MIAMI – Dee Alford scored on a 79-yard punt return, Breon Borders returned 1 of Atlanta’s 3 interceptions for a rating and the Falcons defeated the Miami Dolphins 19-3 in the teams’ preseason opener Friday night.
Struggling with a Dolphins specific groups device that was between the NFL’s worst in 2022, Alford broke various tackles for the touchdown with 4:36 still left in the game.
On Miami’s up coming possession, Skylar Thompson was intercepted by Borders on a toss that was way too significant for Chris Coleman. Borders returned the decide 26 yards for a touchdown. Yunghoo Koo then missed his second added-issue try of the match.
Atlanta’s Logan Woodside was 14 of 22 with 146 yards.
Desmond Ridder, the Falcons’ projected starter, didn’t engage in. Ridder, who as a rookie commenced Atlanta’s ultimate four game titles past time, has amazed teammates and coaches with his poise and command in his 2nd schooling camp as he seems to stop the Falcons’ streak of 5 straight getting rid of seasons.
Ridder was good all through joint practices before in the week, tossing various touchdown passes Wednesday.
Thompson and fellow backup Mike White struggled as common starter Tua Tagovailoa watched from the sideline.
Tagovailoa and most of Miami’s frequent starters did not match up right after two aggressive procedures from Atlanta, the to start with of which Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel referred to as “typical.”
“Truly aggressive. They’re an NFL crew. They have received really superior guys on that facet of the ball,” Tagovailoa said on Friday’s television broadcast. “They made some performs. We produced some performs. So, it can be normally excellent to have superior again and forth, but you can find a lot of issues that have been to be corrected.”
White led the Dolphins downfield with a 17-yard go to Cedrick Wilson Jr. and a 14-yarder to River Cracraft on their opening push, but was intercepted in the end zone by Falcons rookie protection DeMarcco Hellams on a pass he tried out to force in targeted traffic to Tyler Kroft.
Hellams, a seventh-round pick, experienced a group-large seven tackles and a pass break up.
White was 9 of 14 with 85 yards in two quarters. He signed a two-12 months offer with Miami in March and is vying with Thompson for Miami’s backup position.
Thompson, moving into his 2nd NFL period, commenced the 2nd 50 % and went 10 for 16. He was intercepted early in the fourth by Lukas Denis on a move that was overthrown to receiver Elijah Higgins.
Rookie jogging back again Bijan Robinson, the No. 8 overall decide on by Atlanta, didn’t participate in.
Igwebuike took a handoff from Woodside in the 2nd quarter and ran into the end zone untouched many thanks to a few fantastic blocks from Atlanta’s offensive line. Igwebuike had 13 carries for 70 yards.
Miami’s second-round rookie cornerback Cam Smith experienced 4 tackles, a deal with for loss and a go breakup. He experienced a vital 3rd-down tackle in the purple zone in the 3rd quarter, but was examined in the healthcare tent before long immediately after. He exited the tent and went to the locker room.
De’Von Achane, a 3rd-spherical rookie, had 10 carries for 25 yards and bought reps at kick return.
Thompson led the Dolphins down the area in the fourth for a scoring push that ended in Jason Sanders’ 49-garden field objective that created it 6-3.
Accidents
Falcons: Hellams still left in the fourth with an obvious injuries. He was attended to on the industry by trainers soon after a hit.
Dolphins: WR Braxton Berrios still left in the second quarter following having a major strike on a punt return. He went to the Dolphins’ locker space and later on returned to the sideline.
UP Up coming
Falcons: Host Cincinnati on Aug. 18.
Dolphins: At Houston on Aug 19.
