Examining the crucial events from the Miami Dolphins’ game at Hard Rock Stadium versus the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half.
Here are some things that drew our attention prior to and during Sunday’s Miami Dolphins vs. Las Vegas Raiders Week 11 game at Hard Rock Stadium.
Let’s begin with the inactive list, which was notable because all of the players on it were on the offensive side of the ball.
With rookie RB De’Von Achane’s return after Achane was activated off injured reserve on Saturday, RB Jeff Wilson Jr. was the lone healthy inactive player.
The Dolphins declared TE Durham Smythe (ankle) and WR Braxton Berrios (hamstring), who had been classified as questionable, inactive in addition to the players who had previously been ruled out on Friday. They were joined by OL Robert Jones (knee), WR Chase Claypool (knee), and G Robert Hunt (hamstring). Skylar Thompson was once again assigned as the backup quarterback in case Mike White or Tua Tagovailoa suffered an injury.
The Dolphins re-signed wide receiver Robbie Chosen on Saturday, elevating him from the practice squad to compensate for the unavailability of Berrios and Claypool.
FIRST QUARTER
- The Dolphins won the coin toss and decided to defer, as they seem to do every game.
- The first play didn’t go well; tight end Michael Mayer was able to slide behind Jaelan Phillips during a play fake, which led to an easy pitch-and-catch play that gained the team 17 yards.
- Following a holding penalty on first down, guard Dylan Parham seized hold of Jerome Baker’s jersey and wouldn’t let go, forcing the Dolphins to punt.
- Andrew Van Ginkel batted the ball out of Mayer’s hands on a brief third-down completion, and Jevon Holland recovered the fumble in the end zone to give the Dolphins the appearance of a score, but replay overturned the play (every touchdown is subject to review).
- After a scramble on third-and-four, linebacker Luke Masterson snatched the ball away from Tua, ending the Dolphins’ opening drive. Tua was called down by the officials, but the Raiders appealed and won the play to be reversed.
- On a play that appeared to be a pick, the defense gave up a first down on a 12-yard completion on third-and-7. However, the Raiders were tagged for offensive player interference (OPI) on the very next play, which didn’t look nearly as awful from their perspective.
- The Raiders had to settle for a Daniel Carlson field goal and a 3-0 lead after Xavien Howard quickly smelled out a wide receiver screen to Davante Adams and stopped him for a 1-yard loss.
- A defensive holding call negated a third-down sack in which Malcolm Koonce easily beat Terron Armstead, giving the Dolphins the lead back on their next play.
- Tyreek Hill was the beneficiary of two crucial plays in which Tua found Hill fast enough to score a 38-yard touchdown after hitting the speedster between four defenders for an eighteen-yard gain on a deep pass.
- The Raiders quickly took the lead back, beginning their following drive with a T.J. Tucker 17-yard completion while Howard was covering him with extremely soft coverage.
- The Dolphins allowed Adams to get behind the defense to score a 46-yard touchdown pass from Aidan O’Connell, two plays after Josh Jacobs ran for nine yards. Adams trailed safety DeShon Elliott when he lost his footing and ran a deep crosser.
- Mostert scored 10 yards on a run to end the first quarter, but there was also word that Achane’s knee injury might prevent him from playing.
SECOND QUARTER
- Though they were unable to complete the drive, the Dolphins moved the ball once more.
- ย On third-and-7, Tua found Hill for a 21-yard completion that put the ball in Las Vegas territory. The two connected once more on their go-to long throw that falls between or at the numbers.
- Following a facemask penalty, the Dolphins were able to obtain a first down at the Raiders 12; however, a false on third-and-five cost them. Although Austin Jackson was the one calling, other linemen were involved in the move.
- The Dolphins went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Raiders 3, as they have done numerous times this season. However, the play was botched as Raiders cornerback Isaiah Pola-Mao sneaked inside River Cracraft’s effort to block and quickly reached Tyreek Hill on a pass behind the line of scrimmage. Hill was tackled for a 4-yard line and never had a chance. Even worse, he appeared to have an arm injury and entered the dressing room.
- In response, the defense pitched a three-and-out.
- Following a high pass, Hunter Renfrow was tackled by Kader Kohou for a 2-yard loss, and Bradley Chubb’s pressure resulted in a third-down incompletion.
- With Hill out of the game, Tua directed an impressive 63-yard touchdown drive where Jaylen Waddle played starring role, catching passes of 9, 12 and 15 yards.
- Salvon Ahmed caught the touchdown pass on an 11-yard pass after he was found wide open in the flat and managed to waltz in.
- ย During the drive, Tua went 5-for-5 for 58 yards, giving the Dolphins a 14-10 advantage once more.
- Even better, as the Dolphins completed the drive, Hill was back on the sidelines.
- When the Raiders elected to run three straight plays, the defense forced another three-and-out; on third-and-4, Chubb dropped Jacobs after a one-yard gain.
- In order to position themselves for an opportunity to extend their lead prior to halftime, the Dolphins subsequently requested a timeout.
- The Dolphins made their second mistake of the game after Mostert’s 10-yard run. Rookie tight end Julian Hill was stripped after a 10-yard throw, and Ellis Hobbs recovered for Las Vegas.
- After Kader Kohou intercepted a third-down pass, the defense held for the second time, forcing Las Vegas to settle for a field goal, this time a 47-yarder. When time ran out, Tua found Robbie Chosen for a 30-yard completion, and the kick made it 14โ13 at the half.