach Mike McDaniel mentioned, “didn’t have ebbs and flows. He was able to make plays after being frustrated, which has been one of the reasons he has had success — or that much more success — this season.
“He’s learned in such a short period of time how to be critical of yourself but not handcuff yourself, as well, because if you’re self-lashing for a series or a quarter, you’re not going to like the results of your play. I’m very, very proud of where he’s at.”
Hill had his fifth 100-yard receiving recreation of the yr, and his twelfth since becoming a member of the Dolphins forward of the 2022 season. He has a league-main 1,014 receiving yards this season, and if he can preserve that tempo, he’ll make historical past by changing into the primary receiver to high 2,000 yards.
Hill has 2,724 yards since becoming a member of Miami, probably the most ever by a participant in his first 25 video games with a group within the Super Bowl period. Odell Beckham Jr. was subsequent finest with 2,625 for the Giants in 2014-15.
The All-Pro receiver is having one of the crucial productive seasons of his profession as he prepares to face the Chiefs for the primary time since being traded by Kansas City, which drafted him within the fifth spherical in 2016.
“I’m just excited to play against my old brothers,” Hill mentioned. “It’s just like if you’re in high school and you move to a different city, it’s still ball. At the end of the day, my job is to go out there and do what I’ve been doing all year, and that’s have fun, help lead this team, and create opportunities for whoever. I’m still going to be the same old Cheetah, baby.”
WHAT’S WORKING
The Dolphins’ go rush has picked up in latest weeks, thanks largely to the linebacker tandem of Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Philips. Both gamers had a sack apiece Sunday, bringing Miami’s season whole to 27. Chubb, acquired from Denver on the commerce deadline final yr, leads the group with 5 sacks.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Ball safety. Miami’s two turnovers Sunday resulted in 10 factors for the Patriots and stored New England within the recreation. Tagovailoa threw an interception for the third straight recreation, and Raheem Mostert fumbled at Miami’s 19 on the primary play of the third quarter. The Dolphins have turned the ball over in 5 straight video games.
STOCK UP
Jaylen Waddle. The third-yr receiver is on tempo for his third straight 1,000-yard season. Waddle had a season-excessive 121 yards receiving and a landing Sunday, averaging 17.3 yards per catch. With Hill’s 112 yards, it was the primary time this season that Miami has had two 100-yard receivers in a single recreation.
Jalen Ramsey. The former Los Angeles Rams cornerback made his Dolphins debut after lacking the primary seven video games recovering from meniscus surgical procedure. He had an interception and a compelled fumble.
STOCK DOWN
The run recreation. Miami’s No. 1-ranked speeding assault wasn’t a lot of an element for the second straight week. After speeding for a season-low 45 yards in opposition to the Eagles, the Dolphins recorded 70 yards — 3 yards per rush — on Sunday. Mostert had 46 yards on 13 makes an attempt.
INJURIES
RG Robert Hunt is daily after injuring his hamstring Sunday. … CB Xavien Howard missed his second straight recreation with a groin damage. … C Connor Williams (groin) was obtainable to play in an emergency situation after lacking the previous two video games. … LT Terron Armstead (knee) is eligible to return from injured reserve this week. He will journey to Germany with the group and will begin training, McDaniel mentioned. … S Jevon Holland remained within the concussion protocol Monday following a success in Week 7.
KEY NUMBER
12-1 — Tagovailoa’s file as a starter in opposition to coaches who’ve received a Super Bowl. He has victories in opposition to Bill Belichick (six), Sean Payton (two), Sean McVay, Jon Gruden, John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin. His one loss was to Kansas City’s Andy Reid on Dec. 13, 2020.
NEXT STEPS
The Dolphins have a bye after their showdown with the Chiefs in Frankfurt.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
