Dolphins find their groove in dominant win vs. 49ers
SANTA CLARA, Cali.
— For those of us old enough to remember the 1980’s American action television show The A-Team, which is about a fictional group of exUnited States Army Special Forces turned mercenaries, the leader of that cast ofmisfits had a catch phase he concluded every mission with.
“I love it when a plan comes together,” Hannibal Smithwould say with a smug grin when the missionwas accomplished.
On this Sunday, that had to be Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores’ sentiment based on how well his team obliterated the San Francisco 49ers (2-3) in a 43-17 win.
The Dolphins (2-3) crossed the country to play an injurydepleted version of last year’s Super Bowl runner-ups, came into the game 9-point underdogs, and dominated the 49ers in every phase of the game.
Miami’s defense limited the 49ers to 2-of-10 third-down conversions.
The Dolphins offensewas aggressive out the gate, opening the game with a 47-yard bomb to
PrestonWilliams, which reminded teams that quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick still has the arm to go deep.
Every phase of the gamewas clicking, producing the “complementary football” phrase that coaches often preach about, but rarely ever get.
Sunday’s Dolphins gamewas one of those rare instances where the offense feeds the defense, and vice versa, and special teams— which executed a fake punt and kicked five field goals— served as dessert.
“It starts in practice,” said safety BobbyMcCain, who pulled down one of Miami’s two interceptions. “Each and every week making surewe’re on the details and having the right game plan ready to go. … When all three phases are kicking we’re hard to stop.”
They represent the team Flores has been laboring to build, a squad that’s 2-3 heading into next Sunday’s home game against the win-lessNewYork Jets, and one that could use the next stretch of games to build momentum.
“Ifwe continue to prepare the waywe preparedwe’ll at least put ourselves in position to play well,” Flores said.
So whatwas different about these Dolphins this Sunday?
The defense hounded San
Francisco’s quarterbacks all game, delivering five sacks, and forcing three turnovers.
“All day the defensive linewas eating, and tearing it up,” said McCain, whose unit typically playswell when Miami gets a pass rush.
Byron Jones started and finished his second game of the season, and erased the receiver hewas lined up against all game.
XavienHoward andMcCain ball-hawked passes, creating turnovers.
And Miami’s playmakers on offense delivered for Fitzpatrick.
It’s nice to see Preston Williams looking like the dominant receiverwe sawin training camp, producing a career-best 106 receiving yards and a touchdown.
“In practicewe took a lot of shots andwewere preaching thatwewere going to do that,” Williams said. “If your number is calledwe’ve got to go make the play.”
But none of thisworks without Fitzpatrick, who is the engine that makes this rebuilding franchise go forward.
Tua Tagovailoa, the former Alabama standout the Dolphins selected with the fifth pick in the 2020 draft, might be the shiny new toy, but Fitzpatrick is the grizzled old veteran who routinely puts the Dolphins into the right play and the right situation game after game, play after play.
Some of the decisions he made Sunday personified that because he read the defense before the snap and immediate went to the right play.
It’s not about feeding a star with these Dolphins. It’s about finding the open man, and getting the ball to the right player in an ideal situation.
You can win playing thatway. Chad Pennington proved that in 2008, and Fitzpatrick is the second coming of that Pied Piper.
The question is, can Fitzpatrick turn these Dolphins into awinner like Pennington did in 2008? We’ll likely learn the answer to that question soon.
“Fitz has playedwell most of the year. He’s had some bad moments. I thinkwe’ve all had some bad moments,” Flores said. “Hewas consistent the whole way through. … Aswe said earlier in theweek he gives us the best chance to win, and the players rallied around him and his energy.”