Scooter & Hum: Day 682, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Saints Game 15 Review

In one of the most desultory wins you'll ever see, Miami bested a depleted New Orleans squad in the Superdome. Each team was whistled for seven penalties, and the Dolphins mostly just ran out the clock for the entire fourth quarter. There's no arguing against a seventh straight win on the road against a franchise as well-run as the Saints (especially went it pushes you over .500 for the first time all season), so it's probably best just to leave it here.

On to the desultory recap ...

Offense

The running game was ... persistent? Miami rushed it 30 times, picking up 86 yards for an ugly 2.9 yards per attempt. The 'Fins had only 259 total yards, averaged 4.4 yards per play, went just five of 15 on third down, and converted one of three red zone visits into a touchdown. On the plus side, the visitors did control the time of possession (33:56 to 26:04).
Tua Tagovailoa connected on 19 of 26 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown, adding a single rushing yard. He was sacked twice, threw an interception, and was graded with five turnover-worthy plays by Pro Football Focus (PFF). Backup Jacoby Brissett was sacked among his four snaps, but the story here was the continued regression of Tua's footwork and fundamentals on a national stage.
At running back, Duke Johnson had 13 carries for 39 yards, while Phillip Lindsay tallied 36 yards on his 13 rushes. Myles Gaskin only carried three times for 10 yards and added a six-yard catch. The running back snaps were split pretty evenly, with Johnson getting 23, Gaskin 20, and Lindsay 19.
Jaylen Waddle reeled in 10 passes for 92 yards with a touchdown and a long of 24 yards, earning an 87.7 grade by PFF. He was targeted 12 times, while other receivers were targeted four times. Mack Hollins had a 40-yard reception among his 11 snaps while Tommylee Lewis had a catch for seven yards in his three snaps. Somehow, DeVante Parker played 46 snaps without a target, with Isaiah Ford suffering the same fate on his 20 snaps. Albert Wilson was not available for the game.
At tight end, Mike Gesicki had three catches for 22 yards and Durham Smythe added three receptions for 31 yards. Adam Shaheen (19 snaps) and Hunter Long (four snaps) rounded out the tight end rotation. It was a slow night in the passing game for this group, though Smythe continued to show he's a plus blocker.
Up front, the line allowed pressure on 14 of 33 dropbacks, according to PFF, and struggled in a big way overall against a really good New Orleans defensive front. Left tackle Liam Eichenberg was called for a hold and recovered yet another Tua fumble, while left guard Austin Jackson also got flagged for holding and had another rough contest. Center Michael Dieter picked up a holding penalty, while right tackle Jesse Davis was turnstiled on a number of occasions. As usual, right guard Robert Hunt was the lone bright spot, earning a 90.8 grade from PFF. Reserve Adam Pankey got a single snap as a guard in Miami's jumbo package.

Defense

The Saints were limited to just 10 first downs, 164 yards, one of three fourth-down conversions, and zero for 12 on third-down attempts. Throw in Miami collecting eight sacks and six stops for losses and this was about as dominant a defensive performance as you'll see, albeit it against a roster devastated by COVID.
On the edges, Emmanuel Ogbah led the way with five tackles, two sacks, another stop for a loss, three quarterback hits, and a staggering eight pressures according to PFF. Andrew Van Ginkel chipped in with three solo tackles, a stop for a loss, and two batted passes. Rookie Jaelen Phillips continued his late-season fade, playing 26 snaps without a stat.
On the interior, Christian Wilkins registered eight tackles, half a sack, and three quarterback hits, to go with an offensive snap in goal-to-go situation. He was also credited with six quarterback pressures by PFF, good for an 87.4 rating from that outlet. Zach Seiler gave New Orleans fits, registering six stops, a sack, a tackle for a loss, and two quarterback hits. Raekwon Davis came up with three tackles, half a sack, and a quarterback hit, while Adam Butler didn't dent the stat sheet in 21 snaps.
Elandon Roberts led the linebackers with seven tackles, while Jerome Baker posted six tackles, 1.5 sacks, two stops for losses, and three quarterback hits for a 79.1 PFF grade. Calvin Munson (two tackles in two snaps), Vince Biegel (a solo stop in two snaps), and Sam Eguavoen (two snaps) saw reserve duty.
Xavien Howard notched five tackles and a sack at one corner spot, while Byron Jones had an assisted tackle and was called for illegal hands to the face on the other side. Each allowed only a single first-down reception in their area, according to PFF, in what was a quiet day in coverage for the entire secondary. Former first-rounder Noah Ighbinoghene got two snaps in garbage time, though he did manage to get whistled for an illegal hands to the face penalty on a punt return.
In the slot, Nik Needham made the most of his 21 snaps with two solo stops, a pass breakup, and a pick-six, garnering an 85.7 grade from PFF. Eric Rowe added a solo tackle in 26 snaps playing a corner-safety hybrid role. Reserve Justin Coleman did not play in this one.
It was a busy evening for the safeties, with Brandon Jones notching six tackles, a sack, a stop for loss, a pass breakup, and an interception (plus a roughing-the-passer penalty) and Jevon Holland recording five tackles, half a sack, and a quarterback hit. Backup Sheldrick Redwine got two snaps with the game out of hand.

Special teams

Jason Sanders made two of three attempts (with a long of 48 yards) and both extra points. His lone miss came from 59 yards, so he deserves a bit of a pass on that one during what has been a trying campaign.
Michael Palardy was busy, averaging 42.5 yards on his six punts, with three placed inside the 20-yard line.
Lewis managed to tally negative punt-return yardage with -1 yards on his two returns, though he did take back a kickoff for 23 yards. Holland had a 10-yard punt return.
New Orleans's Easop Winston did have a 17-yard punt return, with Hollins having a couple of uncharacteristic miscues in kick coverage.

Momentum plays

A 3rd & 2 conversion by Waddle that included a tacked-on late hit got Miami going on the opening drive, but two Tua misfires forced a punt. Hollins didn't realize that the return man didn't call a fair catch, allowing the Saints to move from the 5-yard line to the 16.
Three plays later, Van Ginkel tipped a pass at the line, allowing Needham to intercept the ball in stride and race 28 yards untouched for the pick-six and a 7-0 lead.
The Saints went three-and-out, thanks to a sack by Ogbah and Wilkins. However, a poor return by Lewis did not allow the 'Fins to capitalize with good field position.
On the 'Fins drive, Waddle drew a pass interference, then converted a 3rd & 7 on a nicely threaded ball by Tua between layered coverage. Lindsay converted a 3rd & 1 with a Wildcat run, but a few plays later, Tua was drilled and fumbled when Jackson was beaten. Eichenberg eventually recovered the ball down the field, saving three points for Miami when Sanders hit from 48 yards for a 10-0 advantage.
A Baker sack forced another New Orleans three-and-out, but an Ighbinoghene penalty on the return cost the Dolphins again as the first quarter wound to a close.
Two bad spots led to a Miami three-and-out, but after an initial first down, the Saints were stymied yet again. After the home team punted, they had five yards of total offense on their first four possessions.
A late, poor holding call on Eichenberg erased a 3rd & 2 conversion by Waddle, forcing yet another three-and-out by the 'Fins.
New Orleans finally put together a drive, aided by a roughing-the-flag penalty on Brandon Jones. The defense stiffened to stop Alvin Kamara on 3rd & 2, but a 38-yard field goal trimmed the margin to 10-3.
Waddle converted a short third down with a swing pass out of the backfield, then Smythe made a tough 18-yard catch over the middle to set up a 3rd & 2. However, Davis was beaten quickly and easily, leading to another ill-timed sack of Tua. Sanders's 59-yard attempt drifted just right to send the teams into the half at 10-3.
To start the second half, the Saints went three-and-out, with Van Ginkel narrowly missing a third-down interception.
Three plays later, Tua climbed the pocket on 3rd & 8 but overthrew Hollins for an easy interception, bringing the crowd into the game.
New Orleans got a quick first down, but consistent pressure culminated in a Brandon Jones sack to end the possession.
Pinned at its own 14-yard line, the 'Fins got out of trouble with a well-thrown 40-yarder from Tua to Hollins, followed by a flea-flicker strike to Waddle and a rugged Johnson run that saw him truck a pair of would-be tacklers for a third straight first down. Tua was crushed on a 3rd & 2 pass to the end zone that was nearly picked again, but the Saints were whistled for both holding and roughing the passer. On 2nd & goal, the Dolphins ran a cool concept (the Colts ran the same play vs. the Patriots) when Tua pitched to Waddle, who raced in the other direction and cut back for a score and a 17-3 advantage.
The Saints got a break when Baker stole the ball from Kamara on a short pass, with the refs erroneously ruling that forward momentum was stopped. However, the home team still went three-and-out on the possession.
After a couple of Lindsay runs set up third-and-short, Tua tried to run for it but absorbed another wicked shot. The ensuing punt hit Hollins, giving the Saints the ball on their own 29-yard line as the third quarter wound down.
Following a failed fourth-down play by the Saints, the Dolphins took over at New Orleans's 38-yard line. A nifty play that saw Tua avoid pressure to find Gesicki along the sideline moved Miami into scoring position, but an uncalled pass interference was followed by a poor Tua throw for Gaskin on a third-down slant. Sanders paid off the good field position with a 34-yarder to make it 20-3.
A sack by Baker and Holland was offset by a 19-yard draw by Kamara, allowing the Saints to convert a 4th & 1. Back-to-back sacks by Seiler and Ogbah forced a 3rd & 31 and New Orleans was once more forced to punt.
With Miami in full run-out-the-clock mode, Palardy combined with Hollins to pin the Saints at their own 1-yard line after a nicely executed punt.
A 56-yard catch and run by Lil'Jordan Humphrey briefly gave the crowd new life, but Brandon Jones reeled in a fourth-down interception to end the threat.
Three straight runs and a punt by the Dolphins was mercifully followed by two runs by New Orleans to bring an egregiously ugly game to a finish.