This time, Tua puts his mark on game
Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdown passes and set up kicker Jason Sanders’ go-ahead 50-yard field goal with 3:30 minutes left to help the Miami Dolphins escape Arizona with a 34-31 win over the Cardinals on Sunday.
Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez missed a 49-yard field goal that could have tied the game with 1:53 left as Miami improved to 5-3 and seventh in the AFC standings for a wild-card playoff spot.
Here is the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s report card, breaking down the Miami Dolphins’ win over the Cardinals.
Passing game: B+
Tagovailoa completed 20-of-28 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s win, including a 10-play, 93-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to help tie the score. Tagovailoa completed all five of his passes for 83 yards on that drive, which ended in an 11-yard touchdown pass to receiver Mack Hollins that sparked Miami’s comeback victory. Tagovailoa had eight incomplete passes, no interceptions and a 122.3 passer rating on the day. He got into a rhythm, was decisive with the football and showed he was above the moment. Not bad for the rookie’s second NFL start.
Running game: C
Tagovailoa nearly led the Dolphins in rushing, too. He wasn’t like Cardinals star quarterback Kyler Murray, who flashed his world-class speed, by any stretch of the imagination. But Tagovailoa was able to get his shake-and-bake on, too, dodging blitzing defenders and juking his way up field on a few runs that kept the Dolphins’ offensive drives alive. Running back Salmon Ahmed led the team with 37 rushing yards in his debut, while Jordan Howard gained 19 yards on 10 carries and scored on a 2-yard touchdown. The Dolphins surprisingly ran for 91 yards, enough support Tagovailoa needed to pull out the victory. Still, Miami needs more from its running backs in the future.
Defending the pass: D
For as much credit as the Dolphins defense received, with highly paid cornerbacks Byron Jones and Xavien Howard playing together to start Miami’s three-game win streak, they were two big reasons Miami’s streak almost ended. Jones, who the Dolphins made their highest-paid player with a five-year, $82.5 million deal this past offseason, was burned by Cardinals receiver Christian Kirk for one touchdown, and Jones couldn’t rip away a touchdown catch by tight end Darrell Daniels. Howard, the second-highest paid on the team player after his $75.25 million extension, had four pass-interference penalties, including three in the third quarter against receiver Deandre Hopkins, that led to a touchdown drive. But Howard also deserves credit for doing everything necessary to keep Hopkins at bay. Hopkins only had 30 yards on three catches. And Jones was able to make a key stop on Murray run on the final drive of the game to make up for the miscues.
Defending the run: D
Murray ran wild on the Dolphins defense, totaling 106 yards on 11 carries, including a 12-yard touchdown run up the left side when he went untouched. The Dolphins defense tried its best to contain Murray, who always seemed to be a few steps ahead of defenders Kyle Van Noy, Jerome Baker, Shaq Lawson and others. Dolphins defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah did catch him early in the first quarter for a strip sack that Lawson returned for a 36-yard touchdown. Miami was also fortunate the Cardinals did not allow Murray to run for it on two fourthdown instances late in the fourth quarter, after he had two previous fourth-down conversions. That proved to be a big difference in the game.
Special teams: A
With the game on the line and needing to take a lead, Dolphins coach Brian Flores depended on the most reliable kicker in football to deliver. Jason Sanders’ 50-yard field goal in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference on the scoreboard in Sunday’s win over the Cardinals. Sanders extended his franchise record streak to 20 consecutive kicks made with two field goals during the win, including his career-long 56-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to help Miami take a 7-point lead into halftime. Sanders continues to be a difference-maker for Miami this season.
Coaching: B+
Flores and his staff, which was missing five assistant coaches for the game due to COVID-19 concerns, should be commended for the team’s effort in Arizona. Flores praised the assistant coaches who were able to coach the game and many other strength and team personnel members for their work to secure the win. Flores was lucky his gamble to settle for a 50-yard field goal by Sanders and depend on his defense against Murray in the final three minutes paid off. Miami took advantage as Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury took the football out of Murray’s hands on two key fourth-down plays — a run stop by Miami’s defense, and a missed field goal — that proved to be the difference.
Stock up
Preston Williams was well on his way to a breakout performance before he left Sunday’s game in the second quarter with a foot injury. Williams had four catches for 60 yards, including a 35-yard reception and a 9-yard touchdown that helped Miami take a 21-14 lead in the second quarter. Williams somehow got injured during or after the play and did not return. And his absence affected Tagovailoa temporarily before the rookie was able to find DeVante Parker, Mike Gesicki, Jakeem Grant and Hollins down the stretch. Hopefully, the foot injury is not serious for Williams, who will be needed if Miami hopes to push for a playoff spot this season.
Stock down
Jones allowed Kirk to run right past him for a 56-yard touchdown. “That dude was fast. I should’ve got on my horse and just ran faster,” Jones said. Jones later got his hands on a touchdown catch by tight end Darrell Daniels, but could not come away with the interception (which would’ve been the third in his five-year career). “I thought I had it. It was all mine. … The issue is I attacked the ball like a receiver. I should have attacked it like a DB,” Jones said. Jones later had a key run stop before the Cardinals’ missed field goal that sealed the game, which is clearly a positive. But Jones knows he cannot give up touchdowns, especially as Miami’s highest-paid player. “It’s a little embarrassing, but the defense picked me up and the offense picked me up. So it’s something I’ll clean up.”