Day 1,013, Quasi-Quarantine: The Latest "Star Wars" Lego Advent Calendar Reveals Put Everything On Ice

 

With five-day segments dedicated to the Clone Wars, Tattooine, and eclectic lightheartedness, I wasn't sure what to expect from the fourth five-day stretch of "Star Wars" Lego Advent Calendar reveals.

Welcome to Hoth.

Hoth elements have always lent themselves easily to the holiday calendar, and Lego really leaned into the theme here:

Day 16: Weapons Rack

Day 17: Snowtrooper

Day 18: DF-9 Turret

Day 19: AT-ST

Day 20: Hoth Laser Cannon

As Jay's Brick Blog pointed out, the designers had a little bit of fun varying the traditional weapons rack design, and the snowtrooper features a person of color, always a welcome addition.

The turret and laser cannon offer playability options and are cleverly built, but it was the AT-ST mini-build that was the standout here.

While some may have been hoping for more minifigures at this point, I'm thrilled with the focus on the ice planet and the scene-building opportunities Lego is creating with these reveals.

Headed down the stretch, I'm hopeful that a surprise or too may lay in wait in the final few days of the calendar!

Day 1,012, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Bills Game 14 Review

 

In what was as difficult a loss as I can remember as a 'Fins fan, Miami dropped its third straight, losing on the road at the gun to Buffalo. With everything on the line, the Dolphins were undone by horrifically predictable play-calling and found themselves on the wrong end of a series of bad officiating calls. Throw in constant unpenalized snowballs being thrown on the field -- DURING actual plays -- and it was clear that the officials lost complete control of the game and were intimidated by the crowd into a number of brutal flags and no-calls.

On to the make-the-hurt-stop recap ...

Offense

• The good news is that Miami found a running game in this one, racking up 188 yards on the ground against the league's No. 4 rush defense coming in. Averaging 7.5 yards per carry, a highly compelling case could be made that the 'Fins needed to be running the ball much more often. Sure, the visitors put up more than 400 offensive yards and showed more physicality than normal for a finesse team, but Miami scored a touchdown on just one of three tips to the red zone. Most damagingly, they were 5 of 14 on third down, including failing five times on six 3rd & short (three yards or less) situations. Of those six occasions, the 'Fins threw on five of them, only converting on the one time they actually ran it. If the Dolphins continue to be the NFL's worst team in such situations -- as they are now -- they have no chance to be a contender in January.
• Tua Tagovailoa was better than he was in the previous two games, connecting on 17 of 30 passes for 234 yards and two scores. He was hurt by drops, but he was also sacked twice, fumbled once, and threw multiple interception-worthy balls. Tua had a seven-yard run at one point, but he tripped himself on a play that should have resulted in a much larger gain.
• In the backfield Raheem Mostert was, quite frankly, a revelation, having his best game in a Miami uniform by rushing for 136 yards on just 17 carries. He added a 20-yard catch on two targets among his 45 snaps, and he was a step away from breaking four other runs. With Jeff Wilson inactive, Salvon Ahmed looked fresh in his 14 snaps, rushing six times for 43 yards and a touchdown. Alec Ingold contributed a two-yard run (for a first-down conversion) and a seven-yard catch on two targets in his 32 snaps, adding a number of crucial blocks. Mike McDaniel's reluctance to lean more on the run game in crucial moments was among the puzzlers of the contest, and his stubbornness has turned into one of the stories of Miami's late-season slide.
• Jaylen Waddle came up big in the elements in his 41 snaps, catching three of seven targets for 114 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown. Tyreek Hill was hard on himself for his nine-catch, 69-yard performance in 49 snaps, which included a touchdown grab and a dropped score among his 13 targets. Hill was in good company on the drop front, as Trent Sherfield dropped a touchdown and was shut out in his 32 snaps. Cedrick Wilson made a clutch 21-yard catch on his two targets in 13 snaps, while rookie Braylon Sanders was targeted once and couldn't come up with a catchable deep ball in his 13 snaps. In difficult conditions, Tua needed more help from his supporting cast than he got.
• At tight end, Durham Smythe featured with some key blocks and a recovery of a Tua fumble in his 38 snaps, though he did lose two yards on his only catch. Mike Gesicki contributed a five-yard catch in his 12 snaps, while Hunter Long didn't record a statistic in his six snaps. While it's clear that McDaniel intends not to change the trajectory of a lost season for Gesicki, a more creative coach would recognize the need to find the big man in the seam to take pressure off of Hill and Waddle.
• In a gutsy effort, left tackle Terron Armstead led the way despite toe, knee, and pectoral injuries, helping the unit surrender just four pressures on 33 pass snaps. Neither he, left guard Robert Jones, nor center Connor Williams gave up a pressure, though right guard Robert Hunt had two costly false starts. Playing all 59 snaps together, the offensive front deserves a lot of credit for the success on the ground -- hopefully a harbinger of things to come as the team enters must-win territory.

Defense

• One could argue that a depleted defense did its part, forcing four straight punts and a pair of Josh Allen fumbles down the stretch. However, they surrendered 29 first downs and 446 total yards and allowed conversions on 8 of 14 third downs. The unit also committed three penalties in four snaps at one point, and most costly, gave up four touchdowns on five red-zone trips by the Bills. While it's true that injuries have decimated the defense -- especially in the secondary -- the reality is that the 'Fins have become one of the worst defenses in the league at the worst possible time. In this one, the added reality became clear that they are not built to withstand bad officiating on top of everything else.
• At defensive end, Zach Sieler bordered on the dominant at times, posting five tackles, a sack, two stops for losses, and a pair of quarterback hit in his 65 snaps, while Christian Wilkins tallied six tackles and a fumble recovery in his 69 snaps. Justin Zimmer saw three snaps in reserve.
• Raekwon Davis (25) and John Jenkins (23) nearly split snaps at nose tackle, with Davis recording two tackles and Jenkins adding one.
• In 56 snaps on the weak side, Bradley Chubb had two tackles, a quarterback hit, and a forced fumble, while a tailing-off Melvin Ingram did not record a stat in his 22 snaps.
• On the strong side, Jaelan Phillips recorded three tackles, a sack, three quarterback hits, and a vital forced fumble in his 60 snaps, setting the tone up front for Miami. Andrew Van Ginkel was graded as the Dolphins' best player by Pro Football Focus, notching four tackles and a stop for loss in his 15 snaps. One has to wonder whether Van Ginkel finally starts to earn more snaps over Ingram as the 'Fins try to manufacture big plays any way they can down the stretch.
• Jerome Baker led the way in the middle, collecting six tackles in 69 snaps. While Elandon Roberts and Duke Riley each played 33 snaps, Roberts was the more effective player by light years, picking up five solo tackles and a stop for a loss despite missing a couple of tackles and committing a shaky unnecessary roughness penalty. Riley continued his recent poor play, contributing a pair of solo tackles, appearing to blow a coverage assignment on an easy Buffalo touchdown, and having a number of missed tackles. Though Channing Tindall may not be ready for consistent snaps as a rookie in a playoff run, the fact that he can't earn time over Riley is a bit of a concern at this stage.
• At corner, both Xavien Howard and Kader Kohou played all 78 snaps, with Kohou earning an 80.3 PFF grade on the virtue of seven solo tackles and a pass breakup, offset by flags for both holding and pass interference. Howard had four solo stops, but continued to look a step slow and appeared to make some business decisions in tackle situations. Keion Crossen was forced to play 37 snaps despite a knee injury, making six tackles. Noah Ighbinoghene was thrust into action after a number of inactives, and he recorded two tackles in 33 snaps, though he was beaten on some throws late. For a secondary held together by Band-Aids and bubble game, the unit played reasonably well against one of the league's top quarterbacks.
• With Eric Rowe out, Verone McKinley saw the most action at strong safety, making four tackles in a below-average performance. Clayton Fejedelem had a solo tackle in his eight snaps in reserve.
• At free safety, Jevon Holland gutted out 67 snaps despite a stinger that necessitated a neckroll, compiling four tackles and a pass breakup while making a strong play on Allen as a spy deep in Buffalo territory. Elijah Campbell was inactive, allowing Justin Bethel to see action from scrimmage for the first time in a few games. He contributed a pair of tackles, but was beaten by Bills tight ends on a couple of occasions. Fair or not, Miami simply needs more from Holland as one of its best defensive players  at this stage.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders continued his resurgence, connecting on all three field goals -- with a long of 47 yards -- and both extra points.
• Thomas Morstead punted four times for an average of 41.8 yards per kick, placing three inside the 20-yard line and crushing a 59-yarder that was downed at the 1-yard line after some fortuitous bounces. He also drew a roughing-the-punter call at a vital moment as well.
• Cedrick Wilson only contributed fair catches on punts, but that was important in the snowy conditions. Mostert had a 28-yard kickoff return to begin the game on a strong note.
• Smythe led offensive players with 14 special-teams snaps, while Bethel and Fejedelem paced defensive players with 25 snaps each in the kicking game. Tindall had a solo tackle on special teams and Crossen was called for a declined offsides on the final field goal. 
• For a change, Miami was not overwhelmed in the third phase in this one and created advantageous field position on a number of occasions, which played a significant role in giving the 'Fins a tremendous chance to win the game.

Momentum plays

• To start the game, Mostert followed a strong return with 18 yards on back-to-back runs. However, a false start on Hunt led to a 3rd & 11 play that saw Tua have to throw it out bounds to end the opening drive. 
• A pair of Buffalo holding calls on the punt forced the home team to start on its own 7-yard line, and the Dolphins forced a punt after giving up two first downs.
• On the next possession, Ingold converted a 3rd & 1 with a tough inside run, then Tua hit Waddle for 15 yards. Mostert powered ahead to convert a 4th & 1, but Tua held the ball for too long and took a sack on a strange 3rd & 1 call. He coughed the ball up, but Smythe pounced on it, allowing Sanders to hit from 39 yards away for a 3-0 lead.
• The Bills wasted no time regaining the lead, using a 45-yard pass from Allen to Dawson Knox and a 13-yard pass to Devin Singletary to set up a 14-yard scoring toss to Quintin Morris, who beat Holland on the play for a 13-7 advantage.
• Mostert ended the first quarter in high style, breaking four tackles on a 67-yard jaunt down the sidelines, drawing a horsecollar at the end to set up first and goal from the 4-yard line. Back-to-back dropped touchdowns by Hill and Sherfield forced the 'Fins to settle for a costly short field goal to trim the margin to 7-6. The drive was marred by fans throwing snowballs at Dolphins players during actual game play, which was somehow ignored by the officials until a McDaniels complaint forced the refs to finally address the crowd with a warning.
• Buffalo responded with a 12-play drive that featured an improbable 3rd & 17 conversion. Kohou later had Singletary stopped in the hole on a 3rd & 1 play, but eventually got run over. Two plays later, Riley lost Nyheim Hines in coverage, creating an easy dumpoff touchdown for a 14-6 Buffalo lead.
• After an interference on Hill went uncalled, Waddle went up high to beat Tra'Davious White for a 32-yard catch on 3rd & 5. Hill converted the next two third downs with tough 6- and 14-yard catches, then Ahmed paid off the possession with a nifty 11-yard run for a score, using a solid Jones block along the way. The touchdown pulled the 'Fins within a point at 14-13.
• Another devastating 12-play drive ensued, with Buffalo converting three third downs and getting a pair of suspect penalties on Ighbinoghene and Howard to sustain the possession. With no time remaining on the clock, Allen fired across his body while he was going out of bounds on a hit by Chubb, and his unlikely prayer was answered when James Cook pulled in the pass just past Baker's coverage. The demoralizing score sent the Dolphins into the locker room trailing 21-13.
• To make matters more difficult, Buffalo received the second-half kickoff, but Miami forced a three-and-out after a Sieler turned a 2nd & 1 into a 3rd & 4 by splitting the double team to drop Singletary.
• Three players later, lightning struck for the 'Fins, as Waddle executed a deep cross and then made the safety look like he was standing still to race 67 yards for a touchdown that silenced the crowd. Tua fired high for Waddle on the two-point conversion, however, making the score 21-19, Bills.
• Miami was victimized by another playground play when a clear false start was uncalled and Allen lofted the ball deep under pressure for a 21-yard gain to Knox. Buffalo was called for holding and false start on subsequent plays, leading to another 3rd & 17 that they couldn't convert this time.
• After the punt, the Dolphins got a first down on two tough runs by Ahmed, and on a 2nd & 9 play, Tua spun away from a sack and saw an open field in front. With Smythe maneuvering in front as lead blocker, what looked like a significant gain ended quickly when Tua inexplicably tackled himself and fell down two yards short of a first down. A predictable out to Waddle was nearly picked off, forcing a Morstead punt that was downed by Bethel at the Bills' 1-yard line.
• Holland made a tremendous play as a spy by tackling Allen on a 3rd & 9 scramble, but Miami chose not to pressure the punt out of Buffalo's end zone, giving up a 46-yard net boot instead.
• Taking over at midfield, the Dolphins promptly went three-and-out when Tua failed to dump the ball off to Mostert on a blitz and took a sack instead. However, Morstead took a wicked hit on the punt, earning a roughing-the-punter penalty to retain possession. An 11-yard run by Ahmed set up a 20-yard touchdown toss to Hill that saw White burned again, finally pushing Miami ahead 26-21.
• An impressive kickoff return by Hines gave Buffalo strong field possession, and the Bills were then somehow not called for either grounding or illegal touching on an Allen pass that was clearly both of those things. Allen missed a deep ball to an open Stefon Diggs, leading to yet another Bills punt.
• Headed into the fourth quarter, the Dolphins went three-and-out again when Tua again threw a highly predictable 3rd & 3 toss to Hill that easily could have been a pick-six. A poor 34-yard punt by Morehead gave Buffalo great field position at its own 49-yard line.
• On the first play of the next drive, Allen held the ball long enough for Phillips to loop around on a pass rush and jar the ball loose. Wilkins pounced on the fumble, giving Miami the ball on its own 47-yard line with a phenomenal chance to seize control of the contest.
• After an 11-yard run by Mostert, the 'Fins once again shit the bed on 3rd & 1, with a lazy throw to Smythe, who was easily dropped two yards behind the line of scrimmage on another awful play call by McDaniel. Sanders drilled a 47-yard field goal to make the score 29-21, but the missed opportunity loomed as something that would come back to haunt the visitors.
• A designed Allen run resulted in another fumble when Chubb jarred the ball loose, but the ball bounced straight to an offensive lineman. Cook had a 16-yard run that saw Riley miss another tackle, then another Allen draw went for 44 yards when McKinley took a terrible angle. Yet another keeper by Allen led to the refs to call a bad roughing-the-passer penalty on Roberts, which led to more snowballs that did not draw flags. Van Ginkel nearly jarred the ball loose on another quarterback run, but on 3rd & goal, Bethel was beaten by Knox for an easy touchdown. The next horseshit call came on the two-point try, when the ball was knocked free for a fumble as Allen extended toward the goal line. Despite not having a definitive view, the refs predictably gave the home team two points to tie the score at 28 with nine minutes remaining.
• With the snow creating near-whiteout conditions, Hill reeled in a sliding 13-yard grab, then Wilson went full Randy Moss to haul in a 21-yarder over a helpless defender. After a predictable throw to Hill lost three yards, Waddle was clearly held on a 3rd & 12 throw, but -- again, predictably -- no penalty was called. Hines nearly muffed the punt, but held on to give the Bills possession on their 7-yard line.
• A Sieler sack led to a loss of seven, but Ighbinoghene and Howard were beaten easily on successive plays for a big Buffalo first down. Kohou gave up the next 3rd & 3, then the Bills turned to Singletary, who rushed three straight times for 19 yards. On a 3rd & 6 play, Allen threw deep off his back foot, with a bail-out, 21-yard pass interference called on Kohou. Three straight runs set up a 25-yard field goal by Todd Bass with two seconds remaining. Despite the flurries, Bass converted easily to cap a monumental 15-play, 86-yard drive and give the Bills a 32-29 victory.

2022 Schedule

Miami 20, New England 7 (1-0)

Miami 42, Baltimore 38 (2-0)

Miami 21, Buffalo 19 (3-0)

Cincinnati 27, Miami 15 (3-1)

New York Jets 40, Miami 17 (3-2)

Minnesota 24, Miami 16 (3-3)

Miami 16, Pittsburgh 10 (4-3)

Miami 31, Detroit 27 (5-3)

Miami 35, Chicago 32 (6-3)

Miami 39, Cleveland 17 (7-3)

Miami 30, Houston 15 (8-3)

San Francisco 33, Miami 17 (8-4)

Los Angeles Chargers 23, Miami 17 (8-5)

Buffalo 32, Miami 29 (8-6)

Day 1,011, Quasi-Quarantine: Powerful "The Water Dancer" Wages Internal War Between Real And Surreal

 

"As you will soon see, finding freedom is only the first part. Living free is a whole other."

"And freedom mean the right of a man to do as he please, not as we supposed. And if you have not been as we supposed, you have been as you were supposed to be."

Ta-Nehisi Coates took a decade to write his debut novel, and "The Water Dancer" appears to be the marriage of painstaking research and an emphasis on the supernatural. The result is a novel that tries to blend history and surrealism, to mostly positive effect.

"Bored whites were barbarian whites. While they played at aristocrats, we were their well-appointed and stoic attendants. But when they tired of dignity, the bottom fell out. New games were anointed and we were but pieces on the board. It was terrifying."

Hiram Walker is the protagonist, charged with balancing the Tasked (slaves) and the Quality (slavemasters) by having feet and blood in both worlds. Hi is imbued with special powers that he doesn't fully understand and struggles with the dichotomy of having a photographic memory yet no recollection of the loss of his mother.

"I didn't get to say farewell. I have so rarely been afforded the right of farewell."

As he joins "the Underground," he encounters characters both fictional and real and both fully realized and one-dimensional. The tale challenges the reader to find a personal balance between what to understand as reality and myth -- and how closely the two lived to one another in the era depicted. 

An abrupt ending robs the story of some impact, but "The Water Dancer" overcomes all challenges with a unique, powerful, and important depiction of love, hate, and identity in the dying days of the antebellum South.

"My part has been to tell the story of the slave. The story of the master never wanted for narrators." 

~Frederick Douglass

Day 1,010, Quasi-Quarantine: Playful And Creative Are The Themes For The Next Five "Star Wars" Advent Calendar Reveals

 

While the first five days paid tribute to the Clone Wars and the second five days primarily honored Tattooine, the third five days was a bit more eclectic, balancing lighthearted humor with impeccable mini-builds.

Day 11: V-35 Landspeeder

Day 12: Summer Vacation Darth Vader

Day 13: Darth Vader's Sandcastle

Day 14: B-Wing

Day 15: TIE Interceptor

This landspeeder version is a faithful representation of the one included in the dream-build set, Mos Eisley Cantina (75290), while both Darth Vader and his sandcastle (and his volleyball) were part of the Lego Star Wars Summier Vacation from August.

The B-Wing is an iconic, crowd-favorite spacecraft, and the hyper-clever TIE Interceptor is a really nuanced build. The indispensable Jay's Brick Blog played a big role in helping me ensure I built things the right way, since the included instructions are not always easy to view.

Kudos to the Lego team for threading the needle here on offering enough for both kids and adult builders. Every day is a revelation, so I can't wait to see what the team comes up with down the stretch!

Limerick Friday #569: Not Really Easing Into That Holiday Slowdown -- Day 1,007

Shitheads abound

Hypocrisy astounds

With no one to steer

Favoritism's here

Open is lost and not found

Cursing the fates

Counting the dates

Work's not abating

But my nerves are a-grating

Thank ye gods shutdown awaits

Went from dropping dimes

To the worst of all times

All those believers

Have second-guess fevers

Nothing with Tua Tagovailoa rhymes

Emotions run high

For all plus this guy

Close to the surface

We're all default nervous

Never been harder to just get by

Trying to make it through

But outside is a zoo

Hide me in vinyl

It doesn't have to be final

But any escapism will do

Last time ...

Day 1,006, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Chargers Game 13 Review

 

A stubborn offensive game plan ensured that Miami was dramatically outcoached for the second game in a row, with the Dolphins dropping a sneaky vital game down the stretch. Looking like they spent the entire week going to California beaches, the 'Fins fell to 2-5 against teams with winning records and were fortunate not to get blown out in this one. In two Cali contests against the 'Niners and the Chargers, the Dolphins ran 94 plays to 157 for the opposition, lost the time of possession battle by 80:12 to 39:48, and converted just 3 of 18 third downs on their West Coast trip. Falling to 8-5 with a tough remaining slate, Miami now faces a difficult thread-the-needle task toward a playoff spot.

On to the Groundhog-Hog-Day recap ...

Offense

• Against a severely depleted defense that already ranked 26th in the NFL and was missing six starters, Miami accomplished next to nothing. The Dolphins managed just 14 first downs and 219 total yards and went 3 of 11 on third down. The visitors rushed for 92 yards, but it was mostly as an afterthought against the worst rushing defense in the league. The 'Fins did not make it into the red zone in the contest.
• Tua Tagovailoa had an eminently forgettable -- and regrettable -- performance in primetime, connecting on just 10 of 28 passes (almost impossible in today's NFL) for 145 yards and one score. He misfired on 14 of his first 17 throws, had at least one interception dropped, and suffered a number of miscommunications with his wideouts -- some of his best throws came when his receivers weren't expecting or looking for the ball. Tua did rush for 28 important yards, but took two sacks and committed a crushing intentional grounding that cost the team points. Somehow, he is now 28 of 61 over the past two games -- something that could be considered a trend in some quarters.
• Raheem Mostert dominated touches at running back again, carrying 11 times for 37 yards and adding a seven-yard catch in his 37 snaps. Jeff Wilson got eight snaps before being injured, with four carries for 26 yards, balancing a long of 20 with a fumble. Fullback Alec Ingold was targeted once in the passing game without a catch in his 20 snaps, while Salvon Ahmed contributed a one-yard carry among his five snaps. Though the Dolphins are largely being dominated at the line of scrimmage, the lack of commitment to trying to establish the ground game over the past two games has been borderline shocking.
• At wideout, Tyreek Hill set the Miami single-season receiving yardage record established by Mark Clayton, surpassing 1,400 yards for the campaign on the strength of pulling in four of 10 targets for 81 yards and a 60-yard touchdown. He added a 57-yard score on a heads-up play on a fumble recovery and battled through an ankle injury that limited him to 34 snaps during the game. Jaylen Waddle was a non-factor despite his 43 snaps, catching two of four targets for 31 yards and appearing to be out of sync with Tua on multiple plays. Trent Sherfield was held to a seven-yard reception on his four targets in 31 snaps, while Cedrick Wilson had two grabs for 19 yards in his 20 snaps. Reserve Freddie Swain didn't record a stat in his first seven snaps of the season. The 'Fins struggled mightily against the physicality of the Charger defensive backs and did not have a plan to manufacture touches for Waddle, making it two weeks in a row that Miami was dramatically outschemed on the offensive side of the ball.
• The update from the tight end spot is even shorter than usual, with neither Durham Smythe (30 snaps) nor Mike Gesicki (20 snaps) catching a ball, though the latter was targeted twice. With very little emphasis on the running game, either, the tight ends have been relegated to observers, with Gesicki now being held without a catch for three straight contests.
• Up front, Terron Armstead gutted out the entire game with pectoral and ankle injuries, though he was clearly limited at left tackle. At the other tackle spot, Brandon Shell was called for two false starts, while right guard Robert Hunt was whistled for being downfield as an ineligbile receiver. All the starters played all 51 snaps, but could not get any traction in the running game and surrendered a number of pressures on designed passes.

Defense

• In a nutshell, Justin Herbert was unstoppable. He torched the 'Fins for 367 yards and a score on 39 of 51 passes, making a number of plays outside the pocket to punish Dolphin pressure. The Chargers racked up 432 total yards on a whopping 78 plays, converting 9 of 18 third downs (in the first half, Los Angeles was 7 of 11 on third down, including 5 of 7 on 3rd & 5 or longer) and 1 of 2 fourth downs. With Los Angeles relying on two backup tackles, Miami did collect four sacks and did well against the run (82 yards on 3.6 yards per carry), and the defense kept the 'Fins in the game by giving up just two touchdowns on six red-zone visits. However, the Dolphins did not force a turnover in a game where the "D" was called on to make a game-changing play.
• Christian Wilkins turned in a dominant performance on the biggest stage, tallying nine tackles, a sack, two stops for losses, four pressures, and a quarterback hit in 66 snaps, earning a 91.3 grade from Pro Football Focus. In 67 snaps, Zach Sieler was also impressive, notching six tackles, while reserve Justin Zimmer did not record a stat in his eight snaps. Analyst Cris Collinsworth appeared to be making a bid to be Wilkins's agent at one point, but there is no arguing that the 'Fins have two of the better interior defenders in the AFC in Wilkins and Sieler.
• At nose tackle, Raekwon Davis had a solo tackle in his 36 snaps, while John Jenkins had a solo stop and a couple of pressures in his 16 snaps.
• Bradley Chubb was credited with a solo tackle and three quarterback hits in his 50 snaps on the weak side, but that doesn't tell the full story of his consistent pressure. Melvin Ingram did not record a statistic in his 37 snaps.
• On the strong side, Jaelan Phillips had a monster outing, registering six tackles, a sack, two stops for losses, a quarterback hit, and seven pressures. He earned an 89.7 PFF grade in his 59 snaps, while Andrew Van Ginkel had three tackles and a stop for loss in just 16 snaps.
• Jerome Baker led the way at inside linebacker, posting 11 tackles, a sack, two stops for losses, and a quarterback hit in his 76 snaps. Elandon Roberts had six solo tackles in his 43 snaps, while Duke Riley struggled for the second game in a row, failing to record a stat in his 26 snaps. Sam Eguavoen had a single snap from scrimmage in a goal-line situation.
• At cornerback, Kader Kohou played 79 snaps, notching eight tackles -- including a big fourth-down stop -- and drawing a holding flag. On the other side, Xavien Howard managed four tackles in his 79 snaps, and the veteran is either still playing hurt or got old really fast. Keion Crossen had three tackles and was called for holding in his 44 snaps. The injuries at cornerback combined with the sheer number of snaps the defense is being forced to play due to an ineffective offense are starting to take a tangible toll. Miami is not playing Justin Bethel nor Noah Ighbinoghene on defense, and the secondary looks like it could be wearing down as a result.
• Playing one of his best games at strong safety, Eric Rowe recorded eight tackles, a sack, two stops for losses, and a quarterback hit in his 53 snaps. Neither rookie Verone McKinley (16 snaps) nor veteran Clayton Fejedelem (three snaps) recorded a stat in reserve duty.
• At free safety, Jevon Holland played all 80 snaps and picked up five tackles, but he has been entirely too quiet in the past few games. Elijah Campbell played 25 snaps in a hybrid role, making a pair of solo tackles.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders drilled a clutch 55-yarder to keep Miami in striking distance late, and then he delivered a great onsides kick that gave Miami a chance at recovery. He also hit both of his extra points in the contest. Sanders, who had been three of 10 from 50+ over the past two seasons, has now made 11 of his past 12 field goal attempts.
• Thomas Morstead had a strong game, punting seven times for a 46.7-yard average and placing four kicks inside the 20-yard line. He had two punts nearly blocked, which is something to watch for in coming weeks.
• The 'Fins did not return a kickoff nor a punt, but they gave up a 23-yard punt return to DeAndre Carter. Overall, Miami lost the hidden-yardage game in a big way in a contest in which they could not afford for that to happen.
• Smythe led all offensive players with 16 special teams snaps, while Bethel -- who did not play from scrimmage for the second game in a row -- and Campbell paced defensive players with 26 snaps in the third phase. Campbell made a huge play early when he delivered a big hit on a punt return to flip the field for the Dolphin defense.

Momentum plays

• Miami led off the game with three straight Tua incompletions: a deep underthrow to Hill, a potential drop by Waddle, and another pass to Hill that he wasn't ready for -- a harbinger of so many things to come. Morstead's 56-yard punt was punctuated by a stellar tackle by Campbell to dump the returner for no gain.
• The Chargers converted a 3rd & 10 on a Kohou hold and a 3rd & 9 on a deep ball that Mike Williams won over Howard in the air for a 23-yard gain. On a subsequent 3rd & 4, Los Angeles beat the blitz with a seven-yard pass to Gerald Everett, but strong plays by Sieler and Van Ginkel forced a 4th & goal from the 2-yard line. Herbert hit Carter on a swing pass, but the return man stumbled, giving Kohou an opportunity to drop him for no gain, giving the ball back to the Dolphins after a 15-play scoreless drive.
• Hill converted a 3rd & 9 with a tough 13-yard catch to give Miami better field position, but three plays later Tua threw a ball that easily should have been intercepted, resulting in another Morstead punt.
• A 19-yard pass from Herbert to Williams got the Chargers going on the next drive, then Herbert eluded a blitz to find Josh Palmer for 13 yards on 3rd & 5 (the catch held up on review). A Wilkins sack on a three-man rush forced Los Angeles to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker at the start of the second quarter. 
• The 'Fins followed with an awful three-and-out that featured a negative-yardage run, a deep ball to an open Hill that he potentially lost in the lights and would have been a big gain, and a sack that saw former Dolphins Kyle Van Noy put a wicked spin move on Armstead. The drive got even worse when Carter returned the ensuing punt -- which was nearly blocked, of course -- 23 yards to set up the Chargers in Miami territory.
• On a 3rd & 1 play, Joshua Kelley ripped off a 22-yard run, avoiding a Holland tackle attempt before finally being corralled by Kohou and Van Ginkel. Two plays later, Herbert rolled out and found Williams in the back of the end zone, with the wideout making a phenomenal catch to get both feet in and stake Los Angeles to a 10-0 lead.
• Three plays into Miami's ensuing drive, Wilson fumbled on a run. When the ball squirted out of the pile unnoticed by almost everyone, Hill scooped it up and raced 57 yards untouched for a fluke fumble recovery that improbably made the score 10-7 despite the 'Fins having 14 yards on 15 offensive plays at that point.
• A Rowe sack helped force a three-and-out by the Chargers, and the Dolphins got a 20-yard run from Wilson (he was injured on the play) to get the possession going in a positive direction. Tua found Cedrick Wilson for 12 yards to convert a 3rd & 10, but Miami ended up having to punt again.
• On the following possession, the Chargers converted a 3rd & 4 with a 10-yard pass to Allen, then hit consecutive passes of 21, 14, and 12 yards. On a 3rd & 10, Herbert avoided Phillips pressure and rolled out to find Palmer on the sideline for 18 yards. A Phillips sack helped force 3rd & goal from the 17-yard line, but the 'Fins inexplicably played a prevent defense that allowed a screen to Austin Ekeler to get 16 yards. On 4th & goal from the 1, Los Angeles elected to go for it, and Ekeler churned through a Sieler tackle attempt to seal the monster 13-yard drive and put the home team up 17-7 with just 18 seconds remaining in the half.
• Inexplicably, Miami came out winging it with the half ending, and Tua narrowly avoided a sack to throw it out of bounds before the 'Fins mercifully chose to run it with Mostert to end a disastrous offensive half.
• The Chargers got the ball to start the third quarter, but Kohou made a strong tackle on a 3rd & 12 play to force a punt. However, the Dolphins promptly went three-and-out as well, with predictable play-calling leading to a near interception.
• An insane roughing-the-passer call (which was actually literally removed by the NFL on a condensed version of the game replay) on a Phillips sack allowed Los Angeles to escape another three-and-out, but the defense rallied to force a punt four plays later.
• Back-to-back Mostert runs gave Miami a rare first down, then three plays later Tua lofted a deep ball to Hill, who skated in from 60 yards away when the defensive back fell down. The Sanders extra point trimmed the margin to 17-14 with more than six minutes remaining in the third quarter.
• Los Angeles responded with a backside deep ball from Herbert, who rolled out and threw across the field to Williams, who had burned Howard. When Howard did not tag him down, the receiver got up and continued running for a 55-yard gain. The 'Fins rose up to force a 31-yard field goal, pushing the score to 20-14.
• After a Mostert 13-yard run got the 'Fins going, Tua followed with an 18-yard scramble (and a slide!). However, Jones was beaten inside by Morgan Fox, who dropped Tua for a sack on 3rd & 10 to force a Morstead punt.
• The Dolphins dug deep to stifle the Chargers on another three-and-out, with Baker making a big tackle to hold Allen short on 3rd & 2.
• Following the punt, Waddle got loose to turn a short pass into a 19-yard gain. Another Tua scramble earned another first down, but he was called for grounding on a second-down play, a critical mistake that forced a 3rd & 19. After an eight-yard catch by Hill, the Dolphins must have considered going for it, but with the down and distance so severe (4th & 11), instead relied on Morstead, who placed a punt at the Chargers' 11-yard line.
• A gassed defense could not respond to get the ball back, surrendering a demoralizing 17-play possession to Los Angeles. A 3rd & 5 dart to Allen despite tight Kohou coverage was a devastating play for the "D," and another third-down pass to Allen sustained the drive. Herbert found Allen yet again for an 18-yarder, then kept the ball on a 3rd & 8 run, gaining 10 yards when Riley -- who was in coverage on the play -- kept his back turned to the quarterback. A 12-yard rumble by Ekeler that saw him carry Campbell and Van Ginkel seemed to expend the rest of Miami's hope, though a Herbert fumbled snap very nearly gave the Dolphins the break they needed. Herbert recovered, and on 3rd & goal, Chubb pressure forced a short pass to Ekeler that lost four yards when he was swarmed by Baker and Sieler. The Chargers made a 28-yard field goal to push the lead back to two scores at 23-14.
• A series of short passes moved the 'Fins down the field, but a perfectly thrown deep ball to Waddle on 3rd & 2 fell harmlessly to the turf when the wideout never looked for the ball. Sanders hammered a clutch 55-yarder to extend Miami's hope, trimming the margin to 23-17 with 1:10 remaining.
• A good onsides kick by Sanders bounced off the return man and was loose on the ground, but Bethel could not win the ball away from the Chargers' Nick Niemann. Two Herbert kneeldowns ended the contest, dealing the 'Fins a costly second loss in a row.

2022 Schedule

Miami 20, New England 7 (1-0)

Miami 42, Baltimore 38 (2-0)

Miami 21, Buffalo 19 (3-0)

Cincinnati 27, Miami 15 (3-1)

New York Jets 40, Miami 17 (3-2)

Minnesota 24, Miami 16 (3-3)

Miami 16, Pittsburgh 10 (4-3)

Miami 31, Detroit 27 (5-3)

Miami 35, Chicago 32 (6-3)

Miami 39, Cleveland 17 (7-3)

Miami 30, Houston 15 (8-3)

San Francisco 33, Miami 17 (8-4)

Los Angeles Chargers 23, Miami 17 (8-5)

Day 1,005, Quasi-Quarantine: Potent Mix Of Satire And Science Fiction Make "War With The Newts" Potent A Prescient Allegory

"Please tell me how I can not be sorry for mankind! But I was most sorry when I saw how of its own will and at all costs it rushed to its ruin. At the sight of it you would shout. You would scream and throw up both your arms as if you saw a train run on to the wrong track. It's too late to stop it now."

Brilliantly clever, "War with the Newts" combines satire, humor, science fiction, and allegory to eviscerate the natural tendencies of the human race to exploit any new discovery of value. 

Karel Capek peppers his novel with memorable characters (Captain van Toch is hysterical) and inventive names (the Salamander Syndicate would be a stellar band name), but weaves in pertinent commentary on colonialism, fascism, segregation, and the arms race.

Written in 1936 and translated from Czechoslovakian, context and meaning matter when considering "War with the Newts." The book becomes almost overly scientific and dense at times (56 pages alone on the annals of the newts), but the ability to meld comedy with a mounting horror speaks volumes to Capek's talents (this is a man who, like, invented the word "robot") and ability to see the future ("What destroys us will not be a cosmic catastrophe but mere reasons of state, economics, prestige, etc.").

"Never before has man experienced such opportunities in life as he does to-day; but show me one man who is happy; one class which is contented, or a nation that does not feel threatened in its very existence.

"All unhappiness of the man lies in the fact that he was compelled to become mankind, or that he became mankind too late, after he had already been irrevocably divided into nations, races, faiths, professions, and classes, into rich and poor, into educated and uneducated, into the rulers and the ruled."

The author himself considered the novel's protagonist to be "nationalism," and much of his material appears oddly prophetic and contemporary. 

Eighty-five years after its publication, "War with the Newts" is a masterwork of insightful political theory and incisive writing.

"Captain van Toch shook his head. 'Man, there aren't any devils. And if there were, they would look like Europeans.'"

Day 1,004, Quasi-Quarantine: An Early Holiday Steal Takes On Melancholy Meaning With The Clean's "Anthology"

 

I'm late to this stellar band, but when I saw The Clean "Anthology" on sale at a dramatically reduced price, I had to pounce. This New Zealand indie group was led by brothers Hamish and David Kilgour and helped form the "Dunedin sound," an eclectic blend of music that helped define 1980s post-punk/indie/psychedelic/college/garage rock.

Merge Records released "Anthology" as a two-disc compilation and celebration of The Clean's influence on so many prominent American indie groups.

The day after the box set arrived, this happened: 

I'll be listening with extra emphasis after this loss. RIP Hamish ... and all hail The Clean.

Day 1,003, Quasi-Quarantine: The "Star Wars" Advent Calendar Locks In Coordinates To Tattooine

 

After some stellar and unexpected mini-builds arrived in the first five days of the "Star Wars" Lego advent calendar, the designers upped the ante in the next five days of reveals.

Day 6: "Havoc Marauder"

Day 7: Luke's Landspeeder

Day 8: T-16 Skyhopper

Day 9: C-3PO

Day 10: Moisture Farm Evaporator

The "Bad Batch" shuttle led the way on Day 6, a nod to the Clone Force 99 crew that has captured the hearts of so many. The "Havoc Marauder" was beautifully designed and a welcome continued homage to the Clone Wars.

The theme shifted to Tattooine in subsequent days, with a niftily done landspeeder (complete with tan and white bricks to represent Luke and C-3PO) followed by a completely unexpected T-16 Skyhopper for the nostalgia lovers.

The next day featured a holiday C-3PO, complete with a blue Christmas sweater with R2-D2 on the front. The second five days concluded with a forgettable moisture farm evaporator -- well rendered and certainly in line with a Tattooine emphasis, but a bit of a throwaway in the spirit of a weapons rack (which has yet to make its annual appearance).

For me, the "Havoc Marauder" and the T-16 Skyhopper were the highlights for the second week. Thanks as always to Jay's Brick Blog for the insights and guidance where needed, and here's to hoping the next five days bring even more surprises.

Limerick Friday #568: A Quarantine Milestone Has Arriven -- Day 1,000

The pandemic did begin

And isolation set in

Writing offered escape ways

For a thousand damn days

And a thousand more, I'm bettin'

NC State gave a darn

And celebrated every '83 yarn

A Reynolds visit

Boy, do I miss it

Good to be back in the ol' Barn

From people I usually cower

It's kinda my superpower

But a downtown trip

To collaborate and quip 

Was worth being back in the Tower

Paying the big bucks

So the roster won't sucks

Verlander and Nimmo both suit

Throw in Kate Upton to boot

About luxury tax, Cohen gives zero fucks

Legos and Funkos, oh my

Even makeup on the sly

A new a.m. norm

A routine for the morn'

Advent calendars are a win for this guy

Last time ...

Day 999, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-49ers Game 12 Review

 

Miami saw its five-game winning streak come to an end after going on the road and losing the turnover battle (4-1) and committing eight penalties. The game featured some momentous fourth-down plays and a couple of challenge overturns, but the difference was the 'Niners controlling possession (a whopping 40:34 to 19:26) and finding a way to win despite being down to Mr. Irrelevant at quarterback for nearly the entire game. 

On the back-to-the-lab recap ...

Offense

• After a promising start, Miami just had far too many empty possessions. The Dolphins did not convert a single third down (0-7) and had just 45 offensive plays (to San Francisco's 79), and managed just 33 yards (on eight carries) in the contest. The 'Fins visited the red zone just once in the game -- settling for a field goal -- and committed four turnovers. Overall, coach Mike McDaniel has to fight the temptation to throw the ball on every down and seek more balance against the league's most talented defenses.
• In a game where Tua Tagovailoa appeared to be too indecisive and panicky, he connected on 18 of 33 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns. However, he threw two interceptions, narrowly avoided a couple more, coughed up a fumble that resulted in a score, was sacked three times, and took too many awkward hits. When he got banged up late, the 'Fins put in Skyler Thompson, who promptly tossed yet another pick.
• Raheem Mostert carried the ball seven times for 30 yards in his 28 snaps, but inexplicably, Jeff Wilson got a single carry (for three yards) and two targets (no catches) against the team that traded him in just 17 snaps. Alec Ingold (25 snaps) had a flurry of activity with three catches for 15 yards on one drive, but otherwise was not much of a factor as the Dolphins abandoned the run.
• At receiver, Tyreek Hill was a monster once again, hauling in nine of 14 targets for 146 yards and a touchdown to earn a 90.4 grade from Pro Football Focus. Jaylen Waddle was limited to just a single catch for nine yards on five targets in 24 snaps, but Trent Sherfield picked up some slack with a 75-yard score on his lone catch among three targets in his 30 snaps. River Cracraft (20 snaps) earned three targets, pulling in two for 29 yards. Down the stretch, the 'Fins will need a healthy Waddle and to hope that Cedrick Wilson (nine snaps vs. San Francisco) is able to provide some return on investment this season.
• Durham Smythe led the way once again among modest tight end involvement with 27 snaps, recording two receptions for 21 yards. Mike Gesicki had a fourth-down catch for a conversation overturned on replay and otherwise was not targeted in only nine snaps, while rookie Tanner Conner did not record a stat in his two scrimmage snaps. After being shut out in back-to-back games, "G-Sick" now has just three catches in the last four games.
• Up front, the Dolphins faced a massive challenge when both starting offensive tackles (Teronn Armstead and Austin Jackson) were ruled out for the contest, and left tackle Greg Little and right tackle Brandon Shell had understandable struggles at times. Shell was much more solid, earning a 73.9 PFF grade, while left guard Robert Jones (false start) and right guard Rob Hunt (holding) had crucial penalties. The playcalling did no favors for the offensive line, with the one-dimensional strategy backfiring when the 49ers got up two scores and were able to rush the passer with abandon.

Defense

• Despite the 'Niners dominating possession and putting up 24 first downs and 351 yards under a third-string rookie quarterback, the Miami defense kept them in the game, holding San Francisco to four field goals, allowing just two touchdowns in five red zone trips, and surrendering a respectable 121 yards to one of the best running teams in the league. The 49ers averaged just 4.4 yards per play (to Miami's 6.8), but converted 8 of 19 third-down attempts to sustain drives. 
• The defensive ends led the way again, with Christian Wilkins (77.9 PFF grade) and Zach Sieler putting up monster games while both playing a staggering 76 snaps. Wilkins had 12 tackles, including a team-best eight solos and one stop for a loss. Sieler notched seven tackles, half a sack, and two quarterback hits, while Justin Zimmer contributed an assisted tackle in his 13 snaps.
• At nose tackle, Raekwon Davis did not record a statistic in his 49 snaps, but John Jenkins made three tackles in his 26 snaps, earning a 75.7 PFF grade.
• On the weak side, Bradley Chubb registered three tackles, a sack, a stop for loss and two quarterback hits in his 48 snaps, drawing a holding flag while committing an unsportsmanslike conduct penalty as well. In his 21 snaps, Melvin Ingram posted a solo tackle, a sack, a stop for loss, and a quarterback hit, though he also was whistled for tripping.
• On the strong side, Jaelan Phillips recorded three tackles, half a sack, and three quarterback hits in his 55 snaps, while Andrew Van Ginkel put up five tackles, half a sack, and one quarterback hit in his 31 snaps.
• At middle linebacker, Jerome Baker had another strong game, delivering 12 tackles, half a sack, one stop for a loss, and a quarterback hit in a hefty 74 snaps. Elandon Roberts added four tackles and one stop for a loss in 56 snaps, while Duke Riley collected two tackles and had a rough game in pass coverage in his 30 snaps.
• Xavien Howard and Kader Kohou played all 84 snaps as the starting corners, with "X" contributing three solo stops, two pass breakups, and an interception and Kohou notching five tackles. Both players were called for pass interference. Keion Crossen's three tackles and a pass breakup in 25 snaps were enough to earn a 78.6 PFF grade, but he appeared to miss his assignment on the McCaffrey touchdown. Justin Bethel did not see any snaps from scrimmage in this one.
• At strong safety, Eric Rowe had five tackles and a pass breakup in his 80 snaps, while Verone McKinley contributed a solo stop in his seven snaps.
• Once again, Jevon Holland played every snap (84) at free safety, picking up seven tackles. Elijah Campbell had two solo tackles in five reserve snaps.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders hit a 43-yard field goal and both extra points, but his counterpart Robbie Gould was a monster, drilling all four field goals (three of 43 yards or more) and all three extra points.
• Thomas Morstead averaged 51.5 yards on four punts -- getting some good bounces along the way -- with a long of 63. The 49ers' Mitch Wishnowsky downed two of his four punts inside the 20-yard line.
• On kickoffs, Mostert had a 25-yard return and Smythe added a nine-yarder at the end of the half. Cedrick Wilson returned a pair of punts for 21 yards, but the Dolphins surrendered 84 yards in kickoff and punt returns by San Francisco's Ray-Ray McCloud.
• Campbell and Bethel played 27 special teams plays to lead defensive players, while Smythe's 15 snaps in the third phase paced all offensive players. Campbell was whistled for being out of bounds on kick coverage.

Momentum plays

• The Dolphins got off to the ideal possible start, with Tua hitting Sherfield over the middle, where he took advantage of bad angles by a linebacker and safety to race 75 yards for a touchdown on the game's very first play.
• San Francisco converted its first third down when Brandon Aiyuk beat Howard on a 3rd & 7, then got another big play when Christian McCaffrey easily dusted Riley in coverage for a 33-yard gain, with Holland saving a potential touchdown. After a near interception by Ingram off a deflection by Roberts, Miami got a third-down sack from Baker and Phillips. Jimmy Garapolo was injured and lost for the game on the play, but the ageless Gould hit a 47-yarder to trim the margin to 7-3.
• A quick three-and-out from the 'Fins ensued, with a dangerous third-down pass from Tua falling incomplete.  On the 49ers' next possession,  McCaffrey beat Riley in coverage again to convert a 3rd & 3. A shaky pass interference call on Kohou gave San Francisco another first down on a 3rd & 10 play, then Kohou appeared to miss an assignment, allowing any easy touchdown by Kyle Juszcyk to push the 'Niners ahead, 10-7.
• The Dolphins had another three-and-out when Tua fired incomplete twice for Waddle. A tripping call on Ingram gave San Francisco some life on its next drive, but Wilkins made a huge stop on McCaffrey on a 3rd & 2 run, with the three-yard loss forcing a 49ers punt.
• On the second play of the next Miami possession, Tua threw a perfect pass to Smythe, who absorbed a big hit but pulled it in for 19 yards. Two plays later, Tua hit a back shoulder pass to Hill, who made a stellar adjustment with the ball in the air to reel in the 18-yarder.  Another 17-yard pass to Hill and a couple of Ingold catches gave the 'Fins two more first downs, but a bad play concept on 3rd & 1 left Nick Bosa to be blocked by a running back. After the easy sack, Sanders hit from 43 yards away to tie the score at 10.
• The 'Fins forced a three-and-out when Baker pressure led to a Crossen pass breakup, but Miami couldn't do anything with the ball, going three-and-out as well after three straight incompletions, including a dropped pass by Jeff Wilson on a wheel route that would have been a big gainer.
• A 19-yard run by Jordan Mason got the 49ers going, but a sack by Van Ginkel and Sieler was followed by third-down pressure from Holland that resulted in a short gain. On 4th and 4, Holland pressured third-stringer Brock Purdy again, and "X" picked off a fade attempt to Aiyuk for his first interception of the campaign.
• Miami started its next drive with an 18-yard completion to Cracraft on a risky throw, but another third-down Bosa sack forced the 'Fins to punt once again.
• Oddly, the Dolphins accepted an illegal man downfield penalty on its next drive to give San Francisco a 2nd & 8 rather than a 3rd & 3, and the home team responded with a McCaffrey conversion. On 3rd & 10, Phillips applied massive pressure, but Purdy hit Kittle over the middle for 19 yards on a clutch play. A missed tackle by Howard resulted in a Jauan Jennings 19-yard gain, with a big hit by a hustling Wilkins forcing a fumble that went out of bounds on the play. With the 'Niners retaining possession, a Howard pass interference on the next play compounded matters, and on a 3rd & goal play, Purdy found McCaffrey on an angle route for an easy score. The play looked like another missed assignment by the 'Fins, with Rowe seeming to give McCaffrey entirely too much room. The touchdown with four seconds left was a demoralizing way to end the half, with San Francisco pushing ahead, 17-10.
• On the first drive of the second half, the 'Niners got 15 yards on a pass to Jennings, but consistent Chubb pressure contributed to an Ingram sack that led to a San Fran punt.
• Miami got going with a 19-yarder to Tua plus a roughing-the-passer penalty on Bosa, but a false start on Jones and a hold on Hunt was followed by an interception by Jimmy Ward on a 1st & 25 play that saw Jeff Wilson fall down on his route.
• A 12-play drive that covered just 39 yards but took up more than seven minutes ensued. The 49ers converted a 3rd & 1 and a 4th & 1 (a controversial play that should have been blown dead short once the quarterback had his momentum stopped on a sneak), but the defense rallied to force a 43-yard Gould field goal and a 20-10 lead.
• Tua immediately followed with a poor throw to Hill that was tipped and intercepted to give the 'Niners back-to-back picks. The 'Fins responded by seeming to force a McCaffrey fumble that was recovered by Baker, but the pass was ruled incomplete. San Francisco got yet another Gould field goal to push the advantage to 23-10.
• Short passes to Hill and Waddle earned Miami a first down, then Hill pulled in a 19-yarder off of play action. On the next play, Tua hit him in stride from 45 yards away on a deep post to give the Dolphins a crucial touchdown and trim the margin to 23-17 early in the fourth quarter.
• A dangerous 3rd & 1 throw was reeled in for 12 yards and a first down by Deebo Samuel. Sieler turned in three straight good plays to help force a punt that Phillips appeared to get a piece of, but the kick still ended up at the Miami 10-yard line.
• A grinding 11-play drive by the 'Fins ensued, with a Sherfield conversion on 3rd & 2 later overturned as incomplete on a challenge. On 4th & 1, Tua hit Hill for nine yards, with the wideout absorbing a big hit for the first down. Tua then hit Cracraft for 11 and Hill for nine, with Mostert then bursting off tackle for eight yards and another first down. On a 4th & 2 play, Tua hit Gesicki on the sideline for a first down, but the catch was overturned once again on a 49ers challenge to give the ball back to the home team.
• San Francisco put together an important 10-play drive, using short gains before McCaffrey ripped off a 30-yard run that saw Chubb chase him downfield to help save a touchdown. A Chubb sack helped set up a 4th & 28, but Gould once again delivered, booting a 48-yarder to make it a two-score game at 26-17 with just over two minutes remaining.
• On the first play of the following possession, Tua was hit by Bosa and fumbled. When no one went for the ball and assumed an incompletion -- something that happens seemingly every week -- Dre Greenlaw picked up the ball and walked in from 23 yards away for a gift touchdown and a 33-17 lead.
• With Tua hobbled on the previous sack, Miami went with Skyler Thompson on the next drive. On his first play, he threw into quadruple coverage for an easy Fred Warner interception. Instead of sliding to end the game, Warner returned it for 20 yards before Smythe finally tackled him.
• After three straight kneeldowns by Purdy, the 'Niners had secured the 33-17 victory. 

2022 Schedule

Miami 20, New England 7 (1-0)

Miami 42, Baltimore 38 (2-0)

Miami 21, Buffalo 19 (3-0)

Cincinnati 27, Miami 15 (3-1)

New York Jets 40, Miami 17 (3-2)

Minnesota 24, Miami 16 (3-3)

Miami 16, Pittsburgh 10 (4-3)

Miami 31, Detroit 27 (5-3)

Miami 35, Chicago 32 (6-3)

Miami 39, Cleveland 17 (7-3)

Miami 30, Houston 15 (8-3)

San Francisco 33, Miami 17 (8-4)