The Miami Dolphins accomplished something no NFL team has ever done: winning seven consecutive games after suffering a seven-game losing streak earlier in the season.
After the Dolphins pummeled the COVID-ravaged New Orleans Saints 20-3 on Monday night, Miami is at No. 7 in the AFC playoff picture and needs help from no one the rest of the way. Wins at the Tennessee Titans (10-5) on Sunday and in a home regular-season finale against the New England Patriots (9-6) put the Dolphins (8-7) into the playoffs, although any Dolphins loss makes it unlikely.
Here is the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s report card, evaluating how the Dolphins performed in getting the critical win against the Saints:
Passing game: C+
The Dolphins played a largely conservative game, as they did not want to lose the game with turnovers. They accomplished that with a typical performance from the offense under quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He was 19 of 26, completing 73 percent of passes for 198 yards. The quick pop pass forward to Jaylen Waddle on the jet sweep by the goal line counts as a passing touchdown, and he threw the one interception deep, missing an open Waddle in the middle of the field. Miami hit the back-to-back big-yardage passes to Mack Hollins and then on the flea-flicker to Waddle on that key drive early in the second half in a game, when there wasn’t much time for deep passes to develop with the way the offensive line was holding up against the Saints’ pass rush.
Running game: C
The Dolphins averaged less than 3 yards per carry, at 2.9 on Monday. It was a given that it would be tough to run against the Saints defense, which entered the game ranked sixth against the run, albeit with a few defenders including middle linebacker Demario Davis out due to COVID protocols. Running backs Duke Johnson, Myles Gaskin and Phillip Lindsay split offensive snaps, 23-20-19, respectively. It was Johnson and Lindsay most active in the run game, however, getting 13 carries apiece to Gaskin’s three. They ran for tough yardage against New Orleans, and the mere volume on the ground played to Miami’s conservative strategy of not losing the game offensive mishaps.
Defending the pass: A
The Saints and Sean Payton were trying to simplify things as much as possible for rookie quarterback Ian Book, who was making his NFL debut against a tough Dolphins defense. Miami set the tone early with cornerback Nik Needham’s pick-six on a pass deflected by Andrew Van Ginkel. The Dolphins were playing with a lead from the very start, and it sent the message that it was going to be a long night trying to throw on this unit. Defensive coordinator Josh Boyer blitzed Book heavily but also mixed up coverages. The Dolphins had eight sacks, held the Saints to 0 for 12 on third downs and, after starting with an interception, ended with another from Brandon Jones.
Defending the run: A-
The Saints figured to feature star running back Alvin Kamara, since they had a rookie fourth-string quarterback starting, with his two standout tackles missing the game. The Dolphins focused in on limiting Kamara’s effectiveness, and it showed. Kamara had 52 yards on 13 carries, but 19 of those yards came on an up-the-middle scamper on third-and-20. Overall, it was a 3.6 yard-per-carry effort for New Orleans, but holding the Saints down in this phase of the game was the key in forcing Book to beat the Dolphins’ pass defense, which he couldn’t do.
Special teams: B
Kicker Jason Sanders converted his two makeable field goals. The one miss was permissible on his part, from career-long range of 59 yards. Punter Michael Palardy left some distance to be desired on a couple of his six punts, averaging 42.5 yards and a net average of 38, but he booted one that was exceptionally caught and downed by Hollins at the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter. Tommylee Lewis was elevated as a COVID replacement to handle returns, but he was injured during the game, and Jevon Holland had a 10-yard punt return, along with four fair catches.
Coaching: B
It was a well-coached win. The aggressiveness defensively and conservative approach offensively was the perfect approach given the circumstances of what the Saints had to work with. Book was confused by the various looks from the Dolphins defense, and on the key third-quarter drive to take a two-possession lead, play-caller George Godsey got the deep ball from Tagovailoa to Hollins and then the flea-flicker dialed up. Situationally, the call at the end of the half on third-and-2 from New Orleans’ 32-yard line was not great, resulting in a sack and pushing a field-goal attempt to career-long range for Sanders.
Stock up
Zach Sieler was an absolute monster up front for this Dolphins defense, accounting for six tackles, a sack and another quarterback hit. He was one of many who was getting to Book, as Emmanuel Ogbah, Jerome Baker, Jones, Xavien Howard, Christian Wilkins, Holland and Raekwon Davis were all on the sack sheet. Ginkel also had a tackle for loss and two pass deflections, one that led to the Needham pick-six, as Miami’s defense was relentless all night against the Saints.
Stock down
Take your pick on the offensive line, after the group seemed to be showing improvement going into the game. Jesse Davis allowed a sack at right tackle to Cameron Jordan, Liam Eichenberg another at left tackle to Marcus Davenport while adding a holding penalty (which was a very questionable call), and left guard Austin Jackson and center Michael Deiter also had holding calls go against them. Jackson did not pick up a stunt that allowed for a pressure in Tagovailoa’s face early on, but it was a throw Tagovailoa still should’ve completed to a wide-open Gaskin.
Source: Berkshire mont
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