Limerick Friday #569: Not Really Easing Into That Holiday Slowdown -- Day 1,007

Shitheads abound

Hypocrisy astounds

With no one to steer

Favoritism's here

Open is lost and not found

Cursing the fates

Counting the dates

Work's not abating

But my nerves are a-grating

Thank ye gods shutdown awaits

Went from dropping dimes

To the worst of all times

All those believers

Have second-guess fevers

Nothing with Tua Tagovailoa rhymes

Emotions run high

For all plus this guy

Close to the surface

We're all default nervous

Never been harder to just get by

Trying to make it through

But outside is a zoo

Hide me in vinyl

It doesn't have to be final

But any escapism will do

Last time ...

Day 1,006, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Chargers Game 13 Review

 

A stubborn offensive game plan ensured that Miami was dramatically outcoached for the second game in a row, with the Dolphins dropping a sneaky vital game down the stretch. Looking like they spent the entire week going to California beaches, the 'Fins fell to 2-5 against teams with winning records and were fortunate not to get blown out in this one. In two Cali contests against the 'Niners and the Chargers, the Dolphins ran 94 plays to 157 for the opposition, lost the time of possession battle by 80:12 to 39:48, and converted just 3 of 18 third downs on their West Coast trip. Falling to 8-5 with a tough remaining slate, Miami now faces a difficult thread-the-needle task toward a playoff spot.

On to the Groundhog-Hog-Day recap ...

Offense

• Against a severely depleted defense that already ranked 26th in the NFL and was missing six starters, Miami accomplished next to nothing. The Dolphins managed just 14 first downs and 219 total yards and went 3 of 11 on third down. The visitors rushed for 92 yards, but it was mostly as an afterthought against the worst rushing defense in the league. The 'Fins did not make it into the red zone in the contest.
• Tua Tagovailoa had an eminently forgettable -- and regrettable -- performance in primetime, connecting on just 10 of 28 passes (almost impossible in today's NFL) for 145 yards and one score. He misfired on 14 of his first 17 throws, had at least one interception dropped, and suffered a number of miscommunications with his wideouts -- some of his best throws came when his receivers weren't expecting or looking for the ball. Tua did rush for 28 important yards, but took two sacks and committed a crushing intentional grounding that cost the team points. Somehow, he is now 28 of 61 over the past two games -- something that could be considered a trend in some quarters.
• Raheem Mostert dominated touches at running back again, carrying 11 times for 37 yards and adding a seven-yard catch in his 37 snaps. Jeff Wilson got eight snaps before being injured, with four carries for 26 yards, balancing a long of 20 with a fumble. Fullback Alec Ingold was targeted once in the passing game without a catch in his 20 snaps, while Salvon Ahmed contributed a one-yard carry among his five snaps. Though the Dolphins are largely being dominated at the line of scrimmage, the lack of commitment to trying to establish the ground game over the past two games has been borderline shocking.
• At wideout, Tyreek Hill set the Miami single-season receiving yardage record established by Mark Clayton, surpassing 1,400 yards for the campaign on the strength of pulling in four of 10 targets for 81 yards and a 60-yard touchdown. He added a 57-yard score on a heads-up play on a fumble recovery and battled through an ankle injury that limited him to 34 snaps during the game. Jaylen Waddle was a non-factor despite his 43 snaps, catching two of four targets for 31 yards and appearing to be out of sync with Tua on multiple plays. Trent Sherfield was held to a seven-yard reception on his four targets in 31 snaps, while Cedrick Wilson had two grabs for 19 yards in his 20 snaps. Reserve Freddie Swain didn't record a stat in his first seven snaps of the season. The 'Fins struggled mightily against the physicality of the Charger defensive backs and did not have a plan to manufacture touches for Waddle, making it two weeks in a row that Miami was dramatically outschemed on the offensive side of the ball.
• The update from the tight end spot is even shorter than usual, with neither Durham Smythe (30 snaps) nor Mike Gesicki (20 snaps) catching a ball, though the latter was targeted twice. With very little emphasis on the running game, either, the tight ends have been relegated to observers, with Gesicki now being held without a catch for three straight contests.
• Up front, Terron Armstead gutted out the entire game with pectoral and ankle injuries, though he was clearly limited at left tackle. At the other tackle spot, Brandon Shell was called for two false starts, while right guard Robert Hunt was whistled for being downfield as an ineligbile receiver. All the starters played all 51 snaps, but could not get any traction in the running game and surrendered a number of pressures on designed passes.

Defense

• In a nutshell, Justin Herbert was unstoppable. He torched the 'Fins for 367 yards and a score on 39 of 51 passes, making a number of plays outside the pocket to punish Dolphin pressure. The Chargers racked up 432 total yards on a whopping 78 plays, converting 9 of 18 third downs (in the first half, Los Angeles was 7 of 11 on third down, including 5 of 7 on 3rd & 5 or longer) and 1 of 2 fourth downs. With Los Angeles relying on two backup tackles, Miami did collect four sacks and did well against the run (82 yards on 3.6 yards per carry), and the defense kept the 'Fins in the game by giving up just two touchdowns on six red-zone visits. However, the Dolphins did not force a turnover in a game where the "D" was called on to make a game-changing play.
• Christian Wilkins turned in a dominant performance on the biggest stage, tallying nine tackles, a sack, two stops for losses, four pressures, and a quarterback hit in 66 snaps, earning a 91.3 grade from Pro Football Focus. In 67 snaps, Zach Sieler was also impressive, notching six tackles, while reserve Justin Zimmer did not record a stat in his eight snaps. Analyst Cris Collinsworth appeared to be making a bid to be Wilkins's agent at one point, but there is no arguing that the 'Fins have two of the better interior defenders in the AFC in Wilkins and Sieler.
• At nose tackle, Raekwon Davis had a solo tackle in his 36 snaps, while John Jenkins had a solo stop and a couple of pressures in his 16 snaps.
• Bradley Chubb was credited with a solo tackle and three quarterback hits in his 50 snaps on the weak side, but that doesn't tell the full story of his consistent pressure. Melvin Ingram did not record a statistic in his 37 snaps.
• On the strong side, Jaelan Phillips had a monster outing, registering six tackles, a sack, two stops for losses, a quarterback hit, and seven pressures. He earned an 89.7 PFF grade in his 59 snaps, while Andrew Van Ginkel had three tackles and a stop for loss in just 16 snaps.
• Jerome Baker led the way at inside linebacker, posting 11 tackles, a sack, two stops for losses, and a quarterback hit in his 76 snaps. Elandon Roberts had six solo tackles in his 43 snaps, while Duke Riley struggled for the second game in a row, failing to record a stat in his 26 snaps. Sam Eguavoen had a single snap from scrimmage in a goal-line situation.
• At cornerback, Kader Kohou played 79 snaps, notching eight tackles -- including a big fourth-down stop -- and drawing a holding flag. On the other side, Xavien Howard managed four tackles in his 79 snaps, and the veteran is either still playing hurt or got old really fast. Keion Crossen had three tackles and was called for holding in his 44 snaps. The injuries at cornerback combined with the sheer number of snaps the defense is being forced to play due to an ineffective offense are starting to take a tangible toll. Miami is not playing Justin Bethel nor Noah Ighbinoghene on defense, and the secondary looks like it could be wearing down as a result.
• Playing one of his best games at strong safety, Eric Rowe recorded eight tackles, a sack, two stops for losses, and a quarterback hit in his 53 snaps. Neither rookie Verone McKinley (16 snaps) nor veteran Clayton Fejedelem (three snaps) recorded a stat in reserve duty.
• At free safety, Jevon Holland played all 80 snaps and picked up five tackles, but he has been entirely too quiet in the past few games. Elijah Campbell played 25 snaps in a hybrid role, making a pair of solo tackles.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders drilled a clutch 55-yarder to keep Miami in striking distance late, and then he delivered a great onsides kick that gave Miami a chance at recovery. He also hit both of his extra points in the contest. Sanders, who had been three of 10 from 50+ over the past two seasons, has now made 11 of his past 12 field goal attempts.
• Thomas Morstead had a strong game, punting seven times for a 46.7-yard average and placing four kicks inside the 20-yard line. He had two punts nearly blocked, which is something to watch for in coming weeks.
• The 'Fins did not return a kickoff nor a punt, but they gave up a 23-yard punt return to DeAndre Carter. Overall, Miami lost the hidden-yardage game in a big way in a contest in which they could not afford for that to happen.
• Smythe led all offensive players with 16 special teams snaps, while Bethel -- who did not play from scrimmage for the second game in a row -- and Campbell paced defensive players with 26 snaps in the third phase. Campbell made a huge play early when he delivered a big hit on a punt return to flip the field for the Dolphin defense.

Momentum plays

• Miami led off the game with three straight Tua incompletions: a deep underthrow to Hill, a potential drop by Waddle, and another pass to Hill that he wasn't ready for -- a harbinger of so many things to come. Morstead's 56-yard punt was punctuated by a stellar tackle by Campbell to dump the returner for no gain.
• The Chargers converted a 3rd & 10 on a Kohou hold and a 3rd & 9 on a deep ball that Mike Williams won over Howard in the air for a 23-yard gain. On a subsequent 3rd & 4, Los Angeles beat the blitz with a seven-yard pass to Gerald Everett, but strong plays by Sieler and Van Ginkel forced a 4th & goal from the 2-yard line. Herbert hit Carter on a swing pass, but the return man stumbled, giving Kohou an opportunity to drop him for no gain, giving the ball back to the Dolphins after a 15-play scoreless drive.
• Hill converted a 3rd & 9 with a tough 13-yard catch to give Miami better field position, but three plays later Tua threw a ball that easily should have been intercepted, resulting in another Morstead punt.
• A 19-yard pass from Herbert to Williams got the Chargers going on the next drive, then Herbert eluded a blitz to find Josh Palmer for 13 yards on 3rd & 5 (the catch held up on review). A Wilkins sack on a three-man rush forced Los Angeles to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker at the start of the second quarter. 
• The 'Fins followed with an awful three-and-out that featured a negative-yardage run, a deep ball to an open Hill that he potentially lost in the lights and would have been a big gain, and a sack that saw former Dolphins Kyle Van Noy put a wicked spin move on Armstead. The drive got even worse when Carter returned the ensuing punt -- which was nearly blocked, of course -- 23 yards to set up the Chargers in Miami territory.
• On a 3rd & 1 play, Joshua Kelley ripped off a 22-yard run, avoiding a Holland tackle attempt before finally being corralled by Kohou and Van Ginkel. Two plays later, Herbert rolled out and found Williams in the back of the end zone, with the wideout making a phenomenal catch to get both feet in and stake Los Angeles to a 10-0 lead.
• Three plays into Miami's ensuing drive, Wilson fumbled on a run. When the ball squirted out of the pile unnoticed by almost everyone, Hill scooped it up and raced 57 yards untouched for a fluke fumble recovery that improbably made the score 10-7 despite the 'Fins having 14 yards on 15 offensive plays at that point.
• A Rowe sack helped force a three-and-out by the Chargers, and the Dolphins got a 20-yard run from Wilson (he was injured on the play) to get the possession going in a positive direction. Tua found Cedrick Wilson for 12 yards to convert a 3rd & 10, but Miami ended up having to punt again.
• On the following possession, the Chargers converted a 3rd & 4 with a 10-yard pass to Allen, then hit consecutive passes of 21, 14, and 12 yards. On a 3rd & 10, Herbert avoided Phillips pressure and rolled out to find Palmer on the sideline for 18 yards. A Phillips sack helped force 3rd & goal from the 17-yard line, but the 'Fins inexplicably played a prevent defense that allowed a screen to Austin Ekeler to get 16 yards. On 4th & goal from the 1, Los Angeles elected to go for it, and Ekeler churned through a Sieler tackle attempt to seal the monster 13-yard drive and put the home team up 17-7 with just 18 seconds remaining in the half.
• Inexplicably, Miami came out winging it with the half ending, and Tua narrowly avoided a sack to throw it out of bounds before the 'Fins mercifully chose to run it with Mostert to end a disastrous offensive half.
• The Chargers got the ball to start the third quarter, but Kohou made a strong tackle on a 3rd & 12 play to force a punt. However, the Dolphins promptly went three-and-out as well, with predictable play-calling leading to a near interception.
• An insane roughing-the-passer call (which was actually literally removed by the NFL on a condensed version of the game replay) on a Phillips sack allowed Los Angeles to escape another three-and-out, but the defense rallied to force a punt four plays later.
• Back-to-back Mostert runs gave Miami a rare first down, then three plays later Tua lofted a deep ball to Hill, who skated in from 60 yards away when the defensive back fell down. The Sanders extra point trimmed the margin to 17-14 with more than six minutes remaining in the third quarter.
• Los Angeles responded with a backside deep ball from Herbert, who rolled out and threw across the field to Williams, who had burned Howard. When Howard did not tag him down, the receiver got up and continued running for a 55-yard gain. The 'Fins rose up to force a 31-yard field goal, pushing the score to 20-14.
• After a Mostert 13-yard run got the 'Fins going, Tua followed with an 18-yard scramble (and a slide!). However, Jones was beaten inside by Morgan Fox, who dropped Tua for a sack on 3rd & 10 to force a Morstead punt.
• The Dolphins dug deep to stifle the Chargers on another three-and-out, with Baker making a big tackle to hold Allen short on 3rd & 2.
• Following the punt, Waddle got loose to turn a short pass into a 19-yard gain. Another Tua scramble earned another first down, but he was called for grounding on a second-down play, a critical mistake that forced a 3rd & 19. After an eight-yard catch by Hill, the Dolphins must have considered going for it, but with the down and distance so severe (4th & 11), instead relied on Morstead, who placed a punt at the Chargers' 11-yard line.
• A gassed defense could not respond to get the ball back, surrendering a demoralizing 17-play possession to Los Angeles. A 3rd & 5 dart to Allen despite tight Kohou coverage was a devastating play for the "D," and another third-down pass to Allen sustained the drive. Herbert found Allen yet again for an 18-yarder, then kept the ball on a 3rd & 8 run, gaining 10 yards when Riley -- who was in coverage on the play -- kept his back turned to the quarterback. A 12-yard rumble by Ekeler that saw him carry Campbell and Van Ginkel seemed to expend the rest of Miami's hope, though a Herbert fumbled snap very nearly gave the Dolphins the break they needed. Herbert recovered, and on 3rd & goal, Chubb pressure forced a short pass to Ekeler that lost four yards when he was swarmed by Baker and Sieler. The Chargers made a 28-yard field goal to push the lead back to two scores at 23-14.
• A series of short passes moved the 'Fins down the field, but a perfectly thrown deep ball to Waddle on 3rd & 2 fell harmlessly to the turf when the wideout never looked for the ball. Sanders hammered a clutch 55-yarder to extend Miami's hope, trimming the margin to 23-17 with 1:10 remaining.
• A good onsides kick by Sanders bounced off the return man and was loose on the ground, but Bethel could not win the ball away from the Chargers' Nick Niemann. Two Herbert kneeldowns ended the contest, dealing the 'Fins a costly second loss in a row.

2022 Schedule

Miami 20, New England 7 (1-0)

Miami 42, Baltimore 38 (2-0)

Miami 21, Buffalo 19 (3-0)

Cincinnati 27, Miami 15 (3-1)

New York Jets 40, Miami 17 (3-2)

Minnesota 24, Miami 16 (3-3)

Miami 16, Pittsburgh 10 (4-3)

Miami 31, Detroit 27 (5-3)

Miami 35, Chicago 32 (6-3)

Miami 39, Cleveland 17 (7-3)

Miami 30, Houston 15 (8-3)

San Francisco 33, Miami 17 (8-4)

Los Angeles Chargers 23, Miami 17 (8-5)

Day 1,005, Quasi-Quarantine: Potent Mix Of Satire And Science Fiction Make "War With The Newts" Potent A Prescient Allegory

"Please tell me how I can not be sorry for mankind! But I was most sorry when I saw how of its own will and at all costs it rushed to its ruin. At the sight of it you would shout. You would scream and throw up both your arms as if you saw a train run on to the wrong track. It's too late to stop it now."

Brilliantly clever, "War with the Newts" combines satire, humor, science fiction, and allegory to eviscerate the natural tendencies of the human race to exploit any new discovery of value. 

Karel Capek peppers his novel with memorable characters (Captain van Toch is hysterical) and inventive names (the Salamander Syndicate would be a stellar band name), but weaves in pertinent commentary on colonialism, fascism, segregation, and the arms race.

Written in 1936 and translated from Czechoslovakian, context and meaning matter when considering "War with the Newts." The book becomes almost overly scientific and dense at times (56 pages alone on the annals of the newts), but the ability to meld comedy with a mounting horror speaks volumes to Capek's talents (this is a man who, like, invented the word "robot") and ability to see the future ("What destroys us will not be a cosmic catastrophe but mere reasons of state, economics, prestige, etc.").

"Never before has man experienced such opportunities in life as he does to-day; but show me one man who is happy; one class which is contented, or a nation that does not feel threatened in its very existence.

"All unhappiness of the man lies in the fact that he was compelled to become mankind, or that he became mankind too late, after he had already been irrevocably divided into nations, races, faiths, professions, and classes, into rich and poor, into educated and uneducated, into the rulers and the ruled."

The author himself considered the novel's protagonist to be "nationalism," and much of his material appears oddly prophetic and contemporary. 

Eighty-five years after its publication, "War with the Newts" is a masterwork of insightful political theory and incisive writing.

"Captain van Toch shook his head. 'Man, there aren't any devils. And if there were, they would look like Europeans.'"

Day 1,004, Quasi-Quarantine: An Early Holiday Steal Takes On Melancholy Meaning With The Clean's "Anthology"

 

I'm late to this stellar band, but when I saw The Clean "Anthology" on sale at a dramatically reduced price, I had to pounce. This New Zealand indie group was led by brothers Hamish and David Kilgour and helped form the "Dunedin sound," an eclectic blend of music that helped define 1980s post-punk/indie/psychedelic/college/garage rock.

Merge Records released "Anthology" as a two-disc compilation and celebration of The Clean's influence on so many prominent American indie groups.

The day after the box set arrived, this happened: 

I'll be listening with extra emphasis after this loss. RIP Hamish ... and all hail The Clean.

Day 1,003, Quasi-Quarantine: The "Star Wars" Advent Calendar Locks In Coordinates To Tattooine

 

After some stellar and unexpected mini-builds arrived in the first five days of the "Star Wars" Lego advent calendar, the designers upped the ante in the next five days of reveals.

Day 6: "Havoc Marauder"

Day 7: Luke's Landspeeder

Day 8: T-16 Skyhopper

Day 9: C-3PO

Day 10: Moisture Farm Evaporator

The "Bad Batch" shuttle led the way on Day 6, a nod to the Clone Force 99 crew that has captured the hearts of so many. The "Havoc Marauder" was beautifully designed and a welcome continued homage to the Clone Wars.

The theme shifted to Tattooine in subsequent days, with a niftily done landspeeder (complete with tan and white bricks to represent Luke and C-3PO) followed by a completely unexpected T-16 Skyhopper for the nostalgia lovers.

The next day featured a holiday C-3PO, complete with a blue Christmas sweater with R2-D2 on the front. The second five days concluded with a forgettable moisture farm evaporator -- well rendered and certainly in line with a Tattooine emphasis, but a bit of a throwaway in the spirit of a weapons rack (which has yet to make its annual appearance).

For me, the "Havoc Marauder" and the T-16 Skyhopper were the highlights for the second week. Thanks as always to Jay's Brick Blog for the insights and guidance where needed, and here's to hoping the next five days bring even more surprises.

Limerick Friday #568: A Quarantine Milestone Has Arriven -- Day 1,000

The pandemic did begin

And isolation set in

Writing offered escape ways

For a thousand damn days

And a thousand more, I'm bettin'

NC State gave a darn

And celebrated every '83 yarn

A Reynolds visit

Boy, do I miss it

Good to be back in the ol' Barn

From people I usually cower

It's kinda my superpower

But a downtown trip

To collaborate and quip 

Was worth being back in the Tower

Paying the big bucks

So the roster won't sucks

Verlander and Nimmo both suit

Throw in Kate Upton to boot

About luxury tax, Cohen gives zero fucks

Legos and Funkos, oh my

Even makeup on the sly

A new a.m. norm

A routine for the morn'

Advent calendars are a win for this guy

Last time ...

Day 999, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-49ers Game 12 Review

 

Miami saw its five-game winning streak come to an end after going on the road and losing the turnover battle (4-1) and committing eight penalties. The game featured some momentous fourth-down plays and a couple of challenge overturns, but the difference was the 'Niners controlling possession (a whopping 40:34 to 19:26) and finding a way to win despite being down to Mr. Irrelevant at quarterback for nearly the entire game. 

On the back-to-the-lab recap ...

Offense

• After a promising start, Miami just had far too many empty possessions. The Dolphins did not convert a single third down (0-7) and had just 45 offensive plays (to San Francisco's 79), and managed just 33 yards (on eight carries) in the contest. The 'Fins visited the red zone just once in the game -- settling for a field goal -- and committed four turnovers. Overall, coach Mike McDaniel has to fight the temptation to throw the ball on every down and seek more balance against the league's most talented defenses.
• In a game where Tua Tagovailoa appeared to be too indecisive and panicky, he connected on 18 of 33 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns. However, he threw two interceptions, narrowly avoided a couple more, coughed up a fumble that resulted in a score, was sacked three times, and took too many awkward hits. When he got banged up late, the 'Fins put in Skyler Thompson, who promptly tossed yet another pick.
• Raheem Mostert carried the ball seven times for 30 yards in his 28 snaps, but inexplicably, Jeff Wilson got a single carry (for three yards) and two targets (no catches) against the team that traded him in just 17 snaps. Alec Ingold (25 snaps) had a flurry of activity with three catches for 15 yards on one drive, but otherwise was not much of a factor as the Dolphins abandoned the run.
• At receiver, Tyreek Hill was a monster once again, hauling in nine of 14 targets for 146 yards and a touchdown to earn a 90.4 grade from Pro Football Focus. Jaylen Waddle was limited to just a single catch for nine yards on five targets in 24 snaps, but Trent Sherfield picked up some slack with a 75-yard score on his lone catch among three targets in his 30 snaps. River Cracraft (20 snaps) earned three targets, pulling in two for 29 yards. Down the stretch, the 'Fins will need a healthy Waddle and to hope that Cedrick Wilson (nine snaps vs. San Francisco) is able to provide some return on investment this season.
• Durham Smythe led the way once again among modest tight end involvement with 27 snaps, recording two receptions for 21 yards. Mike Gesicki had a fourth-down catch for a conversation overturned on replay and otherwise was not targeted in only nine snaps, while rookie Tanner Conner did not record a stat in his two scrimmage snaps. After being shut out in back-to-back games, "G-Sick" now has just three catches in the last four games.
• Up front, the Dolphins faced a massive challenge when both starting offensive tackles (Teronn Armstead and Austin Jackson) were ruled out for the contest, and left tackle Greg Little and right tackle Brandon Shell had understandable struggles at times. Shell was much more solid, earning a 73.9 PFF grade, while left guard Robert Jones (false start) and right guard Rob Hunt (holding) had crucial penalties. The playcalling did no favors for the offensive line, with the one-dimensional strategy backfiring when the 49ers got up two scores and were able to rush the passer with abandon.

Defense

• Despite the 'Niners dominating possession and putting up 24 first downs and 351 yards under a third-string rookie quarterback, the Miami defense kept them in the game, holding San Francisco to four field goals, allowing just two touchdowns in five red zone trips, and surrendering a respectable 121 yards to one of the best running teams in the league. The 49ers averaged just 4.4 yards per play (to Miami's 6.8), but converted 8 of 19 third-down attempts to sustain drives. 
• The defensive ends led the way again, with Christian Wilkins (77.9 PFF grade) and Zach Sieler putting up monster games while both playing a staggering 76 snaps. Wilkins had 12 tackles, including a team-best eight solos and one stop for a loss. Sieler notched seven tackles, half a sack, and two quarterback hits, while Justin Zimmer contributed an assisted tackle in his 13 snaps.
• At nose tackle, Raekwon Davis did not record a statistic in his 49 snaps, but John Jenkins made three tackles in his 26 snaps, earning a 75.7 PFF grade.
• On the weak side, Bradley Chubb registered three tackles, a sack, a stop for loss and two quarterback hits in his 48 snaps, drawing a holding flag while committing an unsportsmanslike conduct penalty as well. In his 21 snaps, Melvin Ingram posted a solo tackle, a sack, a stop for loss, and a quarterback hit, though he also was whistled for tripping.
• On the strong side, Jaelan Phillips recorded three tackles, half a sack, and three quarterback hits in his 55 snaps, while Andrew Van Ginkel put up five tackles, half a sack, and one quarterback hit in his 31 snaps.
• At middle linebacker, Jerome Baker had another strong game, delivering 12 tackles, half a sack, one stop for a loss, and a quarterback hit in a hefty 74 snaps. Elandon Roberts added four tackles and one stop for a loss in 56 snaps, while Duke Riley collected two tackles and had a rough game in pass coverage in his 30 snaps.
• Xavien Howard and Kader Kohou played all 84 snaps as the starting corners, with "X" contributing three solo stops, two pass breakups, and an interception and Kohou notching five tackles. Both players were called for pass interference. Keion Crossen's three tackles and a pass breakup in 25 snaps were enough to earn a 78.6 PFF grade, but he appeared to miss his assignment on the McCaffrey touchdown. Justin Bethel did not see any snaps from scrimmage in this one.
• At strong safety, Eric Rowe had five tackles and a pass breakup in his 80 snaps, while Verone McKinley contributed a solo stop in his seven snaps.
• Once again, Jevon Holland played every snap (84) at free safety, picking up seven tackles. Elijah Campbell had two solo tackles in five reserve snaps.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders hit a 43-yard field goal and both extra points, but his counterpart Robbie Gould was a monster, drilling all four field goals (three of 43 yards or more) and all three extra points.
• Thomas Morstead averaged 51.5 yards on four punts -- getting some good bounces along the way -- with a long of 63. The 49ers' Mitch Wishnowsky downed two of his four punts inside the 20-yard line.
• On kickoffs, Mostert had a 25-yard return and Smythe added a nine-yarder at the end of the half. Cedrick Wilson returned a pair of punts for 21 yards, but the Dolphins surrendered 84 yards in kickoff and punt returns by San Francisco's Ray-Ray McCloud.
• Campbell and Bethel played 27 special teams plays to lead defensive players, while Smythe's 15 snaps in the third phase paced all offensive players. Campbell was whistled for being out of bounds on kick coverage.

Momentum plays

• The Dolphins got off to the ideal possible start, with Tua hitting Sherfield over the middle, where he took advantage of bad angles by a linebacker and safety to race 75 yards for a touchdown on the game's very first play.
• San Francisco converted its first third down when Brandon Aiyuk beat Howard on a 3rd & 7, then got another big play when Christian McCaffrey easily dusted Riley in coverage for a 33-yard gain, with Holland saving a potential touchdown. After a near interception by Ingram off a deflection by Roberts, Miami got a third-down sack from Baker and Phillips. Jimmy Garapolo was injured and lost for the game on the play, but the ageless Gould hit a 47-yarder to trim the margin to 7-3.
• A quick three-and-out from the 'Fins ensued, with a dangerous third-down pass from Tua falling incomplete.  On the 49ers' next possession,  McCaffrey beat Riley in coverage again to convert a 3rd & 3. A shaky pass interference call on Kohou gave San Francisco another first down on a 3rd & 10 play, then Kohou appeared to miss an assignment, allowing any easy touchdown by Kyle Juszcyk to push the 'Niners ahead, 10-7.
• The Dolphins had another three-and-out when Tua fired incomplete twice for Waddle. A tripping call on Ingram gave San Francisco some life on its next drive, but Wilkins made a huge stop on McCaffrey on a 3rd & 2 run, with the three-yard loss forcing a 49ers punt.
• On the second play of the next Miami possession, Tua threw a perfect pass to Smythe, who absorbed a big hit but pulled it in for 19 yards. Two plays later, Tua hit a back shoulder pass to Hill, who made a stellar adjustment with the ball in the air to reel in the 18-yarder.  Another 17-yard pass to Hill and a couple of Ingold catches gave the 'Fins two more first downs, but a bad play concept on 3rd & 1 left Nick Bosa to be blocked by a running back. After the easy sack, Sanders hit from 43 yards away to tie the score at 10.
• The 'Fins forced a three-and-out when Baker pressure led to a Crossen pass breakup, but Miami couldn't do anything with the ball, going three-and-out as well after three straight incompletions, including a dropped pass by Jeff Wilson on a wheel route that would have been a big gainer.
• A 19-yard run by Jordan Mason got the 49ers going, but a sack by Van Ginkel and Sieler was followed by third-down pressure from Holland that resulted in a short gain. On 4th and 4, Holland pressured third-stringer Brock Purdy again, and "X" picked off a fade attempt to Aiyuk for his first interception of the campaign.
• Miami started its next drive with an 18-yard completion to Cracraft on a risky throw, but another third-down Bosa sack forced the 'Fins to punt once again.
• Oddly, the Dolphins accepted an illegal man downfield penalty on its next drive to give San Francisco a 2nd & 8 rather than a 3rd & 3, and the home team responded with a McCaffrey conversion. On 3rd & 10, Phillips applied massive pressure, but Purdy hit Kittle over the middle for 19 yards on a clutch play. A missed tackle by Howard resulted in a Jauan Jennings 19-yard gain, with a big hit by a hustling Wilkins forcing a fumble that went out of bounds on the play. With the 'Niners retaining possession, a Howard pass interference on the next play compounded matters, and on a 3rd & goal play, Purdy found McCaffrey on an angle route for an easy score. The play looked like another missed assignment by the 'Fins, with Rowe seeming to give McCaffrey entirely too much room. The touchdown with four seconds left was a demoralizing way to end the half, with San Francisco pushing ahead, 17-10.
• On the first drive of the second half, the 'Niners got 15 yards on a pass to Jennings, but consistent Chubb pressure contributed to an Ingram sack that led to a San Fran punt.
• Miami got going with a 19-yarder to Tua plus a roughing-the-passer penalty on Bosa, but a false start on Jones and a hold on Hunt was followed by an interception by Jimmy Ward on a 1st & 25 play that saw Jeff Wilson fall down on his route.
• A 12-play drive that covered just 39 yards but took up more than seven minutes ensued. The 49ers converted a 3rd & 1 and a 4th & 1 (a controversial play that should have been blown dead short once the quarterback had his momentum stopped on a sneak), but the defense rallied to force a 43-yard Gould field goal and a 20-10 lead.
• Tua immediately followed with a poor throw to Hill that was tipped and intercepted to give the 'Niners back-to-back picks. The 'Fins responded by seeming to force a McCaffrey fumble that was recovered by Baker, but the pass was ruled incomplete. San Francisco got yet another Gould field goal to push the advantage to 23-10.
• Short passes to Hill and Waddle earned Miami a first down, then Hill pulled in a 19-yarder off of play action. On the next play, Tua hit him in stride from 45 yards away on a deep post to give the Dolphins a crucial touchdown and trim the margin to 23-17 early in the fourth quarter.
• A dangerous 3rd & 1 throw was reeled in for 12 yards and a first down by Deebo Samuel. Sieler turned in three straight good plays to help force a punt that Phillips appeared to get a piece of, but the kick still ended up at the Miami 10-yard line.
• A grinding 11-play drive by the 'Fins ensued, with a Sherfield conversion on 3rd & 2 later overturned as incomplete on a challenge. On 4th & 1, Tua hit Hill for nine yards, with the wideout absorbing a big hit for the first down. Tua then hit Cracraft for 11 and Hill for nine, with Mostert then bursting off tackle for eight yards and another first down. On a 4th & 2 play, Tua hit Gesicki on the sideline for a first down, but the catch was overturned once again on a 49ers challenge to give the ball back to the home team.
• San Francisco put together an important 10-play drive, using short gains before McCaffrey ripped off a 30-yard run that saw Chubb chase him downfield to help save a touchdown. A Chubb sack helped set up a 4th & 28, but Gould once again delivered, booting a 48-yarder to make it a two-score game at 26-17 with just over two minutes remaining.
• On the first play of the following possession, Tua was hit by Bosa and fumbled. When no one went for the ball and assumed an incompletion -- something that happens seemingly every week -- Dre Greenlaw picked up the ball and walked in from 23 yards away for a gift touchdown and a 33-17 lead.
• With Tua hobbled on the previous sack, Miami went with Skyler Thompson on the next drive. On his first play, he threw into quadruple coverage for an easy Fred Warner interception. Instead of sliding to end the game, Warner returned it for 20 yards before Smythe finally tackled him.
• After three straight kneeldowns by Purdy, the 'Niners had secured the 33-17 victory. 

2022 Schedule

Miami 20, New England 7 (1-0)

Miami 42, Baltimore 38 (2-0)

Miami 21, Buffalo 19 (3-0)

Cincinnati 27, Miami 15 (3-1)

New York Jets 40, Miami 17 (3-2)

Minnesota 24, Miami 16 (3-3)

Miami 16, Pittsburgh 10 (4-3)

Miami 31, Detroit 27 (5-3)

Miami 35, Chicago 32 (6-3)

Miami 39, Cleveland 17 (7-3)

Miami 30, Houston 15 (8-3)

San Francisco 33, Miami 17 (8-4)

Day 998, Quasi-Quarantine: "Not Without Laughter" Transports The Harlem Renaissance To The Early-20th-Century Midwest

 

"But that was why Negroes were poor, because they were dancers, jazzers, clowns? ... The other way round would be better: dancers because of their poverty; singers because they suffered; laughing all the time because they must forget ... It's more like that, thought Sandy."

Depicting the lived experiences of a Black family in early-20th-century Kansas, "Not Without Laughter" centers in on the maturation of Sandy as he grows from a naive young boy to a young man trying to balance his duties to his race with his search for his place in the world.

As Langston Hughes's debut novel, one can see the author's poetic background fighting at times with the novel format. "Not Without Laughter" is semi-autobiographical, and the reader can easily see Hughes in Sandy's journey. 

The roles of music, poverty, sexuality, and racism are rampant in the book, with elements of the story seeming a bit explicit for 1930. Hughes is at his most resonant when he is writing about the virtues of music.

"In the starry blackness the stinging notes of the guitar became a plaintive hum, like a breeze of palmettos; became a low moan, like the wind in a forest of live-oaks strung with long strands of hanging moss."

"The four black men in Benbow’s wandering band were exploring depths to which mere sound had no business to go. Cruel, desolate, unadorned was their music now, like the body of a ravished woman on the sun-baked earth; violent and hard, like a giant standing over his bleeding mate in the blazing sun. The odors of bodies, the stings of flesh, and the utter emptiness of soul when all is done—these things the piano and the drums, the cornet and the twanging banjo insisted on hoarsely to a beat that made the dancers move, in that little hall, like pawns on a frenetic checker-board."

Parts of "Not Without Laughter" are difficult to read, but the depiction of family bonds that remain through distance and frustration is lovingly rendered -- giving this novel a rightful place in the bibliography of the Harlem Renaissance.

"I's been livin' a long time in yesterday, Sandy chile, an' I knows there ain't no room in de world fo' nothin' mo'n love. I knows, chile! Ever'thing there is but lovin' leaves a rust on yo' soul. An' to love sho 'nough, you got to have a spot in yo' heart fo' ever'body -- great an' small, white an' black, an' them what's goo an' them what's evil -- 'cause love ain't got no crowded-out places where de good ones stays an' de bad ones can't come in. When it gets that way, then it ain't love."

Day 996, Quasi-Quarantine: The Early Returns From The 2022 Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar

 

We all knew the Funko Pop! "The Office" advent calendar from last year was going to be hard to top, but the Funko Pop! "Star Wars" advent calendar looked like a worthy competitor.

Alas, a last-minute switcheroo left me with the "Star Wars" Lego calendar, which has been a massive hit in our family in recent years -- so not exactly a crushing ad lib.

The first five days of the calendar have served as a loving tribute to the 10th anniversary of "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones." With a head nod to the indispensable Jay's Brick Blog for insights and occasional instruction, here's what we have so far:

Day 1: Republic Gunship

Day 2: Clone Trooper Commander

Day 3: Droid Tri-Fighter

Day 4: Acclamator-Class Assault Ship

Day 5: Battle Droid

The unexpected reveals so far have been the Droid Tri-Fighter and the Acclamator-Class Assault Ship, which I would not have recognized were it not for Jay's Brick Blog and Wookieepedia. 

The highlights for me so far have been the impeccably detailed Republic Gunship and the rare yellow Clone Trooper Commander minifigure. The Droid Tri-Fighter is a stellar addition as well.

Thus far, the calendar has primarily honored the Clone Wars. As someone who prefers not to know all the inclusions and doesn't scour the box for clues, I'm hoping that some non-gun-rack surprises remain.

Limerick Friday #567: Yet Again, Wolves Spit On Sheep Clothing -- Day 993

 

Never gets old to beat

That posing UNC-Cheat

Fake contenders

Yearly pretenders

How about a beatdown repeat?

A promising show

But they just don't know

How to pick Lego Masters

And avoid elimination disasters

Always fucking up who should stay and go

Injuries threatened to undo

Who would the Pack turn to?

As the season verged

An old name reemerged

To complement a resilient crew

As they keep stacking wins

Low-grade anxiety begins

Are they actually good?

Is this a year they could?

What it's like to be a fan of the 'Fins

A doddering fool

At a pretend football school

Talking old-man smack

But realize, geriatric Mack

The media can't save you, tool

Last time ...

Day 992, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Texans Game 11 Review

 

Perhaps the less said about this game, the better, but the Dolphins won their fifth in a row with a strong half of football. Up 30-0 at the break, Miami shut it down the rest of the way, resting some players and fading some slightly anxious moments when the visitors cut the lead to two scores. The 'Fins were certainly not engaged in the second half, but this was an important victory with a number of difficult matchups looming.

On to the just-get-us-out-of-here-with-a-W recap ...

Offense

• Though the offense turtled after Terron Armstead left injured and Tua Tagovailoa went to the sideline, the team managed 25 first downs and 339 total yards and only turned the ball over once. However, Miami managed just just 66 yards on the ground, with a long of just 10 and a 2.5-yards-per-carry average. The 'Fins struggled on third down (4 of 15) and in the red zone (two of five visits turned into touchdowns), so the squad does have a few things to work on headed down the stretch.
• Tua continued his strong play, connecting on 22 for 36 passes -- hitting eight in a row at one point -- for 299 yards and a score. He was sacked four times, took too many big hits, threw more iffy passes, and had a delay-of-game penalty, but did not turn the ball over (an interception was called back due to defensive pass interference) and was not helped by some key drops. With Teddy Bridgewater inactive due to a knee injury, Skyler Thompson saw action in relief, completing one of five passes for six yards, rushing six times for five yards, taking a sack, and losing a fumble on a center exchange. The Dolphins moved to 8-0 in games Tua has started and finished healthy, and the dawning recognition that losing him would mean losing the season made some of the hits he took even more difficult to look at.
• At running back, Jeff Wilson rushed 13 times for 39 yards and a score and added a 13-yard catch on three targets, appearing to miss the hole on a couple of runs. With Raheem Mostert inactive, Myles Gaskin (26 snaps) was the backup, rushing six times for 17 yards and catching a four-yard pass. Fullback Alec Ingold had a catch for no gain, though he contributed some key blocks and was credited with a solo tackle in his 34 snaps.
• Jaylen Waddle was targeted 10 times in the game, but caught only five, good for 85 yards and a long of 34. Tyreek Hill had six grabs for 85 yards on nine targets, with a long of 29, and he added a five-yard run as well to earn an 80.5 grade from Pro Football Focus. Reserves River Cracraft (25 snaps, four targets, four catches, 55 yards, 91.8 PFF grade) and Trent Sherfield (46 snaps, five targets, two receptions, 33 yards) had big contributions, with Cedrick Wilson adding two catches for 26 yards.  A difficult grader may have given Waddle three drops, but a fairer assessment is probably that he didn't catch three balls he would usually pull in. It was encouraging that Cracraft, Sherfield, and Wilson all had big moments, which is a good sign for taking some pressure off of Miami's top two receivers headed into crunch time.
• At tight end, it was a quiet day. Durham Smythe had one catch for a four-yard touchdown in his 37 snaps, while Mike Gesicki was targeted once without a catch in his 41 snaps. Hunter Long was inactive, so no other tight ends logged snaps from scrimmage. Gesicki now has just three catches for 34 yards in the last three games, but it's likely the 'Fins will need him with stiffer competition looming.
• Up front, things deteriorated quickly after Armstead left halfway through the game, with Miami surrendering four sacks after his departure. Brandon Shell came in to play 39 snaps at left tackle and almost immediately was turnstiled on the regular. Austin Jackson was back starting at right tackle, but he also left with an ankle injury, yielding to Greg Little for six snaps. Right guard Robert Hunt was called for holding, left guard Robert Jones struggled mightily, and center Connor Williams was involved in a lost fumble on a snap. Overall, it was a step back along the offensive line, and served as further proof that Armstead may be the Most Irreplaceable Dolphin.

Defense

• Into the third quarter, the 'Fins held Houston to 33 offensive yards and 1.2 yards per play and stopped seven straight third downs by the Texans. The visitors converted just 2 of 13 third downs and had just 14 first downs and 210 total yards all game, even with Miami shutting it down offensively in the second half.  The Dolphins limited Houston to just 36 rushing yards, forced three turnovers, and put up a defensive touchdown on a scoop and score.
• At defensive end, Christian Wilkins continued his strong play with four tackles, two stops for losses, and a pass defensed, good for an 81.1 PFF. Zach Sieler added six tackles, a stop for loss, and a deflected pass. The duo was almost equal in snaps (Wilkins 44, Sieler 43) and has been the  most consistent aspect of Miami's defense this year. 
• Raekwon Davis was only credited with a solo tackle, but earned an 81.1 PFF grade in his 27 snaps at nose tackle. Neither John Jenkins (16 snaps) nor Justin Zimmer (13) recorded a stat. 
• At weakside linebacker, Bradley Chubb was highly active, notching two tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hit in 38 snaps. Melvin Ingram added two tackles in 36 snaps, and his pressure forced a sack at one point. In fact, on the Wednesday following the game, he was correctly awarded the sack.
• On the strong side, Jaelan Phillips had seven tackles, including six solo, a sack, a stop for loss ,and a quarterback hit in his 38 snaps. In just 23 snaps, Andrew Van Ginkel had four tackles, a pass breakup, and an interception that he nimbly returned 23 yards. Van Ginkel seems to make a massive play every time he gets the chance, and his addition to the trio of Chubb, Ingram, and Phillips gives the Dolphins a dangerous pass-rushing rotation. 
• In the middle, Jerome Baker had one of his finest performances, posting four tackles, a sack, and a quarterback hit in 34 snaps to earn a 90.9 PFF grade. Elandon Roberts had nine tackles, a sack, a stop for loss, and a quarterback hit in 30 snaps, while Duke Riley collected three tackles, a sack (that was later awarded to Ingram), a stop for loss, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hit in 31 snaps. This triumvirate was extremely efficient in this one, which bodes well for the Miami front seven going forward.
• Miami's top two corners, Xavien Howard and Kader Kohou, played all 61 snaps in this one. "X" had a pass breakup and a defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery to earn a 78.5 PFF grade, while Kohou had three tackles, multiple blitzes, and a stop for loss, playing through a right thumb injury. With Noah Ighbinoghene inactive again, Keion Crossen (two tackles in 36 snaps) was the primary reserve.
• At strong safety, Eric Rowe (55 snaps) had a huge hit to force the fumble that Howard returned for a score, in addition to four tackles. In his 22 snaps, rookie Verone McKinley had a solo tackle, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hit to go with his first career interception, which he returned 17 yards.
• As is his custom, Jevon Holland played every snap, registering five tackles and an unnecessary roughness penalty. Elijah Campbell had a quarterback hit in his only snap from scrimmage. In a blowout, it seems slightly odd that Holland play 61 snaps at free safety instead of getting a bit of a break. 

Special teams

• In what was a bit of a bounce-back game for Jason Sanders, the kicker drilled all three field goals (45, 23, and 35 yards) and all three extra points.
• After barely seeing action in three straight games, Thomas Morstead punted six times in this one, good for a 49.3-yard average (long of 55) and one touchback. However, none of the punts were downed inside the 20-yard line, and the 'Fins surrendered 81 yards in punt returns -- giving up 26- and 19-yarders -- which led to Morstead having to make a pair of tackles.
• The Dolphins had no kickoff returns but Cedrick Wilson had three punt returns for 22 yards, with a long of 15. Miami still seems content with having a sure-handed return men with no chance of a substantial return, and with their offense, I'm not sure I can take issue with that approach.
• Justin Bethel (assisted tackle) led all defensive players with 24 special teams snaps, with Riley, Van Ginkel, and Campbell all getting 23 snaps in the third phase. Smythe paced offensive players with 16 snaps in the kicking game.

Momentum plays

• The contest started with a three-and-out for the Texans, followed quickly by Tua finding Waddle for 11 and Hill for 13 before the signal-caller found Waddle again for 17 on a 3rd & 7 play. A holding penalty, a dropped pass, and two near-interceptions halted the drive, with the 'Fins settling for a 45-yard Sanders field goal and a 3-0 lead.
• Another three-and-out for Houston followed, punctuated by a 13-yard sack credited to Riley, but forced by Ingram (the latter was correctly awarded the sack a few days later), with Phillips in on the play as well.
• A play-action shot to Sherfield for 24 yards jumpstarted the next Miami possession, with a 4th & 1 staring the Dolphins in the face three plays later. Tua found Sherfield again for a first down, with the receiver absorbing (and delivering) a huge hit in the process. On 2nd & goal, Tua was pressured, but maneuvered in the pocket long enough to find Smythe breaking open late for a four-yard touchdown and a 10-0 advantage.
• On the next drive, a too-many-men-on-the-field penalty on Miami converted a 3rd & 1 for the Texans. However, a pair of blitzes forced quick throws, allowing the 'Fins to force another Houston punt three plays later.
• Tua hit Hill on a slant, and the speedy wideout scooted across the field and down the sideline for 29 yards before being pushed out. A couple of balls that could have been caught fell incomplete, and late pressure on 3rd & 10 forced the quarterback to get rid of it, leading to a rare Dolphins punt early in the second quarter.
• After a good play by Chubb to contain a screen, Davis pressure forced a risky throw by Kyle Allen, who was intercepted by Van Ginkel. The linebacker had a nifty 23-yard return before being tackled at Houston's three-yard line. Jeff Wilson paid off the field position on the next play, getting a strong block from Ingold to go in untouched, staking the Dolphins to a 17-0 advantage.
• More Miami pressure forced another Texans three-and-out, and Tua got the next possession going with 11- and 13-yard strikes to Cracraft and Waddle, respectively. He then went deep to Waddle off of play action, with the receiver winning the ball in the air to make a bobbling catch for 34 yards. A nine-yarder to Hill and a short run by Wilson set up first & goal from the 7-yard line, but Tua couldn't find Hill or Gesicki -- the latter pass nearly being intercepted-- and had to settle for a 23-yard field goal from Sanders to push the margin to 20-0.
• After a touchback, Houston had a screen blown up by Kohou for a loss of four, surrendered a strip sack by Chubb for a loss of five, then had a short pass to tight end Jordan Akins turn into a 'Fins touchdown after a massive hit by Rowe jarred the ball loose and Howard raced 16 yards for the score and a 27-0 lead.
• The Texans managed an initial first down, but a Roberts sack helped Miami force yet another punt by the home team.
• Tua found Cracraft for 22 yards, then hit Jeff Wilson for a too-easy 13-yard conversion on 3rd & 11. The signal-caller then delivered a 20-yard dart to Cedrick Wilson and an 11-yarder to Cracraft before two sacks in three plays -- including one that saw Tua bend in a terrifying fashion but manage to escape without injury -- halted the drive. Sanders drilled a 35-yarder with two seconds remaining to give the 'Fins a 30-0 lead headed into halftime.
• Surprisingly, Tua remained in after halftime, and he found Hill for 16 yards to convert a 3rd & 5. However, with Armstead out of the game, he was sacked twice in three plays, forcing a Morstead punt.
• The teams exchanged three-and-outs, with a Phillips sack the highlight for Miami and another big hit on Tua for a sack the Texans highlight.
• A 17-yard pass from Allen to Brandin Cooks with an unnecessary roughness tacked on propelled Houston's next drive. After an 11-yard catch for Akins, Dare Ogunbowale ran in easily from three yards out to trim the lead to 30-6 after the two-point conversion failed.
• With Thompson in at quarterback, the 'Fins got an initial first down, but a fumbled snap handed the ball right back to Houston as the third quarter ended. Using short gains, the Texans maneuvered into the red zone before Allen again found Akins, who embarrassed Roberts on the route and then ran over Holland to score from 25 yards away. Former Dolphins left tackle Laremy Tunsil couldn't pull in the two-point conversion, making the score 30-12.
• Thompson was nearly intercepted on the first play of Miami's next drive, but a pass interference was called. However, a short run and two incompletions followed, with the Texans getting a 17-yard punt return to make 'Fins fans anxious.
• Houston started fast, with a perfectly thrown pass to Cooks -- who toasted Kohou on the play -- for 39 yards. On the following 3rd & 10, Crossen left a receiver uncovered for a 12-yard gain and a first down. Three plays later, McKinley and Phillips applied pressure on 3rd & 4, forcing Allen to throw the ball out of bounds. Howard came down with an acrobatic pick on the play, but he was well out of bounds, leading to a 28-yard field goal to draw the Texans to within 30-15.
• Thompson came out slinging, going deep to Waddle, but the wideout couldn't reel it in. A pair of awkward runs by the signal-caller followed, with the three-and-out putting even more pressure on the defense to carry the day.
• A screen to Cooks netted nine yards, but a block in the back made it 1st & 20. On 3rd & 13, Baker drilled Allen on a stunt, knocking the ball loose. The Texans recovered, but were forced to punt at a crucial moment in the game.
• After yet another Miami three-and-out, Houston converted a 4th & 1 with a sneak. On the ensuing 3rd & 4, Chubb pressure forced Allen to rush a deep shot, with McKinley intercepting the ball easily. Howard got destroyed on a block attempt on McKinley's return, but the Dolphins had the ball, and a Gaskin 10-yard run allowed Thompson to kneel it three straight times to end the game.

2022 Schedule

Miami 20, New England 7 (1-0)

Miami 42, Baltimore 38 (2-0)

Miami 21, Buffalo 19 (3-0)

Cincinnati 27, Miami 15 (3-1)

New York Jets 40, Miami 17 (3-2)

Minnesota 24, Miami 16 (3-3)

Miami 16, Pittsburgh 10 (4-3)

Miami 31, Detroit 27 (5-3)

Miami 35, Chicago 32 (6-3)

Miami 39, Cleveland 17 (7-3)

Miami 30, Houston 15 (8-3)