A win is a win is a win. The Dolphins might not frame this one, but they aren’t throwing back Sunday’s 16-13 win in overtime in Madrid.
They made just enough big plays and sidestepped some certain second-guessing in moving to 4-7 on the season. How to explain those final few minutes?
Here are 10 thoughts on the game:
1. Play of the Game: Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones cuts in front of Washington tight end Zach Ertz for an interception on the first play of overtime. The Dolphins got the ball at the Washington 35-yard line and, a few De’Von Achane runs later, Riley Patterson kicked the winning 29-yard field goal.
2. Almost-the-call of the game: Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel doesn’t kick the field goal and goes for it on fourth-and-1 with 1:15 left in regulation in a tie game. How could he not take the points and maybe the win? It looked especially second-guess-able when Ollie Gordon lost 2 yards up the middle on fourth down and Washington got the ball. But …
3. One guy who doesn’t second-guess the call: Washington coach Dan Quinn. He did the same in a similar situation except there was just under seven minutes left in the game. On third-and-2 Dolphins linebacker Tyrel Dodson and safety Ashtyn Davis filled the hole to stop Washington running back Chris Rodriguez for no gain. On fourth down, Davis had good coverage of Ertz, who also slipped on his route, for an incompletion. That leads to …
4. Stat of the Game: 1 for 7. That was the teams’ combined red-zone success. Those final two, shun-the-touchdown calls highlighted the underachievement. Why did the coaches do that? Do they trust their offenses that much? Is it because they don’t trust their defense to make stops? Is it because no one second guesses going for it on fourth down anymore? Is that because they’re 3-7 and all caution is to the wind? If either coach goes for it there, they win in regulation.
5. Weekly Update: Achane is the hands-down Team MVP. He’s also as electric as any playmaker in the league. He finished with 21 carries for 120 yards and five catches for 45 yards. So, he had more than half the Dolphins’ 311 yards. No need to tell McDaniel. Eight of the Dolphins’ nine final plays — when turnovers gave the the ball in near-winning field position — were Achane runs. The ninth play wasn’t given to him maybe because he stayed down on the field, momentarily hurting, and Gordon was then stuffed for that minus-2-yard loss. His best play was the opening one of the fourth quarter. On first down at the Washington 20, on a quasi-trick play (Tua jumped like it was a high snap), Achane was pinned to the sideline by handful of Washington defenders behind the line. He somehow turned it into a 9-yard gain. The Dolphins went in for a touchdown to tie it, 13-13.
Related Articles
Instant Analysis: Miami Dolphins 16, Washington Commanders 13 (OT)
Dolphins win overtime thriller over Commanders in NFL’s first game in Spain
Dolphins’ edge rusher Bradley Chubb plays vs. Commanders in Spain; CB Rasul Douglas out
Live updates: Miami Dolphins 16, Washington Commanders 13 OT (FINAL)
Dolphins’ Madrid takeover leads to NFL’s first game in Spain, vs. Commanders
6. Almost-the-play of the game: Washington’s Mike Sainristil muffs his first attempted punt catch in the NFL and Ethan Bonner recovers at the Washington 42 with 4:11 left in a 13-13 game. That put the Dolphins in a position where six-straight Achane runs had the ball at the Washington 2-yard line. The Dolphins two turnovers meant they’re 5-0 in the turnover margin the past two weeks.
7. “Operational issues,” isn’t a word you want to hear again this season. But there it was on the first drive that started with Achane running for 11, Tua throwing to Waddle for 14 and then Achane running for 23 more. But the Dolphins then used a timeout two minutes into the game – early timeouts remain an issue (two were used in the first quarter last week against Buffalo). Then, on fourth-and-1 at Washington’s 23, Tua tried to draw Washington offsides and took a delay of game penalty. And since we’re on the subject …
8. The book on Tua was on display Sunday as he completed 14 of 20 passes for 170 yards and, importantly, no interceptions. He threw an accurate and perfectly timed quick slant to that Jaylen Waddle took for 31 yards on their first play of the second half. That’s what he does best. What he is limited at came at the end of the drive. From first-and-goal at the 7, Washington didn’t have to worry about him running. On third- and fourth-goal at the 2, some quarterbacks could have the option of running if a pass wasn’t open (incomplete attempt to Waddle). Earlier, on third-and-2 at the Washington 10, Tua couldn’t evade the good play of a blitzing Quan Martin and took an 11-yard loss. Tua is accurate and anticipates well on particular passes. His athleticism is limited. There it was again Sunday.
9. Quick Hits:
Top draft pick Kenneth Grant stuffed Washington running back Chris Rodriguez on third-and-1 on Washington’s opening drive. Washington converted a short pass on fourth down. But that’s the kind of progression you want to see the rest of this season from young players.
Jaylen Waddle had two costly drops in the fourth quarter.
Washington’s Chris Rodriguez ran for a career-high 79 yards on 15 carries.
The Dolphins were 3 of 9 on third downs (Washington was 6 of 13).
Good line by the NFL Network’s Jonathan Vilma (I think) after Hawaii natives Tua and Marcus Mariota each started with five straight completions. “Hawaii Five-O,” he said.
10. Next game: New Orleans on Nov. 30 in Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins finally get their bye week coming off the game in Madrid. If the long trip and time-difference changes is a good place for a break, the preference is a bit earlier. But they come back to games against New Orleans and the New York Jets, two of the three teams with Tennessee who entered Sunday fighting for the No. 1 draft pick.
