Extra points: Five more thoughts on Dolphins-Buccaneers as Miami drops to 1-4
The score was close for three quarters, but the reality — and the final score — showed just how far behind the Miami Dolphins were against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
The Dolphins dropped their fourth consecutive game, this one 45-17 against the defending Super Bowl champions.
Here are five thoughts on what happened at Raymond James Stadium:
1. The defense couldn’t get Tom Brady and the Bucs off the field...
Tampa Bay scored on seven of its 10 possessions, including a slew of lengthy, methodical drives down the field.
Five drives lasted at least eight plays. Three drives lasted more than six minutes. Seven went at least 61 yards.
All told, the Buccaneers had the ball for about 14 minutes more than the Dolphins (37:07 against 22:53) and ran 21 more plays (72 to 51).
The key stat: Tampa Bay converted 8 of 11 third downs, a 73-percent conversion rate.
Brady completed 30 of 41 passes for 411 yards and five touchdowns before handing quarterback duties to Blaine Gabbert for the Buccaneers’ final drive. Antonio Brown and Mike Evans were both on the receiving end of two Brady touchdown passes while amassing 124 and 113 yards, respectively.
2. Jacoby Brissett stands strong despite early injury...
For a moment, it looked like the Dolphins were on the verge of having Reid Sinnett make his NFL debut on Sunday.
Brissett was carted to the locker room late in the first quarter with what was called a hamstring injury but was back on the sideline before the Dolphins’ next drive began.
What happened?
“I just had to go to the locker room and then came back out,” Brissett said.
Any concern he wouldn’t be able to play?
“Oh not a chance,” Brissett said. “Not a chance.”
Brissett completed 27 of 39 passes for 275 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on Sunday.
“That’s our guy,” offensive lineman Austin Jackson said. “I think he did a great job leading us. Just preparation all week. He sits down with the o-line and we go through those extra hours of film without the coaches to make sure we pick up stunts right and I think he a great job just being himself.”
Added tight end Mike Gesicki: “He’s done a phenomenal job just being tough back there, keeping plays alive with his feet, getting knocked down and getting back up and being a leader and a fighter for us.”
But Sunday might be Brissett’s final game as Miami’s starter. Tua Tagovailoa, out for the last three weeks after fracturing ribs in Miami’s loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 19, is eligible to return from injured reserve next week for the Dolphins’ game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
“Tua is doing everything he can to get back,” coach Brian Flores said. “Like I have said in previous media sessions, he threw Wednesday. He threw Friday. He’s making progress. Let’s see what he looks like after we activate him and practice him this week. We’ll see what the week of practice looks. Obviously, he’s still dealing with the fracture of the ribs, so that will definitely be something from a pain-tolerance standpoint he’d have to deal with. We’ll just see how he does with that and just take it one day at a time.”
When asked how that changes things for him, Brissett responded: “That’s not my call.”
3. The turnover streak came to an end...
The Dolphins’ streak of 26 consecutive games forcing a turnover has come to an end.
It was the longest active streak in the NFL and the third-longest streak in Dolphins history.
4. Preston Williams steps up...
With no DeVante Parker and no Will Fuller on Sunday, Preston Williams provided a glimpse early of what he can provide to the offense.
Williams, who has dealt with injuries in his first two NFL seasons, caught three passes for 60 yards on Sunday.
“We always have the mindset that anybody can go down at any time,” Williams said. “Just be ready to pop in wherever. Some people get put in positions where they haven’t played. Just have to know your playbook and be ready.”
Two of those catches came on the Dolphins’ opening possession. He made a toe-tapping catch down the left sideline for 21 yards on the second play of the game and then had a 34-yard catch-and-run three plays later. The Dolphins settled for a field goal on that drive.
5. Another week, another shift on the offensive line..
The Dolphins used their fifth different starting offensive line combination in as many games to start the season.
The starting group this week: Liam Eichenberg at left tackle, Austin Jackson at left guard, Greg Mancz at center, Robert Hunt at right guard and Jesse Davis at right tackle.
“We felt like that was the best move,” Flores said.
This story was originally published October 10, 2021 at 7:11 PM.
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