Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
5 things we learned from Sunday’s loss to the Bills
Parker cashes in DeVante Parker needed four receptions for 73 yards to get a $750,000 bonus for reaching 60 receptions and 750 yards on the season, and he passed those thresholds because of the seven catches for 116 yards he delivered against Buffalo in his return from the hamstring injury that sidelined him for two games. Parker, who finished the season with 63 receptions for 794 yards and four touchdowns, is slated to earn $8,350,000 next season, and it becomes fully guaranteed on March 18 if he’s not released before then. The Dolphins will likely add playmakers this offseason, and must give serious consideration to whether or not Parker, who has had durability issues, are part of this franchise’s future.
Needham gives up three touchdowns
Nik Needham had played well most of this season in his transition from a boundary cornerback into a nickel. But Sunday’s game was terrible for Miami’s second-year player. Needham allowed three touchdowns to the Bills, and on all three were plays he had a one-on-one assignment against an NFL backup — Gabriel Davis and Isaiah McKenzie — but got roasted. Hopefully this was a teachable moment for Needham, who is still a developing player.
Dolphins need more pressure players
The Dolphins finished Sunday’s loss with one sack, which was produced by Andrew Van Ginkel. There’s no doubt that Bills quarterback Josh Allen is a slippery target, but the Dolphins missed numerous opportunities to deliver sacks on Allen and Barkley after he replaced him in the second half. Even though Miami finished the season with 41 sacks, which averages out to 2.56 per game, it would benefit this defense if the decision-makers added a pass rusher who could consistently disengage from an offensive tackle and pressure the quarterback because most of Miami’s pressures and take downs come from blitzes, or were a result of tight coverage.
Gaskin a bright spot
Myles Gaskin, who entered Sunday’s game as the NFL’s ninth-most productive offensive player on a per game basis, averaging 99.4 yards per contest, gained 20 yards and scored a touchdown on seven carries, and contributed 57 receiving yards on four catches against the Bills. That adds up to 77 all-purpose yards, and brings his season average to 81 yards per game, making him one of the few bright spots on offense this season.
Dolphins offense continued its slow December/January starts, explosive finishes
The Dolphins trailed, 28-6, at halftime and that gave them a first-30-minutes average of 5.7 points in their final five games. Meanwhile, in those December and January contests, Miami piled up an average of 18.4 points per second half after their 20 post-intermission points in Orchard Park.