Day 282, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Patriots Game 14 Review

Brian Flores delivered perhaps the defining moment of his young coaching career. Missing his top three offensive weapons against his former team, "Flo" and his staff constructed a masterful game plan intended to wear down the Cheatriots defense while forcing Scam Newton to, like, complete passes.

The result was a methodical, vise-like performance that saw Miami dominate New England on the ground and in time of possession (37:26-22:34). Unfailingly, the Cheatriots were whistled for just two penalties (to the 'Fins' seven), but Miami never blinked, inexorably stealing the Patsies soul (if they had one) with fourth-quarter drives of 14 plays, 90 yards, and 11 plays, 75 yards.

Most importantly, the Dolphins kept playoff hopes very much alive, but it was certainly sweet to see Miami overpower a team that had dictated so much so often to the 'Fins over the years.

 

Offense

• Look, Miami ran for 250 f-ing yards on 42 carries, averaging six yards a clip and scoring thrice on the ground. Everyone knew that throwing the ball was gonna be a chore, with the 'Fins missing Mike Gesicki, DeVante Parker, Jakeem Grant, and Myles Gaskin. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey pulled off an amazing job in continuously keeping the Cheatriots off balance despite the depth chart concerns.
• Tua Tagovailoa was efficient, hitting 20 of 26 passes. With the lack of viable targets, he totaled just 145 passing yards at a meager 5.6 yards per attempt, and he was sacked twice and threw a devastating red zone interception. However, he bought time on occasion, picked up nine yards on the ground, and scored a pair of rushing touchdowns.
• The Dolphins were flat-out dominant on the ground, and yes, it feels rather weird to type that. Salvon Ahmed was the standout, carrying 23 times for 122 yards and a score, breaking off substantial runs left and right, including a 31-yarder. He added five yards on a single reception and three targets.
• 'Fins fans have been waiting for Matt Breida to have his 2020 moment, and he needed to be a factor in this one -- and he certainly was, picking up 86 yards on the 12 rushes, with a 24-yard burst as his long run. Surprisingly, he was once again not targeted in the passing game.
• Patrick Laird got into the act with 20 yards on two carries, including a massive 12-yard run on third and long at a key moment in the game. He also picked up 12 yards on a pair of grabs, converting a big fourth down at the end of the first half.
• The receiving corps was down, well, just about everybody. Lynn Bowden, Jr., stepped up once again, reeling in six catches for 37 yards, and Mack Hollins tried to offset a crucial drop with two catches for 18 yards. Boomerang wideout Isaiah Ford had three catches for 18 yards and a nice lateral on a two-point conversion despite getting whistled for holding at a pivotal point in the contest. You're not going to win many games when your wideouts combine for 73 receiving yards, but this was a testament to the offensive plan.
• Things looked bleak with Mike Gesicki out, but the tight ends came through thanks to Durham Smythe, whose five catches for 40 yards were marked by multiple occasions when he trucked New England tacklers instead of ducking out of bounds. Adam Shaheen added a 15-yard reception that featured a nifty run after the catch, and he and Smythe contributed big-time to the running game with strong blocking.
• The offensive line frankly took over the game despite missing Ereck Flowers and losing Solomon Kindley at one point. Austin Jackson and Kindley were roadgraders on the left side of the line, and while things slowed down a bit when Michael Dieter came in for Kindley at left guard, the difference wasn't dramatic. Three rookies on the offensive line usually spells disaster, but Jackson, Kindley, and Robert Hunt give the 'Fins a ton of hope for the future up front. Just a dominant performance on the ground, and you don't see New England manhandled in this way in the trenches very often.

Defense

• This unit posted its third game of the year in which they did not allow a touchdown. Sony Michel was hard to handle (74 rushing yards on just 10 carries), and former Pack standout Jakobi Myers hurt Miami in the middle of the field, reeling in seven passes for 111 yards. But Newton is just not much of a threat in the passing game anymore, and Miami played him accordingly.
• At defensive end, Emmanuel Ogbah recorded three tackles, a sack, 1.5 tackles for losses, and a quarterback hit, while Shaq Lawson contributed two solo tackles and a QB hit despite leaving the game dinged up at one point. Andrew Van Ginkel had a single solo tackle, reflecting a quiet game for the defensive ends, but the New England offense requires discipline on the edges from this spot, and Miami delivered.
• On the interior, Zach Sieler led the way yet again, delivering five stops, a sack, and a quarterback hit. Christian Wilkins mostly stayed away from his bizarre bickering with Newton, instead notching three tackles and a stop for loss, while Raekwon Davis was quiet with a single tackle.
• The linebacker room was much healthier in this one, and Elandon Roberts was back in a big way, recording nine tackles, half a stop for a loss, and a key fumble recovery against his former team. Fellow ex-Pat Kyle Van Noy also returned with three tackles, a stop for a loss, and a pass breakup/dropped interception. Jerome Baker was active again, coming through with eight tackles, a sack, and a quarterback hit, to go with a couple of very physical tackles and a holding penalty.
• At corner, Xavien Howard had five tackles and forced a fumble, though he did have a fumble recovery return for a touchdown called back and was also whistled for a hold. Byron Jones had a single stop, while Nik Needham had four tackles and was flagged for illegal contact.
• Nickel Eric Rowe bounced back with steady play, posting three tackles and assisting on a stop for a loss.
• Rookie safety Brandon Jones was strong in run support, contributing six tackles. Bobby McCain didn't contribute a single statistic, though his steadying influence was felt in the defensive backfield.

Special Teams

• Noah Igbinoghene had two kickoff returns as Miami continues to try to find ways to get the speedy first-round rookie on the field. He tallied 32 yards, but made a poor decision in returning a well-placed kickoff only to the 10-yard line, and he also missed a tackle as the flyer on the punt return unit. Roberts handled a pooch kickoff well with a physical 13-yard return when he ran directly at would-be Patriots tacklers.
• Miami had zero punt returns as Antonio Callaway (later cut) continued his streak of non-contributions.
• For the second game in a row, Jason Sanders missed a field goal, this one from 52 yards. He did convert both extra point attempts and hammered his kickoffs.
• Matt Haack averaged 46.7 yards on three punts, placing one inside the 20-yard line in an important field-position game. Unfortunately, he has now had a touchdown and a great pass on a fake punt called back by penalties this year.
• In coverage, Clayton Fejedelem and Sam Eguavoen contributed tackles.

Momentum Plays

• After forcing a three-and-out that included a pair of tackles for losses, Miami was unable to convert with good field position, allowing a 56-yard net punt. The 'Fins got a third-down conversion on a Laird catch, but a terrible spot left them short, and the Dolphins' challenge inexplicably failed, leading to a Haack punt.
• New England got a couple of first downs, but after an uncalled grounding on Newton, the Patsies punted again, and this one was niftily downed at Miami's 2-yard line.
• The Dolphins responded with a massive 92-yard drive that featured a clever balance of run and pass. Miami moved the ball all the way to New England's 4-yard line, but Tua panicked under pressure and threw a brutal interception to J.C. Jackson, who was fortunately tackled by Bowden immediately.
• Sony Michel ripped off an 18-yard run to flip field position a bit for the Patsies, and it was the Cheatriots' turn to deliver a lengthy drive, marked by dump-off passes. Van Noy's dropped interception allowed New England to keep possession long enough for a 45-yard field goal by Nick Folk, giving the visitors a 3-0 lead.
• On the next drive, Ahmed missed a blitz pickup and Tua held it too long, forcing a Miami three-and-out. On defense, the 'Fins continued to rush three but give up plays over the middle, but Brandon Jones stopped Newton short on a third-down run, forcing a fumble that Howard picked up and raced 86 yards for a score with. Unfortunately, the loose ball hit Wilkins as he was out of bounds, nullifying the touchdown on replay and allowing Folk to hit a 34-yarder to push the lead to 6-0.
• Tua hit Bowden over the middle on a key third-down play on the next drive, then Malcolm Perry went in motion, stopped, took the snap, and plunged ahead for a sneak that converted a 3rd & 1 play on a clever design. After Hollins had a crucial drop 16 yards down the field and Tua took a third-down sack, Miami was faced with a 4th & 8 with 11 seconds left. The 'Fins elected to go for it, and Tua avoided a sack and hit Laird, who scrambled out of bounds for a first down. However, Sanders pulled the long field goal just left with four seconds left, keeping the score at 6-0 headed into halftime.
• The Dolphins came out hot to start the second half, getting Bowden, Breida, and Ahmed out in the open field with a trick play and cut-back runs. After Tua converted a 3rd & 1 with a nice red-zone run, Ahmed bounced off his own blocker and plunged in for a touchdown that put Miami ahead, 7-6.
• On the next drive, Meyers got free again over the middle, but "X" came in with a well-executed "Peanut Punch" (hat tip to former Bear great Charles Tillman) to knock the ball loose for Roberts to pounce on.
• Taking over in New England territory, the 'Fins had a great opportunity, but a holding call on Ford sank the drive. A stellar fake punt saw Haack unleash a long cross-field throw to Kamu Grugier-Hill for a massive conversion -- but Grugier-Hill was whistled for ineligible downfield and illegal touching for allegedly not reporting (Miami disagreed with this rather strenuously). Forced to punt again, Haack at least pinned the Cheatriots inside the 10-yard line.
• A holding call on Baker gave New England some field position, and Newton runs and a 36-yard strike to Meyers continued the drive. Another uncalled grounding on Newton was followed by a third-down pass to Meyers that "X" stopped two yards short, but Folk hit his third field goal to reclaim the lead for the Patsies, 9-7.
• Ahmed's 31-yard run jumpstarted the ensuing Miami drive, which saw Kindley go out with an injury. Laird's patient run allowed him to convert a 3rd & 8 with a 12-yard burst, and a mix of short passes and runs set the stage for Tua's third-and-goal run for a touchdown that featured an ankle-breaking cut-back move. The Dolphins went for two, and a modified hook-and-lateral saw Ford catch a quick pass and lateral to Ahmed for the conversion and a 15-9 advantage.
• Back on defense, a missed sack by Lawson on 3rd & 15 gave Newton time to find an open man for a first down. A third-down deep ball to the end zone couldn't be reeled in one-handed, and Folk hit from 42 yards to cut the margin to 15-12.
• The 'Fins exerted their physical dominance on the following drive, which featured a punishing catch and run by Smythe and open-field bursts by Ahmed and Brieda (a 24-yarder). Ahmed converted a 3rd & 1 and then plunged in for a short score, but it was overturned on replay. Tua did the honors for a touchdown on the next play, helped in by Wilkins at the fullback position. The drive clearly staggered a dazed Cheatriots team, with Miami forging ahead 22-12.
• New England was in hurry-up mode on the next drive, but after a couple of first downs, the Dolphins' pass rush took over. A first-down sack by Baker was bookended by a fourth-down sack by Ogbah and Roberts, giving the ball back to Miami. A demoralized Bill Belicheat didn't even use his final two timeouts, allowing the 'Fins to run out the clock.

2020 Schedule

New England 21, Miami 11 (0-1)

Buffalo 31, Miami 28 (0-2)

Miami 31, Jacksonville 13 (1-2)

Seattle 31, Miami 23 (1-3)

Miami 43, San Francisco 17 (2-3)

Miami 24, New York Jets 0 (3-3)

Miami 28, Los Angeles Rams 17 (4-3)

Miami 34, Arizona 31 (5-3)

Miami 29, Los Angeles Chargers 21 (6-3)

Denver 20, Miami 13 (6-4)

Miami 20, New York Jets 3 (7-4)

Miami 19, Cincinnati 7 (8-4)

Kansas City 33, Miami 27 (8-5)

Miami 22, New England 12 (9-5)

Day 281, Quasi-Quarantine: Cobbling Together A Custom Colts Helmet With Parts At Hand

As part of a Thanksgiving Lego building challenge, I tackled the concept of creating an Indianapolis Colts helmet to honor my building partner's fandom.

Somewhere along the way, unfortunately, the helmet did fall and lose its structural integrity, and I was unable to piece it back together in the way I had it. So, yes, it looked better than this at one point.

The facemask was one of the more difficult aspects of the build, but I found some arced pieces and a small piece of fencing to render the appearance I was looking for.

Carrying a uniform blue stripe across the three-dimensional build took some doing, and this is where a lack of variance in blue pieces hurt somewhat.

Alas, the build was short-lived, as I found pieces of the helmet strewn among a burgeoning Star Wars scene. My building partner does not possess the same respect for unique custom builds as I do, so poor phone pictures are left to preserve the memories.

Overall, I was fairly happy with the final product ... not bad for using a bucket of discarded pieces.

Limerick Friday #490: Nail-Biting Time For Fans O' The 'Fins -- Day 278

They may be a year away
But in Miami a new day
They have a coach
And a QB approach
This fan feeling very OK

An attempted coup
By the Grand Ole Poo
Sedition by haters
Crimes by traitors
Is there a gonad among you?

Pack hoops tried again
Can't remember when
They played last
Just nine players passed
A loss but glad they still can

A season to give pause
And find a worthy cause
To give thanks tall
To be grateful for all
Except the in-laws

The gap does widen
Logic in hidin'
"Idiocracy" for four years
Of head-shaking and tears
Bring on the days of Biden

Last time ...

Day 277, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Chiefs Game 13 Review

Considering the state of Miami's depth chart and the presence of the defending world champs, this one turned into a lottery-ticket game for the Dolphins. When the squad was down 20 midway through the third quarter, it would have been easy to phone it in and start turning their sights toward getting healthy and squaring off against hated New England. Instead, the 'Fins rallied, cut it to a single score, and were an onsides-kick away from being in position to win. It's a credit to Brian Flores and his staff that they are consistently able to get this level of effort out of a roster that is still a year away from having the pieces it needs to contend.

Offense

• The bottom line is that Miami not going to win many with Tua Tagovailoa throwing 48 passes. He hit 28 for 316 yards and two touchdowns, but he also was picked off and sacked twice. He added 24 yards and a score on six rushes, but he seemed flustered at various points of the game.
• With the team's top three backs out, DeAndre Washington's job was to repeatedly run directly into multiple Chiefs defensive linemen, and he did it well, picking up 35 yards on 13 carries. Surprisingly, he only caught two passes for 17 yards. Patrick Laird was the only other healthy tailback, and he contributed 23 yards on five touches.
• Lynn Bowden, Jr., led the way in the receiving corps, but he did a little of everything. Targeted nine times, he caught seven for 82 yards, while adding two yards on a carry and throwing an incomplete pass, all while taking some sizeable hits. 
• I'm struggling to put this kindly, but when Mack Hollins gets nine targets (five grabs, 66 yards), something is dramatically broken with your offensive depth chart. In a game where Miami desperately needed peak Jakeem Grant, he came through with just three catches for 32 yards on five targets, with two costly drops/misplays, one of which led to a game-turning interception. 
• DeVante Parker was injured early on and left after two unsuccessful targets, and Antonio Callaway (two targets, zero catches) contributed nothing but a couple of nondescript punt returns. Malcolm Perry had a single catch for five yards.
• With the running back and wide receiver depth charts decimated, the tight ends had to pick up the slack, and they did. Mike Gesicki reeled in five passes on six targets, good for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Many of his passes were of the spectactular/contested variety, which is becoming a weekly occurrence for him, but he also left late in the game with a potentially serious shoulder injury. Durham Smythe (two grabs, 19 yards) and Adam Shaheen (two for 26 yards) also had significant contributions, with Shaheen also drawing a pair of pass interference calls in the end zone.
• The offensive line had some ups and down. Tua was largely under siege, being hit eight times and having nine passes knocked down, and the running game never got off the ground. Austin Jackson in particular seemed to have a tough time. To their credit, the offensive front did settle into more of a rhythm in the second half.

Defense

• Overall, the Miami "D" played about as well as it could considering the opposition and being without starting linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts. Clyde Edwards-Elaire was extremely difficult for Miami to tackle, and Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill predictably got theirs, but the Dolphins did pick off Patrick Mahomes three times and turned the Chiefs over four times in all.
• On the interior, Christian Wilkins was active, posting five tackles, half a sack, and a quarterback hit, while fellow tackle Raekwon Davis notched five tackles. Steady Zach Sieler registered three tackles for losses in yet another game where he flashed several times. 
• On the edges, Shaq Lawson had four tackles, half a sack, and a quarterback hit, while Emmanuel Ogbah was uncustomarily quiet, with a single tackle and one QB hit. Andrew Van Ginkel had two tackles, a stop for a loss, a batted pass that turned into an interception, and a quarterback hit.
• With Van Noy's pass-rushing ability missing, Jerome Baker stepped up big, racking up nine tackles, 2.5 sacks, and three quarterback hits -- a welcome contribution after a couple of nondescript games. Kamu Grugier-Hill stepped in for Van Noy and had just three solo tackles, but he did pounce on a fumble at an important moment in the game.
• At safety, Brandon Jones had nine tackles and Nik Needham added five. The team missed Bobby McCain (two tackles, another inexplicable finger-wag 15 yards down the field) when he went out injured, with Clayton Fjedelen immediately getting burned for a touchdown. Newcomer Nate Holley joined the fray with two tackles. 
• Cornerback Byron Jones snared his first interception as a Dolphin and added three tackles, a pass breakup, and a key forced fumble. On the other side, Xavien Howard made it five straight games with a pick, adding a tackle and a pass breakup as well.
• Nickel Eric Rowe was torched by Travis Kelce (eight catches, 136 yards), but managed seven stops and two pass breakups to go with a key pick early in the game.

Special Teams

• Anytime you give up a score in the return game, you have lost the third phase. That failure is even more prominent in a game where you are facing a high-octane offense. Allowing Mecole Hardman's 67-yard score was a devastating blow to the Dolphins' efforts.
• Miami is looking for ways to jumpstart the return game, giving  Callaway some opportunites on punts. He responded with 12 return yards on two punts, including one that was poorly handled. Grant lost four yards on his lone return attempt.
• Jason Sanders missed another field goal, but did hit two and converted all three extra points. At last-gasp time, he didn't get the needed second bounce on his onsides kick, which allowed KC to field it easily.
• Matt Haack punted five times for a 46.8-yard average, with a touchback and one punt downed inside the 20-yard line. His poorly hit punt contributed big-time to Hardman's TD return.

Momentum Plays

• After a Miami three-and-out to start the game, Kansas City strung together a few first downs before Van Ginkel tipped a pass that was picked off by Byron Jones and returned 15 yards. Jones promptly fumbled, but Ogbah jumped on it for the 'Fins.
• The Dolphins couldn't capitalize, unfortunately. After an unsuccessful short pass on 3rd & 3, Sanders came on for a 45-yarder, but he pushed it right.
• The Chiefs promptly fumbled on the next play, but Van Ginkel couldn't secure the recovery despite being in ideal position. Baker chased down Mahomes for an incredible 30-yard sack, leading to a short punt that allowed Miami to set up shop at the KC 45-yard line.
• Gesicki converted a 3rd & 12 with a tremendous grab, then Grant followed with an 18-yard catch and run on another third-down play. On the next play, Tua hit Gesicki underneath on a rollout, and the tight end converted for an easy score to stake the Dolphins to a 7-0 lead.
• Kansas City got rolling with a 37-yard catch and run by Sammy Watkins, but Lawson pressured Mahomes on the next play, leading to a tipped pass and a pick by Rowe, who returned it 22 yards to close out the quarter in high style.
• On the next drive, another big play to G-Sick was nullified by an iffy Jesse Davis penalty. Miami overcame the flag with a Bowden third-down catch, but Parker couldn't reel in an end zone jump ball, leading to a Sanders 31-yarder for a 10-0 advantage.
• A patented frightening Chiefs drive ensued, with the team covering 75 yards in just over two minutes, capped by Tyreek Hill racing 32 yards on an end-around that saw Rowe flailing at the air. The extra point made it 10-7 despite Miami having dominated action to that point.
• Pressure on Tua ended the next drive quickly, but Baker notched another sack and Mahomes missed an open Hill, forcing another punt. Miami took a shot on a third-down play that saw Tua escape a sack and throw an iffy deep ball to Grant, who was outfought for the ball by Tyrann Mathieu. On the interception return, Mathieu was drilled by Jackson, leading to some shoving.
• A shaky roughing-the-passer call on Lawson jumpstarted KC's ensuing drive, which featured a heavy dose of Le'Veon Bell. Mahomes rolled out to buy time at inside Miami's 10, and when Howard lost awareness of where he was on the field, the quarterback hit Kelce for a touchdown to push the Chiefs ahead, 14-10.
• A Kansas City sack ended the half, with a sense that missed opportunities had put Miami behind on the scoreboard when they had largely controlled the game.
• The Chiefs seized firm control of the contest by opening the second half with a drive marked by poor Dolphins tackling. With McCain out, Hill badly beat Fjedelen for a 44-yard touchdown and a 21-10 margin.
• After a three-and-out, a bad punt by Haack was returned by Hardman, who raced untouched on a play that frankly saw Dolphins special-teamers not exactly giving max effort. After two scores in 62 seconds, all of a sudden, the Chiefs led, 28-10.
• With Tua looking a bit rattled, the Dolphins had to punt again. Kansas City tore down the field again and seemed poised to deliver the death blow, but Byron Jones ripped the ball out of Hardman's arm after a long play, with Grugier-Hill giving Miami life with the recovery.
• The momentum was short-lived, as Bowden was thrown for a two-yard loss and Tua held the ball too long for a safety to make it 30-10.
• The teams exchanged punts, but with the fourth quarter starting, the Chiefs got something going yet again offensively. However, Mahomes got greedy, and "X" made him pay, making an incredible one-handed interception while falling into the end zone, once more breathing life into a struggling squad.
• A 23-yard jump ball to Hollins and a 16-yarder to Shaheen got Miami going, and G-Sick paid it off with an incredible catch that was nearly picked, but he turned it into a touchdown among three Chiefs defenders. The amazing 29-yard score cut the margin to 30-17.
• A combined sack for Baker and Wilkins stopped KC's next drive, getting the ball back for the 'Fins. A 14-play drive ensued, marked by key third-down runs by Laird and Tua, to go with Shaheen drawing two KC flags in the end zone. Tua plunged in for the score -- though the clock kept running as the officials inexplicably took their time in calling the clear touchdown -- trimming the score to just 30-24.
• The Chiefs responded with a devastating 10-play drive that featured a fourth-down converstion. Back-to-back tackles for losses by Sieler forced a 46-yard field goal by Kansas City, but Harrison Butker drilled it to push the lead to 33-24.
• A desperation drive by the 'Fins was sparked by a tremendous catch by Bowden. Tua spiked it to set up a 44-yarder from Sanders, cutting it to 33-27 with just 16 seconds left. The onsides kick was unsuccessful, however, allowing the Chiefs to run out the clock and hang on for the victory.

2020 Schedule

New England 21, Miami 11 (0-1)

Buffalo 31, Miami 28 (0-2)

Miami 31, Jacksonville 13 (1-2)

Seattle 31, Miami 23 (1-3)

Miami 43, San Francisco 17 (2-3)

Miami 24, New York Jets 0 (3-3)

Miami 28, Los Angeles Rams 17 (4-3)

Miami 34, Arizona 31 (5-3)

Miami 29, Los Angeles Chargers 21 (6-3)

Denver 20, Miami 13 (6-4)

Miami 20, New York Jets 3 (7-4)

Miami 19, Cincinnati 7 (8-4)

Kansas City 33, Miami 27 (8-5)

Day 276, Quasi-Quarantine: Charles Bukowski At His Incomparable Best In "Notes Of A Dirty Old Man"

" ... what was left of the moon shone in, she did, and I closed the door, drained a last tired beer, lights out, I made it to the bed, got the clothes off, dropped in as down in the railroad yards they moved across the tracks picking cars, places, hoped destinations -- better towns, better times, better love, better luck, better something. they'd never find it, they'd never stop looking.

"I slept."

Charles Bukowski could be considered an alcoholic, curmudgeonly American treasure, a brilliantly talented and woke-r Archie Bunker. I first became familiar with his writing and much of his outlook on the world through the stellar "Ham on Rye" -- which, not incidentally, won a Scootie as the 2011 Scooter & Hum Book of the Year.

"I was the city slicker who had hooked the rich girl. I MUST have something, surely, and I did: a very tired cock and a suitcase full of poems."

"I began late and live too long alone in small rooms drinking wine. they always figure that a hermit is insane, and they may be right." 

Though he denied all attempts to label him a cynic, Bukowski is at his darkest in "Notes of a Dirty Old Man," a collection of underground columns he wrote for the Open City newspaper. He and the publication adapted an informal approach that eschewed traditional grammar and punctuation, and even allowed notes for the printing press to be included. 

"Then one day after the races, I sat down and wrote the heading, NOTES OF A DIRTY OLD MAN, opened a beer, and the writing got done by itself."

"(by the way ... I realize I switch from present to past tense, and if you don't like it ... ram a nipple up your scrotum. -- printer: leave this in.)"

These mini-essays run the gamut, tackling alcoholism, suicide, dissolution, cultural decay, and societal imbalances. Somehow, even his commentary on politics manages to be both contemporary and prescient.

"but it's fairly obvious to me that the Left Wing Liberal forces are being picked off one by one ... whatever the reason, the left-wingers are being murdered and put into their graves while the right-wingers don't even get grass-stains on their pantscuffs ... how very odd."

"some men hope for revolution but when you revolt and set up your new government you find your government is still the same old Pap, he has only put on a cardboard mask."

Of course, his trademark hilarity runs through it all, tying one story to the next and defraying some of the caustic material.

Some of it, mind you.

" ... we are all going to be smashed, very quickly into broken children's toys, into those highheels that ran so gaily down the stairway to be fucked out of it forever, forever, dunces and fools, dunces and tools, god damn our weak bravery."

There are certainly pearls here among the swine, but you must be willing to dig for them. Bukowski is not for everyone, but he is also unlike anyone. The refusal to apologize for that -- and for how he chose to live his life -- is what draws many to his raw, unflinching perspective on mid-century America.

"I've seen too many intellectuals lately. I get very tired of the precious intellects who must speak diamonds every time they open their mouths. I get tired of battling for each space of air for the mind. that's why I stayed away from people for so long, and now that I am meeting people, I find that I must return to my cave."

Day 275, Quasi-Quarantine: Put Some Damn Respect On The Foundling's Name

After capturing viewers' hearts over two seasons of "The Mandelorian," the Force-sensitive foundling has been known as "The Child" or "Baby Yoda." Well, now he has a name.

Grogu.

Yeah, me too.

Anyway, up 'til now, BrickHeadz have not been a popular offering for our crew in the Legos line. However, this Grogu model was recently given as a gift, and our builders loved bringing it to life.

Stay tuned for the accompanying Mandelorian Brickheadz build. No spoiler alerts, but no, you can't see his face.

Day 274, Quasi-Quarantine: "Tech" Brings Some Spectrum To The Clone Spectrum

 

Just a couple of days after the release of the "Bad Batch" trailer feels like the right time to continue our looks at the crew's custom minifigures.

We've already discussed "Hunter" and "Crosshair," and today we turn our attention to "Tech," the science and technology lead for Clone Force 99 -- the "Bad Batch."

This clone commando excels at engineering, decryption, and language translation, becoming completely immersed in these aspects of his work at the expense of awareness of his surroundings.

According to Wookieepedia, Tech mutated to appear "leaner, fairer, and younger" than other clones, and his personality is non-confrontational. However, he is very talkative, often sharing his arcane knowledge and trivia unbidden.

The minifigure itself is fairly intricately rendered, complete with specialized visor that serves as Tech's computer display. The visor piece arrived a bit warped, but we can work that into a mission where Tech gets too close to a bomb. I also question whether this one came with the right head piece, but the price was right.

Tech also has a computer terminal on his forearm and comes with twin DC-17 hand blasters. Overall, he's a fun Star Wars character who rounds out the Bad Batch with his technical expertise.

We'll discuss the last member of the crew -- "Wrecker" -- if I can find him. He was quickly assimilated, cannibalized, and disappeared into the dozens of Lego minifigures that comprise our playroom multiverse.

Limerick Friday #489: Clawing Toward Holiday Break, One Digital Kickoff At A Time -- Day 271

The camera never lies
Can't hide from electronic eyes
Video fatigue on your screen
You'd rather be heard than seen
Meetings full of awkward and sighs

Never thought I'd say
He's a Coach of the Year play
Erased basement fears
Using smoke and mirrors
Dave Doeren is deserving all day

Rantings of a desperate despot
Pitching a demented toddler fit
Deranged and harried
But still won't stay buried
Kleptocracy is hard to quit

A crucial home stretch
Though many kvetch
Despite the world's condition
The Fins are in position
For a playoff spot to fetch

Hoops season on pause
Because of the COVID cause
Do we need another reason
This holiday season
To just wait for Santa Claus?

Last time ...

Day 270, Quasi-Quarantine: A Christ-Finally Farewell To Work Holiday Parties

Every last bit of all of this.

Day 269, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Bengals Game 12 Review

In a game that was even less competitive than the score indicated, the Dolphins dispatched a dirty and unfocused Cincinnati Bengals team. The win was Miami's seventh in eight games, keeping the squad locked into the playoff conversation. On the down side, there were a couple of key injuries in the contest, and the 'Fins' offensive struggles in the red zone were on full display.

A week after routing Adam Gase's New York Jets team without any stress, Miami embarrassed former Gase bro Zac Taylor, who looks to have lost any semblance of control over his team. Effort and discipline were lacking for Cincy, turning the contest into an embarrassing display of cheap shots and unwarranted trash-talking.


Offense

• In a bit of a breakthrough performance, rookie Tua Tagovailoa connected on 26 of 39 passes, narrowly missing his first 300-yard game with a career-high 296 yards. He threw one touchdown, but was overall a little loose in his red-zone throws and decisions, playing a sizeable role in the 'Fins' poor effort in scoring territory. Miami went up-tempo to start the second half, and this seemed to spark his play, allowing him to go 13 of 167 for 167 yards and a score in the third quarter alone. Tua did throw 3-4 dangerous passes that could have been turnovers, but he did a better job with his eye discipline and scrambling to extend plays.
• It was good to see Myles Gaskin back toting the rock, and he had one of his better games, racking up 141 yards on 22 touches. His 90 rushing yards was boosted by a 26-yard late-game romp, but that burst ended in a fumble. He also added a 35-yard catch and run and overall looked strong returning from injury.
• Depleted at running back, the Dolphins could only rely on Patrick Laird to back up Gaskin, and Laird managed 22 yards on five touches, the highlight being a nifty 11-yard catch and run that saw him juke a linebacker.
• I certainly didn't foresee Lynn Bowden, Jr., leading the way at the receiving position, but he reeled in all four targets for 41 yards. He took a couple of significant hits and looked dinged up at one point, but he also ran once for 11 yards and showed signs of being a dynamic offensive weapon.
• It was a largely forgettable game for Jakeem Grant, who dropped a 50-yard deep ball from Tua and absorbed two personal-foul shots on punt returns. He did managed 42 yards on two receptions, but he was targeted six times and could have changed the game on a couple of occasions.
• DeVante Parker was mostly quiet before he was ejected, sparring a lot with Cincy DBs. He was targeted eight times, catching half of those for 35 yards. Mack Hollins joined Parker on the ejected list, catching a single pass for seven yards.
• Mike Gesicki was the star of the show, pulling in nine receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets. He sparked the team with a couple of miraculous grabs and generally gave the Bengals fits in all segments of the field.
• Elsewhere in the tight end room, Durham Smythe contributed two catches for 16 yards, while Adam Shaheen was held without a reception, though Tua did not see him wide open on an RPO for an easy score.
• The offensive line had a nice bounce-back game after a struggle against the Jets, holding Cincinnati without a sack and opening up some respectable holes for Gaskin. Rookie Robert Hunt had a false start, but held up well along with classmates Austin Jackson and Solomon Kindley. The front did lose Ereck Flowers, and his injury could throw the line even further into flux.

Defense

• The Dolphins simply swarmed on defense, racking up six sacks and 11 quarterback hits while reeling in two interceptions. Miami got plus plays on all levels of the unit and generally set the tone for the entire game.
• Shaq Lawson led the way at the defensive end spot, collecting four tackles, two sacks, 2.5 stops for losses, a batted pass, and two quarterback hits. Bookend Emmanuel Ogbah had a staggering five quarterback hits to go with two tackles, but he was robbed of a strip-sack that led to a touchdown on a bizarre replay overturn. Andrew Van Ginkel was quiet, contributing a single stop in a reserve role.
• Zach Sieler continued his steady play, posting three solo tackles, a sack, and a quarterback hit, while linemate Christian Wilkins had a pair of solo stops and one tackle for loss despite having a fumble recovery score overturned. Rookie Raekwon Davis had two tackles, including one for a loss, though he did jump off-sides at one point.
• Kyle Van Noy was the no-brainer AFC Defensive Player of the Week, recording eight solo tackles, three sacks, five stops for losses, one batted pass that led to a pick, and three quarterback hits. He was, frankly, everywhere, turning in his finest performance as a Dolphin.
• The rest of the linebacking corps picked up the scraps, with Calvin Munson converting strong special teams play into a good fill-in job when Elandon Roberts (one tackle) got hurt. Munson had four tackles and half a stop for a loss, though he was whistled for an iffy late hit. Jerome Baker was quiet again with three tackles.
• Another week, another Xavien Howard interception. "X" notched his eighth pick of the season to go with four solo tackles. On the other side, corner Byron Jones had two solo tackles and was involved in the play that led to Cincinnati's only touchdown.
• Nickel Nik Needham (yes, that's a lot of alliteration) was not as involved in run support, registering a single tackle, but he was active in coverage, breaking up two passes and reeling in an interception to close the contest.
• Safety Brandon Jones had five tackles, but lost leverage on the Bengals's long score, creating a learning opportunity for the rookie. Eric Rowe contributed four stops, while Bobby McCain added three tackles and a pass breakup.

Special Teams

• Jason Sanders continued his All-Pro season with four successful field goal tries. The bad news? Three of those were 25 yards or less and he only had a single extra point, meaning the Dolphins were a disaster in the red zone.
• Matt Haack averaged 45 yards on his four punts, placing two inside the 20-yard line. Unfortunately, his touchdown run on a fake field goal was nullified on a reporting technicality.
• As mentioned, Grant was cheap-shotted twice on punt returns and muffed both, though penalties corrected that. Overall, he had four punt returns for a total of just eight yards.
• Miami didn't have a single kickoff return.
• I'm singling out Noah Igbinoghene in this spot for his activity in the kicking game. The youngster has had a forgettable rookie year, but he had a nice hit on one kickoff return, and he also pounced on both punt return fumbles, pulling off a respectable return on one. Unfortunately, he did have a hold that nullified a solid Grant punt return, but overall he was noticeable, a good sign for the first rounder.

Momentum Plays

• After giving up back-to-back third-down conversions, "X" climbed the ladder for an impressive first-quarter pick.
• Both of the Joneses (Brandon and Byron) took poor angles on a simple short pass to Tyler Boyd, somehow allowing Boyd to turn the corner and go 72 yards for the game's first score.
• With the game getting chippy, Tua made a poor RPO read that saw Shaheen uncovered for a touchdown. However, Miami ran a nifty fake field goal for a Haack touchdown, but rookie offensive linemen Jackson and Hunt were whistled for an illegal information after they did not report. The score was taken off the board, and the Dolphins settled for a short Sanders field goal to cut the lead to 7-3.
• After nearly throwing a pick, Tua was drilled and the ball came loose and was returned for a Cincy TD, but it was easily overturned on review as a clear incompletion.
• On a third-down play, Boyd and "X" got into on the sideline, with late penalty flags called. For some reason, both players were ejected, despite neither actually throwing a punch. Cincinnati's personal foul was enforced, leading to a missed 53-yard field goal on 4th & 25.
• Responding with a two-minute drill, Tua hit underneath passes to Bowden, G-Sick, and Laird (twice), then calmly spiked the ball to set up a 48-yarder from Sanders to make it 7-6 at the halftime gun.
• Tua caught fire to start the second half, hitting head-turning balls to Gesicki, Parker, and Gaskin to set up a jump ball that G-Sick won for a touchdown and a 13-7 lead.
• The Dolphins firmly seized control of the contest with another strong drive, highlighted by Gesicki's insane one-handed grab. However, the offense stalled again inside the 10, and a shorty field goal from Sanders made it 16-7.
• After another defensive stop, Tua converted a 4th & 1 with a sneak and Gaskin had a strong run down to the 2-yard line. But a couple of dangerous throws by Tua fell incomplete, leading to yet another short Sanders field goal and a 19-7 advantage.
• Yet another Cincy three-and-out led to a second cheap shot on Grant on the punt return, leading to a sideline fracas that resulted in three Bengals personal fouls and one on Miami, though two Dolphins players were ejected -- Parker and Hollins -- for coming to Grant's defense. Coach Brian Flores ran across the field to scream at the Cincinnati sidelines, firing up the 'Fins even more.
• A Miami three-and-out led to a Haack punt that pinned the Bengals at their own 8-yard line. Ogbah raced around end for a strip-sack that led to a Wilkins recovery and touchdown. Somehow and inexplicably, the play was overturned on replay, but the Dolphins got three sacks in five plays to end the Cincinnati possession.
• Gaskin burst into the open field for a 26-yard run, but he fumbled at the end of it, giving the Bengals life. Cincy strung together a few first downs behind former Wolfpacker Ryan Finley, but Van Noy capped his incredible day by tipping a pass that Needham intercepted to effectively end the game.

2020 Schedule

New England 21, Miami 11 (0-1)

Buffalo 31, Miami 28 (0-2)

Miami 31, Jacksonville 13 (1-2)

Seattle 31, Miami 23 (1-3)

Miami 43, San Francisco 17 (2-3)

Miami 24, New York Jets 0 (3-3)

Miami 28, Los Angeles Rams 17 (4-3)

Miami 34, Arizona 31 (5-3)

Miami 29, Los Angeles Chargers 21 (6-3)

Denver 20, Miami 13 (6-4)

Miami 20, New York Jets 3 (7-4)

Miami 19, Cincinnati 7 (8-4)

Day 268, Quasi-Quarantine: Feliz Navidad From An Advertising Institution

For me, Christmas season doesn't truly start until I see Corona's "O Tannenpalm" commercial for the first time.

Considered the longest-running beer commercial, this spot first aired in 1990. Apparently, it was a difficult shoot that involved alligators, according to an anniversary video that aired a couple of years ago.

To what can we attribute its longevity and how beloved it has become? It could be the idea of getting away from the stress of the holidays. It could be its simplicity, a quiet scene marked only be a few bars of "O Tannenbaum." It could be that we all mostly wish we are drunk 24/7 during the holiday season (especially in 2020).

No matter the reason, it has certainly stuck with me, since apparently I also documented this phenomenon with some deep thoughts in 2012. And maybe no reason is actually needed -- just a cold beer, a few Christmas lights, and some alone time.

Salud.

Day 267, Quasi-Quarantine: Landing The Elusive And Enigmatic Cad Bane

 

Marked by his wide-brimmed fedora and omnipresent toothpick, bounty hunter Cad Bane is low-key one of my favorite characters in the Star Wars universe.

Armed with twin LL-30 blaster pistols, rocket boots, and a smarmy attitude, this mercenary had a significant -- and tremendous -- presence in the "Star Wars Clone Wars" series. A member of the Duros species, Bane contracted a lot with Count Dooku, Darth Sidious, and the Hutts, working out of his hideout on Black Stall Station.

Bane was imagined as a Western gunslinger by the "Clone Wars" braintrust, and that look and feel certainly carries through to the minifigure. The version we got our hands on is a somewhat more simplistic variant -- it does not include the unique breathing apparatus of other versions -- that was pulled from the HH-87 Starhopper (set 75024) that also featured the iconic Rako Hardeen (Obi-Wan Kenobi in disguise).

The distinctive red eyes and outsized Indiana Jones-ish hat are the dominant features here. Our collection needed the character who is largely considered the most accomplished bounty hunter since Jango Fett, and we look forward to employing him on missions where his uncanny ability to escape the Jedi -- even under seemingly insurmountable odds -- will be put to the test.

Limerick Friday #488: The Wolfpack Women Did The Thing -- Day 264

The State women hit the road
Entering #1 upset mode
The bricks were aplenty
The turnovers were many
But the Pack cracked the 'Cocks' code

An honest Republican, hard to find
So we're in a Senate bind
A runoff in the Peach State
To determine democracy's fate
Now Georgia's always on my mind

Traditions made
Traditions fade
Guilt remains
And family stains
But holiday debts paid

We somehow sit at 7-4
Knocking on the playoff door
The offense is a mess
With "D" and kicking we're blessed
Gotta find three wins more

"Manifests" that make you quiver
Making you destroy your liver
Stellan Skarsgard is sublime
Investigating an emotional crime
The haunting and memorable "River"

Last time ...

Day 263, Quasi-Quarantine: "Calypso" Struggles To Balance Poignancy And Levity

 

"At this particular moment of our lives, no one belonged together more than us."

In "Calypso," David Sedaris goes a bit outside his comfort zone to tackle weighty, emotional issues. Critics have described it as his most personal book, and while the customary humor is certainly there, this work can certainly get dark. 

"Another word I've added to 'the list' is 'conversation,' as in 'We need to have a national conversation about _________.' This is employed by the left to mean 'You need to listen to me use the word "diversity" for an hour.'"

As Sedaris wrestles with his own mortality and struggles to keep his family unit together, the tone can suffer. The reader isn't always certain when he is being serious or ridiculous -- or both at the same time. The author/narrator can also come across as unlikeable, which is a not-insignificant consideration when digesting a book.

There were more than a few powerful moments. When Sedaris describes one of his family's first experiences while living in the South, hearing about the Martin Luther King, Jr., assassination while dining at 42nd Street Oyster Bar -- a restaurant I worked at -- I found myself completely mortified.

He cleverly contrasts this scene -- of an entire establishment cheering at the killing of a cultural icon -- with the pervasive quasi-religious tenor found in the region.

"Increasingly at Southern airports, instead of 'good-bye' or 'thank-you,' cashiers are apt to say, 'Have a blessed day.' This can make you feel like you've been sprayed against your will with God cologne. 'Get it off me!' I always want to scream. 'Quick, before I start wearing ties with short-sleeved shirts!'"

As a series of essays, the work certainly jumps around, but the messages feel vital and important in a way that previous efforts by this author have not conveyed. Underneath it all, this is a middle-aged man grieving over the deaths of his sister and mother and asking himself real, pressing questions about the time left.

"One day she'd throw a dish at you, and the next she'd create a mosaic made of the shards."

Day 262, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Jets Game 11 Review

Welp, if ever a 17-point road victory against a hated rival could be called boring, this was it.

The Dolphins mercy-beat the New York Jets and destroyer of offenses Adam Gase and his chubby little Patton Oswalt impersonator, Dowell Loggains. In 120 minutes of football this season, Miami pummeled the Jests, 44-3.

The 'Fins have a ways to go in terms of playoff contention -- and a ton of offensive issues to figure out in their own right -- but dispatching an inferior opponent with such ease is often trickier than this one turned out to be.

Offense

• Overall, this was a pedestrian effort against the Jets, who presented a number of exotic looks. Miami was sloppy at times, as evidenced by four fumbles (two lost), and the play-calling was largely predictable throughout the game. At this point, it's fair to wonder how much the attack has been muzzled based on the relative dominance of the Dolphins' defense and special teams.
• Ryan Fitzpatrick's numbers -- 24 of 39 for 257 yards and two scores -- sound a lot better than what I looked at. Fitz was often under pressure and his arm strength looked to be an issue on a handful of throws. He added 10 yards on three rushes and made the clutch throw on occasion, but what raised this from a ho-hum effort from the trigger man to a winning performance was the lack of turnovers.
• The running backs didn't find a ton of running room -- and frankly, could have gotten more opportunities -- but the room grade took a big hit with fumbles by both Matt Breida and Patrick Laird. With Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed sidelined, Breida got first crack at the starting gig, and he did put up 55 yards on 10 touches, but it's clear the coaching staff doesn't fully trust him. DeAndre Washington took over late, putting up 60 all-purpose yards on 15 touches but running hard late in the game.
• DeVante Parker got back on track with Fitz at the helm, reeling in eight catches for 119 yards on a lot of back-shoulder throws. He was targeted a staggering 14 times, pointing up the need for the 'Fins to unearth a legitimate No. 2 receiver. Special-teamer Mack Hollins (two catches, 19 yards) and Jakeem Grant (two grabs for 15 yards) were quiet, while reformation project Antonio Callaway (one reception, seven yards) and gadget player Malcolm Perry (one catch, eight yards) feel like afterthoughts.
• The tight ends put in a big day, with Fitz favorite Mike Gesicki notching two grabs for 35 yards and a contested touchdown and red zone threat Adam Shaheen converting a seven-yarder for another score. Durham Smythe was active early, making three first-quarter catches for 19 yards, but was shut out the rest of the way.
• The offensive line was under siege for most of the game, with New York using a host of blitz looks and stunts. The front had no answer for Quinnen Williams, who wrecked the scheme with seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, two stops for losses, two batted passes, and three hits on the quarterback. The Dolphins didn't do a ton to help matters with the frequency of no-back sets, and Erick Flowers (holding) and Robert Hunt (false start) drew flags.

Defense

• The front seven struggled to slow down the timeless Frank Gore, who mostly had his way for the first three quarters of the game. Up front, Emmanuel Ogbah (five tackles) and Andrew Van Ginkel (four stops, drew a key holding call) were solid on the edges, though Shaq Lawson had a quiet day (one tackle). On the interior, Christian Wilkins was back, recording four tackles and a QB hit, but it was fast-rising Raekwon Davis (five stops, half a sack, QB hit) who flashed the most alongside steady Zach Sieler (three tackles). Overall, this unit had a hard time getting pressure and beating single blocks.
• At linebacker, Jerome Baker, Kyle Van Noy, and Elandon Roberts each posted five tackles and half a sack, with Van Noy adding a QB hit and Roberts tacking on a QB hit and another tackle for loss. Roberts' fourth-down stop and a third-down tackle by Baker were among the biggest plays of the day on D.
• At the risk of repeating myself every week, Xavien Howard led the way in the secondary, securing his league-leading seventh interception and adding three tackles and three pass breakups as well. He is playing stellar football and has entered the fray as a more-than-legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
• Nik Needham also had a big day, with five tackles, a pass breakup, and a key pick. Rookie Brandon Jones had a sack and a QB hit to go with his three stops, while Eric Rowe (three tackles), Jamal Perry (three stops), Byron Jones (two solo tackles), and Bobby McCain (somehow credited with exactly zero statistics) all had quiet outings. It should be noted that the Jets had two pass plays over 30 yards and a handful of other sizable gains in this one, so there are a few communication issues to work on in the back end.

Special Teams

• Similar to the "X" conversation, Jason Sanders just continues to crush each and every week. He drilled two long field goals (51 and 54 yards), converted both extra points, and generally pinned the Jets deep -- despite the random sky kick that seems to be a weekly aberration.
• Matt Haack has never been known for consistency, and he had probably his worst game of the season. He averaged just 35.5 yards on four punts and was only able to put one inside in the 20-yard line.
• Jakeem Grant had two punt returns for 19 yards to give Miami respectable field position when he had the opportunity.

Momentum Plays

• An opening drive that heavily featured Gore saw New York convert a 3rd & 9 with a 37-yarder to Breshad Perriman, but a sack from Brandon Jones stymied the drive and forced a field goal.
• After an exchange of punts, Fitz hit Gesicki down the sideline on third down for 22 yards. The duo couldn't hook up again on the next third down (it looked like G-Sick may have lost the ball in the sun), but Sanders bailed out the unit with a 54-yarder to tie the score.
• The D rose up again, then the offense embarked on an 88-yard drive, aided by a 19-yarder to Parker that he fumbled out of bounds (upheld on replay). On 3rd & 8, Fitz lofted a sky ball to Gesicki, who outmuscled the defender for a beautiful touchdown, staking the 'Fins to a 10-3 lead.
• A 13-yard screen to Breida sparked the next drive for Miami, but a Fitz scramble came up short, leading to another Sanders long one for a 13-3 advantage.
• A penalty on the ensuring kickoff pinned the Jets deep, but Sam Darnold hooked up with Denzel Mims for a 30-yarder to get New York out of trouble. After Darnold dove for a first down to convert a third-down play (upheld on replay), Gore ripped off two more big gainers, but Miami forced a 4th & 1 play that led to a 29-yard field goal attempt -- that somehow missed, dealing the Jets a kidney shot headed into halftime.
• On the Jets first second-half possession, they got a solid drive going before "X" forced an offensive pass interference call. On 3rd & 8, Wilkins chased Darnold out of the pocket, where he threw back across his body for a relatively easy pick by Needham.
• A nifty catch-and-run by Parker on a YOLO Fitz pass was offset by a sack fumble on 3rd & 10, forcing another punt by Haack after the recovery.
• Baker made a huge open-field tackle on a third-down swing pass that looked like it could turn into a big gain and at least a first down for the Jets, but when the Dolphins got the ball back, Breida fumbled it back to New York while being swarmed 3 yards in the backfield.
• Miami forced a three-and-out despite the Jets starting in 'Fins territory, aided by a pass breakup in the end zone by "X" and  McCain.
• After a sack and a couple of dangerous Fitz throws, Laird fumbled on a nine-yard run, with former 'Fin Neville Hewitt returning the ball all the way to the Dolphins 26-yard line as the third quarter came to an end.
• On 3rd & 16, Mims got 15 to set up a 4th & 1, but Roberts shot the gap and put a massive hit on Gore to effectively end the Jets' chances in this one. You rarely see Gore fall backwards, but this was one of the bigger shots you'll ever see the all-timer take.
• The teams traded punts again, but a nifty run by Washington and a couple of back-shoulder tosses to Parker got Miami moving. Grant drew a 30-yard pass interference call on 2nd & 15, setting up a third-down TD strike to Shaheen to make it 20-3 with under 7 minutes to play.
• After a strong kickoff return, the Jets inexplicably ran it with Gore before "X" jumped a route for another interception, giving Miami the ball at New York's 40-yard line.
• On 3rd & 4 from the Jets' 34, Fitz kept it on an option play for the first down, nearly breaking it for a long one. Breida converted a 3rd & 6 with a nice run, giving Miami first-and-goal, but they were content to go into victory formation and complete another bitching of the Jets.

2020 Schedule

New England 21, Miami 11 (0-1)

Buffalo 31, Miami 28 (0-2)

Miami 31, Jacksonville 13 (1-2)

Seattle 31, Miami 23 (1-3)

Miami 43, San Francisco 17 (2-3)

Miami 24, New York Jets 0 (3-3)

Miami 28, Los Angeles Rams 17 (4-3)

Miami 34, Arizona 31 (5-3)

Miami 29, Los Angeles Chargers 21 (6-3)

Denver 20, Miami 13 (6-4)

Miami 20, New York Jets 3 (7-4)