Game Thoughts: Week 3, Dolphins at Raiders

The Dolphins went to Vegas today and showed a tremendous amount of heart, but ultimately it wasn’t enough as Miami fell 28-25 in overtime.
 
Elandon Roberts had a pick 6 to give the Dolphins the early lead, and after the defense stuffed the Raiders on consecutive 3^rd and 4^th and shorts, the Dolphins offense scored on a short field on a 24-yard Malcolm Brown TD run.
 
After that early scoring ­­frenzy, the offense disappeared and the defense steadily got worse.
 
This game was essentially lost on back-to-back possessions: a missed 48-yard FG attempt at the end of the first half, and a three and out to start the second half.  The game completely got away from the Dolphins after that, as their tenuous 14-12 lead quickly went away.
 
HOWEVER…
 
The Dolphins somehow managed to hang around and keep the game close, and behind some miraculous offensive plays the Dolphins tied the game late and sent the game to OT.
 
The Miami offense was absolutely putrid for the majority of the game, but they woke up late.  Unfortunately, the defense choked like dogs and blew the game, wasting the valiant effort from the offense.
 
Jacoby Brissett looked like he didn’t belong in the NFL for much of the game, yet he kept battling and at the end of the game played like a man with ice water in his veins.  He refused to lose, and scratched and clawed his way to a game-tying 4^th quarter TD and then led the team to a game-tying FG in OT.
 
The defense, considered the strength of the team, completely let the team down.  They gave up an ugly drive to start OT, resulting in a FG.  Then, after Brissett and the Miami offense pulled out all the stops to miraculously tie the game, they allowed the Raiders to march downfield with no resistance at all and kick the game winning FG.
 
Despite the fact that the Dolphins played horribly much of the day, this was a heartbreaking loss and it was a game they should have won.  The defense completely disappeared when they needed just one stop.  Completely unacceptable. 
 
The Dolphins now stand at 1-2, and the season hangs on the brink of being over already.
 
Hero of the Game: Jacoby Brissett.  Jacoby played about as poorly as possible most of the day, but stepped up big-time late and guided the Phins to 3 late scores to get them back in the game.  He carried the team on his back and willed them to win.  Unfortunately, the players on the other side of the ball didn’t get the message.
 
Goat of the Game: The dogshit defense, who allowed the Raiders to march downfield with ease on not one but two OT drives.  I don’t want to hear a word about the crappy OL or the offensive playcalling…this loss falls 100% on the goddamn defense.  They couldn’t cover anyone late and the pass rush completely disappeared.  All we needed was one stop – JUST ONE FUCKING STOP – and we probably win the game or at least tie it.  But no, the defense – which is supposed to be great – played like a bunch of pussies and blew the fucking game.  Despite all the warts this team has shown, we could have been 2-1 and in great position moving forward.  But the defense completely shit the goddamn bed, and now we’re all but done just 3 games into the season.

One play I didn't mention:

On the Dolphins' FG drive in OT, Brissett threw a beautiful bomb to Fuller in the endzone.  Fuller was blatantly interfered with, so it should have been 1st and goal from the 1.  But the refs didn't throw a flag.

I hate to blame the refs for a loss, but that was disgusting.  Complete bullshit.  The defense still got pissed on after that, but the game should have been over.  I hate when the refs decide games.

Play calling play calling play calling. Miami had no offense for 3 3/4 of the game leaving the defense on the field far to long. Miami looked better once it opened up the passing offense. Something they need to do earlier in games. The wildcat plays almost ruined our 1st and goal. Almost gifting the game to the Raiders. We need to play much more up tempo going forward.

Nope, the proper narrative is that the prevent O wound up wearing out the D. Remember, this game doesn't even get to OT if not for a defensive score. They'll have to score every week just to keep this team in games, and at least twice to win because the offense as currently constructed is incapable of scoring more than two TDs in any game the rest of the season. It's just not going to happen.

Flores needs to fire at least one of the "co OCs" Jmp has no problem with, and maybe both. 4.4 yards per pass is bordering on the worst in franchise history if it keeps up for the entire season.

JMP wrote:One play I didn't mention:

On the Dolphins' FG drive in OT, Brissett threw a beautiful bomb to Fuller in the endzone.  Fuller was blatantly interfered with, so it should have been 1st and goal from the 1.  But the refs didn't throw a flag.

I hate to blame the refs for a loss, but that was disgusting.  Complete bullshit.  The defense still got pissed on after that, but the game should have been over.  I hate when the refs decide games.

Meh. The genius co-OCs would've found a way to screw it up. Probably by calling a double reverse flea flicker or something. Remember, they just gave the Raiders a safety in an OT game. That's the play everybody should be focusing on right there. That was the start of the 25-0 Raider run. All because brain dead play calling.

This new shitty OT format is yet another reason why I refuse to watch an NFL game. Now they've made it possible for both teams to score in OT and have the game be a tie anyway, way to go NFL! That's so "progressive"!

There is absolutely NO WAY you can blame this loss on the offense.  They did everything they had to do in the 4th quarter and OT, but the defense shit the bed.  That's all there is to it.  Everything that happened before then is meaningless.  The Dolphins' offense gave the team a chance to win, and the defense gave it away.  That's the bottom line.

The offense lost the game today. They needed one touchdown drive to end the game in overtime and they couldn't do it. The defense gave the offense every opportunity today. Scored a TD, gave them a short field for a 14-0 lead. Miami could have taken complete control being up 14-0 but shit the bed with a terrible pass in the end zone that gave up a safety and the game momentum. The offense did nothing for the next 3 1/2 quarters. Turned the ball over on downs.

A good offense turns this game into a lopsided blow out on the road. Instead we dinked our way to a loss with terrible calls.

CarsonChris wrote:The offense lost the game today. They needed one touchdown drive to end the game in overtime and they couldn't do it. The defense gave the offense every opportunity today. Scored a TD, gave them a short field for a 14-0 lead. Miami could have taken complete control being up 14-0 but shit the bed with a terrible pass in the end zone that gave up a safety and the game momentum.  The offense did nothing for the next 3 1/2 quarters. Turned the ball over on downs.

The offense put the team in position to win at the end.  They handed the game to the defense, and the defense absolutely failed.

This is the NFL 2021. Offenses need to outs ore the opponents. It's why I said we needed 30 to win. We failed on offense the defense kept us in that game but nfl rules favor the offense. Last team with the ball wins. All we needed was a touchdown in OT. We went conservative when the game was on the line playing for the tie instead of the win.

HA!!! PREACH IT, CC!!! I'M TOTALLY BUYING WHAT YOU'RE SELLING, BRUTHA!!!

All we needed was a defensive stop in OT.  But the defense failed, not once but twice - letting the likes of Peyton Barber and Bryan Edwards look like Hall of Famers in the process.  The offense did suck - but they got us back in the game and gave us a chance to win, twice...which the defense then pissed away, twice.

Hell, the offense would have won the game if the refs did their jobs.

Nope, this loss is squarely on the defense.  Because for all the bad things the offense did throughout the day, it is the defense that gave up almost 400 passing yards and allowed Barber to rush for over 100 yards, and allowed the Raiders to march up and down the field TWICE in OT.

This offense is supposed to suck, with a backup QB and awful OL. The defense is supposed to carry the team, and they are supposed to be a top unit in the league...but they allowed 500 yards and blew the game yesterday.

The offense gave it away in overtime settling for an underneath route on 3rd and nine. Where did Parker run his route, 4-5 yards past LOS but well short of the first down yardage. This set up the tie in OT knowing you would be giving back the ball to the top passing offense in the NFL. Complete and total failure on the offense that sat on their asses for almost 4 quarters relying on the defense to stop the top passing offense in the NFL. Some people, Chucky, realize the NFL is a passing league so they play accordingly. Not Miami with its 4 yard throws.

That effing screen to Waddle from our own 1/2 yard line brought back horrible memories of perhaps the worst play call in Dolphins' history, running Parmalee out of the deep-I at San Diego in the playoff game in '94 after we stopped them at the one yard line to preserve a 21-6 lead. Should have broken their backs (and they couldn't stop Marino, but we couldn't run the ball all day) but instead played right into their strengths and let them back in the game. Same thing happened here, only it didn't end up costing us a trip to the AFC Championship Game. Which, BTW, ain't happening in 2021, that much is clear.

HORRIBLE!!! TERRIBLE!!! UNACCEPTABLE!!!

CarsonChris wrote:The offense gave it away in overtime settling for an underneath route on 3rd and nine. Where did Parker run his route, 4-5 yards past LOS but well short of the first down yardage. This set up the tie in OT knowing you would be giving back the ball to the top passing offense in the NFL. Complete and total failure on the offense that sat on their asses for almost 4 quarters relying on the defense to stop the top passing offense in the NFL. Some people, Chucky, realize the NFL is a passing league so they play accordingly. Not Miami with its 4 yard throws.

The offense did it's job in OT. The defense didn't.

We weren't beaten by "the best passing offense in the NFL"...we were beaten by a no-name receiver and a crappy RB. If Waller beat us, that's one thing - but he was pretty much a non-factor. Edwards and Barber had career days against our "great" defense - that's just not acceptable. On the winning drive, Edwards with a 34-yard catch and Barber with a 27-yard run...are you kidding me???

Again, with a crappy offense we count on our "great" defense to win the game. Yesterday, the offense handed them the game and they threw it away. Yes, the offense sucked - but they gave us the chance to win and the D folded.

Confirming what I said. The play calling in overtime was horrific. Terrible coaching

https://www.si.com/nfl/dolphins/news/miami-dolphins-day-after-the-las-vegas-game-thoughts-and-observations

4th and 2 at the 32 in Overtime, I wanted them to go for it because I knew the Defense wasn’t going to Stop them on next Possession , Flores should have just said we are going for the Touchdown on this Drive , Because our Defense is Done. This Passing Offense is Brutal to Watch we averaged 4.4 an Attempt and Carr was 9.0 an Attempt. Defense gives up way to many Chunk Plays in the Passing Game especially Brian Jones, Howard should not be in the Slot and the Renfrow TD showed it. They Need to Somehow be 3-3 When I go to the Falcons Game on 10/24.

finskev wrote:4th and 2 at the 32 in Overtime, I wanted them to go for it because I knew the Defense wasn’t going to Stop them on next Possession , Flores should have just said we are going for the Touchdown on this Drive , Because our Defense is Done. This Passing Offense is Brutal to Watch we averaged 4.4 an Attempt and Carr was 9.0 an Attempt. Defense gives up way to many Chunk Plays in the Passing Game especially Brian Jones, Howard should not be in the Slot and the Renfrow TD showed it. They Need to Somehow be 3-3 When I go to the Falcons Game on 10/24.

Kinda difficult for a team to be 3-3 when they start 1-4. Just sayin'. Props for noticing the absurd gap in yards per pass though You need to post more BTW.

I don't even feel like talking about the team this week. Looks like just another lost season.

Oh, we have some wins on this schedule, but likely not more than 7 or 8. Which of course would be a lost season, and given the injury concerns for our QB we are very likely to be looking again very soon. Without a top 5 pick.

HalCHorn wrote:Oh, we have some wins on this schedule, but likely not more than 7 or 8.  Which of course would be a lost season, and given the injury concerns for our QB we are very likely to be looking again very soon.   Without a top 5 pick.

You really think this team can win as many as 7-8 games???

I say 4 wins, max. Jags and Jets at least once and another random win, probably over the Falcons. They got EXTREMELY lucky to have faced Mac Jones in his first ever game.

BTW this team has the 4th worst point differential after 3 games in franchise history. Not even any of the Gase teams were this bad at this point of the season.

https://stathead.com/football/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&order_by_asc=1&order_by=points_diff&year_min=1966&game_type=R&game_num_min=1&game_num_max=3&week_num_min=0&week_num_max=99&temperature_gtlt=lt&team_id=mia

DolFan 316 wrote:

HalCHorn wrote:Oh, we have some wins on this schedule, but likely not more than 7 or 8.  Which of course would be a lost season, and given the injury concerns for our QB we are very likely to be looking again very soon.   Without a top 5 pick.

You really think this team can win as many as 7-8 games???

I say 4 wins, max. Jags and Jets at least once and another random win, probably over the Falcons. They got EXTREMELY lucky to have faced Mac Jones in his first ever game.

Yeah. Hell, we might go 4-2 in the division. 7-10 might well be good enough for 2nd place in the AFC East.