Day 1,324, Quasi-Quarantine: That Halloween Was Different Than These Halloweens

If you're living the right way, certain days stick with you throughout your life. "That was a top-five day," I'll say every now and again. They matter. They add up.

One of my favorite days came as a 20-year-old at NC State. It involved an epic Wolfpack football game, multiple Halloween parties, late-night recon and pumpkin smashing, and copious amounts of oat sodas. Hell, at one point a roommate said, "I can't be doing this. I'm in college now -- I'm an adult!" Boy, did we laugh at him.

Anyway, this State game always stuck with me based on the confluence of drama, comeback, holiday fever, and raucous crowd. Go Pack.

That was a day.

Day 1,323, Quasi-Quarantine: The Crocodiles Make One Last Run

 

The best dang 2-4-2 team in the history of soccer.

I firmly believe this.

Gonna miss these clowns ... 

Limerick Friday #598: No Matter The Color Of The Hat, Ignorance Remains Undefeated -- Day 1,322

Of writing, you know not a stitch

You drove the site into a ditch

So take your unilateral stupidity

And find some sane lucidity

You Mr. Potato Head-lookin' bitch

The world does spin and bleed

Full of warnings I can't heed

Keep me safe and tall

Keep me far from it all

And just let me read and read

The extent that you're dumb

Makes me reach for my rum

They call you a "site owner"

Really just a creepy-ass loner

This is what the company's become

Trust they try to patch

Loyalty they try to catch

But underpaid is disrespect

And unless I can collect

I'll be looking for the escape hatch

Ribs I want to save

But I'm ready to be brave

Need salt on my skin

And ocean for the win

Bring me your latest wave

Last time ...

Day 1,321, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Eagles Game 7 Review

 

So, the penalty count was 10 on Miami and zero on Philadelphia.

Pause.

Read that again.

In what felt like a WWE scenario, referee Brad Allen and his crew -- who should be investigated for cheating, betting, or both -- dramatically tilted the game in the home team's favor. In the rewatch, there were 14 missed calls that should have gone against Philadelphia and four calls that were either just bad or iffy against the Dolphins. On a side note, I'd also like to shout out the bootlicking broadcasting crew of Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth, who delivered a particularly gutless performance in completely ignoring the officiating discrepancy and blatant errors.

Missing eight starters who represented 14 Pro Bowls, the 'Fins held strong despite a lot of challenges. The soon-to-be-illegal "tush push" play was used successfully four times by Philly, who dominated possession (36:43 to 23:17) and ran 20 more plays than the visitors. Despite winning the turnover battle, Miami could never seem to get the bounce or call they needed. The popular narrative is that the Dolphins are too much of a finesse team to beat strong teams on the road (their wins have come against teams with an 8-25 record), and that perception will have staying power until Miami can change it.

Hopefully on a level playing field.

On to the just-keep-it-fair recap ...

Offense

• Miami was called for a delay of game on its first offensive snap of the contest, portending struggles to come on that side of the ball. The 'Fins managed just 45 rushing yards on 12 carries (-7 yards in the first half), putting the team in awful down-and-distance scenarios all night long. As a result, the Dolphins were four of 11 on third-down conversions and did not get a first down on either fourth-down try. Miami did not score a touchdown on its only red-zone visit and seemed largely out of sync for most of the evening.
• Tua Tagovailoa connected on 23 of 32 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown, doing a notable job of fielding poor snaps. However, he was sacked three times, threw off his back foot quite a bit, was intercepted, and rushed once for negative-three yards. Overall, Tua earned an 85.7 grade from Pro Football Focus, but had a 16.7 pass rating when under pressure, according to NextGenStats.
• The rotation at running back was a little difficult to understand at times. Raheem Mostert only got 26 snaps, and though he lost eight yards on his first three carries, he did rip off 36 yards on back-to-back carries in the third quarter. Overall, he rushed nine times for 45 yards and caught one of three targets for six yards. Salvon Ahmed got 18 snaps, losing three yards on two carries and failing to gain a yard on one reception (two targets). In his first game back from injury, Jeff Wilson only got seven snaps, catching a four-yard pass. Alec Ingold got a season-low 12 snaps and did not get a touch.
• At receiver, Tyreek Hill led the way as usual, reeling in 11 of 15 targets for 88 yards and a touchdown, earning a 77.7 PFF grade in 38 snaps. However, he uncharacteristically dropped a couple of passes, including a touchdown, and he had another score called back on a marginal holding call. Jaylen Waddle was limited by an in-game back injury but still managed to catch all six targets for 63 yards in 22 snaps. Cedrick Wilson stepped up in a big way in his 29 snaps, snaring two of three targets for 48 yards, including a clutch 29-yarder. He was going to attempt a pass on a trick play at one point, but was instead sacked for a damaging seven-yard loss. Braxton Berrios also got 29 snaps, catching one of two targets for seven yards, and Robbie Chosen was inactive in this one. Route spacing seemed to be more of an issue in this game than we've seen all year, mirroring the overall sloppiness that marked most of the night for Miami.
• Durham Smythe dominated time at tight end, making some key blocks in his 45 snaps. Julian Hill got 14 snaps and was called for holding, while Tanner Conner got a single snap from scrimmage. No tight end was targeted in the passing game.
• The offensive line was already missing starters Terron Armstead (left tackle) and Conner Williams (center), and things got worse quickly when left guard Isaiah Wynn was lost for the contest after just five snaps. Lester Cotton came in for 44 snaps in relief, was called for a hold (which negated a touchdown) and a false start, and has been graded at 43.0 by PFF over his last 56 snaps. On the right side of the line, Robert Hunt (84.5 PFF grade and zero allowed pressures) and Austin Jackson (one pressure allowed) played well, though Jackson was called for a false start and a highly questionable unnecessary roughness. Eichenberg had a few snapping issues and made a tackle after an interception. It's clear that injuries are taking a real toll up front, making Miami's upcoming bye (week 10) even more crucial.

Defense

• Using favorable officiating, the controversial "tush push," and a physical style, the Eagles controlled the ball and the tempo, only punting once. Philadelphia was just four of 12 on third down but converted all four fourth-down attempts and were gifted three of its 26 first downs on penalties. Miami held up well against the Eagles rushing attack, limiting the home team to just 2.9 yards per carry. Philly scored touchdowns on four of six trips to the red zone to capitalize on opportunities -- earned and otherwise.
• At defensive end, Christian Wilkins played 69 snaps, making six tackles, a quarterback hit, and a fumble recovery. Those contributions were offset by three penalties -- two mind-numbing offsides calls and an iffy late hit on the quarterback. Zach Sieler was quiet, making a single solo tackle and being whistled for offsides in 65 snaps. While both players are uniquely equipped to play more snaps than most defensive linemen, the snap counts are way too high, and Miami is going to need more options at defensive end down the stretch.
• Raekwon Davis had two assisted tackles and overall played solid in his 39 snaps on the interior. Da'Shawn Hand got five snaps in this one, a reduction in playing time from recent games.
• Bradley Chubb led the way as usual at outside linebacker, recording seven tackles, two sacks, a stop for loss, a quarterback hit, a forced fumble, and seven pressures in his 65 snaps. Jaelan Phillips came back in a big way, posting seven tackles, a sack, a stop for loss, and two quarterback hits in 50 snaps, earning a 76.2 PFF grade. Andrew Van Ginkel collected six tackles, a stop for loss, and a quarterback hit, earning a 78.4 PFF grade in 43 snaps, though he looked much less comfortable playing in his reps at inside linebacker. Emmanuel Ogbah got just three snaps, and the Dolphins are likely to need much more from him the rest of the way -- likely in more of a pure defensive end role.
• Prior to injury, David Long had his best game as a 'Fin, registering four tackles and a pass breakup in 37 snaps to earn a 78.9 PFF grade to lead the inside 'backers. Jerome Baker was active, notching 11 tackles, six solos, a stop for loss, a pass breakup, an interception, and a defensive touchdown in 72 snaps. Duke Riley played six snaps in reserve, but it was mostly Van Ginkel who filled in for Long when he was out.
• At corner, Kader Kohou and Eli Apple played all 72 snaps with Xavien Howard missing the game due to injury. Kohou had six solos and a pass breakup, while Apple added four solos, two pass breakups, and a holding call. Parry Nickerson assumed a much larger role in the nickel, contributing two solos in 45 snaps on his way to a 79.1 grade from PFF. Though active, rookie second-rounder Cam Smith did not get a snap, as defensive coordinator Vic Fangio still views him as not ready for scrimmage action yet.
• Safeties DeShon Elliott (72 snaps) and Jevon Holland (68 snaps) struggled at times, with Elliott making four tackles and Holland posting six tackles and five solos. Holland had to leave with concussion symptoms briefly, creating space for Elijah Campbell (one solo tackle in five snaps) and Brandon Jones (four snaps) to play some. Holland's injury will bear monitoring, as he has largely held the secondary together thus far this season.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders was perfect in limited action, making a field goal and two extra points.
• Jake Bailey overcame an early shank to average 45 yards on three punts. He had a touchback, but he placed one inside the 20-yard line and uncorked a 59-yarder.
• Berrios provided a spark in the return game, averaging 26.3 yards on four kickoffs and adding a 16-yard punt return.
• Among offensive players, Smythe (12), Claypool (10), and Conner (10) led the way in special-teams snaps, while Riley, Campbell, and Cameron Goode paced defenders with 19 third-phase snaps, with Jones adding 16. Claypool made a coverage tackle, though Campbell was penalized again, this time with a false start.

Momentum plays

• The early energy on defense was lacking for Miami, with both Apple and Baker loafing on key completions to tight end Dallas Goedert. After Philly converted its first two third-down attempts, Chubb stopped Jalen Hurts on a designed third-down run to end a 12-play, seven-minute drive with an early field goal.
• A 15-yard pass to Hill got the 'Fins an initial first down, but a series of busted plays ended the drive and set up Bailey for a terrible 31-yard punt.
• Three plays later, Chubb struck again, getting a strip sack alongside Phillips, with Wilkins pouncing on the loose ball to set up Miami at Philly's 23-yard line.
• A 16-yard strike to Waddle (despite Moestert being in the same area) converted a 3rd & 9 for the Dolphins. Three plays later, Tua hit Hill with a dart for a touchdown, but a late flag that appeared to reward a dive by an Eagles defensive lineman nullified the score with a hold. Tua missed Smythe on a slant on the next play (the play would not have resulted in a score either way), instead throwing incomplete on a short out. The 'Fins settled for a disappointing 40-yard field goal by Sanders to tie the score at three.
• A fourth-down tush push resulted in a first down for Philadelphia, then a dumb/questionable personal foul on Wilkins extended the drive again. A screen to Goedert led to a 19-yard touchdown, with Chubb nearly forcing a fumble in pursuit. The extra point pushed the Eagles ahead, 10-3.
• A three-and-out by Miami followed, lowlighted by an uncalled interference on a third-down throw to Berrios.
• Philly put together a 12-play, 80-yard drive, aided by two more missed calls. Chubb was held without a call and hit Hurts, with a flutter ball somehow being caught instead of intercepted by Baker. Two plays later, on 4th & 3, Chubb barely missed another sack and Phillips was dramatically held without a call, allowing Hurts to find A.J. Brown for 32 yards. Hurts was pushed across the goal line on the next play to extend the advantage to 17-3 on a drive marked by game-turning officiating.
• With the game quickly slipping away, Miami made a tactical error on 3rd & 18, snapping the ball just before the two-minute warning, essentially giving the home team another timeout. Fortunately, Wilson saved the coaching staff with a stellar 29-yard sideline grab. A 15-yarder to Hill kept the momentum going, but an uncalled hands to the face on the Eagles led to a sack. On 3rd & 8, Tua threw a perfect ball to Hill, who beat triple coverage to track the ball over his shoulder and reel in the 27-yard touchdown that trimmed the margin to 17-10.
• Phillips powered through yet another uncalled hold on Lane Johnson to sack Hurts on the final play of the half, with Sieler also providing pressure.
• Tua found Hill for 17 yards to jumpstart the second half, followed by two strong runs by Moestert. A questionable perimeter holding call on Julian Hill brought back a 10-yard gain by Tyreek, putting Miami way behind the chains and forcing a punt after an eight-play possession.
• On the ensuing Philly drive, Long pressure resulted in an another uncalled hold, then a screen to DeAndre Swift featured an uncalled illegal block on Phillips. However, Apple made a great play on a pass breakup, leading to a punt that Berrios returned for 16 yards.
• Starting on their own 36-yard line, the 'Fins got moving on the strength of 21- and 15-yard bursts by Moestert. Three plays later, Tua found Hill with a perfect pass, but the receiver dropped the ball just as he was crossing into the end zone. On the following play, Tua targeted Wilson along the sideline, but a blatant facemask just in front of the official somehow went uncalled, the most concrete proof that the fix was in. A shocked Miami sideline went ballistic when it realized that the fourth-down interference was going to go unpenalized, giving the ball back to the home team.
• Karma struck on the next play, when a well-timed Kohou blitz led to a deflection that Baker caught and returned 22 yards for a pick-six. With the score tied at 17, a million "ball don't lie" tweets and texts followed.
• Of course, the reprieve was temporary, as the first play of the Eagles' next drive featured an egregious uncalled hold on Sieler, allowing Hurts to run for 12 yards. To add insult to injury, a friendly-fire collision between Holland and Long put both players out of the game, further depleting an already thin defense. A 25-yard strike to DeVonta Smith followed and after another deflected pass somehow fell harmlessly to the turf, Hurts found Goedert racing past Apple for 10 yards on 3rd & 7. On the next play, Van Ginkel and Kohou ran into each other and missed a tackle on Brown, who ran into the end zone from 14 yards out to make it 24-17, Philadelphia.
• As the fourth quarter began, a Hill drop in the midst of uncalled pass interference set up a difficult 3rd & 12, but Tua calmly found Waddle for a first down. An RPO to Wilson netted 19 more, but a couple of poor snaps led to a 3rd & 8. With Moestert and Waddle running in the same vicinity, Tua back-footed an ill-advised pass that resulted in an interception when clear interference on Moestert went -- wait for it -- uncalled. 
• Two more fourth-down pushes sandwiched another pass that was deflected without being intercepted. A 3rd & 4 offsides by Wilkins gave the Eagles a free first down, but a clear false start on Lane Johnson on the same play was uncalled yet again, so offsetting penalties did not occur. Under Van Ginkel pressure (the pass rusher pulled off the play based on how the game was being officiated), Hurts found Brown for 42 yards between Kohou and Elliott. A spinning run by Kenneth Gainwell saw him break a Holland tackle and surge into the end zone to make the score 31-17 and cap a demoralizing 13-play, 83-yard drive.
• Back-to-back sacks of Tua marked the next Miami possession, which ended when a fourth-down throw to Hill fell incomplete. Fitting for this game, the throw was both nonsensical (a three-yard out needing 10 yards) and featured clear, uncalled interference.
• A 22-yard run by Swift on the following possession allowed the Eagles to kneel on it three times to end a semi-ridiculous contest.

2023 Schedule

Miami 36, Los Angeles 34 (1-0)

Miami 24, New England 17 (2-0)

Miami 70, Denver 20 (3-0)

Buffalo 48, Miami 20 (3-1)

Miami 31, New York Giants 16 (4-1)

Miami 42, Carolina 21 (5-1)

Philadelphia 31, Miami 17 (5-2)

Day 1,320, Quasi-Quarantine: Art-Camp Friends Deal With Love, Envy, And Adulthood In "The Interestings"

"Jealously was essentially, 'I want what you have,' while envy was 'I want what you have, but I also want to take it away so you can't have it.'"

This wistful tale of "The Interestings" follows a group of teens who meet at a summer art camp and -- improbably -- remain friends deep into middle age, with tragedies alternately bringing them together and pushing them apart.

The novel explores the loss of innocence, how nostalgia paints our experiences, and the relationship between who we are and who we might have become.

"This was the world they were meant to enter: a world of fuckers."

Meg Wolitzer alternates points of view, but she mostly relies on Jules -- an aspiring actress-turned-therapist -- as her narrator, with resulting questions about how much we can trust her point of view.

"When you looked closely at anything, you could almost faint, Jules thought, although you had to look closely if you wanted to have any knowledge at all in life."

Despite some glossed-over experiences and a tendency toward soliloquies and coincidences, "The Interestings" achieves a kind of beauty as a commentary on the true meaning of friendship, love -- and what does or does not make us actually interesting.

"'When you have a child,' she'd recently said to Jules, 'it's like right away there's this grandiose fantasy about who he'll become. And then time goes on and a funnel appears. And the child gets pushed through that funnel, and shaped by it, and narrowed a little bit. So now you know he's not going to be an athlete. And now you know he's not going to be a painter. Now you know he's not going to be a linguist. All these different possibilities fall away.'"

Day 1,319, Quasi-Quarantine: Epic Embo Joins Our Growing Group Of Mission-Based Bounty Hunters

 

Despite a relatively small amount of screen time, Embo was one of the more epic and memorable characters encountered in "Star Wars: Clone Wars."

A Kyuzo male bounty hunter, Embo was known for his quiet, stoic, but remorseless nature. An excellent close-quarters fighter, accomplished sniper, and peerless tracker, he worked a lot with Sugi, the Hutt clans, and even as a member of Boba Fett's Krayt's Claw bounty hunter collective.

Embo carried a bowcaster, had a pet anooba named Marrok, and used a starship called the Guillotine. However, his trademark was his metal, sombrero-like hat -- which could be used as a weapon, a shield, and a transport.

Embo's minifigure was only ever offered in the extremely rare (and incredible) Bounty Hunter Assault Gunship set (7930), so the ability to find an affordable version of the minifigure itself online was too good to pass up. 

Day 1,318, Quasi-Quarantine: Foot Locker Strikes Again. And Again.

 

I thought the Colts got severely screwed yesterday by the officials.

And they did.

But then I watched the Dolphins game.

Miami was flagged 10 times in the game. The home team, Philadelphia, was penalized exactly zero times.

Zero. 

It's hard to believe the NFL doesn't have a script after witnessing that travesty. It really is.

Onward. But do better, "Shield."

Limerick Friday #597: A Week Away From Football Is Just What The Pack Required -- Day 1,315

A season that feels like a sigh

Needed a much-needed bye
A bad look for the coaches
Who need new approaches
Before the campaign goes off to die

Brings "D's" to their knees
Making cornerbacks wheeze
A bonafide offensive guru
Mike McDaniel -- who knew?
And yes, he does wear capris

Your performance is low
But also inept and slow
Your deficiencies have length
And it's hard to find a strength
Something your career coach should know

The queen of pop
On a bandwagon to the top
Every catch means a jump cut
To the luxury suite -- what
Please, just make it stop

Every sports radio clown
Wants to give him a crown
To seem rather than to be
This is UNC
Especially with ol' Mack Brown

Last time ...

Day 1,314, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Panthers Game 6 Review

 

Almost as if Miami was teasing the visitors, the 'Fins fell behind by two touchdowns to the lowly Carolina Panthers before calmly reeling off five straight touchdowns. Despite once more losing the turnover battle (Miami is -4 on the campaign), the Dolphins turned the game into a ho-hum affair to set the stage for looming, monumental matchups against the Eagles and Chiefs in coming weeks.

On to the just-playing-with-them recap ...

Offense

• Miami scored touchdowns on all five red-zone trips, put up 424 offensive yards, and averaged 6.5 yards per play. Showing the balance that has defined this campaign, the 'Fins rushed for 162 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per rush. The team converted seven of 13 third downs and did not have to attempt a fourth-down conversion.
• Tua Tagovailoa connected on 21 of 31 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns, without a sack or interception. He ran once for no gain, fumbled once (recovered by Miami), and had three passes batted at the line (if you're looking for a quibble), earning an 81.2 grade from Pro Football Focus. Mike White came in for 11 snaps with the game out of hand and threw a pick-six on his lone pass before kneeling on it three times. 
• In the backfield, Raheem Mostert went wild, averaging nearly seven yards per rush in racking up 115 yards (on 17 carries, with a 49-yarder) on the ground and adding three catches for 17 yards, with a combined three touchdowns. He was credited with 10 broken tackles on the afternoon and even recovered a fumble, earning a 91.6 PFF grade in his 41 snaps. Salvon Ahmed added six carries for 23 yards and a score, plus three catches on five targets for 11 yards in 24 snaps. Rookie Chris Brooks was held to zero yards on five of his carries in 11 snaps, but his other rush resulted in a 28-yard angry run that saw him stiffarm, run over, and elude several tacklers. Unfortunately, he suffered an ankle injury, left the game, and is likely to miss some time, further taxing a thin running back corps. Alec Ingold did not get a touch in his 28 snaps, but lent his customary strong lead blocking. In Miami's first game without the injured De'Von Achane, Mostert pushed his TD total to 11 -- more than 12 NFL teams have in total -- and the Dolphins excelled on the ground, but injuries in the backfield remain a primary concern.
• Tyreek Hill was borderline uncoverable again, reeling in six of 10 targets for 163 yards and a touchdown. He had a long grab of 47 yards and mixed in an unsportsmanlinke conduct in his 38 snaps, earning a 93.2 PFF grade. Jaylen Waddle was more involved in this one, catching seven of nine targets for 51 yards and a score in his 46 snaps. Braxton Berrios made the most of his two targets in 20 snaps, snaring both for 20 yards to convert a pair of third downs. Cedrick Wilson (25 snaps) and Robbie Chosten (17 snaps) were involved in downfield blocking, but were not targeted. 
• None of the tight ends caught a pass, though Durham Smythe was targeted once in 44 snaps. He and Julian Hill (31 snaps) both played vital roles in the success of the Miami ground game. Tanner Conner also got 10 snaps, but Hill's emergence is one to watch, as he has already bypassed Tyler Kroft in the rotation and is earning more snaps with each passing week.
• The offensive line was missing two starters in left tackle Terron Armstead and center Connor Williams, but the group held up well, opening huge holes in the run game and holding the Panthers without a sack. In particular, Liam Eichenberg did not allow a sack, pressure, or hurry in 33 pass-block snaps at center. He's been a target for criticism from a lot of directions, but is deserving of kudos in how he has developed at a new position. Six games in, it's high time that we recognize the tremendous job that offensive line coach Butch Barry is doing with a largely unchanged group that struggled mightily a season ago.

Defense

• Miami only gave up 296 total yards and 4.4 yards per play, stopping the Panthers on nine of 14 third-down attempts and all four fourth-down tries. Carolina scored touchdowns on both red-zone trips and got a free first down off of a flag for too many men on the field for the 'Fins at one point, but the Dolphins also held the Panthers scoreless on eight straight drives to close game. While Miami did pick up four sacks, the unit forced zero turnovers again, and is now tied for last in the league in that category -- a potential concern down the stretch.
• Christian Wilkins had a big game, collecting five tackles, two sacks, two stops for losses, and three quarterback hits in 49 snaps to earn a 72.7 PFF grade. His running mate Zach Sieler added a pair of tackles, a sack, a stop for loss, and a quarterback hit in 46 snaps, while Emmanuel Ogbah contributed a solo tackle in 22 snaps.
• On the interior, Raekwon Davis had two tackles and Da'Shawn Hand had an assisted tackle in 20 snaps. Miami is experimenting with different alignments on passing downs and Hand is stepping up, further eating into Davis's reps.
• At outside linebacker, Bradley Chubb continued his strong play, earning an 89.6 PFF grade on the strength of six tackles, four solos, a sack, a stop for loss, a forced fumble, four pressures, three hurries, and a quarterback hit. He had another sack called back on penalty and successfully dropped back into coverage on occasion in his 49 snaps. Andrew Van Ginkel recorded three tackles and a quarterback hit in 42 snaps (74.9 PFF grade), while Jaelan Phillips had an assisted tackle and a quarterback hit in 30 snaps. Phillips is still working his way back from injury, lending a lot of hope for the position group as the season progresses.
• David Long was active at inside linebacker, notching 11 tackles, four solos, and a quarterback hit in 51 snaps. Jerome Baker added five tackles, four solos, and an offisides penalty in 47 snaps, while Duke Riley registered three assisted tackles in 22 snaps. In deep reserve, Cameron Goode had a solo tackle in four snaps.
• In 65 snaps apiece, Kader Kohou (four solos, two pass breakups, and a quarterback hit) and Eli Apple (six tackles, four solos, and a pass breakup) were busy, and Xavien Howard (five tackles and four solos in 56 snaps) made a key third-down stop but appeared to be injured late in the game. Parry Nickserson's role grew to 20 snaps, and he responded with three solos and a defensive holding penalty. Justin Bethel had a solo tackle in two scrimmage snaps, and rookie Cam Smith saw his first action from scrimmage (four snaps). Though Jalen Ramsey's recovery is reportedly progressing ahead of schedule, the health status of "X" is going to be a huge story to follow in coming weeks.
• As usual, DeShone Elliott (five tackles, three solos) and Jevon Holland (three tackles, two solos) played every snap (65) as the safety tandem. With the game well in hand, Brandon Jones (solo tackle) and Elijah Campbell (assisted tackle) came on for four snaps apiece. It was a relatively quiet day for the safeties, as Carolina focused primarily on the short passing game.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders drilled six extra points and did not have to attempt a field goal again. He has now attempted just seven field goals on the season, making five.
•  Jake Bailey punted four times for a 48.5-yard average, putting one inside the 20-yard line and uncorking a 60-yarder.
• Braxton Berrios fielded one punt but did not get any yards.
• The coverage team gave up a 31-yard kickoff return and two punt returns for a total of 21 yards.
• In a key moment, Campbell and Riley combined to make a massive play in helping to stymie a fake-punt attempt. Riley later pounced on an onsides-kick attempt.
• Riley (24), Campbell (23), and Goode (22) paced defensive players on special teams, while Smythe (14), Conner (13), and Brooks (12) led offensive players in the third phase.

Momentum plays

• The Panthers went three-and-out after receiving the opening kickoff, with Chubb's sack and forced fumble setting the tone. After receiving the punt, the Dolphins went three-and-out as well.
• A 27-yard pass to Adam Thielen jumpstarted the Carolina drive, and Thielen converted a 3rd & 6 with a seven-yarder as well. Chuba Hubbard ripped off a 19-yard run to set up a 1st & goal, then paid off the drive with a six-yard touchdown run as the interior duo of Hand and Davis was blown off the ball.
• The 'Fins went three-and-out again when a fake sneak on 3rd & 1 resulted in Tua firing it over Mostert's head for a 10-yard loss.
• A 21-yard pass to Tommy Tremble that saw him hurdle Howard and elude Van Ginkel started a 10-play Panthers drive. A steady diet of runs was interrupted by a gift Miami penalty on 3rd & 3 for too many men on the field. Bryce Young then found Thielen again for an eight-yard score to put the visitors up two touchdowns.
• Miami finally responded, closing the first quarter with a 27-yard strike from Tua to Hill on a deep in. The quarterback then found Berrios for 10 on 3rd & 3 before hitting Hill (11) and Waddle (14) to set up a first-and-goal situation. A swing pass to Mostert -- aided by a Smythe block -- got the 'Fins on the board to cut it to 14-7.
• Carolina got a couple of first downs on its next possession before stalling. The Panthers tried a fake punt on 4th & 7, but the short pass came up just short (even after review) on a nice play by Campbell and Riley.
• Mostert capitalized quickly, breaking five tackles on a 49-yard run that set up a Tua-to-Waddle scoring toss (Hill was also WIDE open) two plays later to tie the game at 14.
• Howard made a nice open-field tackle to force a Panthers three-and-out, and Miami converted a 3rd & 10 (17-yard catch by Waddle) and a 3rd & 8 (eight-yard reception by Mostert that saw him make three players miss) after taking over. On yet another third down following the two-minute warning, Tua found Hill for 41 yards on a deep-shot touchdown to push the Dolphins ahead, 21-14.
• A taunting flag on Hill gave Carolina strong field position with time winding down, and Young found Thielen for 16 yards and 3rd & 10. Chubb made another stop on 3rd & 2 to set up a 43-yard field goal that was missed on the final play of the half.
• The 'Fins opened the second half with possession, but went three-and-out after three straight Tua incompletions. After an initial first down, Carolina had to punt as well following a Wilkins sack.
• Four straight Mostert runs got Miami rolling, then Tua found Hill for a 47-yarder that may have resulted in a hamstring strain for the speedster. Nine-yard passes to Waddle and Ahmed followed, then back-to-back Mostert runs ended in the end zone, forging a 28-14 advantage for the home club.
• Carolina embarked on a 10-play drive, with short runs supplemented by a 24-yard connection to D.J. Chark. The Panthers converted a pair of third downs, but on a 4th & 2 play, a deep pass to tight end Hayden Hurst was incomplete, with Howard in coverage.
• In a drive that spanned 12 plays at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarters, the 'Fins seized firm control of the contest. Tua found Hill for 24 yards, then hit Berrios for 10 more on a 3rd & 8 play. Mixing Mostert runs -- including a memorable hurdle -- with short passes, Miami moved into the red zone, with Mostert polishing off the possession with a third-down dive to push the lead to 35-14.
• The Panthers picked up an initial first down, but sacks by Wilkins and Sieler and pressure from Chubb led to a 4th & 29 punt. Berrios ripped off a 20-yard return, but Riley was whistled for holding and an unnecessary roughness on the punter did not appear to be marked off correctly.
• Mostert ripped off a 13-yard run to start the next drive, but short passes to Waddle (negative yardage) and Ahmed (incomplete) led to both being drilled. Bailey's punt was downed nicely by Bethel at the eight-yard line.
• Short passes got the Panthers moving, aided by a Chubb sack being nullified by penalty. On a 4th & 10 play, Sieler and Phillps pressure led to an incompletion, giving the ball back to the Dolphins.
• On the third play of the next drive, White's first pass was an ill-advised lollipop into the flat intended for Ahmed. Troy Hill jump the route for an easy 61-yard pick-six to give Carolina some life at 35-21.
• The Panthers tried an onsides kick, but Riley recovered it easily. On the second play of the possession, Brooks had an angry run, breaking multiple tackles and staying in bounds on his way to a 28-yard pickup. Two plays later, he was injured, but on a 3rd & goal play, Ahmed got around the edge and skirted the sideline for a nine-yard score, making it 42-21.
• A four-and-out ensued, with fourth-down pressure from Hand forcing an incompletion to give the pigskin back to the 'Fins. Three straight kneeldowns salted the contest away for Miami.

2023 Schedule

Miami 36, Los Angeles 34 (1-0)

Miami 24, New England 17 (2-0)

Miami 70, Denver 20 (3-0)

Buffalo 48, Miami 20 (3-1)

Miami 31, New York Giants 16 (4-1)

Miami 42, Carolina 21 (5-1)

Day 1,313, Quasi-Quarantine: No-Blink Fable Propels "Glory" As It Depicts Impacts Of Tyranny And Colonialism In Africa

 

"In the face of a savage, callous regime that could've been conceived out of the devil's anus itself, the children of the nation resolved to fight back."

Inspired by George Orwell's "Animal Farm," "Glory" is a vividly constructed allegory. NoViolet Bulawayo's political satire meshes brutal imagery with clever language to re-imagine the 2017 coup against Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe.

"Don't tell me God is watching. Coz all my wretched life he's been watching; how long, really, does a God need to watch shit burn before he intervenes?"

Shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize, "Glory" is painstakingly researched and manages to dig out bits of humor from heartbreaking incidents.

"Words were muti. Words were weapons. Words were magic. Words were church. Words were wealth. Words were life."

The author uses the power of repetition to emphasize key passages and themes, underscoring the emotional impact of the book at every turn. Bulawayo's work is transcendent, offering tinges of hope in the midst of pervasive tragedy to create a truly memorable novel.

"And every one of them felt warmed by the beautiful lotus fire. And everyone of them heard the flames of that fire fan and flutter and roar right in their hearts. And every one of them understood that whatever they heard within those hearts was the new national anthem, tholukuthi an anthem that spoke of the kind of glory that burns eternal and glows with living light."

Day 1,312, Quasi-Quarantine: When A Culture Of Escalation Meets Harsh Truths

 

When low performers escalate unreasonable expectations, working relationships are forced to change. Hat tip to the Formalizer (spiciness level: 5) for assisting in the recap:

Wow, you must be the epitome of brilliance and talent. Your exceptional writing skills leave everyone in awe...of how terrible they are. And punctuality? Who needs it, am I right? It's not like being on time or prepared is important in any way. And let's not forget your incredible knack for asking questions instead of providing answers. It's truly inspiring how you just deflect any responsibility.

Oh, and your interests? Please, tell me more about how they've achieved absolutely nothing. It's truly astounding how you manage to have so many hobbies without actually accomplishing anything. But don't worry, you're not alone in your mediocrity. You also happen to be the shining star of underperformance on our team. Congratulations!

But wait, there's more! The cherry on top of this spectacle is your incessant complaining. I mean, why wouldn't you? You clearly deserve the world, despite your lackluster efforts and subpar performance. It's truly a miracle that you even have a position here. So, go ahead and keep dreaming of that promotion that will never come. It's not like you have to earn it or anything, right?

Day 1,311, Quasi-Quarantine: Bringing Tattooine Further To Life With The Formidable Rancor

 

One of my formative "Star Wars" memories came with the appearance of the rancor in "Return of the Jedi." When Luke Skywalker was jettisoned into the pit below Jabba the Hutt's palace court, the tension ratcheted as you knew something bad lived there. The rancor -- named Pateesa, apparently -- was even more terrifying than anticipated.

Later, we encountered rancors in "The Clone Wars" and more prominently in "The Book of Boba Fett," as one was gifted to Boba Fett and eventually went on a Godzilla-esque romp through downtown Mos Espa. Its cinematic creators described the rancor as a "cross between a bear and a potato," but I question whether that does justice to the end result.

Wookieepedia describes rancors as "semi-sentient," and noted that these reptilian carnivores are native to Dathomir, though they also exist on Felucia, Tattooine, and Koboh. Rancors have armored hides that can withstand blaster fire; were used as mounts by Hutts and others; come in jungle/hunter, rage, and shadow varieties; and are emotionally complex but fiercely loyal, as evidenced by their compulsion to "imprint" themselves on the first human they see.

Feeling that one would pair well with Boba Fett's Throne Room, my building partner and I secured a 3D-printed version that is beautifully rendered and employs clever building techniques. By adding levels to the throne room, we intend to create a rancor pit below that is fitting to this masterful addition to our missions.

Day 1,309, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Giants Game 5 Review

Miami committed six penalties, ran 14 fewer plays than its opponent, was soundly whipped in the turnover battle (3-0), and dramatically lost in time of possession (35:59 to 24:01).

 

And won handily.

 

When your team can play their "C" game (or worse) and win by two touchdowns, you may start to believe you have a squad.

On to the that-was-revealing recap ...

Offense

• The Dolphins averaged a staggering 9.7 yards per play, racking up 524 total yards and 222 rushing yards (also averaging 9.7 yards per carry). Miami converted three of eight third-down attempts and didn't go for it on fourth down, scoring two touchdowns on three red-zone visits along the way. Despite the relative lack of possession, the 'Fins were extremely efficient and transactional offensively.
• Tua Tagovailoa connected on 22 of 30 passes for 308 yards and a pair of touchdowns, averaging 10.3 yards per attempt, while rushing twice for six yards. However, he was sacked once and threw two interceptions, including a damaging pick-six in the red zone. The good news is you won't likely see many 60.4 QBRs or 56.5 grades from Pro Football Focus from Tua -- especially in victories.
• Devin Achane was once again a revelation at running back, carrying 11 times for 151 yards and a touchdown while adding a 14-yard catch for an end-around score. He averaged 13.7 yards per rush, contributed a 76-yard TD jaunt, fumbled once, and earned an 83.7 PFF grade in his 26 snaps before getting injured. Raheem Mostert led the way in snaps (32), toting the ball 10 times for 65 yards and a touchdown and grabbing two receptions for 13 yards. However, he fumbled for the third time in two games, which is something to monitor with Achane sidelined for multiple weeks. Alec Ingold (19 snaps, 53.8 PFF grade) and Chris Brooks (seven snaps) failed to record statistics, though Ingold stood out with his lead blocking on a few plays. The return of Jeff Wilson will help, but the loss of Achane for several weeks will remove a vital cog in this offense.
• At receiver, it's safe to say that Tyreek Hill made the most of his 25 snaps, reeling in eight of nine targets for 181 yards and a touchdown on his way to a 93.3 PFF grade, which was offset only by a taunting penalty. Jaylen Waddle led the way in snaps (44) and targets (10), catching five passes for 35 yards and a score. Cedrick Wilson got a surprising 29 snaps, hauling in all four targets for 52 yards, with a long of 23 and a 75.3 PFF grade. Braxton Berrios was targeted twice, catching both for 13 yards in his 20 snaps. Robbie Chosen got 10 snaps, but was not targeted and earned a 55.0 PFF grade.
• Neither Durham Smythe (44 snaps) nor Julian Hill (14) was targeted at tight end, but PFF apparently liked what Hill did in the blocking game (89.55 grade) and did not like what Smythe did (47.4 grade).
• Every offensive linemen played 54 snaps, with right guard Robert Hunt grading out best (83.9 overall, 84.7 in run blocking, and 80.8 in pass blocking). Austin Jackson picked up 78.3 (pass blocking) and 67.2 (run blocking) grades at right tackle, displaying his athleticism in downfield blocking. Left guard Isaiah Wynn was called for a false start and graded poorly, with PFF assigning him a 35.6 overall mark, 55.8 in pass blocking, and 40.2 in run blocking. Center Connor Williams also had a subpar day, getting whistled for holding and picking up a low pass-blocking (54.9) grade, which was somewhat offset by a respectable run-blocking mark (70.1) and the absence of fumbled snaps. Kendall Lamm was solid in replacing Terron Armstead's big shoes at left tackle, earning a 68.8 pass-blocking grade and a 70.5 run-blocking grade. Liam Eichenberg played a single snap at guard, grading out at 74.1 in his lone pass-blocking rep. The line consistently sealed the edge on perimeter runs and got to the second level on blocks as Miami dominated on the ground.

Defense

• The 'Fins limited the Giants to just 268 total yards and 3.9 yards per play, surrendering only 15 first downs -- including two on penalty. Miami held New York to five of 17 on third-down attempts and one of two on fourth downs, while not allowing a touchdown on either red-zone trip by the Giants. The Dolphins did not force a turnover, but collected seven sacks and held the visitors to just 85 rushing yards (2.9 yards per carry).
• Up front, both Christian Wilkins (91.4 PFF grade) and Zach Sieler (67.5 PFF grade), had big games, with Sieler notching seven tackles, two sacks, three stops for losses, and three quarterback hits in 46 snaps. Wilkins had four assisted tackles, half a sack, and two quarterback hits in 49 snaps. Emmanuel Ogbah contributed two tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two quarterback hits in 27 snaps to earn a 58.0 PFF mark. The line teed off against a weak offensive line -- can it duplicate the effort against better opposition?
• On the interior, Raekwon Davis had three tackles and a stop for loss in his 30 snaps, earning a 64.9 PFF grade. Da'Shawn Hand notched a quarterback hit in his 26 snaps, grading out at 86.8 overall and 74.4 in pass rushing by PFF.
• Both Bradley Chubb (86.8 PFF grade) and Andrew Van Ginkel (85.9 PFF grade) were borderline dominant at outside linebacker. In 56 snaps, Chubb recorded seven tackles, five solos, a stop for a loss, and a quarterback hit, despite being robbed of another half-sack. Displaying his crazy motor, Van Ginkel tallied three solo stops, a sack, a tackle for loss, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hit in his 59 snaps. Van Ginkel leads the team in sacks (four) and has the 10th-best PFF pass-rush grade (86.2) among NFL edge rushers. When Jaelen Phillips is healthy, the 'Fins have proven to have a formidable pass-rushing trio in he, Chubb, and Van Ginkel, with the latter also offering positional flexibility at inside linebacker.
• David Long led the way at inside 'backer, registering nine tackles and a stop for loss on his way to an 80.7 PFF grade for his 66 snaps. Jerome Baker racked up eight tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two quarterback hits in his 72 snaps, earning a 61.7 PFF grade. Cameron Goode went without a statistic in his two reserve snaps.
• At cornerback, Kader Kohou had a bit of a bounceback game (75.7 pass-coverage grade from PFF), picking up seven tackles, a stop for loss, and a quarterback hit in 72 snaps. In the same number of plays, Xavien Howard had four tackles, a pass breakup, and flags for both illegal substitution and illegal contact on his way to a 55.1 overall grade from PFF. Playing 65 snaps on the boundary, Eli Apple turned in a solid performance, collecting nine tackles, eight solos, half a sack, a stop for loss, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hit to earn a 60.4 pass-coverage grade. Justin Bethel had an assisted tackle in his six snaps. It's becoming clear that Kohou is best at the nickel spot, and he responded that way in this contest. With Howard being a bit of a flag magnet this year, the Dolphins could really use more respectable outings from Apple to bide time until the position group gets healthier.
• Jevon Holland and DeShon Elliott both played 72 snaps at safety, with Elliott notching six tackles and five solos on his way to a 61.6 pass-coverage PFF grade. Holland recorded four solos and a pass breakup, earning a 68.9 pass-coverage mark from PFF.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders had another accurate day, hitting a 40-yard field goal and drilling all four extra points.
• Jake Bailey punted twice for a 34.5-yard average, putting one inside the 20-yard line, but his 20-yard flub could have been damaging against a better foe.
• Berrios had a 25-yard kickoff return and Miami was held without a punt return.
• Smythe's 12 special-teams plays led offensive players, while Campbell (one tackle in the kicking game) and Riley each played 21 snaps to pace defensive players in the third phase. A week after struggling on defense, Brandon Jones got 19 snaps on special teams but got no scrimmage reps.

Momentum plays

• After an initial first down by the Giants, Miami forced a punt before going 89 yards in just eight plays to take a 7-0 lead. The Dolphins used 20+ gains by Achane (24), Waddle (20) and Wilson (23) to set up a Tua rollout connection with Waddle for a 2-yard touchdown.
• New York countered with a 13-play drive -- that covered 38 yards. Following a third-down sack that saw Ogbah, Wilkins, and Chubb all hit the quarterback simultaneously, Graham Gano missed a 55-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter.
• Taking over in good field position, the 'Fins converted a 3rd & 3 on a short pass to Hill, but Achane fumbled at the end of solid run to give the ball back to the G-Men. However, the Dolphins "D" responded with a three-and-out after third-down pressure from Wilkins.
• Miami was pinned at its own 6-yard line after a strong punt, but Tua avoided a safety to find Hill for 18 yards to give the home team some breathing room. On the very next play -- perhaps upset at his fumble a possession earlier -- Achane found a crease off the left side, hit the sideline, and casually outraced the safety for a 76-yard touchdown and a 14-0 advantage.
• The Giants responded with another 13-play drive that featured two third-down conversions and a successful fourth-down try. A Sieler sack led to a 49-yard Gano field goal that trimmed the lead to 14-3.
• The 'Fins wasted little time in moving the ball yet again, with Hill taking a screen and racing 64 yards into the red zone on the kind of play you rarely see him tackled on. A missed pass interference call on second down set up a third-down force by Tua, who threw into triple coverage and saw the pass tipped into the waiting arms of Jason Pinnock, who sped 102 yards for a pick-six to salvage the game for New York at 14-10.
• Tua went right back to work with the first-half clock dwindling, hitting Berrios and Wilson for 13 yards each. Back-to-back completions to Waddle covered 13 yards, and a 10-yarder to Wilson was offset by a sack. The quarterback was forced to keep for a seven-yard scramble, leading to a spike and a 40-yard Sanders field goal to close the half at 17-10.
• On its first drive after halftime, the 'Fins only needed three plays to strike. On a play that the media reported was drawn up on his own by Tua, the signal-caller found Hill in single coverage down the right sideline on an easy 69-yard touchdown to push the advantage to 24-10.
• New York once again used a significant number of plays (eight) to cover an inadequate number of yards (31). The Giants converted a 3rd & 6, but an inability to get chunk plays led to another punt.
• Miami got a 39-yard burst from Mostert on the first play of its next possession, but a late holding flag on Williams nullified the gain. Achane picked up 12 yards on an end-around, but an awful 3rd & 3 decision by Tua led to a gimme Giants interceptions, setting the visitors up on the Dolphins' 23-yard line. However, the defense made a big stand on a three-and-out, limiting New York to a 37-yard field to make the score 24-13.
• Two touches for Achane covered 22 yards, then Mostert ripped off a pair of runs totaling 34 yards. Mostert finished off the eight-play drive -- which featured seven runs -- with a physical two-yard touchdown to stake the Dolphins to a 31-13 advantage.
• The fourth quarter started with a New York three-and-out on the strength of two Chubb pressures, but Miami responded with a three-and-out of their own that got worse when Bailey hit an awful 20-yard punt.
• Taking over near midfield, the Giants managed to pull together a 10-play drive that featured a 4th & 8 conversion -- and covered 18 yards. After a Sieler sack, New York settled for a 51-yard field goal to make it 31-16.
• After Miami somehow managed to come up short on a 3rd & 1 completed pass, the visitors got another shot to trim the lead. With Tyrod Taylor in for an injured and battered Daniel Jones, the Giants went 66 yards in 13 plays. After converting a 4th & 1, New York went for it on 4th & 3 from the red zone, but Van Ginkel brought down Taylor a bit short on a scramble.
• Three straight Mostert touches covered 12 yards and ran out the clock, allowing Tua to kneel on the ball to close out a strange contest.

2023 Schedule

Miami 36, Los Angeles 34 (1-0)

Miami 24, New England 17 (2-0)

Miami 70, Denver 20 (3-0)

Buffalo 48, Miami 20 (3-1)

Miami 31, New York Giants 16 (4-1)

Limerick Friday #596: The Voice We Needed Is Back -- Day 1,308

Amidst this world's plight

We need more satire and bite

John Oliver was missed

But he did persist

Welcome back, "Last Week Tonight"

A struggling "O" exploded

But then the defense imploded

Can both Pack units align

When it's all on the line

Against a schedule that's loaded?

Those fraudulent Braves

All year they get raves

Against all of my wills

You made me pull for the 'Phils

Now enjoy those goodbye waves

Taylor somehow got his bag

After lots of bitch and nag

The Colts didn't miss him much

Zack Moss was rather clutch

JT needs to ensure he doesn't lag

A nostalgia/novel blend

Of love and hurt you can't mend

Poignant and moving

Powerfully proving

That we never want "Ahsoka" to end

Last time ...

Day 1,307, Quasi-Quarantine: There's More Than Meets The Eye In Middle America, Says "Winesburg, Ohio"

 

"All men lead their lives behind a wall of misunderstanding they have themselves built, and most men die in silence and unnoticed behind the walls. Now and then a man, cut off from his fellows by the peculiarities of his nature, becomes absorbed in doing something that is personal, useful and beautiful. Word of his activities is carried over the walls."

Tackling themes of loneliness and fraught family relationships, Sherwood Anderson weaves together a number of stories of the citizens of "Winesburg, Ohio." 

"The tall beautiful girl with the swinging stride who had walked under the trees with men was forever putting out her hand into the darkness and trying to get hold of some other hand."

"It seemed to her that the world was full of meaningless people saying words."

Turning the town into a character of its own, the author exposes secret hopes and lives in a sleepy Midwestern village. A connectedness of meaning is mitigated by a fracturing of meaning, making it difficult to reconcile the book as a collection of separate stories rather than chapters.

Anderson's writing shares some similarities to William Trevor in terms of themes and tone, but the prose is denser and harder to work through. Some of the standout stories were "Hands," "Mother," "Loneliness," "Death," Sophistication," but the understated beauty of "The Untold Lie" made it my favorite.

"Little pyramids of truth he erected and after erecting knocked them down again that he might have the truths to erect other pyramids."

"'I had come to the time in my life when prayer became necessary and so I invented gods and prayed to them.'"

From religion to romance to criminality, powerful themes pervade, with the book overcoming that occasional density to offer a glimpse into the truth of early-20th-century Middle America. However, utter loneliness is certainly the dominant atmosphere, which renders everything in a bleaker tone -- including the disturbing mother-son relationships that resound in nearly every tale.

"In a half indignant mood he stopped inviting people into his room and presently got into the habit of locking the door. He began to think that enough people had visited him, that he did not need people any more."

Day 1,306, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Bills Game 4 Review

 

With the national media shouting accolades for the Miami offense from the rooftops and everyone talking about the 'Fins as a Super Bowl favorite, reality arrived in the form of a punch directly to the face from the hated Beefalo Bills. In a truly humbling beatdown that extended the Dolphins' losing streak to eight in a row in Buffalo and 10 of 11 to the Bills overall, Miami was sloppy and soft. The performance was rife with penalties (eight), missed tackles and assignments, and questionable, embarrassing effort on a lot of occasions. 

On to the this-feels-more-familiar recap ...

Offense

• The 'Fins managed 393 yards and 6.8 yards per play, but somehow that is disappointing for this offense. Miami was borderline dominant on the ground, averaging 7.5 yards per carry, but time and score only allowed for 19 rushing attempts. The visitors also scored touchdowns on three of four red-zone visits but were largely shut down after a fast start, limited to three of 10 on third-down attempts and failing to convert on any of their three fourth-down tries. An illegal formation and delay of game on the unit also didn't help, and when it was clear that the defense was not going to be of use on the day, this is how the offense responded: The Dolphins' last four drives before halftime consisted of twelve plays, three three-and-outs, and a fumble.
• Tua Tagovailoa started hot and finished 25 of 35 for 282 yards and a score. However, he was sacked four times, hit nine times, fumbled once, and threw an interception. In his 65 snaps, he also ran twice for seven yards and recovered two fumbles, but when he was forced to put the team on his back, he struggled without much help.
• Rookie sensation De'Von Achane cemented his arrival with another stellar outing in the backfield. In 39 snaps, he carried eight times for 101 yards -- including a 55-yarder -- and two touchdowns, while adding three grabs on five targets for 19 more yards. Raheem Mostert had a forgettable day after a memorable start to the campaign: In 28 snaps, he carried seven times for nine yards and caught three of five targets for 36 yards, but fumbled twice, losing one. Alec Ingold had a 23-yard catch among his 23 snaps, while Salvon Ahmed did not have a touch in his four snaps. Miami had some success on perimeter runs, but found little room between the tackles and had to abandon the run early.
• At receiver, Tyreek Hill (three catches, five targets, 58 yards in 47 snaps) and Jaylen Waddle (four grabs in five targets for 46 yards in 49 snaps) were limited by Buffalo's defensive strategy. Braxton Berrios caught all six targets for 43 yards and a touchdown and even recovered a fumble in 32 snaps, but Miami got little production from Cedrick Wilson (one catch on two targets for 16 yards in 23 snaps) and Robbie Chosen (did not catch his lone target in 18 snaps). The Bills were focused on taking away chunk passing plays, and the strategy worked this time around.
• Durham Smythe had an early outburst and ended up with four receptions on four targets for 41 yards in his 55 snaps, but Julian Hill was only able to contribute a false start in his 10 snaps. Smythe is carrying a heavy load at tight end, and it's difficult to ascertain what Hill adds at this point. Miami may need to rethink its options at tight end moving forward.
• With Buffalo able to take away most of Tua's first looks, the Dolphins' offensive line was exposed in a big way. Playing without Connor Williams at center and with left tackle Terron Armstead limited to just 22 snaps, Miami was always going to have an uphill battle against a respected Bills front. When the 'Fins became predictable and had to throw on nearly every down, those issues were exacerbated. Liam Eichenberg may not be long for the roster after he allowed five pressures and two sacks in 47 pass-block snaps, contributing to his abysmal pass-pro grade of 10.6 for the season. In the fourth quarter alone, he committed a penalty to negate a touchdown and allowed a sack. Kendall Lamm subbed in for 43 snaps after Armstead departed and Robert Hunt was flagged for holding, and it certainly wasn't only Eichenberg who struggled. The 'Fins may need to explore ways to more selectively use Armstead, perhaps in a way similar to how NBA players pursue load management.

Defense

• Coordinator Vic Fangio's crew simply had no answers in what was a demoralizing performance. Buffalo signal-caller Josh Allen hit 21 of 25 passes for 320 yards and four scores, ran for another touchdown, and finished with a perfect 158.3 passer rating. Receiver Stephone Diggs torched the secondary and Kader Kohou to the tune of 120 yards and three scores, even breaking tackles despite not being a very good after-the-catch player. Overall, Miami gave up 8.1 yards per play and allowed touchdowns on four of Buffalo's first five drives. The Bills scored touchdowns on five of six red-zone trips, converted five of 10 third downs, and averaged 11.5 yards per pass -- all without committing a turnover.
• The defensive front was largely overpowered in this one, with Zach Sieler recording four tackles and a stop for loss in 43 snaps and Christian Wilkins posting two tackles and a pass breakup in 42 snaps. Emmanuel Ogbah had an assisted tackle in 17 snaps and Chase Winovich assisted on a pair of tackles in his three snaps. Overall, this group generated no pressure on their own and struggled with gap control in the run game.
• At tackle, Raekwon Davis continued his quiet season, making a solo stop in his 23 snaps. De'Shawn Hand was active, notching four tackles in just 16 snaps. Brandon Pili did not record a statistic in his five snaps.
• In 44 snaps at linebacker in the absence of Jaelen Phillips, Andrew Van Ginkel notched five tackles, two sacks, three stops for losses, and two quarterback hits. Bradley Chubb got fairly consistent pressure when he wasn't being asked to go out in coverage, finishing the day with two tackles, a quarterback hit, and what should have been a half-sack in 48 snaps. It's becoming clear that this "D" needs Van Ginkel's energy on the field as often as possible.
• At inside linebacker, David Long posted 10 tackles, seven solos, and two stops for losses in 54 snaps, while Jerome Baker added five solo tackles in 44 snaps. Duke Riley (one solo in 18 snaps) and Cameron Goode (four snaps) saw limited action in reserve.
• In the defensive backfield, Kohou had his worst day as a professional, getting routinely torched by Diggs on his way to a 29.1 PFF grade that included three penalties and two solo stops in 58 snaps. Xavien Howard got the same number of snaps, finishing with three tackles and a pass breakup. Justin Bethel had four tackles and a pass breakup in 39 snaps, while Kelvin Joseph picked up a solo stop in his six snaps. Kohou is capable of holding his own as a boundary corner, but this may be further proof that his best position is in the slot as a nickle. Whether Miami trusts Eli Apple enough to make that move possible remains a large question.
• At safety, Brandon Jones also a rough 58 snaps, making a pair of solo stops but missing a number of key tackles and generally looking less than 100 percent. Jevon Holland registered six tackles in his 55 snaps, but did not play to his usual standards. Elijah Campbell was credited with a solo tackle in his three reserve snaps. The entire secondary has to be counting down the days until Jalen Ramsey's potential return.

Special teams

• A week after making 10 extra points to set a league record, Jason Sanders was quiet, connecting on a pair of extra points without a field goal attempt.
• Jake Bailey had three punts for a 46.0-yard average in what was a busier day than usual for him.
• Berrios ran back four kicks for a 22.8-yard average and a long of 27, while Wilson returned one punt for no gain.
• Smythe's 14 special teams snaps led offensive players, while Riley and Joseph each played 26 snaps in the third phase, leading defensive players. For the second game in a row, Cambpell committed a holding penalty on special teams.

Momentum plays

• The game started at a torrid pace, with Buffalo racing 75 yards in eight plays, aided by an unnecessary roughness call on Kohou, to take a 7-0 lead. Miami answered quickly, using seven plays to cover 77 yards on the strength of a 22-yard strike to Smythe, an 11-yarder to Waddle, and a 19-yard connection to Hill. Achane punched it in from three yards out to tie the score.
• The Bills put together a 10-play drive that featured a pair of third-and-short conversions and used short passes before ageless Latavius Murray ripped off a 29-yard run that saw a big missed tackle by Jones. James Cook scored from a yard out to put Beefalo ahead, 14-7. The drive also featured a play that seemed to set the tone for the rest of the game when tight end Dawson Knox steamrolled Holland and then dove on top of him after a short catch and run.
• The Dolphins wasted little time in finding the equalizer early in the second quarter, fashioning another seven-play possession. Tua found Hill for 20 before Mostert reeled in a 22-yard grab over two defenders along the sideline, a stunning play for a running back. On 3rd & 8, Tua connected with Berrios for 15, then Achane took an end-around for 10 yards and the tying touchdown.
• With a shootout developing, Buffalo needed just five plays to reclaim the advantage. Recognizing that Kohou couldn't cover Diggs, Allen focused almost exclusively on the receiver, hitting him for 16 yards, drawing a 43-yard interference flag on Kohou (which was a stunningly bad call), and connecting with him against for an 11-yard scramble score to move ahead, 21-14.
• At this point, the 'Fins simply couldn't afford any mistakes offensively, but unfortunately, the ensuing drive was an unmitigated disaster. An illegal formation call was followed by a deflected pass at the line, then Berrios was hammered on an ill-advised 2-yard pass. After a false start, Mostert fumbled on a 3rd & 18 run. Berrios recovered the ball somehow, but the ugly three-and-out seemed to portend the beginning of the end for the Dolphins.
• Murray took advantage of more Miami missed tackles on a 22-yard catch and run to start the next drive, but Sieler made a tackle for loss and Wilkins swatted down a third-down pass, actually forcing a Bills punt.
• The 'Fins responded with another three-and-out, and Buffalo pounced two plays later when Diggs beat Kohou severely once again, then spun away from both Kohou and Jones along the sideline for an embarrassing 55-yard score and a 28-14 lead.
• Miami only ran three more plays again, highlighted by a dropped interception and a fumble from Mostert on an ill-advised 3rd & 1 run.
• Following the punt, Van Ginkel drilled Allen for a sack, then the secondary narrowly avoided giving up a deep ball on 3rd & 14 to force a rare Bills punt.
• Yet another three-and-out for Miami followed, with the 'Fins barely avoiding a blocked punt (Bailey should have fallen to draw a flag) as the teams headed into halftime.
• With Miami's status within the game hanging by a thread, Tua escaped a sack and ran for a first on a key third-down play to jumpstart the second half. Achane had an end-around for 15 yards and Hill added his own for 14 more. A 17-yarder to Waddle moved the 'Fins into the red zone, and Tua converted a 3rd & 6 with a touch pass to Berrios in the back corner of the end zone. A fade to Hill on the two-point conversion was unsuccessful, making the score 31-20.
• Another missed tackle by Holland ended up in a 48-yard catch and run by Cook on the next drive, but back-to-back pressures by Chubb -- including one that led to a Van Ginkel sack -- forced a short field goal to push the advantage to 34-20.
• Two plays later, the game further slipped away when Tua fired high for Chosen -- who made a weak effort on the ball -- leading to an interception by Micah Hyde.
• Buffalo converted a 3rd & 5 on a low, questionable catch, then Diggs once again easily raced past Kohou for a 13-yard score and a 41-20 lead.
• The 'Fins opened the ensuing possession with a 19-yard strike to Hill, but Tua was sacked on 4th & 1 after Berrios got a poor spot on a third-down catch. Buffalo took over in Miami territory and needed two plays to punch another one across for a 48-20 advantage to start the fourth quarter.
• Another end around by Achane went for 55 yards as the rookie weaved his way through traffic and nearly went the distance. Three plays later, Tua found Waddle for a touchdown, but a very late flag on Eichenberg (ineligible downfield) erased the score. On 4th & goal, a complete blocking breakdown led to another easy sack of Tua and a turnover on downs.
• The 'Fins responded with a three-and-out after back-to-back Chubb pressures, but another very late flag (for holding on Campbell) damaged solid field position.
• With Tua unnecessarily and inexplicably still in the game,  Miami used a 23-yard swing pass to Ingold to gain momentum. A series of disastrous plays -- sacks, penalties, short throws -- followed, punctuated by a 4th & 18 dumpoff to Wilson that came up two yards short of a first down.
• Eight straight runs -- including three kneeldowns -- mercifully ended the contest.

2023 Schedule

Miami 36, Los Angeles 34 (1-0)

Miami 24, New England 17 (2-0)

Miami 70, Denver 20 (3-0)

Buffalo 48, Miami 20 (3-1)