This past Sunday, Miami (3-2) was well on its way to opening the season 4-1. Leading 17-0 mid-way through quarter three, the Dolphins suffered a collapse. Cincinnati punched Miami in the mouth, en-route to scoring 27 unanswered points, 14 on two costly turnovers from quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Poor offensive line play from Miami was the ultimate result in the meltdown. The Dolphins now return home to Hard Rock Stadium for the first time since September 23, defeating the Oakland Raiders in come-from-behind fashion, 28-20. The hot Chicago Bears (3-1), fresh off a bye, are paced by quarterback and former North Carolina product Mitchell Trubisky, who threw a career high six touchdowns in their win, week four versus Tampa Bay.

These two teams last squared off at Soldier Field in 2014. Miami leads the all-time series, 8-4-0.

DATE: Sunday, October 14
TIME: 1:00 p.m. ET
SITE: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
TV: FOX
LINE: CHI -3.5, O/U: 43.5
Radio: Dolphins Radio Network, KISS 99.9 FM, 560 WQAM, 1210 WNMA (Spanish)
Radio Announcers: English broadcast - Jimmy Cefalo, Bob Griese, Joe Rose, Kim Bokamper; Spanish broadcast - Raul Striker Jr., Eduardo Martell

1. Mitchell Trubisky vs. Ryan Tannehill/Brock Osweiler

Trubisky (91/130, 945 YDS, 8 TD, 3 INT), the second pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, threw a career-high six touchdowns in a 48-10 beatdown versus Tampa Bay two weeks ago. Tannehill (85/129, 972 YDS, 8 TD, 5 INT) was at fault for two blunder-type interceptions in the fourth quarter against Cincinnati this past Sunday. The good news for Miami’s offense is WR Jakeem Grant is expected to play Sunday, after sustaining an injury in the Bengals contest. Grant is a perennial force in the return/passing game.

The bad news is that an injury Tannehill sustained a few weeks back (reportedly an AC joint sprain) might actually keep him from playing on Sunday, forcing backup Brock Osweiler to take charge. It would at least partly explain why Tannehill's play has dramatically fallen off in the past two weeks, but one can only hope that a healthy Osweiler is better than an injured Tannehill.

2. Chicago’s Front 7 vs. Miami’s OL

Chicago’s ferocious defense ranks second in the league, only behind Jacksonville. The Windy City is sure excited to have Khalil Mack on their side. Mack, who was acquired from the Oakland Raiders, signed a six-year, $141 million contract in early September.

​Through four games, Mack has made his presence felt, producing five sacks. Miami’s offensive line received positive news Friday, learning that LT Laremy Tunsil is out of the concussion protocol, and is expected to play Sunday. Keep an eye out for Mack, DE Johnathan Bullard, and rookie LB Roquan Smith against a recently struggling Dolphins offensive line.

​3. Running back - Jordan Howard vs. Kenyan Drake/Frank Gore

The run game for Miami was absolutely invisible versus Oakland and against New England. Last Sunday, the Dolphins were able to open up some holes for Frank Gore and Kenyan Drake. Miami uses the flip-and-flop formation between the two.

​Gore had 12 carries for 63 yards, whereas Drake gained 46 yards on 6 carries. It will be interesting to see if Miami’s offensive line can open holes Sunday against a stout Bears run defense. Howard, a 2016 fifth round pick, has one touchdown in four matches this season.

This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BLiguori98

Such is the nature of the Miami Dolphins and their fan base. The team wins, and they're on top of the world. As soon as things start going sour, everything is horrible. This was the case for everyone - and I do mean everyone - after the painful loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday that should have been a win.

“Every loss hurts. When you put 110 hours in a week and get kicked in the nuts like that, it pisses you off." Gase said after the game. "This isn’t like a 9-to-5 (job). We have a lot of people putting a lot of work into this stuff. You’re going to be mad today and tomorrow. When Wednesday comes, you have to forget about it and move on to the next one.”

Believe me, coach Gase, the fans feel the exact same way. Sometimes it feels like being a fan of this team is a full-time job, except we don't get paid for it, and trying to quit is like trying to get over an alcohol addiction while you work in a bar; it's very, very, very hard.

Also see: impossible.

It is also very easy to fall deeper into dark places when the team struggles and the fan base collectively comes together to wallow in their misery. But it is in these moments where it becomes imperative to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps and find something else to look at, something to remind you that all is not lost.

Perhaps there's really no point in expecting Gase to fix the team, since he himself has yet to be humbled and learn lessons on how he should be coaching. Perhaps that won't happen until he goes and coaches elsewhere.

It is also abundantly clear that, as nice of a guy as he is and as hard as he tries, Ryan Tannehill is not a "game-changing" QB, and he isn't able to consistently overcome the extreme adversity that NFL QBs have to face on a weekly basis.

I personally equate that to having the ability (or lack thereof) to run around in the backfield like a chicken with its head cut off, dodging endless defenders and heaving up a prayer that somehow magically lands in the hands of a receiver, but the fact is other QBs get on highlight reels for it and Tannehill doesn't; I suppose that's enough.

Maybe it really is time for new blood at that position. Even if Tannehill's legacy won't be remembered fondly in Miami, I can console myself knowing that he'll likely have a promising medical career after he leaves the NFL. And before anyone accuses me of being "in love" with Tannehill, understand that it comes from the perspective of a human being, not necessarily as a football fan.

Tannehill is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, and in some respects, I can relate to him because of the way he lives his life. If that's not a good enough reason to root for him, then that's your prerogative; he still has eleven games to prove that Miami doesn't have to spend a first-round pick on a QB next season.

But this isn't about the negative parts of the team, this is about the side of things that screams promise and further potential. This is about the young defensive core developing even now, and if the front office (and whoever will actually be in it in a year or two's time) is wise, they would be sure to lock these players up now while they have the chance.

The Miami Dolphins defense isn't ranked very high overall thanks to a lot of time spent on the field (side-eye look at the offense), but the number of players performing at a high level has kept the defense from being labeled as a complete joke for once. For a defense that sent All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh packing in the offseason, they're allowing only 3.7 yards a carry, which ranks them at 6th in the NFL in that category.

That's thanks in large part to the emergence of young defensive tackles Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor, the team's fifth and sixth-round draft picks from 2017; as a tandem, they have been able to stuff runners and even collapse a few pockets in their short time, making Suh's absence ultimately irrelevant.

At linebacker, Jerome Baker has been a massive (and pleasant) surprise as a rookie third-round pick; his speed has made him an asset in the passing game (though he still certainly has plenty to learn still) and he is able to go sideline to sideline chasing down players and making plays, whether by blitzing or keeping an eye on guys in the backfield. Against the Bengals this past Sunday, Baker racked up six tackles and two sacks on QB Andy Dalton.

That’s why we liked him." coach Gase said on Monday. "We liked him because he can cover a lot of ground and when he blitzes, he has no regard for his body and tries to annihilate the other guy. I thought he played well."

It isn't just Baker, however. After spending the first several weeks of 2018 as practically invisible, Baker's former Ohio State teammate Raekwon McMillan had himself a strong game too, adding six tackles of his own - one being for a loss - against Cincinnati. If nothing else, it means that he's still worth investing in for the future, and the LB corps has a strong chance to be much improved in the future, if the ability to cover can be upgraded as tight ends still pose somewhat of a threat.

But if push comes to shove, that's where 2018 first-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick comes in, and he also had a good game against the Bengals, helping keep the Cincinnati receivers contained for the most part, and reading screens before they happen and making plays on them to force losses of yards as the slot cornerback.

And if that's where he's the most likely to make his mark in the NFL, then Miami has finally found themselves a real gem.

There's plenty to look forward to on the defensive side of the ball, the talent is there and there's still plenty of time to continue to build around them. Safety Reshad Jones - playing with a partially torn labrum - is still a dynamic playmaker even at the age of 30 and could be an excellent veteran presence for a few years more; Robert Quinn has been every bit worth the fourth-round pick sent to the Rams to acquire him, and should be locked up long-term (if the Wide-9 continues to be implemented) if he continues to be disruptive.

The only thing the defense has not managed to do is finish the job with sacks. They've gotten plenty of pressure on QBs, but they haven't actually been able to get them down before they throw the ball away or somehow escape and find a receiver. That is a concern. Miami ranks down near the bottom of the league at 27th with only eight total sacks, but they rank near the top in takeaways, tied for second with the Chicago Bears with a total of 11.

Only the Cleveland Browns of all teams rank higher, and that's with a whopping 15.

Even if the offense never comes together this season, even if the team goes 8-8 all over again or perhaps drop even  lower due to their apparent inability to remain consistent on offense for one reason or another, take comfort in the fact that the defense - while still not perfect and in many ways still very raw - is coming along nicely, and that's one of the marks of any championship caliber team.

Who knows? Maybe a new QB really will turn the tides for the Dolphins offense, though there's nothing in the team's history to suggest that will happen, but regardless, that will have to wait until 2019 at the earliest, if Tannehill continues to perform poorly. For now, hope that the offensive line can somehow get it together and protect Ryan Tannehill so he can be at his best, hope that coach Gase learns to stick with what works and adapts to move away from what doesn't, and enjoy watching a young defense grow together.

Then pray that whoever turns out to be in the front office in the near future - whether it be Mike Tannenbaum or some other executive - has the wisdom to lock up Godchaux, Taylor, Fitzpatrick, Baker, Quinn, Xavien Howard, and others to stick around for years to come, because this defense has the makings to be something special, under the proper leadership.

“I thought the defense did well." Gase said on Monday. "The defense played exactly the way that we talked about all week. That’s why it probably irritates me more than anything that we screwed it up on offense. We scored more offense for their team on the offensive side than they let up. And that bothers me. I feel awful because our defense played really well and they did exactly what we wanted to do.”

For the time being, it's up to Gase to figure things out and make it work, and make sure the team's silver lining has a chance to shine brighter this year, rather than waiting for the future to move into the spotlight.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

The Miami Dolphins (3-1) suffered their first defeat of the 2018 season, at the hands of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, 38-7, last Sunday. Statistic wise, it was one of the worst offensive performances from head coach Adam Gase’s team in his three year tenure. The Dolphins produced eleven first-downs, (one rushing), 172 yards of total offense, and just 100 yards passing from quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Injuries have plagued the Dolphins thus far, with key players such as S Reshad Jones, WR DeVante Parker, TE A.J. Derby, DE Cameron Wake, and CB Bobby McCain listed as either questionable/doubtful/out for Sunday’s contest.

Miami has already lost DE William Hayes, G Josh Sitton and C Daniel Kilgore to season-ending injuries. Cincinnati (3-1) is coming into Sunday red hot, upsetting the Atlanta Falcons on the road, 37-36. Miami will look to stay atop the AFC East Division, whereas the Bengals will seek their second consecutive victory in fourteen days. Miami leads the all-time series, 16-6.

Date: Sunday, October 7
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Site: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
TV: CBS
Line: CIN -6 O/U: 48.5
Radio: Dolphins Radio Network, KISS 99.9 FM, 560 WQAM, 1210 WNMA (Spanish)
Radio Announcers: English broadcast - Jimmy Cefalo, Bob Griese, Joe Rose, Kim Bokamper; Spanish broadcast - Raul Striker Jr., Eduardo Martell

​QB Ryan Tannehill: Tannehill should feast on a Bengals defense that sits 27th overall in total defense. Cincinnati coughs up just under 30 points per game (28.3). It will be key to see how accurate Tannehill throws the football. Last Sunday, Tannehill was throwing the football off his back foot, thus causing numerous incompletions, and even one interception.

QB Andy Dalton: Dalton, a TCU graduate, is 1-2 in his career versus Miami. Throwing two touchdowns and five interceptions in three games, Dalton leads a charged Bengals offense that is averaging 31.5 points per ballgame this season. The Miami secondary, led by Xavien Howard and Minkah Fitzpatrick, must be on their toes at all times, due in large part to the Andy Dalton-AJ Green deep ball connections.

​WR DeVante Parker: Parker has not been able to stay consistent because of injuries. Parker missed Miami’s loss to New England Sunday due to a quad injury suffered in practice last Friday, his third game listed as inactive this season. Having rode the stationary bike this week, and getting some short first-team reps, Parker is likely to play Sunday against Cincinnati.

​LB Vontaze Burfict: Vontaze Burfict is slated to make his season debut this Sunday, after missing the first four games due to a PED violation. Playing in 68 career regular season games with the Bengals, the always-feisty Burfict will automatically boost a Cincinnati defensive front, paced by Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap.

S Reshad Jones: The Dolphins hope to have former Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones on the field Sunday. Similar to Burfict, Jones’s presence increases a Miami defense tremendously. Jones missed the previous two games because of a shoulder injury suffered in Miami’s week two win at the Jets. This season, Jones has hauled in two takeaways, both against Tennessee.

This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BLiguori98

Miami Dolphins DT Jordan Phillips is staying in the AFC East Division. The only significant difference is Phillips will now be the Dolphins biggest rival. On Wednesday afternoon, the Buffalo Bills claimed Phillips, the former Oklahoma product, off waivers.

There was tension between Phillips and the Miami coaching staff during Sunday’s 38-7 blowout loss at the hands of New England, and the former second-round pick did not leave the team quietly. This is not the first time Miami has had in-game issues throughout the regular season. In 2017, the Dolphins were shut out in Baltimore, 40-0. It appeared RB Jay Ajayi was not happy with the play calling, and gave head coach Adam Gase a negative look. Days after, Ajayi was dealt to the NFC’s Philadelphia Eagles.

Phillips has just one sack in four games this season. The former Oklahoma standout started twenty-six games, contributing 5.5 sacks, and one interception, during his four-year, 48 game tenure with the Dolphins. Moving forward, the Miami Dolphins will get a clearer look at DTs Davon Godchaux, Vincent Taylor, and Akeem Spence.

It's no surprise that Phillips was picked up quickly, he is a supremely talented player when his motor is running, but his dedication to the game was always the biggest question mark with him, and now it's up to Bills head coach Sean McDermott to see if he can get the motor running now that Phillips has gotten a change of scenery.

This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BLiguori98

There's a major theme that is connected to head coach Adam Gase ever since he took command of the Miami Dolphins, and that is funny business will not be tolerated. On Tuesday, the team continued that trend just two days after getting annihilated on the road by the New England Patriots, waiving former second round pick Jordan Phillips.

Phillips, 26, was drafted out of Oklahoma back in 2015 and is a supremely talented and gifted player, but his effort level and dedication to the game has been in question since his college days, and despite his more advanced draft status, his playing time has dropped lower and lower in favor of 2017 fifth and sixth-round picks Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor, who have been regularly making plays so far this season.

Phillips only recorded a total of 25 snaps (31%) on defense against the Patriots, giving him less than all the other DTs on the roster; he also was later seen throwing a temper tantrum on the sideline that was captured on television, and several players attempted to calm him down but to no avail.

But in spite of this, Phillips himself came out onto Twitter to debunk any theories that this outburst had anything to do with why the Dolphins released him.

On Monday, Gase addressed the sideline spa, which was assumed to be a result of being rotated out of the game as often as he was.

“Well there’s a reason why we’re doing that." he said. "There’s a reason why we’re subbing the way we’re subbing against that team. It’s not a secret why we’re doing it. Whatever (Defensive Line Coach) Kris Kocurek wants the d-linemen to do, that’s what we’re doing.”

Kocurek is known for wanting to continually rotate players in and out in order to keep the pass rush fresh and keeping them from getting exhausted, and it would make sense that Phillips would get frustrated by that. But there's no way to know what the real reason is behind the release without actually being in the building; either Phillips or the Dolphins aren't being completely truthful.

But the bigger story is not that he was cut or why he was cut, it's the sheer joy that he expressed through his Instagram over the fact that he's no longer a member of the team.

In the same vein as departed players Jay Ajayi, Jarvis Landry and Mike Pouncey, Phillips seems relieved to be out of the Miami Dolphins locker room headed up by Adam Gase. Whether this is a reflection of Phillips or Gase is up to reader interpretation, but it can't be summarily dismissed that so many players are so happy to be anywhere but Miami. Perhaps the players truly are malcontents, like they were being looked at as during the offseason, or perhaps there's something to Gase's coaching style that turns off certain players.

Ultimately, until the results of this move are seen, it's truly moot. As a member of the Miami Dolphins, Phillips racked up a total of 63 tackles, 5.5 sacks 11 pass deflections and an interception in his four seasons. Now, it's up to veteran Akeem Spence, and young players Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor to pick up the slack, with recently called up defensive lineman Jonathan Woodard attempting to fill in the role left behind by William Hayes, who was also playing on the interior.

Phillips is indeed 'free at last,' the only question now is who will this benefit more when all is said and done.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Are you over the shellshock of what occurred this past Sunday? The absolute destruction of a potential “changing of the guard” or any other media narrative that was being held on to this past week? If not, then let’s go through a quick review, and then turn the page on that gruesome week together.

If you’ve read along in previous weeks, then you know I typically begin with an intro, followed by areas for improvement, and closed off with the “good” from the previous week.

This week will be different, and I think you can easily estimate why; because there is truly not much “good” to speak about. Instead, this will be a look at the clear areas of improvement, and why or why not, this team will be able to overcome the Foxborough thumping.

1. Early down failures

Sunday was a perfect film study on how to get absolutely manhandled by any team; and by any team I truly mean it, the Dolphins could have played your local high school team and still have struggled. Here is why: the following were the yards to gain on the offense's third down plays: 12, 10, 8, 8, 12, and 8.

Fans tend to get mad at third down conversion rates for this team, or the playcalling on third downs. DON’T. Get mad that the offense is continually put in a position where they need to gain 8+ yards just to get a first down.
 
Where does this come from? Penalties are a good place to start. Take your pick: pre-snap, holding, etc. The penalties this team put forth on Sunday are the most bitter cocktail of how to lose in the NFL. Now, I’ve previously said that it is tough to place this on Tannehill or Gase, after all, it is the lineman causing the 1st and 15’s or 1st and 20’s, but at some point Tannehill and Gase either have to compensate for this, or eliminate it all together.

This is where my criticism for Tannehill comes into play, we often see him compensate for bad protection, but we rarely see him compensate for bad third down scenarios. Part of this will come from playcalling—make no mistake about it—but part of it comes from being timid with the ball and wary of turning it over. When your team has more penalties than first downs at any point throughout the game, you know you’ve already lost.

2. As the team crumbled, so did Tannehill

Similar to the Jets game, we again saw the OL play as the worst unit in the game…and we again saw Tannehill be unable to compensate for it.

Now before anyone calls me unrealistic or a hater, let me be clear: I am aware of how ridiculous it is to expect him to play top level football when the OL is in shambles, our running backs do not eclipse TEN yards in rushing at various points throughout the game, and when your back-up center throws a dart past you in an off-cadence snap, leading to a fumble.

I promise you that I hold that context in my mind when writing this, I really do, but I needed him to do more.
 
In the miracle snaps where he was given time, he overthrew his receivers, and in the small percentage of plays where the receiver was open—because the Patriots weren’t holding them—he missed the read.

What I am trying to point out here is the following: everyone was awful on Sunday, no one deserves to be held responsible above others, but the captain needed to do more too, and for the first time in a while, he didn’t.

I explained in the introduction that we wouldn’t have a “good” section, because there wasn’t much to show (other than the first pass in the game, which was a beautifully spotted 20+ yard pass, yet also led to us not throwing it that deep again, for whatever the reason). Instead, let’s talk about what changes need to happen to yield improvement.

1. Running game

The old adage is that defense and a running game are the QB’s best friends. Yes, yes they are. But currently, the Miami running game is Tannehill’s worst enemy. The Miami Dolphins have gained 352 yards on the ground this year; 74 of those have come from Tannehill.

This leaves a whopping total of 278 yards coming from the backfield in Miami through four games. That type of running game is music to the ears of opposing defenses, and is exactly what the Patriots feasted on this past Sunday.

They dropped 7-8 men into the defensive backfield, and took away Tannehill’s ability to throw. They then limited Drake and Gore to only 56 yards rushing, of which a large amount occurred once the game was already decided and QB1 was on the bench preserving his health.
 
You cannot and will not win football games in the NFL when you are one-dimensional. This running game must improve if the Dolphins want to see continued growth in this offense and in Tannehill.

2. Injury concerns

All-Pro Josh Sitton? Out for the year. Captain Daniel Kilgore? Also on injured reserve. Parker? Welp. Derby? Hurt. Those on the offensive line that remained? They played their worst collective game of the year on Sunday. Run blocking? Absent. Pass protection? Minimal. Penalties? Too many. You get the point.
 
Our players are hurt, and those that aren’t hurt were playing like they were. It’s easy to put too much weight into one game (just take a look at #DolphinsTwitter), but one game is only one game and that is all this Foxborough thumping is…one game.

However, the exception to that rule is when that one game bleeds into the rest of the season via the form of injuries and chronic penalties. The point here is simple: injuries happen to every team, but not every team responds well to them. Which one will Miami be?

3. Identity

When asking yourself if you believe in this team’s ability to improve, make a note that the real answer lies in the following: will this team find an offensive identity? Through four weeks, the only assured identities are penalties, no running game, and an offense predicated on passing success and atypically schemed play development.

The issue?

You cannot win with penalties, and if you are going to be entirely ineffective at running, then you need to open the passing playbook. The Dolphins playcalling works when they play complimentary football. When the defense needs to defend the run, the quick throws and speed-kills developments work. But when the defense can drop 7 or 8 to counteract your speed, you’re left with this past Sunday.
 
Miami needs an identity on the offensive side. You wanted it to be running? Well where is that coming from? Where are the holes or the playmakers? You wanted it to be passing? Fine, but where is the opened playcalling. Miami is choosing to run a scheme predicated on running effectiveness, and then asking their passing unit to do the impossible, when every run is stopped within two yards.

It will not work against smart defenses and coordinators. Either learn to run or open up the pass game. It’s not as easy as it sounds, it’s not going to change in a week, but something needs to be done, and this part lies squarely on the shoulders of Adam Gase.

Stats:
 
47.9 Quarterback Rating
​11 for 20 on pass attempts
55% Completion
0 Touchdowns
1 Interception
100 Total Yards
 5 Yards per attempt
 
Overall Quarterback Grade: D (Only thing not making this an F is how atrocious everything around him also was, but make no mistake, the Dolphins all collectively Failed)

This story was written by Daniel Martinez. Follow him on Twitter: @all_right_Miami

This is starting to become like a horror movie. The main plot is terrifying, the climax is scary, basically all parts present a frightening perspective. For the Miami Dolphins, the scene of entering Gillette Stadium and walking out with a victory really just does not happen. It was over ten years ago, September 21, 2008. The last time Miami defeated New England in Foxborough, it was one to remember.

The Dolphins pounded the New England defense for thirty-eight points, introducing the special “Wildcat Game.”

From 2009-present, a familiar result has occurred: a loss.

On Sunday, the frustrating trend continued. Paced by Tom Brady’s three touchdown passes and running back Sony Michel’s 112 yards, the New England Patriots (2-2) reminded the world as to why they are a force to be reckoned with in the AFC East, sinking the Dolphins (3-1) easily, 38-7.

“Not a lot went right for us,” quarterback Ryan Tannehill said.

Sunday’s loss now marks ten consecutive defeats inside Gillette Stadium. The Miami offense started out on a positive side, as quarterback Ryan Tannehill (11/20, 100 YDS, 1 INT) connected with WR Kenny Stills for 22 yards. Four plays later, the drive was stalled, as New England forced Miami into a punting situation.

“I think just getting out-physicaled. Then we didn’t execute things the way we needed to. We didn’t adjust the way we needed to. Nothing was good,” head coach Adam Gase said post-game.

Penalties, a category that has plagued Miami for consecutive seasons, continued Sunday. Ten penalties for 89 yards haunted Miami into 3rd-and-long situations. The Dolphins converted a paltry 3/11 on 3rd down. The offense Sunday for Miami was so putrid, a sight many did not expect to see happened.

Backup quarterback Brock Osweiler, a Super Bowl champion (backing up Peyton Manning) with the Denver Broncos, replaced Ryan Tannehill midway through the fourth quarter, with Miami trailing 38-0. Osweiler tossed a touchdown to RB Frank Gore, the only score of the day for Miami. On the flip side, it was another day at the office for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (23/35, 274 YDS, 3 TD, 2 INT). Brady improves to 15-1 as a starter at home against Miami.

Five different receivers caught more than one reception: James White, Phillip Dorsett, Cordarrelle Patterson, Rob Gronkowski and newly acquired Josh Gordon. Sony Michel, a former Georgia product, pounded the Miami defense all day, producing a score and rushing for over 100 yards for the first time in his career.

“We’ve just got to get back to the basics in practice, get the pads low, play our technique and just get back to playing Dolphins football,” DT Davon Godchaux said.

New England looked flat in consecutive double-digit losses to Jacksonville and Detroit, but all three phases of the game clicked versus Miami. The Patriots prevented a 1-3 start for the first time since 2001, whereas Miami failed to begin the season 4-0 for the first time since 1995. The injury bug was active throughout the contest. Miami center Daniel Kilgore (arm) and safety Bobby McCain (knee) left the game. On Monday, sources confirmed that Kilgore suffered a torn tricep, and is likely to be put on season-ending IR. McCain is out for 2-3 weeks.

Miami is already without Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones, WR DeVante Parker, OG Josh Sitton, DE William Hayes, DE Andre Branch, LB Chase Allen and TE A.J. Derby.

The Dolphins hope to get some key pieces on both the offensive and defensive side of the football back in week five. On the opponent’s side, Brady’s favorite target, TE Rob Gronkowski, left the game in the second half due to a right ankle injury. Gronkowski was listed as out for the remainder of the ballgame. Dolphins WR Danny Amendola made his first official return to Gillette Stadium since being dealt to Miami in mid-March. Amendola signed a two-year, $12 million deal, after being apart of the Patriots organization for five seasons, securing two Super Bowl titles. Amendola hauled in two receptions for 21 yards Sunday.

The good news, however, is 25% of the schedule has been completed, and the Miami Dolphins sit alone in first place atop the AFC East. Buffalo and New York both fell Sunday, dropping to 1-3. It is a short week for the Patriots, as New England will prepare for a Thursday night showdown versus Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts (1-3). Patriots WR Julian Edelman is expected to return on the sideline, after missing the first four games due to a suspension. Miami will travel to Paul Brown Stadium, in Cincinnati, Ohio, battling against the high octane offense of QB Andy Dalton, RB Giovani Bernard and WR A.J. Green, Sunday October 7.

The Bengals (3-1) are coming off a dramatic 37-36 victory at Atlanta. Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict will return, having also served a four-game suspension. Both Miami and Cincinnati last met in September, 2016. Sunday has a feeling of must-win mentality for Miami, with a two-game homestand on the horizon versus Chicago and Detroit.

This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BLiguori98

Arguably Miami’s most crucial football game since the 2008 division-clinching win, week seventeen at the Jets, the Miami Dolphins (3-0) will seek their first 4-0 start since 1995, as well as a three-game lead in the AFC East over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots (1-2).

After opening the 2018 campaign with a 27-20 victory versus Houston, the Patriots looked sluggish in losses at Jacksonville and Detroit. New England will look to avoid their first 1-3 start since 2001.

Gillette Stadium has been a house of horrors for Miami. The Dolphins last victory at Foxborough came over ten years ago: “The Wildcat Game,” September 21, 2008, 38-13. Miami leads the all-time series, 54-51.

DATE: Sunday, September 30
TIME: 1:00 p.m. ET
SITE: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
TV: CBS
LINE: NE -6.5, O/U: 48.5
RADIO: Dolphins Radio Network, KISS 99.9 FM, 560 WQAM, 1210 WNMA (Spanish)
Radio Announcers: English broadcast - Jimmy Cefalo, Bob Griese, Joe Rose, Kim Bokamper; Spanish broadcast - Raul Striker Jr., Eduardo Martell.

1. QB Ryan Tannehill - Tannehill improved his career record to 40-40 (.500), with last Sunday’s 28-20 victory versus Oakland. In nine career starts against New England, Tannehill is 3-6. Expect a different outcome Sunday. Tannehill should be able to move the ball frequently down the field against a beat-up Patriots defense that ranks 26th in total defense this season.

4. CB Xavien Howard - Howard is beginning to prove analysts wrong and solidify himself as a top cornerback in the NFL. Last Sunday, Howard secured two interceptions off Raiders QB Derek Carr, with the second being a game-changing pick late in the fourth quarter, with Oakland in a goal-line position. Expect Howard to cover either WR Josh Gordon, Chris Hogan, or former Miami Hurricane Phillip Dorsett. ​

When is the last time Miami Dolphins fans felt this good? It sure has been a long time. There is now a loud buzz being generated by all of the Phinatics for these 2018 Miami Dolphins, not just locally in South Florida, but also around the country and around the world.

You can read it on all the social media posts, you can see it through the team pride stickers, shirts, and flags around town, and you can hear it in many workplaces, as the Dolphins are the theme for many companies' water cooler talks.  How long has it been since Dolphins fans have felt this good? It's been a LONG TIME.

Some might say that the 2016 season was a lot of fun. Making it to the playoffs that season was a huge victory for not only the franchise, but also for the starved fan base waiting eight seasons for a playoff appearance. But, that was the season the Dolphins lost Ryan Tannehill near the tail end of the year. Although it was exciting, and there was a great buzz with the team, missing key components for the team helped to dampen the spirit.

And a Wild Card clobbering at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t help.

Some might say that the 2013 season reminds them a little of the fun that they are experiencing now. Remember, the Dolphins started that year with a 3-0 record, beating the Browns, Colts, and Falcons to start the season. However, that season spiraled out of control with the bullying scandal that rocked the locker room and the Dolphins finished the year with an 8-8 record.

​That 3-0 start had a very different feel to it than this season’s start, mainly due to the level of talent that the 2018 Dolphins team employs and due to the difference in coaches and coaching styles.

Some might go back 10 years to the 2008 season and say it was a similar feeling. The Dolphins won the AFC East that year and held a playoff game at Hard Rock Stadium (formerly Dolphins Stadium). You probably even remember where you were watching the game when the Dolphins introduced the Wildcat offense and beat the New England Patriots 38-13 at Gillette Stadium.

​That season sure was fun, and the atmosphere was electric when the Dolphins hosted the Baltimore Ravens during the playoffs, but you knew that the Wildcat would eventually run its course.

Two days after defeating the Oakland Raiders, 28-20, improving to 3-0, the Miami Dolphins signed former Washington Redskins LB Martrell Spaight on Tuesday afternoon.

Spaight, 25, posted a photo of himself signing the contract on his Instagram page.

Yet to make an appearance during the regular season thus far, Spaight played 15 games in 2017 for Washington, starting in six of them. In those game, he totaled 45 tackles.

As a whole, Spaight has played 30 games and started seven of them in his three-year career, racking up 104 tackles, deflecting three passes and catching an interception.

Spaight played college football for the SEC’s Arkansas Razorbacks. Spaight joins a linebacker group paced by Kiko Alonso, who leads the team with 26 tackles; Jerome Baker, second in total tackles (12), and former Ohio State product Raekwon McMillan.

The signing of Spaight is an indicator that Chase Allen's leg injury is likely to keep him out for a few games, and the team will need an extra body on that unit, if only to contribute on special teams, especially since reserve linebacker Mike Hull suffered a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve back in Week 1 of the preseason against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Miami also has former first round pick Stephone Anthony available to pick up the slack at linebacker.

Expect Miami to continue to fortify its defensive unit, after defensive ends William Hayes and Andre Branch left Sunday’s game with injuries. Hayes was placed on injured reserve, while Branch is likely to  be out for 2-4 weeks.

The Dolphins also released wide receiver Tanner McEvoy, leaving the team with a total of five WRs on the roster, and one slot left on the 53-man roster, presumably for a defensive lineman. They have young players Jonathan Woodard and Jamiyus Pittman - both of whom impressed in camp and preseason - on their practice squad. They also worked out veteran defensive ends Robert Ayers and Kony Ealy.

Another option is young free agent Cameron Malveaux, who was released from Miami's practice squad a couple of weeks ago and recently had a workout with the Indianapolis Colts but didn't sign.

The Dolphins travel to Foxborough, Massachusetts this upcoming Sunday to do battle against Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and the New England Patriots, riding a two-game losing skid.

This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter:@BLiguori98

When New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speaks, people listen.

They don’t necessarily learn much, but they do listen.

Belichick is known for not saying much even when he does speak, as he has an obvious disdain for interviews. And when he spoke to the press on Tuesday about the Patriots upcoming game with the Miami Dolphins, it’s up to the reader to decide if anything is really of note. But here are some comments from his press conference with local (New England) media Tuesday AM.

Q: Can you speak to the Dolphins run game and what you've seen from them the first three games?
BB: Well, it's explosive because they've also had plays from their receivers. They might be calling them passes, but they're really runs. So, they've gotten pretty good production from everybody, from their - you know, you've got to stop the backs, you've got to stop the quarterbacks and you've got to stop the receivers on the end-around reverses and speed sweep-type plays. So, they're all part of it. They attack you outside and they attack you inside, and they have plays that are run-pass reads based on the defense.

Q: What are your thoughts on Frank Gore and what he's accomplished in his 10 years in the league?
BB: Yeah, he's a great football player, no question about that. I mean, he hasn't had a lot of production in the passing game this year, but he certainly has in the past. We have a lot of respect for his ability to catch the ball and then run with it after he catches it. But, he's a tough football player that is hard to bring down, has good vision, excellent playing strength and balance. He's a good football player.

Q: How have you seen Danny Amendola being used by the Dolphins so far this year?
BB: Yeah, I'd say that Danny's role is very similar to what it's been or what it was here in terms of the position that he plays. He primarily plays in the slot, although Adam [Gase] does move guys around some from time-to-time. They're primarily a three-receiver offense, so he's on the field for a pretty good chunk of plays because that's their primary formation.

Q: Now that you have faced some adversity, do you feel that how you handle that shows your physical and mental toughness and capabilities?
BB: Look, that's the National Football League. It's a 16-game season. Every team faces adversity over the course of 16 games. So, every team will have an opportunity to deal with it and it will happen more than once to everybody. So, when those opportunities come up, we'll see how, again, individually each of us and collectively as a team how we fare.

Q: When Adam Gase took over for the Dolphins, he made an effort to try to change the culture in his locker room. When you watch the Dolphins, do you notice an increased discipline or attention to detail on the field?
BB: They do a good job. Adam's done a good job. Certainly, they did a great job against us down there last year in the second game. You know, their execution level and performance was high. You'd have to talk to him about the behind-the-scenes within the locker room and all that. I'm not sure about all that, but I see the team performing very well. They've made a lot of big plays in critical situations. They've played very consistently the first three weeks of the season, and that's why they're 3-0. They've done a good job.

The following comments are from Belichick’s phone call with Miami media Tuesday AM.

On Ryan Tannehill:
Ryan Tannehill is doing well in pretty much everything. Start with 73 percent completions. He handles a lot at the line of scrimmage. He can get the team into the right plays. He’s making good decisions in the option game and on who to throw the ball to. They have a lot of confidence in him.

On Adam Gase and the Dolphins offense:
Coach Gase does an excellent job attacking defenses. He can modify his scheme from week to week based on perceived weaknesses. He’s got a lot of good receivers. He’s got guys who can run and throw. He does a really good job of creating difficult schemes. As good as anybody we’ve faced. They’re a hard team to prepare for. There are going to be things we won’t have prepared for. There will be new wrinkles. They create explosive plays.

Those trick plays could come up any week. We don’t know when they’re going to come up. They’re used infrequently which is why they can be so explosive and dangerous. We have to be alert for those plays. Coach Gase is a very creative coach. Everybody has to handle their responsibilities. They can catch you on a play they have not seen before. If Albert Wilson, Jakeem Grant, Kenyan Drake or Kenny Stills gets a step, they’re gone.

This is a well-balanced team. They hit you on sweeps and short catch-and-runs. They get to the perimeter. If you don’t stop them it could be a long run for a long gain. They make you defend every inch of the field.

On whether wide receiver Josh Gordon will play this week:
I don’t know. We’ll have to see how it goes.

On Miami not having won in New England since 2008:
I don’t know why Miami doesn’t win here. I’m trying to do a better job with my team. Coach Gase doesn’t need any help from me. Those other games don’t matter.

​This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter: @EJFootball

Make no mistake about it, this Miami Dolphins team is as good as their 3-0 record. I mention this, because over the next week you’ll hear and see much being made about the Patriots game being the true test. You’ll see and hear people minimizing and invalidating the record, the individual performances, and the “gimmick” playcalling.

It. Will. Happen.

But when it does, I want you to remember my opening sentence: make no mistake about it, this Miami Dolphins team is as good as their 3-0 record.

We have seen three victories, and all three have come from the Dolphins playing complimentary football, with all units contributing and playing a critical role in the win. Sunday’s victory against the Raiders *cough cough* and the officiating, was another example of the beautiful complimentary football being played.

​My early season MVP? Xavien Howard; once again made game-changing play after game-changing play. The prized offseason addition, sans Sitton, who continues to impress? Albert Wilson; the ultimate elusive and multi-faceted weapon hand-chosen by Adam Gase. And many more influential players, who together have created a winning first quarter of the season; all doing it with the largest smiles behind a Dolphins facemask that I can remember since the 2008 team and Ronnie Brown.

It also helps when your Quarterback is Top 5 in the NFL in the following, as of Tuesday morning: Passer Rating (4th), Touchdown % (3rd), Yard per Attempt (3rd), Completion % (4th).
 
With that being said, let’s jump into our weekly review of the man behind center!

1. Missed Opportunities

Tannehill will be the first to tell you that there have been too many points left on the field, in each of the last two games (at NJY and vs OAK). This is not to say that we expect him to be perfect, robotic, or Dan Marino (secret: even Marino wasn’t perfect); but that when critical plays are made available, good teams take advantage. If I am being entirely fair, he did take advantage previously in the game—and that will be shown later on—but the miss seen above is critical.
 
Obviously, the issue is that you miss a touchdown and points are taken off the board, but the dynamics of the game were much more crucial than they were at face value. This is around the period of the game where one was beginning to truly question the officiating (which if you follow me on Twitter, you know how I feel about).

It’s also after a big defensive stop, and two beautiful throws and catches. My point? It’s in a point of the game where Miami was rolling in momentum, and where the officials (whether due to competency or conspiracy) were doing their best to stifle that momentum. You hit on that pass? This game is much more relaxed.
 
Instead, he misfired, and the following happens: Tannehill throws to Wilson for a first down which gets called back on an imaginary offensive penalty, Tannehill throws for another first down…which gets called back on an imaginary penalty, and then Tannehill gets sacked on a beautiful effort play by Oakland’s Clinton McDonald, which results in Miami punting.
 
That misfire—and again, no one is perfect—did not just cost the team at most 7, but at the least 3 points. I’ll say this again, that drive’s failure was not on Tannehill, it was squarely on the officiating (I was surprised to see even the broadcasters defend the Dolphins), but Tannehill had the chance to avoid all of it; instead, the incompletion resulted in leaving the door open and the officiating closing it directly in his face.

2. Slow Starts

​It may be a bit unjust to place this solely on the quarterback, so please know that this is not the case, but this offense and the signal caller need to get off to better starts. It’s simply the truth, and it is not something that we can ignore if we want to begin discussing playoff possibility; which although early to do so, it should be noted that 3-0 records are highly indicative of a playoff team. Nonetheless, the team needs to be better in the first quarter.
 
Three drives in the 1st quarter, resulted in three punts by Haack. Listen, I really appreciate Haack, I think he’s clearly progressed over the last year, and could be a good thing for us moving forward; but I am DONE with seeing him in the 1st quarter.

I mentioned that this isn’t solely on Tannehill, and I stand by that. It would be hard to blame him when he finished the quarter as the lead rusher for Miami, and was responsible for our only first downs. Nonetheless, he’s the signal caller for a reason, and if what Gase is calling isn’t working, then I respect Tannehill’s ability and football IQ enough to expect him to adjust at the line.

3. Nothing

I have nothing for you. I typically try to put forth three points where I need to see improvement, but I don’t have a third for yesterday’s game. I’m sure there will be some Tannehill Contrarians out there that will be upset by this, but QB1 played well; and I won’t force the issue if I don’t have to.
 
So with that being said, let’s look at some of that “good.”

1. Footwork, Mechanics, and Pocket Presence

Nothing will ever be more important for me when assessing how Tannehill performed than looking at these three pillars of quarterback play. This week, in particular, was important for him, as we saw a decrease in his mechanical tendencies versus the Jets.
 
Nonetheless, I’m happy to report that there is no doubt that week was an outlier, and not a constant. Against Oakland he was back to being himself. Play after play resulted in him standing tall in the pocket, feet planted toward targets, and evading when needed and able (the “able” is important, because not every sack is on the quarterback). 

Whether pressure was in his face, as we saw with the first down scramble, or whether the pocket was clean, as in the Parker 36-yard play, Tannehill was cool and collected. This is different than what we saw against the Jets. This ball placement, and excellent in-stride throw doesn’t occur if Tannehill’s mechanics were where they were against New York. As for a combination of pressure, cool and collected, and a perfect dime in-stride, look no further than the first touchdown of the game.
 
My goodness…how could you not see the talent in this quarterback? 

2. Comeback Moments

An interesting thing happened on Sunday when the team was down 7-0, and then again with the deficit at 17-7. Ryan Tannehill decided that he was going to put the offense on his shoulders and score touchdowns. On both occasions, the Miami Dolphins roared down the field and scored critical scores to either tie the game, or make it competitive. This wasn’t done with the run, because the run was absent.

And let me tell you, if the fan sitting next to me yelling “we can’t run, throw the ball” knew the run was absent, then so did Gruden and that Raiders defense. The Oakland defense morphed into a unit built to stop the pass, and yet, Tannehill still led two drives to make sure the comeback was possible.
 
Tannehill Contrarians will deflect praise from the third touchdown because it was a gimmick pass (even though Mahomes is winning an MVP off of that in Kansas City), but what you should not allow them to do is deflect his two comeback drives.

Newsflash: that game icing touchdown never occurs without Tannehill and the offense mounting two comeback drives prior, so let’s give credit where credit is due. Both while being down by a touchdown or more.

3. I will repeat this one until fans finally accept it: The Leader is Back!

Again, we saw a team of players that love playing with each other and for each other. Although many would like to imagine Tannehill is not a part of that, this last game proved he is. With every celebration, the team was making it a point that everyone looking would no longer question what their captain means to them.
 
This is rooted in a local media member asking why Tannehill was not a part of the famous TD photo in New York; even though it was later shown that the full photo did include Tannehill. Well, this week there was no question. Each touchdown involved Tannehill running down the field, Gesicki once and Stills another time yelling at him to “hurry hurry” so that he would get in the photo.
 
In a league where there are many quarterbacks that choose to solely shine in the spotlight, or go straight to the sidelines, or take all the love for themselves, Tannehill and his teammates are making it all about unity and the team. Seems like there may be something to this “Gase culture” after all, and there’s no doubt that the captain has a lot to do with that! ​

Stats:
 
155.3 Quarterback Rating
​17 for 23 on pass attempts
73.9% Completion
3 Touchdowns
0 Interceptions
315 Total Yards
12.57 Yards per attempt
 
Overall Quarterback Grade: B+/A-

This story was written by Daniel Martinez. Follow him on Twitter: @all_right_Miami

By now most fans of the Miami Dolphins have seen the clip. You know the one, where wide receivers Albert Wilson and Jakeem Grant slap high fives as Wilson is sprinting to the endzone for the touchdown that cemented the game against the Oakland Raiders.

Two guys romping towards the endzone, smiling, confident, happy. Two guys just doing the jobs they are given, and executing them well.

Winning makes lots of people happy.

But in the midst of the Dolphins 3-0 start, has the team come across something that’s been eluding them for oh-so-many years? It seems forever since you could think of the Dolphins and find something that identifies them. And maybe, just maybe, three games into the season, we have that.

Smart. Resilient. Cohesive.

Oh, and Fast. And Fun.

"We're just having fun,” said Wilson about the high five with Grant. “That's all we're worried about right now, just pretty much doing our assignments, and having fun doing it." 

"It's great,” he adds. “We all buy in to the same exact goal. We're just trying to get better each week. We're trying to push each other to do things we haven't done before. A bunch of guys that are not the top guys in the league, we go out there with each other and just try to play the best football we can."

​Quarterback Ryan Tannehill reiterates the togetherness and how teammates are pushing each other to be the best they can be.

"I believe we're on the right track,” Tannehill said. “The patterns that we have established so far, the way we work in practice, the way we support each other and stick together through adversity, we're on the right track. Are we there yet? No. But the patterns we're establishing are going to take us there. We just have to stay the course, keep working, and take it one game at a time."

"I think we have a good idea what kind of team we have as far as the character and the effort and just the want-to-be-there for each other,” agrees head coach Adam Gase. “The accountability for each other is awesome to see. That locker room is tight and those guys want to win for each other, and they want to make sure that they do whatever they have to do to get ready, then play four quarters, no matter what the score is, and just keep battling."

That accountability is refreshing. Gase insists that was there before, but there is a marked improvement in this year’s locker room. The egos are gone, and players support each other, push each other, and revel in each other’s successes.

"I think we had confident guys to begin with,” says Gase. “It's been fun to watch those guys grow together. The new guys we brought in that jumped right in, believed in what we were saying, and have really taken to it with what we're trying to do in all three phases. They've been great additions. I think the guys that have already been here, they've accepted those guys in, and it's helped us. It's helped us all."

It’s especially helping the team deal with adversity, something the Dolphins have dealt with far more than most in the past year.

"I think we're running into our fair share of adversity in certain moments," Gase continues. "Some of the things we went through last year were a little different. Now we're talking about game adversity this year compared to last year where it was organization-wide where we're picking up, we're moving, we're going all over the world it seemed like. This year, it's more of us handling injuries, us being able to handle little odd situations in a game, or ups and downs of a game. I think the guys have done a good job of handling anything that's just been outside the box. Really, that's a testament to those guys of staying focused on what we're asking them to do."

That adversity was evident in Sunday’s game, when the team started off slow, fell behind, and had to battle to get back into the game. While last year’s team might not have come back, this year’s Dolphins have a different mindset.

"I think that's the game of football,” says Tannehill.  “Sometimes it's not going to be pretty, but you have to have the grit and the togetherness to be able to stick it through and find a way to win. I'm proud of this team in the way we did that. Defense had a couple big stops for us down in the red zone, stopping them on fourth down. And on offense we just kept battling. It wasn't pretty, but our guys hung together, we made some big plays when it mattered, and we found a way to come out on top."

But this isn’t a team that will rest on its laurels either, as every player strives to improve and find ways to help the team win. No being satisfied with the status quo is a given in successful locker rooms, and this team is showing that they aren’t where they’d like to be yet.

"Not even close," said Gase. “There's a lot to fix. That's how it is in the NFL. You just need to try to get better every week. You try to avoid peaks and valleys where one week you're really good and the next week you're really poor. We need to trend upward. We have to find a way to get better this week in practice and for this game. We have a lot of things to fix and I think our players know that. The result may not be exactly what you want all the time, but as long as you're getting better every week, that gives you a chance at the end of the season. That's what we need to strive for."

Coming back from adversity is nothing new for All Pro defensive end Cameron Wake, and he recognizes the changes in this year’s team too.

"I hope it's something that builds confidence in the guys,” Wake says. “If you look at our team the way it's built and games like the first home game, the longest game in history, and games like the past game where it could have gone either way and we had to fight and scratch and claw and do whatever it took to get that W. I mean it builds character, regardless of what else goes on.

“It wasn't pretty but whatever it took to win, guys did it. And 3-0 feels good. It definitely feels good, but at the same time, you've got to wipe the slate clean. Enjoy it for the next 24 hours or so, pat yourself on the back. And then get in there tomorrow and fix the things that we didn't do so well; erase the board and let's move on.

“We've got to be 1-0 after next week.”

​This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter: @EJFootball

Comeback kids. That is a great way to describe the Miami Dolphins in Sunday’s 28-20 victory versus the Oakland Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium. It is the second time this season Miami has erased an early deficit, the first being Tennessee.

With the Detroit Lions pulling off an upset performance, 26-10, versus New England, Miami now extends their AFC East Division lead to two games. Miami, along with the Kansas City Chiefs, remain the only two unbeaten AFC teams (3-0). Here are five things we learned in Sunday’s hot, epic contest:

Victory sometimes comes with a steep cost.

The Miami Dolphins learned that the injury to key defensive lineman William Hayes will keep him out for the rest of the season, as head coach Adam Gase announced that Hayes suffered a torn ACL on a second-quarter sack of Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.

Hayes immediately grabbed his right knee and rolled in the endzone after the sack, in which he landed awkwardly on top of Carr. Gase referenced the new NFL rule on quarterback hits in his comments, saying, “He was trying to not put his body weight on the quarterback, and that happened."

​"It hurts," Gase said on Monday. "That's going to be a tough one for us to swallow."

Hayes, 33, has been a key player in the Dolphins defensive line rotation when healthy, and his ability to set the edge and stop the run is crucial. He currently leads the team with two sacks.

Losing Hayes leaves a large void on the defensive line, as he rotated along the entire line, playing both interior and outside positions. The Dolphins fought through the loss Sunday, but will likely look to bring in a free agent to buffer the position. One option could be Kendall Langford, who spent all of camp with the team before being released September 1.

​This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter: @EJFootball

In a game where the Miami Dolphins were outgained in almost every statistical category except the final score, there had to be some unsung heroes. And while every fan's new favorite players, wide receivers Jakeem Grant and Albert Wilson certainly did their parts, some hard-fought battles in the trenches may have impacted the outcome just as much.

And they did it while shorthanded.

When defensive lineman William Hayes went down clutching his right knee after a sack on Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr - which resulted in a torn ACL - he left a large void on the defensive line, as Hayes plays both the interior and outside positions on the line. In his absence, Vincent Taylor and Jordan Phillips found themselves on the field a lot more than usual, and Charles Harris logged additional snaps at the defensive end slot.

And when the Raiders later put together two drives that averaged more than nine minutes each (8:37 and 9:44), those big guys in the trenches were getting pretty tired, especially on a scorching hot field that was close to 100 degrees with the heat index.

"Well, welcome to South Florida,” says defensive end Cameron Wake. “That's part of the business. In this game that we love, injuries are a big part of it. It's not if it's going to happen, it's when it's going to happen. I think you've got to take your hat off to the guys, the way we train out there in the heat day-in and day-out, when it's not so much fun; but those are the times that it pays off. I think, we all spoke about it, if we hadn't gone through some of the things we went through over the course of camp, OTAs, those long days, hot, struggling through it, maybe we wouldn't have had the tolerance to fight through a game like today.”

All offseason, we had heard that the Miami Dolphins have a whole slew of plays on offense that no one had any idea about, we were treated to an incredibly vanilla offense in the preseason that featured very little - if any at all - creativity on the part of the coaching staff.

The fan base tense, with their patience being tested as the play calling continued to be reminiscent of the same old, boring offense that barely got anywhere, they were treated to a show on Sunday as the Dolphins opened up the playbook and unleashed plays that have never been seen before.

By those outside looking in, at least.

“Well, we have seen then already." Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake said after the game. "So it was a surprise to you guys but we have been seeing them all week. But it’s another one of those things where it’s a little bit leery as far as what’s going to happen, especially having seen them already. I don’t know if they worked perfectly but they worked and it’s definitely a lot of fun watching guys run down the sideline untouched, high-fiving and going in the end zone and scoring. That was a treat for sure.”

​Part of the appeal of hiring Adam Gase as a head coach in the first place was because of his supposedly brilliant offensive mind, which is why frustration builds when so many times there seems to be this determination to throw short passes and non-working bubble screens - on third and long no less.

And then out of nowhere, Gase throws this gem onto the field? Whether you want to call it the 'Miami Special' or some strange mutated variation of the wildcat, one thing was for sure, the Raiders weren't ready for it in the slightest.

"I mean it’s one of those plays that we … It’s plays off plays." head coach Adam Gase said. "We have run similar plays to it and it’s just one of those things where you just don’t think that’s going to come. I’m glad it worked and it was good timing. I thought those two guys made a really good execution of the play."

Gase admitted that this play in particular was an old play that his mentor Mike Martz used to run, and speculated that no one saw it coming because no one watches film on what Martz did all the way back in the early 2000s.

"We’ve got all kinds of stuff of his and we kind of talked about some stuff when he was here and what we could do because we were really trying to expand Albert (Wilson) and Jakeem (Grant)’s packages and just keep growing them." Gase said. "We’ve got guys that can do a lot of different things. They can throw it, they can run it, they can … We have done a couple of things already this year that really has worked to our benefit."

Besides that, however, Gase was not exactly forthcoming with information regarding his plans for the future. Has that particular play worked in practice before?

"Yeah."

​Did it work every time?

"Mhm."​

How many more of those plays are in the playbook that haven't been put on display yet?

"A lot."

Such scintillating repartee.

But, it goes with the Adam Gase M.O. when it comes to matters like this. Gase refused to admit to anyone what type of plans he had for tight end Mike Gesicki in the preseason, and we have yet to really see him be put into a situation to make a lot of plays, aside from a simple reception here and there.

Gase told veteran running back Frank Gore that he had big plans for him this season, and besides just running the ball and passing Curtis Martin on the all-time rushing leaders list, Gore has been fairly routine as well.

So what is he hiding? What else has Gase concocted in that creatively brilliant mind of his? Is all the frustration that he puts the fan base through with simple screens and short passes all just part of a larger, master plan that we cannot comprehend without being behind the scenes?

We can definitely come to one conclusion: that these mystery plays have a lot to do with the skillsets that wide receivers Jakeem Grant and Albert Wilson offer on the football field.

“Every practice man." Grant said. "Every practice we had, me and Albert were practicing and you know it was just like that chemistry. I knew that it was going to be a touchdown and all he told me was, 'Make sure you score and if you get tackled by one man in the open field, you owe me $100.' And now he owes me $100 for scoring because that’s what we do.”

“It’s something we’ve been working on." Wilson added. "I’m ready for everything he called; every play, every run play, every pass play, every throwing play. Whatever he has for me, I’m ready for it.”

Bottom line, the Dolphins are 3-0 and still - apparently - have plenty up their sleeves as they prepare to face the struggling New England Patriots (1-2) up in Foxborough, where Miami hasn't won since 2008. With the way things are going, that just might change next Sunday.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

Patrick Peterson, Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, Richard Sherman.

Xavien Howard?

The Miami Dolphins may have just added one of their players to the ranks of some of the greatest cornerbacks in the NFL, as third-year player Xavien Howard has seemingly emerged as one of the league's elite corners, totaling three interceptions in just the first three games alone, and handcuffing one of the league's best young wide receivers in Amari Cooper, limiting him to only two catches for 17 yards.

"He looks like the guy we have been seeing since training camp, so I think he’s just trying to figure out a way to get better every day. He’s done it." head coach Adam Gase said after the game. "He’s practiced well and we’re starting to see that translate to the game."

But it's not just the turnovers themselves that have made Howard's presence be felt, two of his three interceptions this season have been in the endzone, saving the team from giving up six points in the most crucial moments. This one came as the Raiders were driving down the field while trailing by four points. Carr was hit by All-Pro pass rusher Cameron Wake, and Howard got into position against WR Martavis Bryant and pulled down the ball in the back of the endzone to give Miami back possession.

"We have a thing. The left side corner’s best friend is a pass rusher." said Wake. "A pass rusher’s best friend is a corner. So I think that he understands that. He made good plays today. Some of the guys up front are doing their best to try to get pressure on the quarterback to maybe throw an errant pass and he picked it off. He did his job and vice versa. The quarterback tried to make that read, he doesn’t have time, we get a sack. So playing hand in hand, I mean, obviously, nothing to take away from him; but I think working together creates plays for everybody all over the field."

It won't be long before people start taking notice of Howard's ability on the field, especially if he continues this performance when the Dolphins travel to Foxborough next week to face off against the Patriots. But if the man who's fan-given nickname is 'X' is only just now starting to catch the attention of the world, then it means that it hasn't been paying attention to his teammates for a while now.

"He's been a ballhawk, man. He's been a ballhawk, he's feeling comfortable on defense." cornerback Bobby McCain said to the Sun Sentinel through a busted lip after the game. "He’s one of the best corners in the league to be honest with you, one of the best corners in the league, and I believe that, and we believe that ... We been telling people that. We been telling people that for a year. Now they know. He locked down Amari. The league knows now.”

It will be some time before we know if opposing quarterbacks have learned to not challenge Howard anymore; as an unfortunate and undeserved result of being part of the Miami Dolphins, Howard has been slept on due to the national indifference towards his team. But until then, he's determined to keep making plays and keep making them pay for throwing the ball his way, and he'll keep being the 'X-Factor' that helps lead his team to victory om Sundays.

“That was a game changer. That meant everything." Howard said. "I think we took the soul out of them when I caught that interception. Our offense got on the field and attacked and scored. That’s what it was all about.”

It's only a matter of time before Howard's name is listed among the best in the league. It just may take a few more games like the one he's had these past two weeks, and he's more than ready.

"I've been hearing that all week ... I just gotta make 'em pay when they try me."

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

The Miami Dolphins have gotten off to a 3-0 start for the first time since the days of Joe Philbin, and they did it in stunning fashion, putting up 14 points in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach for the now 0-3 - Jon Gruden led - Oakland Raiders.

​Cornerback Xavien Howard came up with two big interceptions in crucial moments, which gave the exhausted Dolphins defense some much-needed bailouts and allowed for the struggling offense to get their act together and score four total touchdowns, three of which were credited to Ryan Tannehill, who finished the game 17 for 23, with 289 yards passing, as well as tacking on 3 carries for 26 yards, leading the team in rushing that day.

But the true heroes on offense were wide receivers Albert Wilson and Jakeem Grant. Grant scored two touchdowns on offense, one via a shovel pass in the backfield where he outran the defense, and one a crazy trick play that had Albert Wilson throw a touchdown to him after he was given the ball by Frank Gore.

​This comes as a testament to the team's enduring resolve, as the team had lost LB Chase Allen, DEs Andre Branch and William Hayes, and safety Reshad Jones (before the game) to injury, and then DT Akeem Spence was ejected for ripping a Raiders player's helmet off and taking a swing at another player with it.

Questionable calls also plagued the team, as two would-be first downs were called back by the referees near the end of the first half as they were threatening to score.

Nevertheless, they came away with the victory as the Raiders finally wore down and started making mistakes that the Dolphins were able to take advantage of. This is the M.O. for the Adam Gase-led Dolphins since 2016, and now they will go into New England with a 3-0 record, aiming to take down the Patriots on their home turf for the first time since 2008. 

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

​I know your story. You are like many other South Floridians who watched the Miami Dolphins teams excel in the 1970’s and then watched in amazement during the Dan Marino decade. You stuck with the team through multiple quarterback changes and coaching changes and GM changes.

But then, one losing season turned into multiple losing seasons and as the seasons came and went, you watched less games (although you always kept up with the team wins and losses) hoping that eventually the Dolphins would turn things around. You joined in the excitement of the 2016 playoff berth, but fell deeper in Dolphins depression after the following year was another lost season.
 
I get it. It’s hard to believe in the 2018 Miami Dolphins, especially after the last 15 years of poor player development, subpar coaching, and overall lackluster performance by the Fins. And, if you only pay attention to the national media, you’d only read about how this season’s Dolphins got rid of all their talent and won’t win many games.
 
I’m here to tell you that this team, the 2018 Miami Dolphins, is a team to believe in. After starting the 2018 season 2-0, it’s easy to see the encouraging signs as to why you should take the leap back into the Fins Finatic crowd that you were a member of in the past.
 
First, you don’t have to look much farther then the young talent that has been added to the Dolphins roster over the past few years. Many of the players are 25 years old or younger, such as players like Jakeem Grant, Laremy Tunsil, Xavien Howard, Bobby McCain, drafted rookies and many other players on the 53 man roster.

During the “losing” years, the Dolphins organization spent more time and money on bringing in expensive free agents who were originally coached up by other teams instead of focusing on the young talent on their team. It's clear that the philosophy is changing for the Dolphins organization and they are doing a much better job of developing their own drafted talent.
 
Second, there HAS been addition by subtraction. Many national media outlets claimed that the reason the Miami Dolphins would be so horrible during the 2018 season was due to the fact that Mike Pouncey, Jarvis Landry, and Ndamukong Suh were no longer on the roster. But, it is clear by the play of the team the first two games of the season that the team is seeing all around improvements.

By trading Landry, the offense now appears to be wide open for any receiver to make plays (and there have been less personal foul penalties).

By releasing Suh, the team has allowed other defensive players to step into the nose tackle role, and to date, the Dolphins defense has appeared to be the strongest, toughest, stingiest and hardest hitting defense in years.

And by releasing Pouncey, the team found another player who had a track record of staying consistently healthy.  Ultimately, each NFL team has 53 men on their game day roster, and they each are talented men. So, although a few talented guys left, they were replaced with other talented players.
 
Lastly, Adam Gase is the right man for the job.  During his first season with the team, coach Gase showed a swagger that the Dolphins organization had not seen for many years. His decision to release multiple players, including starters, during his inaugural season has set the tone for his coaching tenure. He carries the no-nonsense attitude with the motivational/encouraging coaching style.

He has now been with the team for three drafts, and surprising to some, many of the players from those drafts are still members of this Dolphins team. What is most impressive about coach Gase is his ability make the “unpopular” decisions. Many coaches would hold onto players, regardless of their price tag or their on-the-field production, because it would be the popular decision for the franchise. But, coach Gase has had a plan since the first day he took the head coaching job, and his vision is now coming into view.
 
Ultimately, you, the beaten down Fins Fan, have seen it all before. You’ve built a love for the team early on in seasons only to get your hopes smashed by losing records. But, this time it's different. This time, the national media guys have it all wrong. This time, the Dolphins have a group of young, talented players who can bring a winning season to Miami, not just this season, but for seasons to come.

This time, the Dolphins have a group of young players that all seem to contribute, even if they are not yet household names. And, this time, coach Gase has built his team with all of the guys he wants.
 
Let me be the first to tell you that It’s okay to believe in these 2018 Miami Dolphins. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enjoy the ride.
​
This story was written by Ian Berger. Follow him on Twitter: @ian693

Miami (2-0), coming off a 20-12 victory against a feisty New York Jets squad, will look to open the season 3-0 for the first time under Head Coach Adam Gase. Oakland (0-2), on the flip side, will seek their first victory under new (old) coach Jon Gruden. The Raiders dropped a heartbreaker, 20-19, at the hands of Denver last Sunday.

Miami and Oakland met last season on Sunday Night Football, with the Raiders escaping Hard Rock Stadium, 27-24. Oakland leads the all-time series, 20-17-1.

DATE: Sunday, September 23
TIME: 1:00 p.m. ET
SITE: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
TV: CBS
LINE: MIA -3, O/U: 44.5
RADIO: Dolphins Radio Network, KISS 99.9 FM, 560 WQAM, 1210 WNMA (Spanish)
Radio Announcers: English broadcast- Jimmy Cefalo, Bob Griese, Joe Rose, Kim Bokamper; Spanish broadcast- Raul Striker Jr., Eduardo Martell

The Miami Dolphins have partnered with the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) on RISE to Vote and will hold a registration station at the September 23rd home game against the Oakland Raiders.

RISE to Vote is a nonpartisan effort to register athletes and their fans to vote. Fans attending this game may stop by the North Plaza at Hard Rock Stadium and register to vote, take a photo to share, and help yourself and others become informed and engaged citizens.

Many NFL players never register to vote, as they usually spend their careers away from their home state. Trades and free agent moves can leave voter registration on the back-burner for most players during their NFL careers.

The Dolphins held a similar team registration event last year, becoming the first NFL team to have 100% of its players registered to vote. Rise to Vote is a not-partisan registration effort. The idea is to get athletes and fans alike to register, and to encourage them to get out and vote in their local and national elections.

The RISE Initiative In Sports isn’t just limited to the Miami Dolphins. They work with all major sports, plus colleges and universities across the United States.

RISE isn’t limited to just registration. It’s mission includes finding a balance of equality in sports and in communities, to bring people together from all backgrounds, and to promote understanding, respect and equality. Using public campaigns and educational directives, RISE works to improve race relations.

If you will be attending the game this week, be sure and visit the North Plaza and look for the RISE event.

This article was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter @EJFootball.
​

When the Miami Dolphins took the field for their opening game against the Tennessee Titans, wide receiver DeVante Parker was in street clothes, one of six players declared inactive for the game. While that was expected, because of a broken finger that wasn’t quite fully healed, Parker was again declared inactive in Week 2 for the game against the New York Jets.

Parker felt he was ready to play in that game, after practicing without limits on both Thursday and Friday prior to the game. He wore padding and a protective glove over his hand to protect the finger, and he told reporters he expected to play on Sunday.

But that didn’t happen.

“We weren't really sure how it was going to go when we started the week,” said head coach Adam Gase. “Once we got into actual contact periods … he had a defender hitting down on his arms and possibly his hand. So we kind of took that slow. By the end of the week, he did a good job. He did everything we asked him to do.”

“I’m just ready to get back out there with my teammates and get going again,” said Parker after Thursday’s practice. So it looked like there would be a green light on Parker’s availability for the game.

But then Gase changed his mind.

“It looked like everything was going smooth, but there's a lot of moving parts to this thing. I explained that to him. It's a time thing with him as far as being healed and closer to 100 percent, so one more week wasn't going to be a bad thing. I explained that to him the night before."

After the game, as Parker sat at his locker next to fellow wide receiver and game hero Albert Wilson, Parker was somewhat less-than-enthused when asked if he was okay with being inactive for the game.

“Of course not,” he snapped back when asked.

Parker has now missed eight games in his short career due to a variety of injuries, and while the team has had decent success without him, Gase and others have mentioned that Parker brings something that the other receivers don’t have, mainly height, as at 6-foot-3, Parker towers over the other guys in the receiver room, who average 5’-9”.

Wilson, for one, thinks Parker can help.

"Once we get him back, we're just going to take it to another notch, said Wilson. “DeVante’s a great receiver. He has a lot of size, a lot of talent. He catches the ball really well, he's able to go get those tough catches. When he gets back, we'll be able to use him very well."

But Gase was cryptic in his response to a question about whether there was concern for Parker re-injuring the finger if he’d been allowed to play.

"No,” he said, “but he's going to be stronger this week than he was last.”

And so we'll all have to wait one more week to see if and when Parker returns to the field. 

This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter: @EJFootball

In the Miami Dolphins 20-12 win over the New York Jets last Sunday, something that most fans rarely pay much attention to that made a big difference in coming away with a road victory.

Enter the punter.

Yep, that guy that most fans can’t name, the guy that does his job in perpetual anonymity and rarely makes any highlight reels unless it’s as the last-gasp attempted tackle on an opponent’s touchdown return.

The Dolphins punter is Matt Haack. He writes, bats, and throws with his right hand, but kicks left-footed. He’s one-eighth Brazilian and holds official citizenship in that country.

And on Sunday he had a very noteworthy game, punting six times, and placing five of those kicks inside the Jets 20 yard line, forcing the Jets rookie quarterback, some guy with weird hair, to attempt drives of over 80 yards almost every time he ran onto the field, something that head coach Adam Gase was pretty happy about.

“That was a big point for us this week, flipping the field,” said Gase. "(Matt’s) a big part of that. He's done an outstanding job. What did he have, six punts and five were inside the 20? That's phenomenal. To make a rookie quarterback drive 80-plus yards every time in his second NFL game, that's what you want to do.”

“I was happy with the game,” said Haack. “Altogether, it was a big win coming out of New York like that. The offense was moving the ball well. I felt like the whole game I was just in a rhythm, in a flow. Once one punt started going, it led to the next one, the next one, and the next one. We had great coverage on the field, great snaps form John (Denney), good protection, and I think all the way around the special teams was solid."

While a punter’s job might not seem like much (run on field, kick ball, fall down if returner comes within 12 yards, jog to bench), they actually do work on their craft.  

"My kicking schedule is that I kick Wednesday and Thursday,” says Haack, droning on like the world really is interested in knowing the ins and outs of the ever-so-refined craft of pigskin projectiling. “That's when we do our punt team reps. I like to kick in team rather than on my own, just to get the tempo and rhythm and stuff. I would say the rhythm’s got to be there Wednesday. It's got to be there the whole week. That's my job, so if it's not there, then there's something I've got to fix."

Intricacies within the complex world of punting include the ability to make the ball bounce forward, backward, or sideways. And the ever-eager Haack is happy to explain such things to the mere mortals among our general population, such as by pointing the tip of the ball down while kicking it, you have a better chance of having the ball take a backwards hop.

“We call that a going in punt,” says Haack.

“Or end over end,” he adds.

“Or whatever,” he finally concedes. “I usually use that between the 40s. Otherwise, if you hit a spiral, you never know, it could be a 55 or 60-yard punt that hits and rolls into the end zone. That end over end punt, there's a better chance or probability or whatever you want to call it that if the returner doesn't catch it, that it hits the ground and stops, or bounces straight up, or sideways, or something. It just gives yourself a better chance for a good ball.”

There you have it. Science. Or whatever.

And in the end, you do have to begrudgingly admit that the punter, that guy you forget about almost as soon as you learn to pronounce his name (it’s ‘Hawk’, by the way), is actually a pretty important cog in a well-oiled special teams machine.

“My job is to put the defense in great field position and win the field-position battle every game. When I get a chance to put them inside the 20 and we execute, that's a huge win for us.”

This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter: @EJFootball

Coming into Sunday, the main headline was as to whether Ryan Tannehill can overtake a New York Jets defense that has suffocated Tannehill for recent years. As the clock dwindled to zero, one word answered it all: yes.

Paced by two touchdown throws from Tannehill, a touchdown run by Kenyan Drake, and a touchdown reception by tight end A.J. Derby, the Dolphins walked out of MetLife Stadium with a sloppy, but important 20-12 division victory. Under coach Adam Gase, Miami has never began a season 2-0. Here are 10 observations learned from Sunday’s contest: