Scooter & Hum: Day 1,361, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Commanders Game 12 Review

In a game that went quickly -- featuring just five total penalties and a single turnover -- Miami dominated yet again, moving to 9-3 for the first time in 22 years. The 'Fins actually won the turnover battle (a rarity) and controlled possession (32:16 to 27:44), moving the ball at will on the ground when the game was out of reach. Even more importantly, the Dolphins rotated liberally, getting a lot of players much-needed rest, especially as injuries mount -- starting inside linebacker Jerome Baker appeared to suffer a serious knee injury in this one.

Here's to the that-was-thorough recap ...

Offense

Miami racked up 406 yards and 6.9 yards per play despite running out the clock for most of the fourth quarter. The 'Fins converted 7 of 13 third downs and both fourth-down attempts. To put a bow on an efficient performance, the Dolphins scored touchdowns on all three red-zone visits and did not commit a turnover.
Tua Tagovailoa hit on 18 of 24 passes for 280 yards and two scores, without a sack or a turnover, to earn a 91.0 grade from Pro Football Focus. Mike White came in for 13 snaps, completing his only pass for three yards.
DeVon Achane led the running backs with 17 carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns, plus three catches for 30 yards on four targets. He ran hard in his 37 snaps, earning an 81.7 PFF in what was an I'm-officially-back performance. In 23 snaps, Raheem Mostert added 11 carries for 43 yards and a score, with an eight-yard catch as well. Alec Ingold got 20 snaps, losing three yards on his lone reception, while Jeff Wilson rushed four times for 11 yards in five snaps. This is the healthiest Miami has been at running back all season, leading to real optimism in the run game headed down the stretch.
In just 31 snaps, Tyreek Hill was electric at wideout, racking up 157 receiving yards on five catches (seven targets) and carrying twice for a loss of four yards on his way to a 93.1 PFF grade. Jaylen Waddle snared five of eight targets for 52 yards in 37 snaps, while River Cracraft caught both targets for 16 yards in 24 snaps. Cedrick Wilson (33 snaps) and Braxton Berrios (25 snaps, one offensive pass interference) were held without a catch, as just three receivers caught passes in this one. The idea that Hill is challenging the single-season record for receiving yards despite a relatively small number of snaps is staggering, but keeping him fresh for playoff seeding is vital.
At tight end, Durham Smythe returned to play 41 snaps, though he was not targeted. Rookie Julian Hill was targeted twice in 20 snaps and caught both for 23 yards, although ball protection and penalties (another holding call) remain challenges for him. Tanner Conner got nine snaps in reserve.
Miami went with its eighth different offensive line combination in this one, and both left tackle Terron Armstead (30 snaps) and right guard Robert Hunt (90.6 PFF grade in 42 snaps) left with injuries during the contest. Despite the changes, the 'Fins allowed just two quarterback hits and zero sacks, led by right tackle Austin Jackson (87.0 PFF grade in 61 snaps) and left guard Liam Eichenberg (83.0 PFF grade in 61 snaps, with an ineligible-man-downfield flag). Center Connor Williams also played all 61 snaps, with reserves Kion Smith (31 snaps at left tackle) and Lester Cotton (19 snaps at right guard) filling in nicely. Collectively, this may have been the Dolphins' most efficient and physical performance up front.

Defense

Putting together another week of defensive dominance, Miami limited the Commanders to just 245 total yards, 4.5 yards per play, 11 first downs, and 6 of 14 third-down conversions. Washington did convert its lone fourth-down attempt and both red-zone visits, but three sacks helped hold the Commanders to just 107 passing yards. The home team did rush for 138 yards on 4.9 yards per carry, but most of that came after the game was well out of hand.
As usual, Zach Sieler was a monster up front, tallying four tackles, 1.5 sacks, one stop for a loss, and two quarterback hits in 44 snaps. Christian Wilkins added three tackles in 45 snaps.
On the interior, Raekwon Davis notched one solo stop in 19 snaps, while De'Shawn Hand did not record a stat in eight snaps.
Andrew Van Ginkel was a demon at outside linebacker, racking up five tackles, four solos, two pass breakups, two quarterback hits, and a pick-six, while being robbed of a sack by a bizarre late whistle by the referee. Van Ginkel received a 90.0 grade by PFF for his work in 46 snaps, not to mention his unbelievably narrow miss of a blocked punt in the third phase. On the other side, Bradley Chubb notched five tackles, half a sack, and one quarterback hit in 48 snaps. Emmanuel Ogbah made the most of his 16 snaps, recording two tackles, a sack (which included a Jaelan Phillips tribute celebration), a stop for loss, and two quarterback hits. Jason Pierre-Paul saw three snaps of action in his Dolphin debut. Perhaps the biggest question pending the severity of Baker's injury is how best to use Van Ginkel: Keep him at outside linebacker, where he is flourishing? Split him between the outside and inside? Move him to a primarily inside role since that position has way less depth, turning the spot opposite Chubb over to Ogbah and Pierre-Paul?
At inside linebacker, David Long registered eight tackles, five solos, a stop for a loss, and one quarterback hit in 45 snaps. Baker had four tackles and three solos in 22 snaps before suffering what appeared to be a devastating knee injury as a result of friendly fire, but Duke Riley picked up the slack in reserve. In 31 snaps, Riley made eight tackles and three solos, earning a 91.1 PFF grade. Channing Tindall had three tackles and two solos in just three snaps, and will likely need to assume a larger role based on injuries mounting at linebacker.
The Dolphin corners were not tested much, with Jalen Ramsey making a single solo stop and Xavien Howard recording an assisted tackle and a pass breakup, both playing 52 snaps. Kader Kohou made three tackles in 49 snaps in the slot, and Nik Needham (solo stop in nine snaps) and Cam Smith (three snaps) saw some action in reserve.
With Jevon Holland out, Brandon Jones filled in with five tackles, four solos, and a quarterback hit in 55 snaps. DeShon Elliott added three tackles and a pass breakup in 52 snaps, with Elijah Campbell coming on for three snaps with the game decided.

Special teams

Jason Sanders hit his lone field goal (49 yards) and all six extra points.
Jake Bailey averaged 42.3 yards on three punts, placing one inside the 20-yard line.
Braxton Berrios returned a pair of punts for seven yards, with no kickoff returns.
Conner paced offensive players with 12 snaps on special teams, while Campbell (21), Riley (21), and Cameron Goode (20) led defensive players in the third phase. Justin Bethel was whistled for offsides on an extra point.

Momentum plays

Washington got a sketchy first down when an attempt at a sideline third-down catch was upheld despite a Miami challenge. However, back-to-back good plays by Jones from the safety position forced a Commanders punt.
It took just three plays for the 'Fins to strike, with a 3rd & 2 deep ball to Hill resulting in a 78-yard score that culminated in a team roller-coaster celebration and a 7-0 advantage.
After a three-and-out sparked by a Van Ginkel sack that was awarded to Chubb and Sieler due to mind-numblingly dumb ref whistle, Miami went to work again, with Tua finding Waddle for 16 yards on 3rd & 4. Mostert added a 12-yard run, but back-to-back negative plays led to a 3rd & 17. When Waddle broke a tackle and got a dozen yards on the play, Sanders was set up for a 49-yarder and a 10-0 lead.
The teams exchanged three-and-outs before Van Ginkel read a tunnel screen, jumped in front of the pass for an interception, and raced 33 yards for a pick-six, extending the Dolphins' lead to 17-0.
Poor tackling by Howard, Jones, and Elliott allowed for a 29-yard run by Brian Robinson on 2nd & 16, then Baker found himself matched up with wideout Curtis Samuel on a 3rd & 7 play that resulted in a 33-yard gain. To add insult to injury, Baker was wiped out by teammate Jones on the sideline, suffering what appeared to be a nasty knee injury. Three plays later, Washington plunged across on a quarterback sneak to trim the margin to 17-7.
Following an initial first down, Waddle seemed to draw a pass interference penalty on a deep ball that went uncalled. Undeterred, Tua arced a long one to Hill on 3rd & 7, with the receiver adjusting to the ball in the air, reeling in the ball over the opposite shoulder, and sauntering untouched into the end zone to complete a 60-yard score. The low-key high-difficulty grab marked Hill's second 60+ touchdown in the first 20 minutes of the game and pushed the 'Fins ahead, 24-7.
Washington responded with a third-down conversion on its next drive, but a Sieler sack and a Riley tackle for loss and forced fumble led to a 4th & 23 punt that Van Ginkel was in perfect position to block. Somehow, the ball went through his hands, but Miami got the ball back again.
Four straight Dolphin runs covered 19 yards, setting up a 20-yard strike to Hill, who caught the high pass on a deep slant to convert a 3rd & 6. An interference on a Waddle deep shot extended the drive, but Hill lost 10 yards on a rush. An eight-yarder to Mostert and a 16-yarder to Waddle turned a 2nd & 20 into a first and goal, and Mostert paid it off with a one-yard touchdown run with just 20 seconds remaining to make it 31-7 at the half.
The 'Fins got the ball again to start the third quarter and immediately went on the march again by mixing runs and short passes. Achane broke a tackle and went for 21 yards on a short pass, then Tua hit Cracraft for 13 and Hill for 18 more. Achane broke a couple more tackles on a four-yard scoring run to push the advantage to 38-7.
The Commanders got another favorable matchup with a linebacker in coverage, finding Antonio Gibson for 32 yards down the sideline to jumpstart the next drive. After converting a 3rd & 4, Washington converted a 4th & 3 when Chubb missed a strip sack and Sam Howell ran for his life, stumbling 13 yards into the end zone for a scramble score. He also connected on a two-point pass, making the score 38-15.
Miami went three-and-out after a Julian Hill hold got them off schedule. Washington went to the ground game in a seven-play drive, but missed a 53-yard field goal.
The Dolphins got an initial first down, but a dangerous 3rd & 5 pass to Waddle was almost intercepted after a hold on the linebacker went uncalled. The defense delivered a three-and-out when Long and Van Ginkel buried a 3rd & 1 run for a two-yard loss, forcing a punt.
The 'Fins fashioned a 59-yard drive that took 13 plays -- including 12 runs. Achane ran eight times for 45 yards on the possession, punching across from two yards on 4th & goal to make the score 45-15.
Former Wolfpacker Jacoby Brissett took over for the Commanders, handing off three times (Tindall had an assisted tackle on all three plays) to mercifully end the contest.