MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins nevertheless have function to do if they want to be the crew to beat in the AFC.
They’ve demonstrated this time that they can blow out teams and earn shut game titles, but they have not gotten previous the division-rival Buffalo Payments, who have gained the AFC East the previous three seasons.
Buffalo handed the Dolphins (3-1) their 1st decline of the time Sunday in a 48-20 defeat that retained Miami from taking the guide in the division and exposed weaknesses that either weren’t there in Miami’s 1st a few game titles or had been hidden by its offensive firepower.
The Dolphins experienced outscored their opponents 130-71 and averaged 550 yards in the first a few online games of the time, but that large-driven offense was uneven Sunday the two for the reason that of a hard Charges defensive entrance and since of self-inflicted wounds.
A quantity of pre-snap penalties stalled momentum. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa explained he demands to be superior at speaking in the huddle, but mentor Mike McDaniel explained the penalties weren’t all Tagovailoa’s fault.
“Tua’s teammates need to have to know the ins and outs of their tasks,” McDaniel claimed, “and Tua can not be in cost of finding all people aligned.”
With out centre Connor Williams, who was out with a groin harm, Miami’s offensive line gave up 4 sacks immediately after only allowing a single in the very first 3 online games. That unit could take a further hit if beginning still left deal with Terron Armstead misses considerable time. Armstead hurt his knee in the next quarter.
Tyreek Hill was restricted to 58 yards and 3 catches. He entered Sunday averaging more than 100 yards obtaining for every game.
It continues to be to be seen if Miami’s defense can have it as a result of a deep playoff run. That unit has struggled below new coordinator Vic Fangio and was shredded for 310 yards passing Sunday.
Tagovailoa reported the reduction is a wake-up connect with coming off a historic 50-position win above the Broncos in Week 3.
“These guys weren’t going to care what we did very last 7 days,” Tagovailoa stated. “This is the league, and this is how it works. It’s pretty good, since I would say it is also very humbling for a whole lot of men and women to be capable to have the maximum significant and then you get rid of in a way like this, it’s incredibly humbling. For some, it is considerably wanted.”
The Dolphins have now missing 10 of their previous 11 normal and postseason matchups towards the Expenditures (3-1), who McDaniel explained are “the crew that our whole division is trying to defeat.”
Miami will have to hold out right until the common-year finale for a rematch. They host the Bills on Jan 7, 2024.
For now, McDaniel would like his workforce to turn its initial adversity of the season into an option.
“We are 3-1 and we engage in the New York Soccer Giants following week. Ideal?” McDaniel said. “So, which is where we’re at. I feel it would be a failure on anybody’s aspect on our soccer group to appear at it far more than that or a lot less than that.”
What’s Doing work
Rookie operating back De’Von Achane carries on to make plays. He scored Miami’s to start with two touchdowns on runs of 3 and 10 yards and completed with 101 yards on eight carries. Achane, who experienced four touchdowns in Week 3, is only the fourth rookie due to the fact the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to have at minimum 6 touchdowns in a two-match span.
WHAT Needs Support
Miami’s go hurry has been uneven all season and did tiny to effect Josh Allen. They’ll need to come across a way to get to the quarterback additional persistently, in particular with much more twin-risk players this kind of as Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson on their timetable.
Stock UP
LB Andrew Van Ginkel had five tackles, two sacks and 3 tackles for loss filling in for the hurt Jaelan Phillips (oblique). Van Ginkel has been Miami’s top rated pass rusher with 3 sacks this season.
Stock DOWN
The secondary. 2nd-year cornerback Kader Kohou struggled against All-Professional receiver Stefon Diggs, who had 120 yards getting and 3 touchdowns with Kohou as the nearest defender. Kohou was flagged for defensive go interference and illegal contact when masking Diggs.
With Kohou having difficulties, Fangio amazingly did not shift veteran cornerback Xavien Howard on to Diggs. In preceding seasons, Howard used time shadowing the opposing team’s most effective receiver, including Diggs. Beneath Fangio, Howard has stayed on the still left side of the industry.
Fangio reported last 7 days that the staff could shadow an opponent’s ideal receiver at some point this season, but it’s not one thing they would do ideal now.
Injuries
Armstead did not return after struggling a knee damage in the second quarter. He skipped the 1st two game titles of the season with lingering back again, knee and ankle injuries.
Essential Number
3 — The Dolphins converted 3 of 10 third down tries and had been -for-3 on fourth down.
Up coming Methods
The Dolphins host the New York Giants up coming Sunday.
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