The Wide World of Dirt

Praise the ridiculous NFL rulebook and Patriots’ wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk’s foot for this second win of 2024.

There was less of the Tyler Terrors this week as Tyler Huntley took the week to learn how to throw past the line of scrimmage against the Pats, going 18/31 for 194 yards with no touchdowns against one interception.

Huntley’s pick came on the second drive of the game when a pass intended for the finally-healthy Odell Bechkham Jr. ended up in the clutches of Christian Gonzalez.

Jacoby Brissett led a 4-play, 43-yard drive that ended with Rhamondre Stevenson galloping through the Dolphins’ defense on a 33-yard scamper.

Our somewhat-reliable kicker Jason Saunders bailed the offense out on a long, eight-play excursion on the first possession, but his success dwindled shortly thereafter when he missed his second attempt of the day from 41 yards.

That sad ending to a promising drive gave way to one of the worst quarters of football I’ve ever seen, courtesy of both teams.

Eight (8) total possessions shared between the two teams that resulted in 40 plays that yielded zero points and just 66 yards of total offense.

In that time, Miami managed to turn the ball over twice, once via a fumble from Jake Bailey after his punt was blocked by New England’s special teams and once more on downs as Bailey aborted a field goal attempt, only to get absolutely smoked by the Pats for the second time in 20 minutes.

The only folly from New England’s end was Joey Slye missing a 33-yard field goal that would’ve put the Pats ahead by seven heading into halftime.

New England capped off a 10-play, 50-yard drive with a 38-yard boot from Slye that made it through the uprights this time, but unfortunately for them, a roughing the passer penalty propelled the Dolphins to a 32-yard field goal of their own.

A quick three-and-out from the Pats spurred another solid drive from the Miami offense, this time powered by rookie running back Jaylen Wright.

Wright made his presence felt in the absence of DeVon Achane after the latter sustained a concussion in the first quarter. The former Tennessee Volunteer carried the mail 13 times for an impressive 86 yards.

Of his 86 yards, 23 came on a critical drive for Miami where Sanders collected another three points from a 47-yard try toward the end of the third quarter.

With the score at 10-9 in favor of New England, Miami’s best players needed to rise to the occasion without their lead signal caller.

Defensive backs Jevon Holland and Jalen Ramsey forced an incompletion on third down from their own 43-yard line, forcing a punt that could put Miami on top again.

Tyreek Hill bailed the Dolphins out of a first-and-18 to open the drive with a 21-yard gain before Jonnu Smith saved the drive next with an eight-yard gain just three plays later.

Wright delivered his biggest play of the day when it mattered most. The rookie pushed through the middle of the field before getting pushed out of bounds at the New England 16-yard line, a massive pickup of 35 yards.

That is until Julian Hill was once again caught asleep at the wheel, committing a hold that pushed the team back to their own 43.

Faced with a third-and-13 on the wrong side of the 50, the Dolphins caught a break when a pass interference flag gave them an automatic first down.

Wright shook off the penalized run by delivering a 16-yard rush later on in the drive to put the Dolphins in the red zone where Wisconsin product Alec Ingold punched in a three-yard touchdown to put the Dolphins up 15-10.

A long 53-yard drive ensued where Brissett and the Pats drove down the field like many Belichick-led outfits crushed the souls and dreams of Miami fans on numerous occasions, undoubtedly drumming up hope amongst the home fans.

Thankfully, Ja’Lynn Polk took what could’ve been — maybe even should’ve been — a game-winning, 12-yard off the board with 1:08 remaining when he got both toes down inbounds…but also slammed his heel down on the white line bordering the end zone.

The soul-crushing review sucked the life from the Patriots where their next three plays went unrealized, losing the ball on downs and eventually the game.

The Dolphins endure one of their worst stretches in the Mike McDaniel era until ultimately earning a hard-fought victory over a division foe, and to top it all off, they get to ride into the bye week with the taste of victory on the tip of their tongues.

When they face the Colts, it’ll be a matter of whom they face under center: will it be “Mr. Elite” Joe Flacco or the younger hired gun, Anthony Richardson?

If the Dolphins face Richardson, it’s really anyone’s guess how that game will resolve itself, but if they face Flacco…Tua will have a lot of work to do when he returns to get this team back into title contention.

(Editor’s note: Last week, I mentioned that Tua would be available for the matchup against the Colts. Unfortunately, that was incorrect. The injury report requires players to miss four games, not just four weeks. Phillips is out for the year? Good lord.)

(Top Photo Credit: Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)