Power failure, lightning delay, no pass defense as Dolphins drop home opener to Buffalo | Opinion
If there is a God in heaven, it was as if he was looking down over Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday and (in a God-like basso profundo), saying, “Why is there football in the middle of a pandemic? And why are there fans at games? This is what you get!”
This is what they got at the Miami Dolphins’ 2020 home opener in terms of fan experience:
At the stadium, the Fins were trailing early to the rival Buffalo Bills. In front of a small, sadly apocalyptic, COVID-limited crowd. A crowd getting pelted by rain.
In homes throughout South Florida, fans smart enough to not be a part of a large gathering amid a pandemic missed Miami’s tying touchdown because of “technological difficulties” at the stadium that turned out to be a power outage. From late in the first quarter to well into the second, CBS missed 5 minutes 34 seconds of the game or about 20 minutes of real time.
Then, seconds into the start of the second half — a lightning delay!
The threat of bolts from on high delayed the game 36 minutes. (That God, He sure can make a point when he’s of a mind).
This is what fans got, too:
A Dolphins loss.
A pretty good and entertaining game, at the end of it all, but a 31-28 Miami loss nonetheless, by an improved but still-not-there Dolphins team measuring up against the rival that thinks itself ready to replace New England atop the AFC East.
The fans who remained to the end had to feel a mixture of disappointment and hope. There figures to be a bunch of both this season for Miami.
Twenty-six of 32 NFL teams prudently did not allow any fans to attend their home opener this month. The Dolphins dubiously were among the safety-not-first outliers along with Cleveland, Dallas, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Kansas City.
Miami allowed in a maximum of 13,000 fans Sunday or 20 percent of capacity. Only the Cowboys, Jaguars and Chiefs allowed in even more fans.
When the bizarre game amid bizarre circumstances finally had ended, Josh Allen’s Bills had pushed Miami to an 0-2 start to this season.
It was a result that very much showed the Dolphins for who they are: A young, improved, improving team that still must learn how to win.
Many early questions arise about this team and season, but, no, one of them is not, “When will the Fins finally unleash Tua Tagovailoa!?”
Miami’s early-season shortcomings — protecting the passer among them — only underline the wisdom in not rushing Tua into the lienup before he is physically, mentally and football-ready.
But here is a question that must be asked, even this soon:
Where is the pass defense? The one overhauled with huge spending? The one that’s supposed to be the strength of the team and one of the best in the league?
Last week Cam Newton efficiently scissored through Miami by air and land.
Sunday, Josh Allen completed 24 of 35 passes for 417 yards and four touchdowns.
No typo, that: 417 yards and four TDs.
Miami is spending more on starting cornerbacks than any team in the NFL. Made Xavien Howard the league’s highest paid last year. Then made Byron Jones the highest paid when they made him the star of their free agent haul this offseason.
Howard has been a bit injury probe. Jones left Sunday’s game with a groin issue.
Despite Allen having his way, this was a game the Fins could-a, should-a won.
The Bills’ goalline stand stopped Miami at the 1-yard yard line after a drive in which tight end Mike Gesicki made a spectacular one-handed catch. Why? Because Preston Williams let a Ryan Fitzpatrick scoring pass carom off his chest.
Moments later Kyle Van Noy let slip through his paws an interception he might have returned for a short pick-six.
We know this roster is hugely improved from last year. We know at-New England and then Buffalo is not a friendly two-step to start the schedule. But when will the improvement begin to be seen?
Might it be on a short week this coming Thursday night at Jacksonville, in a matchup whose national TV ratings might take a miner’s helmet and a pick-axe to find?
The Jaguars were supposed to be among the league’s dregs but won their opener, fell Sunday 33-30 to a strong Tennessee team, and will be favored over Miami.
The Dolphins’ climb to respectability will show by degrees, over time.
The performance on Sunday was better than what we saw in Week 1.
That’s progress. It’ll have to do for now.
This story was originally published September 20, 2020 at 4:56 PM.
