Scooter & Hum: Day 1,715, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Patriots Game 11 Review

In a largely mature and efficient showing, Miami used a 24-point second quarter to dispatch New England for the eighth time in nine contests. The romp marked the third win in a row for the 'Fins and the second straight season sweep of the hated Patsies. In another measure of just how far the Patriots have fallen from their favored-son status, 13 of the first 14 penalties of the game were called against them.

A very sloppy New England squad never entered the red zone, scoring only on a fourth-down Hail Mary and a fumble-return touchdown. The Dolphins limited their penalties (just three, as opposed to 10 for the Patriots), controlled the clock (32:04 to 27:56 in time of possession), rediscovered wideout Jaylen Waddle, and even were able to put in most of their backups for some of the fourth quarter.

On to the keep-it-rolling-on-Turkey-Day recap ...

Offense

Miami racked up 23 first downs, 373 total yards, and touchdowns on three of four red-zone visits. The passing attack was dynamic (7.3 yards per attempt), but trouble spots remain. For the third game in a row, the Dolphins did not crack 85 yards on the ground, managing just 65 yards and 2.7 yards per carry. The 'Fins also struggled on third down (four of 12) in this one, which will bear attention against stronger foes.
Tua Tagovailoa was as efficient as ever, slicing up New England to the tune of 317 yards and four touchdowns, hitting 29 of 40 passes (including nine in a row at one point). He was sacked twice and ran three times for a loss of two yards and had some dangerous and underthrown passes that he got away with, but overall was methodical (68.2 grade from Pro Football Focus). Backup Skylar Thompson came in for two snaps, spending one of them fumbling a handoff that the Patriots returned for a long touchdown. Tua came back in on the following possession, further proving the troubling lack of depth and trust at the position.
In 36 snaps, De'Von Achane was limited to just 32 yards on 10 carries, but scored two touchdowns via the air, as he reeled in three of four targets for 24 yards, good for a 71.1 PFF grade. Jaylen Wright toted the ball seven times for 28 yards, lost a fumble, and failed to catch his lone target in 13 snaps (39.9 mark from PFF), while Raheem Mostert rushed twice for five yards and lost three yards on his only catch in 21 snaps. Fullback Alec Ingold returned after a two-game absence, but logged just nine snaps as Miami failed to establish anything on the ground.
At wideout, Waddle had a massive game, corralling eight of nine targets for 144 yards and a touchdown in his 52 snaps for a 91.1 mark from PFF. Tyreek Hill caught five of six targets for 48 yards and didn't get a carry in 50 snaps (65.3 PFF grade), while Malik Washington snared one of two targets for one yard, carried once for two yards, and was whistled for an illegal shift in 23 snaps (47.9 PFF grade). Odell Beckham failed to make a catch -- including an egregious drop on a deep ball and some overall shaky routes -- among his three targets in 17 snaps (39.4 PFF grade) and River Cracraft was not targeted in his 16 snaps. Waddle's re-emergence -- and inspired post-catch running -- feels important as the Dolphins increasingly struggle in the ground game.
Jonnu Smith continued his tremendous season at tight end, hauling in nine of 11 targets for 87 yards and a touchdown in 49 snaps, picking up an 83.8 mark from PFF. Julian Hill caught one of two targets for eight yards and was not called for a penalty in 31 snaps (though he did have a 32.1 PFF grade), while Durham Smythe contributed an eight-yard reception in his 25 snaps.
Up front, the 'Fins had an average day, with solid pass protection being offset by continued issues in running the ball. Terron Armstead (72.7 PFF grade) got 49 snaps at left tackle, with rookie Patrick Paul seeing some action in a blowout. In 19 snaps, Paul was called for holding and picked up a 53.6 grade from PFF. Right guard Liam Eichenberg (69.0) and center Aaron Brewer (65.9) received middle-of-the-road marks from PFF.

Defense

A week after a difficult showing, the Dolphins put together a better performance, holding the New England offense to a fluke touchdown, 268 yards, three of 14 on third down, and one of three fourth-down attempts. Miami harassed rookie quarterback Drake Maye, sacking him four times, causing him to turn the ball over twice, and holding him to just 4.3 yards per pass attempt. The Patriots had just 86 rushing yards (4.0 yards per carry) and were forced to largely abandon the run due to playing from behind most of the game.
On the interior, Zach Sieler continued what one hopes could be a Pro Bowl campaign, notching four tackles, three solo stops, a sack, two stops for losses, a quarterback hit, and a forced fumble in 46 snaps, earning an 89.6 PFF grade. Calais Campbell (one assisted tackle in 35 snaps, 51.9 grade from PFF), Da'Shawn Hand (no stats in 28 snaps), and Neil Farrell (no stats in 15 snaps, 51.7 mark from PFF) were quiet, while Benito Jones posted two solo tackles and a quarterback hit in 28 snaps.
Rookie Chop Robinson continued his surge on the edge, delivering four tackles, two solos, 1.5 sacks, a stop for loss, two batted passes, and three quarterback hits in 35 snaps -- good for a stellar PFF grade of 91.5. Emmanuel Ogbah added two assisted tackles, half a sack, and one quarterback hit in 42 snaps (54.7 PFF grade), while Tyus Bowser assisted on a pair of tackles in 30 snaps for a 76.1 mark from PFF. Quintin Bell (21 snaps) did not dent the box score in this one.
At inside linebacker, Jordyn Brooks recorded nine tackles, seven solos, a stop for loss, and a fumble recovery while playing all 69 snaps. Anthony Walker was limited to 18 snaps due to a hamstring injury, managing two tackles and one solo as part of an 88.4 PFF performance. Newcomer Tyrel Dodson took advantage of the increased opportunity, registering five tackles, two solos, a pass breakup, and an interception in 48 snaps, good for a 69.9 grade from PFF.
Jalen Ramsey was the mainstay again at corner, tallying four tackles, three solos, a sack, a stop for loss, a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup in 69 snaps (63.0 PFF mark). With Kendall Fuller sidelined again, Kader Kohou joined Ramsey in playing every snap, contributing four tackles, two solos, and an illegal-use-of-hands flag. Storm Duck picked up three tackles, two solos, and a pass breakup in 48 snaps (75.0 PFF grade), while Cam Smith had one solo tackles and committed pass interference in 16 snaps (52.9 mark from PFF). This unit could use Fuller back, which would free up Kohou -- whose tackling has deteriorated on the boundary -- to return to his more natural nickel spot.
At safety, Jordan Poyer (seven solos and a pass breakup) and Jevon Holland (six tackles, five solos, and one stop for loss) played all 69 snaps, playing a key role in keeping the Patsies out of the red zone. However, Poyer's tackling continues to be problematic, as it seems he is either absorbing massive punishment or whiffing on stops. Holland has been quiet this season and was assigned a 50.1 mark by PFF.

Special teams

Jason Sanders connected on both field goals (including a 51-yarder), and all four extra points in yet another spotless showing.
A week after not getting off the bench, Jake Bailey punted five times for a 48.0-yard average, putting two inside the 20-yard line.
Miami did not have any kickoff returns, though Washington returned a pair of punts for a total of 15 yards, with a long of 13. However, the rookie's decision-making on fielding punts has led to some dangerous situations.
Duke Riley, Siran Neal, and Bell all had 22 snaps in the third phase, while Julian Hill added 18. Riley and Smythe each made a solo tackle in the kicking game, with Riley also getting solid pressure on a New England punt early in the contest.

Momentum plays

To start the game, the Dolphins forced a three-and-out (New England passed up a 4th & 1 opportunity to deliver a 57-yard punt), but Miami followed with a punt after an 11-yard pass to Smith on its first play an inability to convert on 2nd & 3 and 3rd & 2. The third-down play featured Smith being interfered with and hit late, with no call on either infraction.
The Patriots went 60 yards in 12 plays, hammering away on the ground and with short passes. A holding call put New England way behind the chains, and a 45-yard field goal attempt clanged off the right upright.
Tua quickly connected on passes of 12, 24, and 10 yards to Smith, Waddle, and Hill, respectively. The visitors committed a neutral-zone infraction as the clock wound out on the first quarter, giving the 'Fins a first down on a 3rd & 3 play. Three plays later, Tua found Smith for a seven-yard touchdown on third & goal, staking Miami to a 7-0 lead.
A Robinson sack forced a three-and-out (New England faced a 4th & 25), and the Dolphins seized full control of the contest on the following possession. Tua found Smith for 13 yards, then connected with Waddle for 17 and 14 yards, with the latter coming on a 3rd & 9 play. A well-blocked screen to Achane two plays later resulted in a nine-yard score and a 14-0 advantage.
Another holding on the Patsies led to a second straight three-and-out, and the 'Fins capitalized again. Waddle converted another third down on a 15-yard reception on 3rd & 8, one play after Julian Hill dropped a pass that initially looked like he fumbled. Wright ripped off a 10-yard run, then -- despite being held -- Waddle reeled in a 19-yard pass that was upheld on review. Tua connected with Smith for 14 more, and on 3rd & 3, Achane took another screen in from 11 yards away, giving the Dolphins a commanding 21-0 lead.
After a Maye grounding was uncalled, another Robinson sack resulted in a fumble that Sieler pounced on, but the play was reversed to an incompletion on a highly questionable official review. Undaunted, Ogbah and Robinson combined for another sack to force a 4th & 20 punt and a third consecutive three-and-out.
Tua came out firing again, drilling passes of 29 (Waddle), seven (Hill), and 20 yards (Hill). Three straight incompletions -- two of the terrifying variety -- from the three-yard line ensued, forcing Miami to settle for a short field goal to make it 24-0 at the half after a New England kneeldown.
The Dolphins went three-and-out on the opening possession of the second half when Tua took a third-down sack. The Patsies answered with a 10-play drive -- but it only covered 27 yards and ended in a punt.
Wright started the following drive with a 12 yards on two runs before Tua found Hill for 11 and Miami got 10 more when Smith was interfered with. Beckham then dropped a perfectly placed deep ball on 3rd & 5, forcing a second straight Bailey punt.
New England started the next drive with a 27-yard one-handed catch and run, but Sieler followed a tackle for loss with a sack that jarred the ball loose. Brooks scooped it up and returned it 12 yards before he was tackled, setting the 'Fins up at the Pats' 25-yard line.
Miami needed just two plays to cover the distance, as Tua hooked up with Waddle from 23 yards away to boost the advantage to 31-0.
Maye hit on passes of 20 and 16 yards (the latter on 3rd & 9) to move into Miami territory before a Ramsey sack forced a 4th & 15. The quarterback avoided another Robinson sack before throwing a deep ball to an undefended Austin Hooper, who dove in for a 38-yard touchdown to trim the lead to 31-7.
The 'Fins went three-and-out to give the ball back to the Patriots, who converted a 4th & 7 thanks to an extremely late and bad pass interference flag on Smith. Miami successfully defended the next fourth-down play to get a turnover on downs.
With Thompson in, the Dolphins tried to hand it off to Wright twice. However, the second exchange was sloppy and resulted in a fumble, with Christian Gonzalez picking up the loose ball and racing 63 yards for a touchdown. The Patsies ran a hook-and-lateral play for the two-point conversion to make it 31-15 and add some late excitement to the contest.
Coach Mike McDaniel reinserted Tua, who hit Smith twice for 16 yards before a third-down sack led to another Bailey punt.
New England came out firing, but Maye was pressured by Ramsey on his fourth straight pass and it was intercepted by Dodson, who reeled it in one-handed to give the 'Fins the ball at their own 46-yard line.
After an initial first down, Miami stalled, but Sanders drilled a 51-yarder to extend the lead to 34-15.
The Patriots got a first down on a 15-yard run, but a 4th & 3 pass came up short just after the two-minute warning to hand the ball back to the Dolphins.
Three straight Tua kneeldowns ran out the clock to give the 'Fins their third straight victory.