They were needed three victories ai Miami Dolphinsin these three central weeks of November in which the calendar gave them a handand three Ws came. The last of the series, in week 12, was the one obtained, atHard Rock Stadiumin front of gods New England Patriots in rebuildingbut led by a QB we will probably hear a lot about in the future. Let’s relive the match, characterized by a great first half for Miamiand then let’s examine it, putting it into perspective and taking a look at the next challenges that await finners.
An explosive first half and a controlled second half
Il first quarter And anything but spectacular. The two franchises they are studied without raging and the guests seem more on pointmanaging to build a drive that takes them up to attempt a FGthen failed, lungo 45 yards. In the second period of the game, however, Miami explodesThat recalls the glories of his offense in the 2023 season. Tua Tagovailoa is meant with John Smith e Jaylen Waddlewhich will be his favorite targets for the whole game, finding a TD thanks to the TEwhich receives a 7 yard long pass. The Pats’ short return possession ends with a punt and the Fins pick up where they left off.
Smith riceve per 13 yards, Waddle per 17, De’Von Achane runs for a handful of yards and, after another good reception of almost 15 yards by number 17, he R.B.receiving, scores the second TD for the home team. To a new guest punt, Miami responds with a trickle of gas: Waddle receives first for 15 yards and then for 19, Smith does the same for 14, Jaylen Wright runs for a good first down and his department mateAchan, it stands out well: 11 yards receiving and another TD. The Dolphins take a three-possession lead, clearly showing themselves to be better than their opponents. Before the end of the first half, Jason Sanders converts a long FG 21 yardsclosing the first half hour (effective) of play at 24-0 for Miami.
In the second half, the Dolphins’ pace drops noticeably. The Pats try to come back and do so by scoring 2 TDthe first on a Nice throw by Drake Maye to Austin Hooperlong 38 yardson which the defense has its faults. Just as the attack has them on second guest markingborn of one bad misunderstanding between Skylar Thompson and Jaylen Wright which are not understood on a handoff. Christian Gonzalez he recovers and scores the goal for his second +6, which will become +8 after the two-point conversion. New England’s 15 points will still be too few to put Miami in difficulty, because they will all come in the fourth quarter, after Waddle will have scored a personal TD of 23 yards. However, after Thompson and Wright’s oversight, Mike McDaniel he will call QB2 back to the sideline, having come in to avoid any possible risk to Tua Tagovailoa, to put the starter back on the field and let him manage the final stages of a match in which the Fins win and convince, but against a considerably inferior opponent.
Confirmations are expected as early as Thursday
The 3 wins against New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders e Los Angeles Rams they relaunched Miami, which with a records at 5-6 And in the hunt for a seeding in the AFC playoffs (probably the seventh, the last available) but still lagging behind franchises like the Denver Broncos o i Los Angeles Chargerswhich I am better positioned and are playing well. It should also be added that these 3 matches did not exactly see them facing giants, but teams that were inferior or were going through moments of difficulty. Everything will change on Thursday night, during the Thanksgiving Day round, when the Fins will have to leave their stadium (and their climate) to face the Green Bay Packers al Lambeau Field. This is an inter-conference match, against a franchise in form and in a hostile environment, from every point of view. In short, the week 13 match has all the characteristics of a real trap match. Just like the ones that Miami always lost last year.
For this reason, the appointment will be of absolute importance for the continuation of this campaign. If the Fins were to go out defeated, they would prove to be the franchise that we have come to know in the last two years, very talented but equally ephemeral, as well as incapable of winning the challenges that matter. If, however, they were to win, little would change from a playoff perspective (this marathon will be decided at the end of December, provided that Miami manages to win them all up to that point, because the margin of error is very low), but a lot from a psychological perspective. The Dolphins would get back to .500with a record at 6-6shaking off the many problems that characterized the months of September and October as well as motivated to chase a positive score.
The offense is clearly growing, and not just because Tua is back, but because Waddle is back to what we remembered e Smith seems to be the missing piece to complete a department which can count on excellent skill players, in every position that plays the ball, and has a line that gives the QB the time necessary to read his tracks. We are much further ahead than we were when Tagovailoa returned, in the presence of the Arizona Cardinals. The defense enjoys the best Zach Sieler and found a leader in Calais Campbellwho despite his age he is not the finished player that some, like the writer, expected at the beginning of the season, but rather a cornerstoneonline and across the entire department.
Both units will have to be at their best, in a few days, if they want to counter a franchise like that of the Packs, which is keeping pace with the hares in the NFC: its divisional rivals Detroit Lions e Minnesota Vikings.
Photo credit: Pro Football Focus
