Defense focused on creating turnovers

DAVIE — It’s early, but the Miami Dolphins’ emphasis on winning the turnover battle is starting to pay dividends.

Not only is Miami turning forced turnovers into points offensively, the defense is not allowing turnovers committed to result into easy scoring opportunities for opponents through two games.

This has played a significant role in the Dolphins’ 2-0 start. Miami hopes to keep the trend afloat in its Week 3 matchup against the Oakland Raiders (0-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium.

“It’s an opportunity to make something positive happen off of a negative play,” said Dolphins coach Adam Gase. “Those guys have done a great job of embracing it, and actually going out there and executing it.”

Last season, the Dolphins had one of the worst turnover margins in the NFL — a minus-14 clip that ranked 29th among 32 teams. The Dolphins had 29 turnovers and forced just 15, leading to a 6-10 record.

This season, the Dolphins are fourth in the NFL with a plus-2 turnover margin.

The Dolphins’ six turnovers forced (five interceptions and a fumble recovery) are third in the league.

And of those six turnovers, the Dolphins scored two field goals against the Titans in Week 1 and two touchdowns against the Jets in Week 2.

“We know the importance of it,” said safety Reshad Jones, who had two interceptions in the opener. “The percentage of winning increases a lot when you create turnovers, when you get those turnovers, and [when] you give your offense the ball back to go score points.”

However, Miami’s four offensive turnovers — two interceptions and a fumble from Ryan Tannehill and a fumbled snap from center Daniel Kilgore — are near the bottom half of the NFL.

The defense has been able to limit opponents to just a field goal in two games after committing a turnover.

“That’s big for us,” Gase said. “That’s one of those kicks in the gut when you have a turnover, especially when it’s on your own end.”

Safety T.J. McDonald and Xavien Howard each had an interception against the Jets, while linebacker Kiko Alonso had an interception against the Titans and a forced a fumble that was recovered by the Dolphins against the Jets.

“We are hungry,” said Howard, who intercepted Jets quarterback Sam Darnold in the end zone one play after Tannehill fumbled in the third quarter.

“We just want to make plays and get the ball back to the offense.”