Dolphins offense dominant in double-digit win over Raiders.
The Miami Dolphins have themselves a little winning streak going after claiming victory in their second straight game on Sunday — defeating the visiting Las Vegas Raiders by a score of 34-19.
It was a very efficient day for the Dolphins offense, while the defense played another “bend-but-don’t-break” type of game while mostly containing everyone on the Raiders not named Brock Bowers.
After starting the season in dreadful fashion thanks to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s latest concussion issue, Miami finds themselves with a record of 4-6 with the New England Patriots coming to town in week twelve. If they can manage to come out on top in that game, the Dolphins will have an opportunity to run their record to an even .500 on the road against the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving night.
But, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. We’ll do just as head coach Mike McDaniel would want us to do and take it one game at a time while we look back at the good, bad and ugly from the Dolphins week eleven victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
GOOD
Dolphins never punt, have zero turnovers in efficient offensive performance
The Miami Dolphins put points on the board on every offensive possession against the Raiders on Sunday except for the final drive of the first half when the team took over with less than a minute on the clock.
Miami didn’t have a single turnover — although they did have one fumble on a Tagovailoa sack early in the game, but did recover — nor did they have a single punt on the afternoon.
While putting up 10 points in the first half, they had drives of 14 plays for 70 yards and a touchdown that took 8:13 off the clock and 16 plays for 52 yards that ended with a field goal and took 8:22 off of the clock. In the second half, it was more of the same as they opened up the 3rd quarter with a 16 play, 97 yard touchdown drive that took 7:47 off of the clock.
But it wasn’t just long, methodical drives that scored points for the Dolphins on Sunday. Late in the second half, with the team up by just five points, Tagovailoa found tight end Jonnu Smith for a wide-open 57 yard game-clinching touchdown.
All in all, it was a tremendous day for the Dolphins offense — well, at least their passing offense — on Sunday, which should bode well for their chances to make a run with just seven games to play in the regular season.
BAD
Dolphins rushing attack has second straight disappointing performance
Miami’s offense had their second straight subpar rushing effort on Sunday against the Raiders after running for just 67 yards on 22 attempts (3.05 yards per carry) against the Los Angeles Rams last Monday.
Against Las Vegas, Miami fared only slightly better than they did last week, managing just 82 yards on 26 attempts (3.2 yards per carry).
The Dolphins’ lone successful rusher was electric second-year back De’Von Achane. Achane carried the ball 17 times for 73 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and a touchdown. However, rookie Jaylen Wright had just four yards on five carries while veteran back Raheem Mostert had just three carries for a total of two yards lost on the afternoon.
Miami’s struggles on the ground coincide with the absence of right tackle Austin Jackson. Jackson’s strengths are showcased when the Dolphins are running the football, however the team will need to figure things out without him as the young tackle was placed in injured reserve this past week and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season with a knee injury.
UGLY
Dolphins gashed by tight end Brock Bowers for new rookie receptions record
Miami’s defense didn’t allow a touchdown against the high powered Los Angeles Rams offense last week. On Sunday against the Raiders, the team allowed two passing scores, but played pretty well throughout the contest against anyone not named Brock Bowers.
However, it was Bowers who torched Miami’s linebackers and secondary to the tune of 13 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown. Bowers’ reception total mark represents a new rookie record for catches by a tight end in a single game — surpassing Mark Bavaro’s 12 catch effort in a 1985 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Raiders’ entire offense ran through Bowers on Sunday — with no other pass catchers on the team nabbing more than four balls or going for more than 50 yards on the day. Yet still, allowing one player to dominate can wreck your game on any given Sunday, and the Dolphins will need to be sure to find answers to their resurrected tight end problem when the Patriots and veteran Hunter Henry come to town this weekend.
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The Dolphins won their second game in a row on Sunday, running their record to 4-6 on the season. The team pulled away late and was able to win by double digits against a floundering Raiders squad. Do you think Miami can make it three in a row when the Patriots come to town this weekend? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter at @MBrave13. Fins up!
