Dolphins fall to Packers, 31-12
Miami fails to score a touchdown in its second straight loss.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Miami Dolphins came into Sunday’s game hoping to slow one Aaron, but got torched by another.
In the process, the already hobbled Dolphins were further decimated by injuries to key playmakers on both sides of the football in a demoralizing loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdowns to receiver Davante Adams, and running back Aaron Jones ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns as the Packers (4-4-1) delivered a 31-12 rout of the Dolphins (5-5) in front of an announced crowd of 78,076 at Lambeau Field.
Rookie kicker Jason Sanders kicked four field goals, including a 47-yarder, to pace the Dolphins, who failed to score a touchdown for the second straight game behind quarterback Brock Osweiler.
Still, the Dolphins remain eighth in the AFC as the only team sitting directly at .500 after Week 10.
“I need to be better and I need to find a way to get this offense in the end zone scoring touchdowns,” said Osweiler, who had a 66.6 passer rating after his 23-of-37 day with 213 yards and an interception.
“This is two weeks now we’ve struggled finishing drives in the end zone — point, blank, period.”
Miami began the game without three starting offensive linemen, and Osweiler making his fifth straight start in place of Ryan Tannehill, who hopes to return from a lingering right shoulder injury after this week’s bye to play against the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 25.
The Dolphins entered the red zone on three of their first four offensive possessions, and needed just a little more than a quarter to exceed their 168-yard output from a week ago against the New York Jets.
Defensive end Cameron Wake forced a turnover on downs with a sack, tight end A.J. Derby and linebacker Mike Hull forced a fumble on special teams, and running back Brandon Bolden blocked a punt — both of which were recovered by former third-round pick Leonte Carroo to keep the game close early.
But when the Packers scored touchdowns, the Dolphins were unable to keep pace with just field goals. Their last touchdown came against the Houston Texans on Oct. 25, and was thrown by receiver Danny Amendola.
“I wish we would’ve got in the end zone,” said running back Frank Gore, who led Miami with 13 carries for 90 yards.
“It would’ve been best for us, playing against a guy like Aaron Rodgers.”
Rodgers threw a 7-yard touchdown to Adams in the first quarter, shortly after Osweiler was unable to catch a snap in Miami’s first drive of the game, which reached the red zone.
Rodgers completed 19 of 28 for 199 yards with his two touch- downs, while Jones scored a 2-yard touchdown run after a 67-yard run to start the second quarter.
The Dolphins trimmed a 14-3 lead to, 14-12, after Sanders’ first three field goals before the Packers broke the game open in the third quarter.
Sanders kicked the ball off out of bounds at the 3-yard line, giving the Packers ideal field position at the 40. Rodgers threw a 22-yard pass to Mercedes Lewis, and Jones scored a 10-yard touchdown run two plays later to take a 21-12 lead.
Osweiler was intercepted on the next drive, and Rodgers found Adams for their second touchdown connection midway through the third quarter to seal the Dolphins’ fate.
“We’re going to keep swinging away,” Dolphins defensive end Robert Quinn said. “We got the right group of people in the locker room. We gave ourselves a chance today, then it got away. We still have a fighting chance, and are keeping ourselves in position to stay alive.”
The Dolphins suffered more injuries along the way.
Cornerback Bobby McCain was blindsided on a block from Packers receiver Equanimeous St. Brown to start the second half, and never returned after leaving with a head injury.
Injury-riddled receiver DeVante Parker suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter. He left the stadium with his left arm in a sling.
And maybe the most frustrating injury was receiver and return specialist Jakeem Grant coming up lame after running a slant route, needing to ride a cart into the locker room with a lower leg injury.
Grant, the only player in the NFL with touchdowns on a punt return and kick return this season, had practiced in recent weeks with an Achilles injury, and his left leg gave out. An encouraging sign, however, was Grant left the game walking on his own in a walking boot.
The injuries added to the eightball the Dolphins were already behind after starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil (left knee), starting right tackle Ja’Wuan James (right knee) and starting left guard Ted Larsen (neck) did not play.
The Dolphins enter their much-needed bye week, in search of capable bodies and ways to score in order to reach the playoffs for the second time under coach Adam Gase.
“We just have to find a way to be consistent for four quarters,” Gase said. “I know those [guys] are working hard to try and get that done. Hopefully, we can just keep that groove together in the last six weeks.”