MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Moments following the Dolphins’ playoff-clinching gain more than the Jets, coach Mike McDaniel went over to embrace the person who introduced him to Miami, proprietor Stephen Ross.
“I know how many other groups ended up interviewing me, so the answer is zero,” McDaniel explained, “and he felt in his intestine that that didn’t matter, that this was the right healthy for all the things that we’re striving to do listed here, and I’ll endlessly be faithful to that.”
McDaniel made a powerful effect in his to start with 12 months by coming up with an explosive offense about quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and main the Dolphins to an 8-3 start off. Miami followed that with a five-game skid even though dealing with big injuries.
But the banged-up Dolphins (9-8), with rookie third-stringer Skylar Thompson at quarterback, did enough to defeat the New York Jets 11-6 on Sunday and make the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 7 seed. Miami will experience AFC East rival Buffalo in the wild-card round on Sunday.
They’ve hardly appeared like globe-beaters currently, but the Dolphins are nevertheless participating in.
“For myself, and what I explain to the fellas in our space, we just have to glimpse outside of that,” huge receiver Tyreek Hill stated. “We have to locate ways to seem at our losses, choose accountability and get superior from it. Which is what we have been executing this entire period.”
Hill had 23 yards obtaining Sunday as he dealt with an ankle injury. He’s one of many Dolphins players hoping to get healthier in advance of the Buffalo sport.
Working back again Raheem Mostert broke his thumb Sunday soon after speeding for 71 yards on 11 carries, and McDaniel explained he expects Mostert will have operation.
“It’s significant injuries,” McDaniel explained. “It’s difficult to know if he’ll be ready to participate in this week. I by no means set just about anything previous Raheem Mostert. I have discovered that more than time. But it was a substantial break of his thumb.”
Meanwhile, McDaniel explained all 3 of the quarterbacks on Miami’s active roster are working with injuries.
Starter Tua Tagovailoa stays in the concussion protocol and has not but been cleared to return to soccer functions. Teddy Bridgewater dislocated a pinky finger in 7 days 17 at New England. And Thompson, building his next start of the period, appeared to have his leg twisted up on a strike in the 2nd 50 % versus the Jets and limped off the industry. He briefly went to the Dolphins’ healthcare tent but did not pass up any snaps.
McDaniel termed Thompson’s injuries “bumps and bruises” and explained he’s hoping to have much more clarity on the health of his quarterbacks afterwards this week. He extra that Bridgewater was lively in opposition to the Jets and could have entered the activity in an unexpected emergency.
“There will be some problem marks,” McDaniel claimed, “but fortunately this group has verified not to blink in any type of question marks possibly way. We have fellas that we actually believe in, and we’ll go with the healthiest group up to Buffalo and perform a extremely fantastic football crew.”
Thompson did not flip the ball in excess of against the Jets and moved the Dolphins into assortment for a previous-moment, go-ahead industry goal. He claimed afterward he was not considering about whether or not he’ll be the starter at Buffalo.
“That will be anything for a couple days from now,” Thompson stated. “I’m experiencing this. It is important to rejoice things like this for the time becoming and soak it all in, and that is what I’m going to do.”
What is Working
Miami’s protection could not deliver recreation-preserving performs or vital stops through the five-recreation skid. But the Dolphins did not permit a landing towards and the Jets and obtained the stops they needed in the fourth quarter. It’ll be considerably harder to halt Josh Allen and the Bills’ high-run offense, but Miami at least has a strong general performance to build on.
Miami’s offensive line, enjoying devoid of veteran left tackle Terron Armstead, only gave up a person sack.
WHAT Wants Enable
Penalties are nonetheless an concern that have killed promising drives and are component of what kept the Dolphins out of the close zone Sunday. Miami has been penalized 22 times for 180 yards in its earlier a few online games.
Stock UP
Jason Sanders was 1 for 6 on subject ambitions of 50-plus yards right before his 50-yarder with 18 seconds still left versus the Jets that prolonged Miami’s period.
Stock DOWN
Miami’s passing video game plainly isn’t the same without Tagovailoa, but Hill and Jaylen Waddle ought to have been a lot extra concerned Sunday. The receivers had just five targets each and every against the Jets.
Hurt
Hill briefly still left in the 1st fifty percent with his ankle injury. … Mostert broke his thumb in the fourth quarter. … OL Liam Eichenberg still left in the third quarter with an arm damage. … Armstead (toe/pec/knee/hip) missed his next straight activity.
Critical Variety
17 — The variety of catches by Waddle in 4 vocation online games in opposition to the Expenditures. He has 293 yards obtaining versus Buffalo and caught a few passes for 114 yards and a touchdown towards the Bills in 7 days 15.
Next Measures
Miami and Buffalo will meet up with for the third time this season. They break up the standard-year series, with the property staff successful both situations.
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