NOTEBOOK:
The Dolphins will enjoy being 3-0, but they know who awaits them in Week 4.
MIAMI GARDENS – For the first three quarters of Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders, the Miami Dolphins looked as if their early-season magic was beginning to fade.
The Dolphins’ rushing attack, which relied on first-year starter Kenyan Drake and the NFL’s fourth all-time leading rusher Frank Gore, was limited to just 15 total yards on the ground.
Miami’s defense was gassed, and began to lose several key players to injury as Oakland ultimately dominated the football with 74 plays in more than 38 minutes of game time.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the offense’s number of plays were limited, too, as the Dolphins had to make the most of just 39 plays.
But as the second half wore on, and the offense lacking rhythm to sustain lengthy drives, Dolphins coach Adam Gase unleashed his fastest offensive players and some trickery to help Miami beat Oakland 28-20 at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Dolphins — who are in sole possession of first place in the AFC East — are 3-0 for the first time in five years.
The Dolphins know what’s ahead next week: a showdown in New England that could be a litmus test for this season. But before they turn their attention to the Patriots, the Dolphins want to enjoy the moment.
“I hope it’s something that builds confidence in our guys,” longtime defensive end Cameron Wake said after the game.
“3-0 feels good. It definitely feels good. But at the same time, we have to wipe the slate clean.”
The Dolphins look to reach the playoffs for the second time in Adam Gase’s threeyear tenure, and for the fourth time since the 2001 season.
This 3-0 start is the fourth in the last 20 years for the Dolphins, who also achieved that feat in 1998, 2002 and 2013.
The wide gaps between those 3-0 starts should serve as a warning though.
For instance, Miami lost its next four games after its fast start in 2013 and finished 8-8.
But this Dolphins team believes it has the temperament and grit, similar to Miami’s playoff run in Gase’s first season in 2016, to contend this season.
“I believe we’re on the right track,” Tannehill said. “The patterns we’ve established so far, the way we work in practice, the way we stick together through adversity. We’re on the right track.
“Are we there yet? No. But the patterns we’re establishing are going to take us there.”
The Dolphins utilized Jakeem Grant’s speed and Albert Wilson’s versatility to break the game open. Grant took a shovel pass from Tannehill 18 yards into the end zone with 55 seconds left in the third quarter, then caught a 52-yard catch from Wilson to give Miami a 21-17 lead early in the fourth quarter.
After Xavien Howard notched his second interception of the game on Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, Tannehill found Wilson for a 74-yard touchdown that sent the crowd at Hard Rock Stadium into frenzy.
“Our guys are taking a lot of pride in making sure that we’re coming out of this place with a W,” Gase said of the fans in the stands. “I thought the crowd got really loud, especially on third downs with the defense out there. There’s great juice to where you can feel it.”
The Dolphins used big plays and fed off their home crowd’s energy to beat their third consecutive AFC opponent to start the season for the first time since 2001.
Wake equated this victory to Miami’s first two wins of the season: a 27-20 win over the Titans in the longest game in NFL history in Week 1, and a 20-12 victory over the Jets last week.
The Dolphins also improved to 3-0 this season in games decided by one score (eight points or less).
“It builds character,” Wake said. “Regardless of whatever else goes on, we do whatever to win.”