Miami Dolphins defensive recap Vs Bills week 16

Every other game the Miami Dolphins defense lets the other team comeback from a few scores down. This was a rough outing were they also had trouble in back-end coverage, something that has been good for the most part. This unit has also played better the following week so maybe this trend continues.

More from Dolphins News

• 4 offensive tackles Miami Dolphins could draft at 51
• Miami Dolphins don’t need CB help but these 5 could be available at 51
• 4 players that could replace Wilkins if Miami Dolphins don’t re-sign him
• Miami Dolphins have a starting point with Wilkins after Simmons deal
• The Miami Dolphins should not take a running back in the draft

This marks the third game a RB was allowed over 100 yards rushing (LeSean McCoy 128 yards) going back to DeMarco Murray with 121 yards in week 5 and LeGarrette Blount with 123 yards in week 2. Back then Cameron Wake was being limited with a notion that he was lacking in running situations interestingly enough.

The defense was doing their part in the first half holding the Bills to one TD which was a Sammy Watkins 38 yard pass. But in the second half allowed 24 points. Then in the overtime period held the Bills scoreless.

A neck injury happened to safety Isa Abdul-Quddus with 1:13 left in the third period and he may not be available to play in the next game Vs the Pats. He appeared to be trying to dislodge the football from Charles Clay on a passing play near the end zone Clay ended up scoring on. But Quddus ended up somehow taking the worst of it as Clay had lowered his shoulder.

Quddus had been playing well throughout the season but his departure from this game late in the third does not seem to be a factor of the bad play this unit displayed in the second half. He had 2 solo tackles in about 3 quarters of play. One silver lining in the 2nd half was red zone defense holding the Bills to just a FG on a drive, along with some close play coverage that might have been called penalties defending some passes in the end zone.

So what was the negative swing from the first half to the second? It is hard to tell from re watching the game. It looks like there was better coverage early on, Tony Lippett had a few nice pass break ups along the sidelines and the run defense had some stops closer to the line of scrimmage, even behind it at times.

The passing pressure looked about the same and there was 2 sacks this game from Jason Jones and Cameron Wake. Sometimes when pressure was coming Tyrod Taylor would roll out away from it passing downfield. Other times when the defense stayed back Taylor would run for a first down.

Dan Carpenter missed a 46 yard FG attempt as the 1st quarter was ending. To give the Bills some credit maybe they just started slow and made good half time adjustments. Or it might be due to individual defensive players missing assignments and playing with poor technique allowing a kink in the armor that the Bills took advantage of.

Xavien Howard looked to be staring down the QB staying in his zone as Sammy Watkins went by him on a 20 yard pass. That may have worked last game Vs an inexperienced QB but not in this game. Howard was jamming Watkins or at least trying to then he would camp down around ten yards down the field, Watkins would catch the ball ten yards beyond that. The safety help from Rambo would be ten yards beyond where Watkins caught the ball.

After the play there were a few quick words from Howard and Rambo. Was Howard following protocol? It looked like he should have stayed with Watkins covering him. And when Rambo would come in there were deep plays being made. This went on most of the game. Watkins finished the game with 10 targets catching 7 of them for a total of 154 yards scoring one TD, his longest pass went for 53 yards.

On the first score of the game Sammy Watkins caught a pass of 38 yards for the touchdown. Xavien Howard made a side jam move on Watkins 14 yards downfield then was flat-footed a bit and as a result not able to stay with the WR. Safety help from Michael Thomas was not the there from him having to stay back on Bills TE Nick O’Leary, it was a three WR play to that side.

There were no turnovers this game although some almost happened. Near the end of the first half Bills QB Tyrod Taylor was backup up near his own end zone and chucked a ball 40 yards downfield. It looked like safety Rambo had come up with it after the ball bounced off of Watkins from slipping to gather it in but the ball had hit the turf. Michael Thomas had also forced a fumble that was not recovered by the defense.

Cameron Wake got his sack after this play backing the Bills up, they had to punt from their own end zone.

To start the second half a balanced drive of just four minutes carved up the defense it consisted of five passes and five runs. Culminating with a LeSean McCoy 19-yard touchdown run. The Miami Dolphins had a 14 point lead before the Bills first drive that they scored on in the second half.

After the Dolphins scored again late in the 3rd quarter The Bills would answer again with a deep right throw to Sammy Watkins for 53 yards that traveled 63 yards through the air after Taylor’s drop back and plant point. Somehow safety Rambo was not deep enough even though WR Watkins had to slow down a bit to catch the ball. After Taylor runs it short to the right, the next play action play finds Charles Clay for the 18 yard touchdown pass. This was the play safety Isa Abdul-Quddus got hurt on. This drive took about two minutes and got them back down by seven.

There were only a few penalties called on the Dolphins. But one was costly as it came when the Bills were going for it on 4th down. Too many men on the field gave up a free first down. This occurred near the goal line in the red zone and might have held them scoreless on the drive if successfully stopped.

Bills QB Taylor had many keepers on the drive and he ended up with 60 yards rushing. As it turned out they did have to settle for the FG after all. Neville Hewitt had a nice tackle for a loss of 6 on an option run during the 4 extra downs granted them. Spencer Paysinger hurt his left foot breaking up an end zone pass to Charles Clay. He had his back turned from the pass and turned while jumping up and hooking the arm of Clay while defending the pass.

Dan Carpenter kicked the a 28-yard field goal for the Bills. Giving Miami the lead 28-24 with 5:51 left. After no answer from the offense the Bills got the ball with 4 minutes left to play in regulation. Spencer Paysinger returned to the game at this point.

A lot of running plays came during this Bills drive followed by a flea flicker deep bomb pass to Robert Woods 34 yards down field near the end zone. Another good goal line stand from the defense on yet more running plays giving up few yards.

Down by four points the Bills would go for it on 4th and goal with 1:25 left in regulation. Taylor hit Clay for the TD. Clay did a curl route into the end zone falling as he caught the pass. Clay was being covered by Michael Thomas who looked around as to say with body language ” where was the help from Paysinger and Rambo?” who were the two nearest teammates. Kiko Alonso looked to be out of position as there was no defenders around him when he came over late.

This put the Miami Dolphins down by three with 1:20 left and no time outs. A nice return then a nice pass got the offense to midfield. On third and ten a pass to the left side caught by Williams, he fights for more yards with 41 seconds left gaining a few yards but staying in bounds as the clock ticks down.

The field goal unit comes on as time ticks off, at 13 seconds left Bills safety Corey White starts calling time out after counting heads of his special teams unit but he is not getting in the Refs face, a Ref was five yards away from him as the play went off. Andrew Franks makes a 55-yard field goal to tie game 31-31 sending it to overtime.

Bills won the overtime coin toss and elected to receive. The opining drive takes the Bills near the red zone after a Mike Gillislee run of 35 yards putting the ball on the 30 yard line. If the Bills score a touchdown the game is over. If they kick a field goal Miami gets ball and one series.

A pass to Watkins looks to hit the ground first but is good putting Bills in the red zone. After two failed running attempts, one of which with Andre Branch hitting Bills RB Reggie Bush with initial contact back on the 30 yard line. A bad pass later and Dan Carpenter misses a 45-yard field goal. Next score wins the game.

That would not be the Miami Dolphins offense. The defense would have to have one more stop in OT. A nice punt play by the special teams unit and Bobby McCain batting the ball starts the Bills on their own 4 yard line. The Bills gain just enough yards on running plays for a first down. Clay keeps the drive alive catching a pass on 3rd and 8. A few more passes they are 3rd and 3 on their own 40 yard line. Ndamukong Suh broke up the pass attempt forcing a punt.

The offense would keep feeding the ball to Ajayi getting into field goal range and then making The 27 yard FG by Franks winning 34-31

Team Stats Bills

First Downs 30
Rush-Yds-TDs 49-272-1
Cmp-Att-Yd-TD-INT 26-39-329-3-0
Sacked-Yards 2-12
Net Pass Yards 317
Total Yards 589
Fumbles-Lost 1-0
Turnovers 0
Penalties-Yards 5-35
Third Down Conv. 8-18
Fourth Down Conv. 1-2
Time of Possession 40:33

Game notes

Cameron Wake now has more sacks (81.5) than any Dolphins player ever in their first eight seasons with the Miami Dolphins surpassing Jason Taylor.

Last words

It is a real mystery how the defense disappeared in the second half for the most part. But they showed up in the first and OT to help seal the win and that’s what matters most.