Mid-Week PhinManiacs Phin Phacts

By: Jason Sarney

With a nationally-spoken-about win-streak heading into a Sunday road game against the 3-6 Denver Broncos, the Miami Dolphins take their 6-3 record and try to make it 6-straight and 7 of their last 8.

Sunday’s win against the Chargers, which was more one-sided than the one-possession game the 29-21 score indicated, and if not for late, and meaningless touchdown by a predominantly shut-down Keenan Allen, was a beat-down.

They currently own the state of California at 3-0 with victories against the Niners, Rams and now Chargers.

□ @AndrewVanGinkel jersey sighting on @gmfb □#FinsUp pic.twitter.com/1jImtPrvDy

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) November 18, 2020

With a battle in the Mile-High City on the way, the Dolphins look to move into the thick of not just the AFC East divisional race with the Buffalo Bills, yet the overall AFC Playoff Picture. The Dolphins are suddenly putting themselves in a position to host a Playoff Game this season.

Think about that.

Mid-Week PhinManiacs Phin Phacts:

• At the moment, the +74 point differential at halftime is the best in the NFL.
  

 

• Miami has scored at least 17 points in the first half of five consecutive games for the first time since at least 2000.

 

• MIA finished 4th in the NFL in '19 committing just 92 accepted penalties. Their 769 penalty yards in '19 were also the 4th best mark in NFL. MIA has continued its success in reducing penalties. In 9 games in 2020, the team is 4th in the NFL in penalties (41) & 5th in yards (340).

 

• Tua Tagovailoa is the 1st Dolphins rookie Quarterback to lead a fourth-quarter comeback in one of his first two career starts since QB Chad Henne did so in his second NFL start in 2009.

 

• Salvon Ahmed is making his push for a lead role in the MIA backfield. He followed up a solid Week 9 w/ 85 rushing yards in Week 10 vs LAC. It was the most rushing yards by an undrafted rookie in Dolphins history (RB Ronald Scott had 99 yards in 1987 as a replacement player).

• Miami has forced 10 fumbles this year – 3 by DE Emmanuel Ogbah, 2 by LB Kyle Van Noy & LB Andrew Van Ginkel, & 1 by LB Jerome Baker, DE Shaq Lawson & LB Elandon Roberts. The 10 forced fumbles are tied for 3rd in the NFL.

• Miami’s third-down defense has limited opponents to just a 33.9% conversion rate. That mark is the 3rd-best in the NFL.

• Miami has had some legendary pass-rushers. Emmanuel Ogbah needs a realtor in Miami. His eight sacks in his first nine games as a Dolphin are the most ever by a Dolphin in their first nine games with the team.

 

• Ogbah has a full sack in 6 straight games, & 7 sacks in his past 6 games. His 6-game sack streak is tied for the 2nd-longest in team history behind Hall of Fame LB/DE Jason Taylor’s eight-game streak in 2002.

 

• Ogbah’s eight sacks this season are tied for fourth in the NFL.

 

• The Dolphins held No. 6 overall pick QB Justin Herbert to an 86.3 quarterback rating, which was the lowest of his career to that point (eight games).

 

• This is usually the point of the week that I write about a perfect Jason Sanders streak. I cant now. But - I have heard he addresses people as Sir and Ma'am. Remarkably polite, holds the door open for people, and says God Bless You when a person sneezes.

 

• MIA Running Backs YPC in 2020 Gaskin: 3.9 (100 carries) Breida: 3.5 (37 carries) Washington: 1.0 (2 carries) Laird: 6.0 (3 carries) Ahmed: 4.4 (28 carries) Salvon Ahmed is looking to own this backfield.
  

 

• As well as Andrew Van Ginkel is performing on defense, and in addition to the obvious blocked punt, he is literally the Special Teams leader in tackles (4) FF (1) and that block.

 

• Miami is 6-0 when leading at half-time.

 

• Ironically - the Broncos and Dolphins are tied for 10th in the NFL in sacks with 22 each.

• Shaq Lawson has 2 sacks to go with his 14 QB hits so far in 2020. Should be more sacks. They are coming. Blame Ogbah. (kidding) However, in just 2 career games against DEN, Lawson has 3 sacks.

 

• In the ultimate in ironic, family and broadcasting conundrums, here it goes.... The single-game passing leader for Denver against the Dolphins in their series history is Brian Griese with 335 passing yards against Miami in 2002.

 

• Only one current offensive Dolphin player has scored in their careers against Denver. His name is Antonio Callaway. Fitz, has thrown just 1 TD in 2 games played against them in his career. The only other current Fin to cross the goal-line with the ball for Miami was Xavien Howard on a 2017 interception return.

 

• The Dolphins are 12-6-1 all-time against the Broncos, including 1 playoff game. Miami’s last win at Denver came in 2008 and the Dolphins won the last overall meeting in 2017.

It’s another late-afternoon kickoff on Sunday, as Tua Tagovailoa leads Miami into Denver as the rookie looks to move to 4-0 as a starter.

You can follow Jason on Twitter @OrangeAquaman  and the PhinManiacs PodCast