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Brock Osweiler makes case for back-up after 34-7 Dolphins win

By Brian Miller

MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 09: Brock Osweiler #8 hands the ball off to Kalen Ballage #33 of the Miami Dolphins in the second quarter during a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Hard Rock Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 09: Brock Osweiler #8 hands the ball off to Kalen Ballage #33 of the Miami Dolphins in the second quarter during a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Hard Rock Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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The Miami Dolphins won their fourth and final pre-season game 34-7 and Brock Osweiler had a lot to do with that final score.

On Thursday night the Miami Dolphins started Brock Osweiler in-game four of the teams pre-season slate. The competition between Osweiler and David Fales is going to be a close one as the team begins cutting down the roster ahead of the NFL’s deadline on Saturday.

Osweiler looked sharp in the primarily back-up’s against back-up’s game. He finished his night 16 of 25 with two touchdowns and led the Dolphins to a 21-0 first quarter. The 21 points in the first quarter is the most the Dolphins have ever scored in the first quarter of an exhibition game since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970.

Fales finished his night with 13 of 20 completions for 94 yards and an interception. The INT however was more the fault of receiver Isaiah Ford who couldn’t hold on to the otherwise perfectly thrown pass. Competition throughout camp has not gone the way the Dolphins probably expected. Neither quarterback has shown much consistency.

With cuts looming the decision on who to keep as the primary back-up is up in the air. Miami has not ruled out keeping both quarterbacks but that seems like a wasted roster spot if they do. Bryce Petty, the 4th quarterback on the unit did not see the field on Thursday night.

Like the Falcons the Dolphins rested most of their starters and the ones who did play didn’t last long. The fourth game is more or less a final evaluation of the teams deeper roster in preparation for the cuts and the start of the regular season. It has prompted many to wonder why the NFL bothers with the fourth game at all. In most cases there is little shot for a likely cut to change the mind of a coach at this late stage.

That may however have been the case with Osweiler who had his best outing by far this entire camp and pre-season. He may have tipped the scale into his favor. According to a “tweet” earlier by Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins have not contacted any other NFL teams about their quarterbacks. Earlier this week Adam Gase told the media that his back-up week one quarterback was already on the roster.

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