Day 1,641, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Jaguars Game 1 Review

 

The 'Fins were on the verge of having an awful opening day, with its star receiver arrested just outside the stadium and the visiting in-state team on the verge of opening up a 17-point lead. However, safety Jevon Holland came up with a timely "Peanut Punch" near the goal line to thwart a Jacksonville touchdown, setting the stage for Miami to hit a field goal with no time remaining to eke out a victory.

The Dolphins overcame 103 yards in penalty yardage to run 15 more plays than the Jaguars on their way to dramatic advantages in yardage (+133) and time of possession (33:10-26:50).

On to the well-that-was-scary recap ...

Offense

• The best thing Miami did was avoid any turnovers, though it misfired on both fourth-down attempts (going eight for 16 on third downs) and scored on one of two red-zone visits. The running game is a concern, as the 'Fins averaged just 3.2 yards on 25 rushes.
• Tua Tagovailoa was a little off early, missing a layup touchdown to Tyreek Hill and finishing 21 of 37 for 338 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 9.1 yards per attempt, but was sacked three times. Tua did manage an 11-yard scramble at a key moment as part of a 77.8 grade from Pro Football Focus.
• At running back, DeVon Achane got the most snaps (37), racking up 17 touches for 100 yards and a touchdown. Raheem Mostert (31 snaps) ran just six times for nine yards and caught two of three targets in an uncharacteristically quiet game. Key running game contributions came from Jeff Wilson (five carries, 26 yards in 11 snaps) and Alec Ingold (two carries for eight yards and a single target in 29 snaps). 
• Hill shook off the pregame controversy to bust out for 130 receiving yards on seven receptions (12 targets). He played 50 snaps, earned an 80.2 PFF grade, and overcame being called for a holding penalty to turn the game around with his 80-yard score. Jaylen Waddle led the wideouts with 51 snaps, reeling in all five targets for 109 yards, with a long of 63 and a PFF mark of 78.2. Braxton Berrios (26 snaps, 51.1 PFF grade) was targeted twice without a reception, while newcomer Grant Dubose (13 snaps, 53.2 mark) and Robbie Chosen (12 snaps, 52.6 grade) did not record statistics in limited action. Clearly, the Dolphins are going to need more from reserve receivers the rest of the way.
• In a rough game for the tight ends, Julian Hill led in snaps (42), contributing a six-yard catch and a false start. Durham Smythe also committed a false start among his 30 snaps and did not record a reception on three targets, with at least two drops. Jonnu Smith (20 snaps) did not play his expected role, committing an offsides penalty and contributing a seven-yard catch on two targets. This unit included the two lowest-rated offensive players by PFF in Smythe (29.4) and Smith (38.4).
• The offensive front of Terron Armstead (left tackle), Robert Jones (left guard), Aaron Brewer (center), Liam Eichenberg (right guard) and Austin Jackson (right tackle) played all 71 snaps. Jones got called for two holding penalties, and the entire unit seemed to struggle in run blocking. Armstead (87.4 PFF grade) and Jackson (81.7) received the two highest offensive grades on the team, with Eichenberg earning an 80.1 mark and Brewer coming in at 70.2.

Defense

• New coordinator Anthony Weaver's defense came up big (especially) in the second half, limiting the visitors to just 267 total yards, recording three sacks, stopping Jacksonville on eight of 10 third-down tries and its lone fourth-down attempt, and forcing the game-changing turnover. While Miami struggled against the run at times and allowed two touchdowns on three red-zone trips, it made the key plays with its back against the wall and held Jax scoreless in the second half.
• Along the defensive line, Zach Sieler was active as always, notching three assists in 46 snaps, though his production is sure to increase. Calais Campbell made an immediate impact, notching a sack and a tackle for loss on his first two plays as a Dolphin and going on to make another solo tackle and a quarterback hit in 35 snaps, for a strong 74.1 mark from PFF. Da'Shawn Hand added a solo and assisted tackle in 19 snaps, while reserves Benito Jones (eight snaps, 29.6 PFF grade) and Brandon Pili (five snaps) did not record statistics in limited action. 
• Jaelan Phillips played much more than expected at outside linebacker, recording two tackles, one sack, a stop for loss, three pressures, two quarterback hurries, and one quarterback hit in 34 snaps, earning a 73.1 PFF grade. Emmanuel Ogbah started on the other side, posting four tackles, two solo stops, a sack, a tackle for loss, two quarterback hits, and two quarterback pressures. Despite that output in 40 snaps, his overall play landed him a 56.8 mark from Pro Football Focus. Quinton Bell had one solo tackle and a stop for loss in 16 snaps (72.6 PFF grade), while Chop Robinson was called for offsides in his 16 snaps (receiving a 57.1 mark from PFF). This unit is likely a work in progress until Bradley Chubb returns, Phillips works himself back to full health, and Robinson gets adjusted to the pro game, with improvement in run support needed.
• At inside linebacker, Jordyn Brooks and David long complemented each other well, each playing 53 snaps. Long notched eight tackles, including seven solos, on his way to a 76.6 PFF grade, while Brooks added three assists and a solo tackle. Reserves Anthony Walker, Duke Riley, and Channing Tindall were limited exclusively to special-teams snaps.
• Kyle Fuller led in snaps (53) at cornerback, collecting six tackles and four solo stops as part of a 65.3 grade from PFF. Jalen Ramsey struggled at times in his return from injury (55.9 mark from PFF in 41 snaps), with three assisted tackles and pass-interference penalty in the end zone, but he played a key role in a massive fourth-down run stop. Kader Kohou was also subpar at the nickel (41.1 PFF grade in 47 snaps), though he supplemented his four solo stops with a pivotal fumble recovery in the end zone. Storm Duck had two solo tackles in eight snaps as a reserve, earning a 66.3 PFF grade.
• The safeties were led as usual by Holland, who tallied three tackles, two solos, a pass breakup, and a game-turning forced fumble in his 53 snaps, good for a 72.2 grade from PFF. Newcomer Jordan Poyer had a rough outing in his 53 snaps, racking up six tackles, four solos, and a facemask penalty to end up with a 42.2 mark from PFF. Marcus Maye got three snaps in reserve, failing to record a statistic.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders missed one of his three field-goal attempts badly, but came through in the clutch with his game-winning 52-yarder. He added two extra points for good measure.
• Punter Jake Bailey was instrumental early in the game, averaging 49.5 yards on four punts, placing three inside the 20-yard line. He had a long boot of 57 yards.
• Braxton Berrios struggled in the return game, picking up just two yards on two punt returns, while Hill chipped in with an 11-yarder.
• Bell, Riley, and Siran Neal were in for 20 special-teams plays, while Julian Hill and Elijah Campbell added 17 apiece. Robinson was in for 13 snaps in the third phase, with Tanner Conner, Duck, and Wilson earning 10 plays apiece. Campbell and Conner picked up solo tackles, while Walker was called for an illegal-formation penalty.

Momentum plays

• Miami got the ball first and converted a 3rd & 13 with a 39-yard catch and weaving run by Achane, but had to punt four plays later.
• The Dolphins forced a three-and-out when Campbell followed a sack with a tackle for loss, and Jacksonville punted after Poyer nearly picked off a third-and-long pass.
• Hill converted a 3rd & 2 with a catch and 10-yard tightrope run. On the next play, however, Tua missed a wide-open Hill streaking for the end zone, and two more incompletions -- including a drop by Smith -- set up a punt that pinned the Jaguars on their own four-yard line.
• Jacksonville ripped off a 17-yard run on the first play when Ramsey missed a tackle, then Trevor Lawrence found Dolphins killer Gabe Davis for 20 yards. An end-zone pass interference on Ramsey set up the visitors for a 1-yard touchdown run by Travis Etienne, capping a 96-yard drive and staking the Jags to a 7-0 lead.
• The ensuing brutal three-and-out by Miami featured illegal formation and holding penalties, though Bailey delivered a 57-yard punt to flip the field.
• The Jaguars picked up an initial first down, but a big drop by Christian Kirk on 3rd & 9 forced a 67-yard punt that Hill could only return 11 yards.
• A catch by Waddle in traffic was followed by roughing-the-passer and offside penalties, moving Miami into Jacksonville territory. However, Tua double-clutched on a 4th & 3 pass that could have ended in a pick-six, giving the Jags the ball back at their own 45-yard line after the incompletion.
• Jax quickly picked up a first down on the ground, then Lawrence found Kirk for 30 yards down the seam on a 3rd & 8 play that saw Kodou and Poyer victimized. Poor tackling helped set up the Jags with a first down on Miami's 13-yard line, but the Dolphins stiffened, forcing a 3rd & 11. However, Ramsey and Poyer were beaten again, this time on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Brian Thomas, Jr. With 6:21 remaining in the half, the visitors suddenly led, 14-0.
• An initial 16-yard catch and run by Achane got the next drive moving, and Tua had a key 11-yard scramble on a 2nd & 10 play. He then hit Waddle for 20 yards on 3rd & 8 and followed with a 10-yard dart to Hill on 3rd & 6 just before the two-minute warning. Achane was surprisingly marked short on a second & goal catch, but paid off the drive with an inside handoff on the next play to cut the margin to 14-7 with 1:04 left in the half.
• A missed hold on a Phillips rush set up an 8-yard pass to Roberts, followed by a 20-yard connection with Davis, who beat linebacker coverage. Miami held from there, but Jax drilled a 53-yard field goal with no time left to extend the advantage to 17-7.
• Good third-down coverage forced a three-and-out on Jacksonville's opening possession of the second half, and the 'Fins picked up a first down before going backwards on a second hold on Jones and a third-down sack of Tua, leading to another punt.
• The Dolphins forced another three-and-out thanks to a holding penalty and third-down pressure from Phillips and Sieler, then took advantage of another possession with a 63-yard first-play strike to Waddle, who was surprisingly caught from behind. Three plays later, Tua took another sack after Jackson was badly beaten, pushing the 'Fins out of field goal range.
• Another tremendous punt pinned Jax at its own three-yard line, but another Bigsby dash for 26 yards -- eluding Holland along the way -- got the visitors out of trouble. Kohou was torched by Davis for 22 yards, then Etienne added a 12-yard grab when Miami was unable to provide any semblance of pressure. A facemask on Poyer set up the Jaguars with a first down at the 'Fins 13-yard line, and Etienne burst through the line, headed for an easy score until Holland punched the ball loose, with Kohou pouncing on the fumble in the back of the end zone.
• Revitalized by the massive turnover, the Dolphins struck immediately, as Tua reset in the pocket and hit Hill on a crosser. The wideout got to the sideline and outraced everyone -- punctuated by a tremendous "Oh, he's a ghost!" call by announcer Kevin Harlan -- for a lighting bolt that trimmed the margin to 17-14.
• Campbell appeared to force and recover a Jacksonville fumble on the ensuing kickoff, but the Jaguars retained the football on what was a highly confusing play. Four players later, the entire Miami defense reversed field to hammer Etienne at the line on a criss-crossing rush attempt on 4th & 1, promptly handing the ball back to the offense.
• Despite taking over at the Jaguars' 30-yard line, the 'Fins went nowhere. The brutal sequence was punctuated when Sanders missed wide left by about a million yards on a 42-yard field goal try.
• Jax got an initial first down, but another key Kirk drop on a third down led to another punt.
• Waddle drew a 20-yard pass interference penalty, then Hill reeled in a 21-yard catch while absorbing a big hit. Wilson came in to cover 23 yards on three straight runs, and Ingold converted a 3rd & 1 with a six-yard burst. A Julian Hill hold stymied the drive, however, forcing another Sanders field goal attempt. This one was good from 37 yards away, deadlocking the game at 17.
• Back-to-back sacks by Ogbah and Phillips forced another three-and-out by Jacksonville, but an awful punt return by Berrios lost five yards.
• Tua found Waddle for 13 yards just after the two-minute warning, then hit Achane for 10 more. On 3rd & 1, Ingold almost broke a run, but managed two yards for a first down. After the Jags attempted to ice Sanders with a timeout with four seconds remaining, the kicker coolly delivered a 52-yarder to give the 'Fins a 20-17 victory.

2024 Schedule

Miami 20, Jacksonville 17 (1-0)