The Miami Dolphins ended their three sport shedding streak on Sunday after they traveled to Foxborough, Massachusetts and upset fellow AFC East basement dwellers, the New England Patriots, in week 5 of the 2024 NFL season by a rating of 15-10.
Sure, it was an unsightly loss, however as we regularly say when the nice guys come out on prime in video games like these, ugly wins are at all times higher than fairly losses. The truth is, this ugly win represented the one victory had by any AFC East squad in week 5, because the New York Jets misplaced to the Minnesota Vikings and the Buffalo Payments misplaced to the Houston Texans along with the Dolphins downing the Pats.
Out of the blue, Miami is only one sport again within the divisional standings heading into their BYE week in week six.
Oh, how issues can change in simply six days.
GOOD
Dolphins dedication to run sport permits for hard-fought victory
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel earned his stripes in NFL circles because the run sport coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers earlier than changing into the top coach in Miami forward of the 2022 season. Throughout his time in South Florida, McDaniel has known as one of many move heaviest offensive schemes in all of soccer. For the previous couple of years, that has been a very good factor for the Dolphins, nevertheless, in 2024, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sidelined with one other concussion, many followers had been hoping McDaniel would put extra emphasis on permitting his steady of gifted working backs to regulate video games towards “lesser” groups.
Previous to Sunday, that hadn’t occurred but, with McDaniel stubbornly asking his backup quarterbacks to do their greatest Tagovailoa impressions with little success. Nevertheless, towards the Patriots, McDaniel went again to his roots — particularly on Miami’s lone landing drive — en path to 193 yards dashing, together with 86 yards by rookie Jaylen Wright and 80 yards from veteran Raheem Mostert. Fullback Alec Ingold scored Miami’s one landing — a go-ahead rating that proved to be the nail within the coffin towards the Patriots.
BAD
Miami’s protection continues their struggles towards the run
Talking of the working sport…
The Dolphins have been struggling towards opposing working backs in 2024 — one thing many followers feared would occur with the lack of defensive sort out Christian Wilkins within the offseason.
On Sunday, they gave up 151 yards dashing to the Patriots at 7.9 yards per tote. They gave up large particular person beneficial properties to Rhamondre Stevenson (33 yards) and Antonio Gibson (24 yards), with Stevenson’s future placing New England’s solely landing on the board.
When Miami returns from their week six BYE week, they’ll seemingly face Colts working again Jonathan Taylor and probably extremely cellular quarterback Anthony Richardson. They’ll have to determine issues out with their front-seven in the event that they don’t wish to get gashed on the bottom as soon as extra.
UGLY
Miami’s particular groups unit tries all the pieces they’ll consider to lose sport
For just a few seasons now, Dolphins followers have been clamoring for Mike McDaniel to alleviate particular groups coordinator Danny Crossman of his place with the membership.
On Sunday, Crossman’s particular groups unit as soon as once more dedicated a number of catastrophic gaffes, inflicting Miami’s victory to be a lot nearer than it wanted to be.
Jason Sanders missed a 41-yard discipline objective on the finish of the primary quarter — doinking the soccer off of New England’s goalpost. Late within the first half, Sanders nailed a 46-yarder, however a penalty negated the strive. On the following 51-yard try, lengthy snapper Blake Ferguson flubbed the snap and Sanders wasn’t even in a position to get the kick off.
It wasn’t simply the sphere objective unit that struggled on Sunday, because the Dolphins additionally suffered a blocked punt towards the Patriots deep in their very own territory.
Undoubtedly, the requires Crossman’s job will now solely get louder, even supposing the Dolphins had been in a position to escape Gillette Stadium with the win.
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The Dolphins are 2-3 on the season, only one sport behind the Buffalo Payments within the win column for AFC East supremacy. Tua Tagovailoa seems to be returning in week eight towards the Arizona Cardinals. What are your expectations for the workforce as soon as that takes place? Is it loopy to assume they may have a shot on the playoffs? Let me know within the feedback beneath or on Twitter at @MBrave13. Fins up!
