Scooter & Hum: Day 1,326, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Patriots Game 8 Review

Welp, the 'Fins lost the turnover battle yet again, 2-1. But they dominated time of possession (35:55 to 24:05), ran 22 more plays than New England, and committed just three penalties. Jalen Ramsey returned more than a month earlier than anticipated and contributed an interception, Tyreek Hill eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving for the season after just eight games, and Tua Tagovailoa remained perfect against Bill Belichick, pushing his mark to a sterling 6-0.

And notably, my group chat was largely quiet despite occasional whining, making it bizarre for a contributor who was unable to watch the game in real time to find out much later that Miami won by two touchdowns.

On to the eat-it-Belicheat recap ...

Offense

Running a whopping 73 plays, the Dolphins racked up 390 total yards, but struggled at times in certain phases against a complex New England defense. Miami went five of 14 on third downs, though they did convert all three fourth-down attempts. The 'Fins averaged just 3.0 yards per carry and scored touchdowns on just two of four red-zone trips. Overall, it was a strong effort considering the sheer number of injuries the team is dealing with.
Tua handled the blitz extremely well, hitting 30 of 45 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns. He was sacked twice, threw an interception, and lost a fumble, while running six times for just eight yards. He was assigned a 72.4 grade by Pro Football Focus, below par in the context of the season he is having.
Raheem Mostert led the way at running back, carrying the ball 13 times for 46 yards and a touchdown but failing to get a target in the passing game among his 43 snaps. Salvon Ahmed was stymied on five of his touches, losing a combined three yards, but did have a 20-yard reception on his sixth touch in 19 snaps. Jeff Wilson also got 19 snaps, posting 37 yards on his seven touches. Fullback Alec Ingold had a five-yard catch among two targets in 25 snaps. With defenses adjusting and the offensive front decimated by injury, the 'Fins have struggled for two straight games on the ground.
At receiver, Hill was dominant again despite being limited in practice due to injury for most of the week. In 58 snaps, he reeled in eight of 13 targets for 112 yards and a score, earning a 79.7 PFF grade. Jaylen Waddle played a larger role, with a dozen targets in 58 snaps, catching seven for 121 yards and a touchdown that iced the game. Braxton Barrios caught two of three targets for eight yards in 41 plays, while Cedrick Wilson scored a touchdown on his lone catch -- a one-yarder -- in 23 snaps. Chase Claypool was active as the fifth receiver and got 11 snaps, snaring a 15-yard catch on two targets for his first reception as a Dolphin. Over the last couple of weeks, a handful of drops from Hill and Waddle have blemished an otherwise phenomenal season for this group thus far.
Durham Smythe hauled in all three of his targets for 28 yards in his 51 snaps at tight end, though he was whistled for a hold. Julian Hill continued to see significant action, contributing a four-yard catch on two targets in 34 snaps. Tyler Kroft also made an appearance for the first time in a while, earning three snaps as the third tight end over Tanner Conner.
Up front, the 'Fins were once again missing left tackle Terron Armstead and center Connor Williams, and standout right guard Robert Hunt had to depart after just 27 snaps. That meant reserve Lester Cotton had to play both guard spots among his 71 snaps, with Robert Jones -- a better run blocker -- coming in for 56 snaps at left guard that included holding and false start penalties. Liam Eichenberg once again handled center duties, with he and right tackle Austin Jackson playing 77 snaps. Jackson did not allow a sack or a pressure in his 48 pass-blocking snaps, continuing his quietly effective campaign. Deep reserve Kion Smith even had to come in for five snaps for a depleted Miami offensive line.

Defense

Another sound performance limited the Patsies to just 13 first downs and stopped eight of nine third-down conversion attempts. New England was held to just 218 total yards and 77 rushing yards, with one touchdown on two red-zone visits. Perhaps most encouragingly, Miami is getting closer to the full complement of personnel it envisioned having on hand this season, giving coordinator Vic Fangio even more options with which to create chaos.
At defensive end, Christian Wilkins earned a 74.9 PFF grade for his 46 snaps, collecting five tackles, a sack, a stop for loss, and a quarterback hit. Zach Sieler notched three tackles and two quarterback hits in his 45 snaps, but Emmanuel Ogbah was shut out again in just six snaps.
With Miami going to more exotic formations, Raekwon Davis got just 20 snaps, did not record a statistic, and was the only nose tackle to see action.
The outside linebacker duo of Bradley Chubb (43 snaps) and Jaelen Phillips (45 snaps) continued to wreak havoc. Chubb registered three tackles, a sack, a stop for loss, and two quarterback hits on his way to a 76.3 PFF grade, while Phillips amassed eight tackles, seven solos, a sack, a stop for loss, and a quarterback hit -- good for an 85.5 grade from PFF. Andrew Van Ginkel was limited to 14 snaps, picking up an assisted tackle and a quarterback hit.
At inside linebacker, David Long's four tackles and three solos in 47 snaps was good for a stellar 88.4 PFF grade. Jerome Baker was good for five tackles and three solos in 53 snaps, while Duke Riley got a lone snap in reserve.
In his first game as a Dolphin, Jalen Ramsey put together a memorable performance. He had an assisted tackle, a pass breakup, an interception with a 49-yard return in his 49 snaps, while also forcing a fumble that was nullified by penalty and nearly making another pick. Ramsey earned a 90.0 PFF grade and sparked a secondary that was once again missing Xavien Howard. Kader Kohou had four solos, a stop for loss, and a pass breakup in 53 snaps, while Eli Apple was solid with three solos in 47 snaps. In reserve, Justin Bethel (solo tackle) and Nik Needham (in his first game of the season coming off injury) got four snaps apiece. The defensive back rotation is going to be fascinating to watch evolve when Howard is back in action.
With Jevon Holland out due to concussion, Brandon Jones saw his most extensive action of the season, tallying seven tackles and a pass breakup in 53 snaps. DeShon Elliott contributed six tackles, a pass breakup, and a couple of resounding hits in the same number of snaps.

Special teams

Jason Sanders was perfect again in limited opportunities, connecting on a field goal and all four extra-point tries.
Jake Bailey punted three times for a 48.7-yard average, placing two inside the 20-yard line, allowing one to result in a touchback, and uncorking a 63-yarder.
Berrios posted a 25-yard kickoff return and 17 more yards on two punt returns.
Among offensive players, Ahmed and Claypool led the way with 12 snaps apiece on special teams, with Claypool contributing an assisted tackle. Bethel, Riley, Elijah Campbell, and Cameron Goode got 20 snaps each in the third phase to pace defensive players.

Momentum plays

The 'Fins wasted no time in setting the defensive tone, forcing a three-and-out on the strength of a strong Kohou tackle and a potential late hit on Jones (it would have been called in Foxboro) going unwhistled. Miami couldn't get much going either, getting a fourth-down conversion on a strong Waddle catch but nothing more.
An initial first down by the Patriots did not lead to a longer drive, with Jones and Baker stopping a 3rd & 4 pass after Chubb slowed the play down initially. The Dolphins also began its next series with a first down on a 15-yard strike to Smythe that saw him bend awkwardly. However, after Hunt allowed a sack, Tua made an awful decision on a weak throw in the direction of Hill that was easily intercepted by Kyle Duggar, who viciously stiff-armed Berrios as part of a 15-yard return.
Taking over at Miami's 30-yard line, the visitors struck three plays later, with Kendrick Bourne easily gaining separation from Bethel on a crossing pattern and coasting 24 yards for the touchdown.
As is their custom, the Dolphins did not waste much time in responding. Three straight Tua completions netted 18 yards, then two Wilson carries earned 15 more. A deep shot to Hill covered 42 yards for an easy score, tying the game at seven.
At the start of the second quarter, Ramsey put a big hit on Ezekiel Elliott, who coughed the ball up, but it bounced out of bounds just beyond the reach of Long. Miami accepted a holding penalty on the play, and a strong stunt by Chubb and Sieler on 3rd & 16 resulted in a Mac Jones incompletion under duress.
Taking advantage of good field position on its own 47-yard line, Miami used 14 plays to cover 53 yards. Tua scrambled for eight yards on a 4th & 4 play for a first down, then found Hill for 14 more. A 13-yard screen pass to Waddle turned a 3rd & 14 into a 4th & 1, and a screen to the other side to Hill got two yards when he slipped an initial tackle attempt. Tua got away with a near interception in the red zone, then Miami got a pass interference call on 3rd & goal to sustain the drive. After a poor pass on a fade to Hill, Tua drilled a slant dart to Cedrick Wilson to cap the drive and push the 'Fins ahead, 14-7.
Hard running by Rhamondre Stevenson marked the ensuing Patsies drive, with a 14-yard pass to former Dolphin DeVante Parker moving New England inside Miami's 25-yard line. On the next play, Ramsey peeled off his coverage to snare a sideline pass intended for Bourne, then raced half the field before going out of bounds despite picking up a strong block by Kohou on Jones.
Starting at New England's 40-yard line, Tua nearly threw another interception before finding Waddle for 11 on a slant. A Smythe hold led to a 2nd & 14, but Waddle made a tremendous 17-yard catch while slipping. The Patriots held, however, forcing a 30-yard Sanders field goal to make the score 17-7 headed into the halftime break.
The 'Fins got the ball to begin the second half, but got off to a disastrous start on the first play when Tua's high handoff to Mostert resulted in a fumble that was recovered by New England at Miami's 19-yard line. The Dolphins "D" responded to the challenge, however, with Wilkins and Sieler combining for a third-down sack to force a short field goal that cut the home team's advantage to 17-10.
Tua wasted little time in atoning, hitting Hill with a 25-yard strike to start the next possession in style. Waddle dropped a second-down pass, but made up for it on the next play by rising high to reel in a 23-yarder on 3rd & 9. Claypool took a short pass and bowled over a couple of would-be tacklers on his way to a 15-yard gain for his first grab as a 'Fin. Smythe caught a short pass and seemed to be headed into the end zone, but took a big hit to drop him at the goal line. Mostert walked in for a touchdown on the next play to extend the lead to 24-10.
New England picked up 24 yards on the first play of its next drive when Ramsey nearly got another interception but ran into Baker in coverage. A 2nd & 11 pass intended for former Dolphin DeVante Parker was incomplete thanks to a wicked hit by Elliott, and third-down pressure by Chubb led to an incomplete pass with good coverage by Apple. A strong Patriots punt pinned Miami at its own 4-yard line.
A 3rd & 1 screen to Hill got seven yards and some breathing room for the 'Fins, but an iffy hold on Jones stopped the momentum. On 3rd & 13, Ahmed broke a couple of tackles on a throwback screen to gain 20 yards and a first down. Miami turned a 1st & 5 into a punt when a hit to Tua's helmet went uncalled and he nearly threw an interception instead. Importantly, however, the Dolphins flipped the field with the nine-yard, 37-yard drive to set up a good Bailey punt that was downed at the 15-yard line.
A Chubb sack and a strong Apple tackle on a third-down catch forced a three-and-out, but Miami responded with one of its own when back-to-back drops by Hill and Waddle were followed by an awkward Tua run that saw him take an unnecessary hit. An ugly Bailey punt got a tremendous bounce and ended up as a 63-yarder, putting the Patsies inside their own 20-yard line again.
New England put together an impressive 13-play, 81-yard drive, propelled by a 17-yard run by Elliott and a 16-yard catch by Hunter Henry. A series of short passes kept the possession alive, but a 3rd & goal throw was nearly intercepted by Kohou. The Patriots went for it on 4th & goal, and miscommunication between Jones and Apple led to an easy touchdown for JuJu Smith-Schuster to the make the score 24-17.
Showing no signs of panic, Miami fashioned a 10-play, 75-yard response, with a 10-yard Mostert run that featured a strong stiff arm setting the tone. Hill made a great catch on a contested 3rd & 9 throw against a Patriots blitz, and after another first down on a Smythe grab, the 'Fins went play-action on a 3rd & 1, with the Patsies electing to double team Hill and forgetting about Waddle, who was left wide open in the middle of the field for a walk-in 31-yard touchdown to put the contest away at 31-17.
On the following New England possession, Jones nearly secured an interception, but the play was ruled incomplete. A resounding Phillips sack on 3rd & 5 set up a 4th & 14 Hail Mary that saw Jones nearly get another pick before he was drilled by Smith-Schuster and hit his head hard on the turf. Smith-Schuster was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct on the play, briefly flaring some tempers, but he sought out Jones to apologize.
Three straight Tua kneels punctuated the 'Fins sweep of New England.