Miami Dolphins: 10 observations from Week 14 loss vs. Chargers

Miami Dolphins: 10 observations from Week 14 loss

6. Jaelan Phillips looked outstanding

We’ve known that Jaelan Phillips has had the raw talent and physical ability to become one of the best pass rushers in the league, and we’ve seen him be dominant at times in his nearly-two year career. But the knock on him is that he has been streaky, disappearing at times between solid performances.

But it looks as though he may be exercising those demons, as Phillips has one of the best pass rusher ratings in the league when it comes to pressures, and he had a heck of a game on Sunday against the Chargers. It was something of a homecoming for the Southern California kid, and he made crucial stops in both the passing game and running game for Miami’s defense. He finished with 6 total tackles, two of them for loss, and a sack.

7. Jason Sanders was quietly great

It will be forgotten tomorrow amidst the waterfall of negativity that will be surrounding the Miami Dolphins, but Jason Sanders nailed a big kick in the 4th quarter to keep the Dolphins’ slim chances alive.

Down 9 points and needing a field goal either way, coach Mike McDaniel trusted Sanders enough to attempt a 55-yarder, a length from which the kicker has struggled mightily as of late. But Sanders nailed it, cutting the Chargers’ lead to six with over a minute to play. He was almost the hero of the onside kick as well, but the Dolphins just barely missed out on the scramble for the ball.