Miami Dolphins Sack The Oakland Raiders

While the rest of today’s AFC East teams were finding a way to lose, the Miami Dolphins buckled down and gained a much needed victory in their game against the Oakland Raiders. The win puts the Dolphins, 2-2, are tied with the Buffalo Bills for 2nd awaiting the results of Monday nights New England Patriots game. The Jets have dropped to 1-3.

Miami’s defense struggled in the teams first series when the Raiders drove 74 yards downfield to score an opening drive/game touchdown. It would be the only TD the team would score until midway through the 4th quarter. The Dolphins played a superb defensive game adding their first three interceptions of the season and scoring on a recovered errant snap by the Raiders. The stout defense came within a few yards of scoring another TD when CB Brent Grimes picked off a pass and returned it to the 4 yard line.

Will Davis, Brent Grimes, and Phillip Wheeler led the team with five tackles each and Derrick Shelby playing in place of the injured Randy Starks added two sacks to the defensive totals. Walt Aikens, Brent Grimes, and Jimmy Wilson all had interceptions while Cortland Finnegan scored the teams defensive TD.

While the defense looked better than they had all season long, it was the offense that came away more impressive.

Ryan Tannehill at one point completed 14 consecutive passes before Brandon Gibson dropped what should have been his 15th. Tannehill was 23 of 31 with one interception on a tipped ball miss by TE Dion Sims, two passing touchdowns, and five rushes for 35 yards. Tannehill was sharp, probably the best he has looked all season. The team struggled a bit midway through the 3rd quarter but they seemed to be more interested in controlling the ball than scoring.

Running back Lamar Miller continued his solid rushing with 64 yards on 12 carries. He scored two touchdowns but fumbled at the goal line for what would have been his 3rd. Brian Hartline led all receivers with six catches and 74 yards but it was Mike Wallace who got the score on only three receptions.

Miami played a well rounded game. So much so that Brandon Fields didn’t make his first punt until the 4th quarter of the game. The team will return to Miami tonight and attend team meetings on Monday before being given the rest of the week off. They will enter the bye week ahead of their meeting with the Green Bay Packers two weeks from today.

The victory was a much needed one that can only help eliminate some of the distractions the club has faced this week. It was a very solid rebound game for Tannehill but the long ball is still severely lacking as for the 2nd week in a row Tannehill did not try and complete a long pass greater than 30 yards.