The Miami Dolphins hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon as the teams started their 2024 NFL regular season. The Week 1 contest brought with it stress and a roller coaster of a game. It was a tale of two halves, and the Dolphins did enough in the second half to come away with the win.
The Jaguars dominated the first half, with Miami struggling to find any rhythm on either offense or defense. However, the second half was all Miami, with the Dolphins shutting out the Jaguars and overcoming obstacles to finish with the victory.
Final Score
Jaguars 17 – 20 Dolphins
Immediate Reactions
- This game dominated pre-game headlines, not because of anything that was to happen on the field, but rather the detainment by police officers of Miami wide receiver Tyreek Hill just a few hours before kickoff. Hill was stopped on his way to Hard Rock Stadium for alleged reckless driving. He was forced down on his stomach and handcuffed, then was forced down into a sitting position on the curb before being released and making it to the stadium. Hill finished the game with 130 receiving yards with a touchdown on seven receptions.
- Calais Campbell started his Dolphins career hot. A sack on the first play and a tackle for a loss on the second is a great way to start. The Jaguars seemed to adjust, however, keeping him from having much more of an impact the rest of the first half.
- The Dolphins offense struggled early in the game, unable to find their rhythm. Penalties hurt the team, backing them up on a kickoff due to an illegal procedure and a holding penalty negating a scramble from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for 12 yards. The team was looking to the quick passing game, short passes and screens, but the Jaguars were keying in on it.
- The first half was ugly. The Dolphins looked like they were going through the motions for most of it. They found some rhythm late in the second quarter and were able to put together a sustained drive. Achane scoring on a one-yard rush put Miami on the board, but the defense allowed the Jaguars to immediately march down into field goal range and push the lead back out to 10 points. Halftime score Jaguars 17-7.
- Dolphins finally hit a huge play, with Tagovailoa finding Jaylen Waddle for a 63-yard catch and run. Suddenly the team looked more like they did last year. The big play was a part of the offense as they moved into Jaguars territory. It was followed by a three-yard loss on a Raheem Mostert run, a three-yard loss on a catch by Hill, and a 14-yard sack of Tagovailoa. What a waste of a great play.
- The Dolphins found a spark. Safety Jevon Holland perfectly punched the ball loose on a potential touchdown run from Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, with cornerback Kader Kohou falling on the ball in the endzone. Can the Dolphins use that to spark a comeback?
- And wow, did they use the spark. The next play after the recovery was an 80-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to Hill, who caught the ball on a crossing route, turned up field at the sideline, broke a tackle and found the endzone. Then put his hands behind his back as if he was being detained in handcuffs as part of his celebration. Jaguars 17-14.
- Not sure what happened on kicker Jason Sanders’ 42-yard attempt. That ball was shanked off his foot, flying way left as soon as it was hit. He did come back and hit a 37-yarder on the next drive to tie the game at 17, though. Tied 17-17.
- What a great stop from the defense. Linebacker David Long, Jr., stuffed running back Tank Bigsby on first down for no gain. Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah then sacked quarterback Trevor Lawrence on second down. To end the drive, linebacker Jaelan Phillips sacked Lawrence on third down, giving Miami’s offense back the ball after the three-and-out punt with three minutes remaining in the game.
- The Dolphins won on a 52-yard field goal, with Sanders going 2-for-3 on the day and winning the game for Miami as the clock struck zero. The offense did exactly what they needed to do to finish that game, eating clock and working down into field goal range. They also showed they have an idea of how to convert short yardage situations this year, with Pro Bowl fullback Alec Ingold getting multiple carry attempts on the day and picking up first downs each time. It was stressful, but the Dolphins come away with the win. Dolphins 20-17.
Post Game Immediate Thoughts
That was not the prettiest game ever, but the Dolphins seemed to figure it out in the second half. The offense and defense both woke up, suddenly finding their rhythms and making plays. The pass rush showed up, Holland was able to force a turnover when it was critical, and the defense stuffed the run. The offense found the deep attack, opened up running lanes, and found a way to convert short-yardage situations.
The Dolphins have to figure out what caused the slow start and they have to do it quickly. The team has four days until their next game, welcoming the Buffalo Bills into Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday night.
