MIAMI GARDENS — For the third time on this younger season, the Miami Dolphins entered a recreation badly needing a victory. This time it was in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Dolphins bungled the task, dropping, 29-27.
The Dolphins beforehand badly wanted a victory in opposition to the New York Jets (they gained) and the Carolina Panthers (they misplaced final week).
The long run doesn’t look vivid for the Dolphins (1-5) after Sunday’s last-second loss or coach Mike McDaniel, who’s now 29-30 (.492), together with his 0-2 playoff file, and 29-28 (.509) within the common season.
The Dolphins go to Cleveland subsequent week.
Right here’s what we realized in Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Chargers:
The house crowd
Dolphins followers had been lukewarm Sunday, which is healthier than being hostile. There have been an introduced 65,592 tickets distributed however there have been noticeable patches of empty seats, particularly within the higher deck the place it was frequent to see rows the place there have been six or eight consecutive seats unused. The group was largely pleasant and subdued, displaying enthusiasm after good performs and when the Dolphins led.
However there was an audible tone of boos after quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s third-quarter interception by security Benjamin St-Juste. Extra boos rained down after Tagovailoa’s subsequent go, a first-down overthrow supposed for Jaylen Waddle. But extra boos rained down on third down after Tagovailoa was sacked by outdoors linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, who blew previous rookie left gard Jonah Savaiinaea.
A “Let’s go Dolphins!!” chant went up within the fourth quarter when the Dolphins, trailing, 26-20 had been marching downfield. The group was pleased when the Dolphins took a 27-26 lead, however crushed when the Chargers scored with 5 seconds left on a 33-yard area purpose by kicker Cameron Dicker. Predictably, there have been few Chargers followers within the crowd. — Chris Perkins
Steve Ross
Dolphins proprietor Steve Ross walked solemnly off the sector after the sport. Ross was glimpsed on the sideline earlier than the sport, as ordinary. He was seen alongside staff president Tom Garfinkel greeting Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, Ross’ former goal to be Dolphins coach in addition to former nationwide championship coach of Ross’ beloved alma mater, Michigan. Ross was on the sector earlier than the sport as a part of the Dolphins’ Essential Catch marketing campaign for most cancers prevention. It’s unclear what Ross is considering concerning McDaniel’s future. Just a few weeks in the past he expressed a want to be affected person with McDaniel.
Tua reveals some magic nevertheless it’s not sufficient
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (21 of 32, 205 yards, one landing three interceptions, 54.8 passer ranking) had an opportunity to indicate some fourth-quarter magic Sunday, and he did. The Dolphins acquired the ball on their very own 18-yard line with 6:19 left, trailing, 26-20. Tua was 8 for 8 for 67 yards on the drive, which resulted in a seven-yard landing go to tight finish Darren Waller with 46 seconds left. The Dolphins drove 82 yards in 13 performs utilizing 5:33. Tagovailoa’s closing go of the sport, which got here with 5 seconds left, was an interception to security Derwin James. Tagovailoa’s first go was additionally an interception off a deflection from large receiver Jaylen Waddle, a go that ought to have been caught.
De’Von Achane places on a present
Working again De’Von Achane had top-of-the-line video games of his profession as he totaled 128 yards speeding and two touchdowns to go together with 4 receptions for 22 yards. Achane’s day was highlighted by a 49-yard landing run. Achane saved the Dolphins alive.
Jaylen Waddle places up good numbers
Extensive receiver Jaylen Waddle had six reception for 95 yards, together with a 45-yard reception. Waddle, who additionally accomplished an eight-yard go to Achane, had his finest recreation of the season. Waddle is on a little bit of a roll. He had six receptions for 110 yards in final week’s 27-24 loss at Carolina.
The run protection will get pounded once more
The Dolphins had been gashed once more because the Chargers rushed for 140 yards within the recreation (they’d 116 yards by three quarters). The Dolphins, who entered with the league’s worst run protection at 174.2 yards allowed per recreation, have now allowed every of their six opponents to hurry for greater than 100 yards. Chargers operating again Kimani Vidal led the way in which with 124 yards on 18 carries.
The return of the large play
Achane’s 49-yard landing run continued the Dolphins’ big-play resurgence of the previous couple of weeks. Final week Waddle had a 46-yard landing reception and Waller had a 34-yard reception.
Earlier than these three performs the Dolphins, often called a big-play offense in earlier years, solely had one play of 30 or extra yards, that being a 47-yard go to large receiver Tyreek Hill in opposition to New England.
The Dolphins’ longest play in opposition to Buffalo was simply 19 yards.
Brewer may barely use proper arm
Heart Aaron Brewer, who’s battling a pectoral damage, presumably on his proper (snapping) aspect, gave a gutty effort Sunday that together with barely having the ability to elevate his proper arm after snapping on many performs. Generally the arm simply hung by his aspect as he used his left arm to dam.
Brewer, a staff captain, gave the impression to be carrying a harness on his proper arm. He was referred to as twice for holding however the violations had been comprehensible contemplating the circumstances.
Waller restricted for six consecutive quarters
Waller, who had 5 receptions for 78 yards final week at Carolina, all within the first half, had one reception for 5 yards within the first quarter Sunday in opposition to the Chargers. Waller was focused twice within the first half, which means he’d been focused thrice in 4 quarters together with not being focused in any respect within the second half at Carolina. Waller (two receptions, 12 yards, one landing) had the fourth-quarter go-ahead landing. In his final six quarters Waller has, you guessed it, two receptions for 12 yards on three targets.
Dolphins win coin toss, take the ball
The Dolphins gained the coin toss (the Chargers referred to as tails and it got here up heads) and elected to obtain the kickoff, going in opposition to their ordinary development of deferring and taking the ball to open the third quarter. Kickoff returner Malik Washington took the opening kickoff 45 yards, operating over kicker Cameron Dicker within the course of. On first down, Achane took the handoff and gained two yards on a run up the intestine. However on second down Waddle bobbled a catchable go from Tagovailoa and it was intercepted by security Tony Jefferson.
The Chargers took the second half kickoff and scored a landing, driving 74 yards on 13 performs to take a 16-13 lead.
Particular groups error . .. once more
Defensive sort out Matthew Butler made unlawful contact with lengthy snapper Rick Lovato after Dicker hit a 58-yard area purpose. The Chargers took these factors off the board solely to place them again with a 36-yard area purpose by Dicker. The Dolphins’ particular groups, which had improved their play within the pervious two video games, have had a operating into the punter penalty, a roughing the punter penalty and have allowed a 90-yard kickoff return landing in addition to posting a 74-yard punt return landing.
By the way in which, seldom-used cornerback JuJu Brents and fellow cornerback Isaiah Johnson, who was elevated from the follow squad Saturday, noticed a very good period of time Sunday. Chargers defensive sort out Justin Eboigbe had two spectacular tackles on kickoff protection, beating linebacker Willie Homosexual Jr. each instances.
Dolphins’ protection continued an unbelievable and ignominious streak
The Dolphins have allowed a minimum of 5.97 yards per play in every of the primary six video games of the season after the Chargers piled up 403 on 64 performs (6.30 yards per snap). The Dolphins are on tempo to crush the franchise file for probably the most video games permitting a minimum of these 5.97 yards per play. The best proportion of video games with such sieve-like protection was the .571 of the franchise’s third season, when it occurred eight instances within the season’s 14 video games. It additionally occurred 9 instances in 16 video games (.563) in 2018. These are the seasons with the 5 most such video games allowed by proportion, and the 5 fewest:
MOST
1968: 8/14 (.571);
2018: 9/16 (.563);
2019: 8/16 (.500);
2020: 7/16 (.438);
2008: 7/16 (.438).
LEAST
1972: 0/14 (.000);
1973: 0/14 (.000);
1975: 0/14 (.000);
1992: 0/16 (.000);
2005: 0/16 (.000). — Steve Svekis
Since his concussion vs. the Packers in 2022, Tagovailoa’s ball safety has suffered vastly
On Christmas of 2022, a yr the place Tua Tagovailoa had already been identified with one official concussion, he took a tumble in opposition to Inexperienced Bay, after which missed the remainder of the season due to one other concussion. Earlier than that play, Tagovailoa had performed 36 video games, with 16 fumbles, and 5 of these unforced by opponent contact. Since then, Tagovailoa has performed 35 video games and fumbled 23 instances, with 16 unforced. Earlier than that fall, Tagovailoa had 20 interceptions in his 1,065 profession passes (53.3 passes per pickoff). Since? He has 32 interceptions in 1,193 passes (37.3 passes per interception). By comparability, Justin Herbert has fumbled 30 instances in his 87 profession video games, with 10 unforced, and thrown 53 interceptions in 3,217 passes (60.7 passes per INT.).
Jaylen Waddle is getting these WR1 chunk performs
Sunday marked Jaylen Waddle’s third begin with Tagovailoa as his quarterback, Mike McDaniel as his coach and Tyreek Hill not suited up. And, in every of these begins (Jets at dwelling in 2023, at Panthers final week and on Sunday), Waddle has logged a reception of a minimum of 45 yards. The Chargers recreation additionally marked the fourth time in Waddle’s profession the place he has had back-to-back outings with a seize of a minimum of 45 yards (additionally twice in 2022 and as soon as in 2023).
Yet one more side of quarterback play the place the Dolphins sag far behind
When Justin Herbert rammed ahead for a primary down on a fourth-down sneak, it was proof of an enormous drawback the Dolphins battle in opposition to: Minimal mobility. Tua Tagovailoa’s most up-to-date speeding landing is sort of 4 years previous, taking place on Nov. 11, 2021. Since then, Tagovailoa has run for less than 23 first down in his previous 55 video games.
Dolphins protection goes full Mike Tyson vs. Michael Spinks
For all of the discuss how the Dolphins’ protection was terrible in opposition to Carolina as a result of they had been fixated with forcing turnovers versus wrapping up, the forcing-turnovers side was nonetheless evident in opposition to the Chargers, solely far more profitable. Dolphins defensive backs Ashtyn Davis and Rasul Douglas separated the ball from Keenan Allen (Davis) and Oronde Gadsden II (Douglas). Allen was lucky to recoup his fumble, however Jordyn Brooks cleaned up Douglas’ handiwork, and on the following play, De’Von Achane flew 49 yards round the fitting finish for a go-ahead landing.
De’Von Achane reaches the rarefied air of Clayton, WIlliams and Mostert
Achane, in his fifth recreation within the first six of the season, hit the top zone. It matches probably the most video games with a minimum of one rating within the first six video games of a Dolphins season along with his quintet, matching Mark Clayton from 1984, Ricky Williams in 2002 and Raheem Mostert in 2023. What did all three have in frequent? All of them ended up with a minimum of 18 touchdowns for that season.
On deck: Cleveland Browns, Huntington Financial institution Discipline, Sunday, 1 p.m.
The Dolphins have truly gotten just a little unfortunate with their schedule this yr. Miami has three video games in opposition to bottom-half-of-the-NFL groups in Carolina, Cleveland and Atlanta, however all three of these groups are way more competent items at dwelling than they’re on the street. As an example, the Panthers’ 27-24 win over the Dolphins final Sunday made Carolina 5-3 of their previous eight dwelling video games, whereas the Panthers have gone 1-7 on the street, getting outscored on common by 33.9-17.5, with that one win in extra time. Equally, the Browns have been considerably higher at Huntington Financial institution Stadium this season than at different websites. In its two video games in Cleveland, all-everything defensive finish Myles Garrett and Co. have held Joe Burrow and the Bengals and Jordan Love and the Packers to 185.5 yards a recreation and 13.5 factors per contest.
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