In depth recap of Miami Dolphins week one victory

On top of having to play in the rain it was the lightning or the threat of it that caused two game delays lasting almost two hours for each of these teams.

Much like the Miami Dolphins game three victory over the Ravens in the preseason the Titans also had some key players not playing and some getting hurt during the course of the game making this win somewhat bittersweet and not fully tested.

With the game on Fox and my cord cutting position I had to juggle somewhat and this format will get back to how I have done most of them when the games are back on CBS.

Mia Def 1st drive:
I noticed tackling low overall on the Titans big backs like Derrick Henry who is over sized compared to most on the Dolphins defense but they were able to keep the runs in check and holding them to a 47 yard FG. Most of the yards on this drive came from a Marcus Mariota pass completed deep down the middle to Corey Davis for 17 yards, he was tackled by Xavien Howard. Bobby McCain defended Taywan Taylor in the end zone, he had the ball come loose from a tackle to ground or diving for the ball.

TEN 3 MIA 0

Mia Off 1st drive:
Frank Gore and Kenyan Drake started the game and lined up in the same backfield. This was an exciting look but with Drake’s long run of ten yards and Gore not getting a rep it didn’t pay off. A pre-snap penalty from Laremy Tunsil setting them back five yards didn’t help matters. Some short passes and Drake getting stopped short stalled this drive.

2nd Def:
Quick short passing with short runs got them to 3rd and 5 near midfield. The QB ran the ball as no one was open and picked it up. Two time outs were used on the drive. The defense still did not allow any big runs (maybe that’s what the TO’s were about) it was passing that had been the undoing on this drive. T. J. McDonald was on Luke Stocker down the left that went for 31 yards getting them into the red zone. Bobby McCain had a pass breakup on Delanie Walker in the end zone. After a failed pass to Corey Davis they went back to him on fourth down but Minkah Fitzpatrick tackled him on the two yard line, Reshad Jones had late help also.

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2nd Off:
Starting on their own 2 a Titans foul made it 1 and 5 They fouled again but it was declined as Mia. already got a 1st down on a six yard run from Drake. Danny Amendola dropped a short pass but Albert Wilson made good on a few braking a tackle and getting the first down. They dink and dunked down the field, until a big hole opened up for Frank Gore netting him a 21 yard gain. Kenny Stills got the 10 yard TD pass hitting the pylon with the ball.

TEN 3 MIA 7

https://twitter.com/MiamiDolphins/status/1038846841771589632

3rd Def:
Dion Lewis was tackled by Robert Quinn and Reshad Jones for a five yards loss then he got a 13 yards pass. A penalty on Robert Quinn got them a fist down. Lewis was stopped short as was the QB on a scramble after a failed pick route that Fitzpatrick and Howard defended. What looked like a miscommunication on a third down deep pass caused it to fail.

3rd Off:
After a poor punt they still didn’t have good field position as they didn’t most of the day. The Drake / Gore one two punch was looking good and the line was opening holes for them both even though Ja’Wuan James was called for holding. A 12 yard slant to Jakeem Grant picked up a first down. Drake had a nice 16 yard gain and Gore up the middle for eight. Albert Wilson got a 21 yard gain with extra yards breaking a tackle. This drive moved along with a good mixture of runs/passes and even a twist with a QB keeper. Danny Amendola had a pick up of 8 making it forth down and they went for it and failed on a pass to Drake on the right side on the 15 he couldn’t get both feet in bounds.

4th Def:
After a turn over on down near the end zone. The Titans ended up with a 3rd and one. Lighting strikes near the stadium (1 mile) and play was suspended nearly two hours. The 3rd and one was converted with a short run by the QB. A failed pass got them backed up half way to goal with a lineman grabbing a face mask. The Titans ran all running plays then punted with 30 seconds left in the first half.

4th ST/ Off:
Grant got the punt at the 20 he traversed field losing time on the clock and one yard on the return. The offense let the 18 seconds left run out.

2nd half:

1st off:
Three-and-out to start the second half and Tannehill took his first big hit from his long time off.

1st def:
The Titans made it to midfield after a few runs. Titans QB Marcus Mariota had his hand hurt by William Hayes after handing the ball off on a read option. Blaine Gabbert came in as Tennessee’s QB and failed to convert the short yardage third down on a pass play.

2nd off:
Three-and-out again with mostly runs.

After a two-hour delay both teams are not in a groove.

2nd def:
The Titans thew it deep with Mariota back in. It was over thrown and Reshad Jones intercepted it returning it 26 yards. Some fighting broke out after Andre Branch laid out their tackle who wasn’t looking and was a clean play but he stood over him resulting in taunting. The Titans also had taunting fouls and they were all offset but many warnings were handed out.

https://twitter.com/MiamiDolphins/status/1038890698295009281

3rd off:
With the best field position of the game a pass to Grant was fumbled ruled down then challenged. A failed pass to Amendola results in a first down after a holding call. Almost the same play works to Amendola to the 20. Mike Gesicki gets his first NFL reception inside the ten. Drake ran it to the four. Mike Gesicki got intercepted after he apparently slipped in the end zone but it could be he ran the route wrong or the pass was wrong hard to tell. Or it could be the rookie TE lost a battle one on one with a highly experienced CB in Malcolm Butler.

2nd game delay with more lightning. (close to two hours again)

3rd def:

Kiko Alonso gets an interception off a tipped pass on the first play.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1038930878926336001

4th off:
Gore ran for 4 yards. A pass to Stills for the 1st down at the 14. Time out was called after what looked like the wild cat formation with Wilson or Gore. Wilson got pushed out the side of the end zone incomplete by Malcolm Butler. Gore got to the five, but they had to kick a field goal.

TEN 3 MIA 10

4th def:
After a run Davon Godchaux was called for a foul making it the first down. Lewis had the first big run of the day for 26 yards as Xavien Howard or Jones whiffed on him. Jones tackled Lewis for a loss on the next play. Blaine Gabbert was in on this drive as Mariota was hurting. Gabbert made easy throws to get to the red zone. After an incompletion Lewis was stopped on a short gain by Vincent Taylor. A Pass to the 5 with Jones covering. Lewis ran it in for the TD.

TEN 10 MIA 10

ST:
Grant found a seam and turned on the afterburners as he gets past the kicker scoring from 101 yards on the kickoff.
TEN 10 MIA 17

https://twitter.com/MiamiDolphins/status/1038929511344009216

5th def:
After an incomplete pass Delanie Walker got one for 13 yards. He also got a holding call negating a would be Derrick Henry 61 yard TD run that got called back. The ten yard penalty also doomed this drive.

5th off:
Ryan Tannehill ran for a short pickup. Stills couldn’t bring in pass through his hands. Drake get the first down on a pass to the left. A play Action deep down field Stills brought it down and gets the TD for 75 yards.
TEN 10 MIA 24

https://twitter.com/MiamiDolphins/status/1038933395831586818

ST Ten:
Kick off returned for TD
TEN 17 MIA 24

6th off:
A long pass for Grant is incomplete. Grant caught a short pass. Tannehill ran for 1st but was called back from the Ja’Wuan James holding call. A mix up with Grant makes for an interception.

6th def:
On 3rd and 3 Lewis got the pass and makes the first down after a few short runs. Near midfield Jones got an interception his second on the day and he returned it to the 12 with 54-yards on the return.

https://twitter.com/MiamiDolphins/status/1038937129345142784

7th off:
Drake lost three yards on run. Tannehill got sacked on a loss of 8 making it 3rd and 21 from the 23, Stills got 11 yards on a pass. FG good.
TEN 17 MIA 27

7th def:
A 15 yard pass to Delanie Walker. A long pass goes incomplete. Lewis dump off pass for a three yards. On 3 and 7 an incomplete to no one, nearing 3 minutes to play and down by 10 they went for the 4th down but had to call time out. Lewis bobbled the pass, turn over on downs.

8th off:
The offense tried to run out the clock but had 4th down and punted leaving one minute seven seconds.

8th def:
A pass up the middle for 1st down, a second pass up the middle incomplete, and a third. A completed pass in the middle for 1st down followed by one more. After a too many on field called on the defense. The Titans made a long 53 yard FG with 11 seconds to play.

ST Mia:
Onside kick defended game over.
TEN 20 MIA 27

Injuries: John Denney was hurt early but healed by the time the third quarter came back after two long lightning delays. He also played his 209th consecutive game the longest in the NFL and possibly any sport.

One more special teams note: Durham Smythe the recently drafted rookie TE had to take one snap for Denney as Mike Hull was unavailable.

Players of the game: Reshad Jones with two interceptions with one returned for 54 yards. Kenny Stills with two TD’s, one for 10 and one for 75 yards.

Honorable mentions: Jakeem Grant with the kick off return TD at a clutch time but special teams also allowed one tarnishing this somewhat. Bobby McCain used to get gashed in the end zone, those plays may be behind him now. The defensive line and safeties for holding Derrick Henry in check most of the game.

Other notes: this was the longest NFL game played in history starting at 1pm and ending a little after 8 with nearly 4 hours of delay. I didn’t even get to watch any Red Zone. But it was great to watch history and the Miami Dolphins first win.

::All credit goes to the Miami Dolphins twitter account for the game highlights::

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