MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.: A yr in the past, the Miami Dolphins started December with a loss to San Francisco that leap-began a 5-recreation shedding streak.
Sunday’s 45-15 rout of the Washington Commanders was an emphatic turnaround for Miami, which is 9-3 for the primary time in 22 years.
“I think it says a lot about where this team has grown from last year,” coach Mike McDaniel stated. “What I’ve seen is coaches and players fully commit to the idea of getting better, and it says a lot about the team because everything that you see last week, this week is an accumulation of deliberate intent. And guys are getting better at their craft. Really in all three phases there’s a lot of growth.”
The Dolphins prolonged their cushion within the AFC East to a few video games and moved right into a tie for one of the best report within the convention.
It didn’t take lengthy for Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill to make the most of the struggling Commanders protection.
Tagovailoa discovered Hill for a 78-yard landing on the Dolphins’ third play of the sport, and once more for a 60-yard rating within the second quarter.
On his first landing catch, Hill stated Tagovailoa seen the person protection with no security excessive and signaled for Hill to vary his route, leading to Miami’s longest offensive play of the yr. Hill leads the league with 1,481 receiving yards and 12 TD catches.
“It’s all film study, mostly,” Hill stated, including that Tagovailoa has the liberty in Miami’s offense to name these sorts of audibles. “Some teams typically do the same things throughout that season on third down and it was just one of those looks that it was a favorable matchup.”
Commanders coach Ron Rivera, who known as Washington’s defensive performs after firing coordinator Jack Del Rio, stated he ought to have given rookie cornerback Jartavius Martin, who was beat on Hill’s 78-yard rating, some assist excessive. For his half, Hill was stunned by the scheme.
“Those guys are great at what they do and they also get paid, man,” Hill stated, “but at some point, it’s like man. I don’t know, man, I just appreciate it, you know. Thanks for not respecting me I guess.”
Hill completed with 157 yards on 5 catches, his fifth recreation this season with 150-plus yards receiving. He’s on tempo to develop into the primary participant to surpass 2,000 yards receiving in a single season.
On protection, the Dolphins restricted Washington to 245 complete yards — Miami’s fifth straight recreation holding an opponent underneath 300 — regardless of lacking two starters in linebacker Jaelan Phillips (season-ending Achilles tendon tear) and security Jevon Holland (knees).
“Next man up mentality, that’s how we have to go about it,” cornerback Xavien Howard stated. “This is a tough game and people go down but the next man up.”
WHAT’S WORKING
Everything. Miami surpassed 400 yards of offense for the sixth time this season and transformed seven of 13 third-down makes an attempt. Tagovailoa’s 141.0 passer score was the second-highest of his profession and fourth-greatest by any quarterback in a street recreation this season. Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel intercepted Sam Howell and returned it 33 yards for a landing, giving the Dolphins two straight video games with a choose-6.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Not a lot. The Dolphins wanted to higher shield the ball after 9 turnovers of their earlier 4 video games, they usually had no turnovers Sunday for the primary time since Week 3.
STOCK UP
RB De’Von Achane. The rookie returned after lacking 5 of the previous six video games with a knee damage and completed with 17 carries, 103 scrimmage yards and two scores. His 9 touchdowns this season (seven speeding, two receiving) are the third-most by a rookie in franchise historical past.
STOCK DOWN
Offensive line. The Dolphins began their eighth line mixture of the season and once more handled accidents when starters Terron Armstead and Rob Hunt went down in the course of the recreation. Miami allowed simply two quarterback hits and no sacks, however depth is a priority.
INJURIES
Armstead left with an ankle damage within the second quarter and didn’t return. McDaniel stated after the sport that he was out there to return if wanted. … Hunt left within the third quarter after aggravating a hamstring damage that he’s been coping with for a number of weeks. … LB Jerome Baker injured his knee within the second quarter and didn’t return.
KEY NUMBER
21 — Consecutive video games by Tagovailoa with a landing move, the longest energetic streak within the NFL.
NEXT STEPS
Miami hosts Tennessee (4-8) on Monday, Dec. 11.
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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)
