DOLPHINS DOWN CHARGERS
Tagovailoa has 2 TD throws in win against LA
Miami Dolphins defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah gestures after beating the Los Angeles Chargers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Sunday.
The Miami Dolphins appear to have made the right choice at quarterback.
And their offseason decisions have transformed Miami into a playoff contender during coach Brian Flores’ second season.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw two touchdown passes, rookie Salvon Ahmed ran for 85 yards and a touchdown, and the Dolphins beat the Los Angeles Chargers, 29-21, on Sunday in front of an announced crowd of 12,751 people at Hard Rock Stadium with respect to COVID19.
After 10 weeks, Flores and his Dolphins have eclipsed their five win total from a season ago with five straight wins to improve to 6-3 this season. And Miami appears to be in prime position to continue making a runin the AFC East and AFC play off race this season.
The Dolphins and Bills (7-3) are tied in the loss column after Buffalo lost following a Hail Mary touchdown from Arizona Cardinals stars Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins, meaning the division crown and top-four playoff spot is at stake in the final seven games of the regular season.
“We know we have a long way to go and it’s hard to win in this league. We’re taking this one day atatime,” Flores said repeating his mantra after the win.
“I think that’ s my message to the team on a daily basis, and hopefully they’re kinda listening to it. I think that’s the best approach. We’re just focused on right now.”
In the first game between rookie quarterbacks this season, it was Justin Herbert, the Chargers’ No. 6 pick in April’s NFL draft who made the costly mistake in the contest— although Tagovailoa was lucky to avoid some of his own.
With the Dolphins clinging to a 20-14 lead in the fourth quarter, Herbert threw an interception to Xavien Howard, the NFL’s co-leader with five interceptions this season, to keep the game in Miami’s favor.
And Tagovailoa capitalized, improving to 3-0 as a starter.
On the ensuing drive, Tagovailoa used a hard play-action fake to the left side to dupe the Chargers, finding tight end Durham Smythe wide open on the right side to help Miami take a 26-14 lead with 11:38 left in thegame.
Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders made two of his three field goal kicks, including a 49-yard kick with 3:59 left to extend Miami’s lead despite ending a streak of 22 consecutive kicks made.
Herbert threwa 13-yard touchdown pass to receiver Keenan Allen with 1:57 remaining to trim the score to, 29-21. But the Dolphins were able tohang on for the victory.
“We’re in the hunt,” Dolphins center Ted Karras said.“We have to keep executing and doing what we’re doing.”
The game ended up being closer than it should have been thanks to one major mis cue the Dolphins were able to ultimately overcome.
The Dolphins were knocking near the goal line, ready to take a three-score lead before a poor snap by Karras was recovered by Chargers line backer Nick Vigil and returned 44 yards near midfield.
Karras called it a “nightmare” play but was thankful tosee Tagovailoa make a touchdown-saving tackle, as the Dolphins’ rookie quarterback chased and brought Vigil to the ground.
Herbert scored on a quarterback sneak to cap an 1137- yard drive with 4:25 left in the first half to trim Miami’s lead to, 14-7.
Tagovailoa nearly missed another touchdown throw to Grant, throwing it just outside of Jakeem Grant’s reach near theend zone after he escaped the grasps of a potential sack from Chargers defensive lineman Jerry Tillery before halftime.
The Dolphins settled for Sanders’ first field goal to take a 17-7 lead into halftime, but the poor snap from Karras altered the game, and kept it close throughout until the fourth quarter.
Lucikly for Miami, the Dolphins’ special teams helped them get off to a fast start.
Dolphins outside linebacker Andrew Van G ink el blocked a punt on the fourth play from scrimmage, whichwas recovered by defensive back Jamal Perry at the 1-yard line.
Tagovailoa handed the ball off to Ahmed, who scored on a 1-yard run for the first touchdown of his career to give Miami a 7-0 lead.
The Dolphins have been able to capitalize on two defensive touchdowns and a special teams touchdown in the past two weeks, and used their game-changing special teams play to get a score within the first three minutes of thegame.
Tagovailoa’s first completion came following a roll out to his left side to tight end Mike Gesicki for 23 yards.
He nearly threw his first interception during the drive but rebounded with a 15-yard completion to Grant.
And when Tag ovai lo a’ s fade pass to receiver DeVante Parker was ruled out of bounds, he rebounded one play later with a dart to Grant in the end zone to take a 14-0 lead with a minute left in the first quarter.
Tagovailoa nearly had three interceptions in the game, boldly throwing into tight windows and well-covered areas while trying to make the most of his opportunities.
“I think [offensive coordinator] Chan [Gailey] is finding ways to put guys in certain areas to be successful. We’re trying to put guys defensively in a bind where we can take advantage of them,” Tagovailoa said.
“It’s still a work in progress. We’ll look at the film and grow from there.”
Tagovailoa completed 15-of-25 passes for 169 yards with a 106.9 passerrating, while Herbert was 20 of 32 for 187 with two touchdowns and the interception.
On this day, Tag ovai lo a out played Herbert.
But Flores did not wish to make any grand statements about the Dolphins’ decision to draft Tagovailoa over Herbert after the win.
“We have a lot of confidence in all our draft picks that they’re going to develop and improve and he’s no different,” Flores said of Tagovailoa. “That’s what we’re trying to do week to week, develop and improve.”