Scooter & Hum: Day 1,676, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Patriots Game 5 Review

Look, this game was hard to look at. Miami lost the turnover battle (2-0) and still won on the road against a team that is marginally worse than the Dolphins. To show how far New England has fallen, they were called for five more penalties (14 to nine) against Miami. At home.

On the plus side, the 'Fins made a commitment to running the ball (41 rushes!), owned time of possession (34:20 to 25:40), got a division road victory, and snapped a three-game losing streak.

All that said, the Dolphins were incredibly fortunate to win this contest.

On to the I-guess-it's-improvement recap ...

Offense

Signs of life! The Dolphins had 24 first downs and 372 total yards, including a stunning 193 yards on the ground (4.7 yards per carry). There are still major concerns -- another dismal showing on third down (two of 11), an ofer on fourth (0-1), two more illegal shifts, and converting just one of two red-zone trips into touchdowns -- but the operation looked more ... coached and practiced?
Tyler Huntley overcame an ugly early interception to hit 18 of 31 passes for 194 yards. He was sacked three times, but avoided the catastrophic plays and pushed the ball down the field a bit more. He ran it just three times for seven yards, and opening up this part of his game would seem to be in the best interest of the entire offense.
Raheem Mostert reminded 'Fins fans just how much he sets the tone for this offense, rushing 19 times for 81 yards and grabbing two passes for 18 yards in his first action (44 snaps) since the season opener. After De'Von Achane left with a head injury after 17 yards on four touches in 11 snaps, Jaylen Wright put on a show, carrying 13 times for 86 yards in 25 plays for a sterling 87.9 mark from Pro Football Focus. Even Alec Ingold got into the act, converting a three-yard touchdown run, recovering a fumble, delivering some notable blocks, and earning a 77.4 PFF grade in 42 snaps. The offense really missed Mostert's slashing style, and moving Achane -- when healthy -- back into more of a slot/third-down role is probably the best scenario for Miami.
The top receivers were slightly more involved, with Tyreek Hill catching six of nine targets for 69 yards in 62 snaps and Jaylen Waddle adding four grabs on eight targets for 46 yards in 61 snaps. The third wideout spot continues to be haunted, as Odell Beckham was targeted twice without a catch in 11 snaps, with one of the passes thrown in his direction intercepted. Malik Washington was ineffective in 20 snaps, contributing only an illegal blindside block and looking largely confused, while Braxton Berrios (who has still yet to catch a passion this season) also went without a target in 15 snaps. The team simply has to develop another viable weapon in the passing game, especially as Waddle's issues with drops continues.
At tight end, there was an effort made to involve Jonnu Smith more, and he responded with five receptions on eight targets for 62 yards in 32 snaps (even adding a carry from the backfield, though it lost a yard), good for an 80.3 PFF grade. Julian Hill got back to himself with a holding penalty in 40 snaps, while Durham Smythe continued to regress, appearing to trip over his own feet on a downfield pass on his lone target in 27 snaps. However, the tight ends deserve some of the credit for the stellar rushing performance, and it's best to focus on the positive contribution (many of them in clutch situations) made by Smith for a unit that has grossly underperformed this season.
The big news was Terron Armstead returning to the lineup in this one, and he played all 78 snaps, delivering a lofty 88.2 mark from PFF. Left guard Robert Jones picked up a 79.1 PFF grade, though center Aaron Brewer was charged with a fumble, right guard Liam Eichenberg was called for (a very late) holding, and right tackle Austin Jackson had a false start and a misread on a blitz that led to an easy sack. On the good side, the offensive line seemed to relish playing downhill under a renewed emphasis on the ground game, leading to hopes that coach Mike McDaniel sticks with what is working instead of chasing the "genius" label.

Defense

The defense once again played strong football, constantly hitting former Dolphin quarterback Jacoby Brissett and limiting New England to just 15 first downs. Miami stopped nine of 13 third-down attempts and the lone fourth-down try, and also held the home team without a touchdown on either red-zone visit. Bizarrely, the Patriots dominated on the ground -- averaging 7.9 yards per carry and ripping off runs of 33 and 24 yards -- but chose to run it just 19 times for no apparent reason.
On the interior, Zach Sieler led the way with 49 snaps, collecting one solo tackle, a sack, a stop for loss, and three quarterback hits. Calais Campbell added a pair of quarterback hits in 34 snaps, while Da'Shawn Hand tallied two tackles, one solo, and a quarterback hit in his 30 snaps. Benito Jones was a factor, contributing a quarterback hit and multiple pressures in his 18 snaps. Brandon Pili got two snaps in a reserve capacity. This unit did a nice job in applying pressure, but must bear some of the burden of responsibility for the struggles against the ground game.
Emmanuel Ogbah paced edge players with 45 snaps, recording four solo tackles, a sack, a stop for loss, and a quarterback hit. Rookie Chop Robinson saw more time (40 snaps) in the absence of Jaelan Phillips, and he managed three tackles, one solo, and a quarterback hit. Newcomer Tyus Bowser had an assisted tackle in 33 snaps, while reserve Quinton Bell got a single snap. Ogbah has been a needed revelation in his unexpected return to the 'Fins, playing a massive role in the face of injuries to Phillips and Bradley Chubb.
At inside linebacker, Jordyn Brooks played all 60 snaps, picking up seven tackles and four solos, while David Long assisted on four tackles in 30 snaps in his return to action. Anthony Walker also played 30 snaps, registering three tackles, two solo stops, and a pass breakup. Duke Riley added an assisted tackle in his lone snap from scrimmage.
Jalen Ramsey had a strong game at cornerback (five tackles, four solos, two pass breakups, and a near fourth-quarter pick in 60 snaps), though it was marred somewhat by a foolish roughing-the-pass penalty. Kendall Fuller made his return, posting an assisted tackle in 55 snaps. In the slot, Kader Kohou racked up five tackles, three solos, two stops for losses, a pass breakup, and an important third-down stop in 46 snaps, though he was flagged for holding. Storm Duck had five snaps in reserve, while Nik Needham saw his first action of the season, picking up an assisted tackle on his only snap.
A banged-up safety spot suffered another injury when Jevon Holland broke his hand after collecting five tackles, four solo stops, and a pass breakup in 44 snaps. Fellow starter Marcus Maye (filling in for Jordan Poyer) led the way with nine tackles, five solos, and a pass breakup in 60 snaps, though he missed a key tackle on the long Patriots' touchdown run -- a play that saw Holland also take a bad angle. Special-teamer Elijah Campbell filled in for 16 snaps, notching two solos and a stop for loss.

Special teams

Overall, the comedy of errors in the kicking game continued, with coordinator Danny Crossman still miraculously employed as of this writing. Miami had a bad snap on a field goal, a missed field goal (a 41-yarder off the upright), and a blocked punt. Sanders did connect on three field goals -- with a long of 54 yards -- but has not made an extra point in three straight games.
Riley missed a block on the punt block, and Bailey punted two other times for a 44-yard average, putting one inside the 20-yard line.
Berrios was solid in the return game, with a 19-yard kickoff return and a 12-yard punt return.
Tanner Conner and Washington had solo tackles, while Riley, Bell, and Siran Neal each had 21 snaps in the third phase.

Momentum plays

After Berrios got stamped on the opening kick return, Huntley hit Hill for 18 yards on the second play of the possession. Another first down followed before Huntley was sacked, though a 13-yard strike to Smith got the 'Fins close enough for Sanders to drill a 54-yarder for the game's first points.
Back-to-back sacks by Ogbah and Sieler fueled a quick three-and-out, but the Dolphins answered with one of their own. However, Miami got a break when New England was called for too many men on the field on a punt, giving the 'Fins a fresh set of downs. Just two plays later, Huntley was picked off trying to force a ball to Beckham.
The Patriots converted a 3rd & 1 after Rhamondre Stevenson broke a Kohou tackle on a short pass. On the next play, Stevenson went around right end, eluded a weak tackle attempt by Maye, juked Holland badly, and coasted into the end zone to cap a 33-yard touchdown run that put the home team ahead, 7-3.
The Dolphins got an initial first down on a 12-yard end-around by Achane, though he was lost for the game after suffering a concussion on the play. Huntley found Waddle for 20, then Mostert ripped off a 12-yard run. Huntley was sacked on third down, setting up a 41-yard field goal attempt that Sanders clanged off the left upright, keeping the score at 7-3 after the first quarter.
A couple of penalties on New England waylaid its next possession, forcing a three-and-out and a 69-yard punt that resulted in a touchback.
In one of the worst drives of all time, the 'Fins committed three straight penalties after an initial first down, then had a punt blocked and recovered by the home team on Miami's 23-yard line.
Not to be outdone, the Patsies overcome one penalty to get a first down, then committed a second holding and eventually missed a 33-yard field goal wide right. At this point, the game was bordering on the unwatchable.
Huntley found Smith for 17 and Waddle for 10 more before hitting Mostert for 10 yards to convert a 3rd & 5. However, a premature snap by Brewer turned a 3rd & 3 into a 4th & 25, pushing the Dolphins out of field goal range. The 'Fins quickly forced a three-and-out, getting the ball back in New England territory (44-yard line) after a 12-yard Berrios return.
Huntley connected with Smith again, this time for 16 yards, but three straight incompletions ensued, including an incredibly ill-advised Hail Mary-ish attempt that was fortunate not to be intercepted in the end zone. A false start on the initial field goal attempt led to a retry, and longsnapper Blake Ferguson inexplicably rolled the ball back to holder Bailey, who lost a yard while trying to salvage something out of yet another special-teams miscue.
The Patriots followed with another three-and-out, and the Dolphins ran it twice for two yards to mercifully run out the clock on what had to be one of the worst first halves in NFL history.
New England took possession after halftime, and faced a 2nd & 18 after an initial first down. After a short pass, Ramsey inexplicably hit Brissett in the face, earning a roughing-the-passer flag and gift-wrapping a rare Patsies first down. The home team then converted a 3rd & 4, setting up a 38-yard field goal to make the lead 10-3.
Horsecollar and roughing-the-passer penalties on New England gave Miami life, and a Wright 12-yard burst set up the visitors at the 16-yard line. Huntley targeted Hill twice, with the first a dropped interception in the end zone that could have been a pick-six of over 100 yards and the second appearing to result in a touchdown. However, the wideout had stepped out of bounds, forcing the 'Fins to settle for a 32-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 10-6.
After a three-and-out, the Dolphins took over again, with a 17-yard Wright run giving the offense some momentum. Huntley found Hill for 16 yards and a third-straight first down, but a sack of Huntley forced another long third down (3rd & 13). Huntley got 11 of those yards back with a strike to Waddle, setting up Sanders for a 47-yarder to trim the margin to 10-9.
New England countered with a couple of first downs, punctuated by a 24-yard run by Antonio Gibson. The Dolphins "D" stiffened at that point, forcing another punt early in the fourth quarter that just barely eked into the end zone for a touchback.
On the following drive, the 'Fins overcame an immediate penalty when Huntley hit Hill for 21 yards on 1st & 18. The signal-caller then hit Smith for eight on 3rd & 5, and Miami got another third-down conversion on a shaky pass interference call on 3rd & 13. Wright ripped off a 16-yarder, then Mostert followed with an 18-yard jaunt to set the Dolphins up at New England's 13-yard line. Wright's hard eight-yard run set up a first-and-goal opportunity, and Ingold ran it in from three yards out on a nifty fullback dive to push Miami ahead. The 'Fins went for two, but an incompletion to Hill kept the score at 15-10.
A 13-yard pass, a defensive holding, an 11-yard run, and a 10-yard run gave New England four quick first downs on the ensuing possession. Back-to-back Patsies penalties created a 2nd & 21 situation, but Brissett responded with 13- and 19-yard strikes to DeMario Douglas. Two plays later, Brissett hit Ja'Lynn Polk for a 12-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone, but the play was overturned by replay. Two plays later, Miami brought seven rushers on 4th & 15, forcing a desperation heave into the end zone that fell incomplete for tight end Hunter Henry.
The 'Fins ran it three straight times, failing to gain a first down but forcing the Patriots to use all their timeouts. Bailey's punt was returned 15 yards, giving New England the ball at its own 43-yard line with 29 seconds remaining.
Brissett somehow managed to avoid a sack, find an open receiver for 21 yards, and spike the ball. With 13 seconds left, he was forced to throw in-bounds to Henry, who reeled it in for 25 yards but was tackled at the Dolphins' 11-yard line as time expired.