Tennessee Titans defeat the Miami Dolphins 21-10

Miami Gardens, Florida– Without a number of starters sitting out on Thursday night, things couldn’t have been much worst for the Miami Dolphins in their final preseason game. Tennessee defeated the Dolphins 21-10 in both team’s final audience before the start of the regular season.

Miami’s starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill and backup Matt Moore didn’t play. Zac Dysert started under center for the Dolphins and he played the entire first half. He finished the night 10/16 for 85 yards and he threw an interception.

Dolphins head coach Adam Gase though Dysert’s performance was up and down.  

“We had a little good, Gase said. “That (interception) was bad. He has to be smarter. That ball needs to go high in the back of the end zone, and you’ll have a touchdown or an incompletion.”

Titans quarterback Alex Tanney, who started for Marcus Mariota was 17/20 for 168 yards with two interceptions.

On the first play from scrimmage, running back Jay Ajayi fumbled the ball and the Titans recovered it.

Then three plays later, Titans running back Derrick Henry scored a 1-yard touchdown untouched. The extra point then made it 7-0 Titans.

Later on in the first quarter after a turnover on downs, the Titans would then go on a seven play, 75-yard touchdown drive that ended with Antonio Andrews in the end zone.

Henry ended his night early in the first quarter after recording seven carries for 62 yards and a touchdown.

In the second quarter, an interception by Bobby McCain on Titans quarterback Alex Tanney set up a short field for the Dolphins. Two plays later, Daniel Thomas scored a 1-yard touchdown for the Dolphins first touchdown of the night to make it 14-7.

With 2:44 left in the second quarter, Andrews scored for the second time on Thursday night. This time, it was a 4-yard touchdown to make it 21-7.

All night, the Dolphins defense was nonexistent as the team gave up a total of 216 yards in the first half.

Miami’s offense also struggled to get anything going. The team scored seven points and only gained 103 yards in the first half. With the switch to quarterback Brandon Doughty, the team didn’t fare much better in the second half as he finished 8-of-12 for 98 yards.

One positive the Dolphins can take out of their last preseason game is that two of their rookies finally received playing time before the end of the preseason. Both Xavien Howard and Kenyan Drake played. Both players missed time in camp due to injuries.

Howard recorded three tackles and he was in on a number of pass defenses. Gase said he would have to go back and look at the film to evaluate Howard.

“It’s tough for me to tell from here,” Gase said. “I know he got the one throw on him, but whatever ends up happening today, we’ll look back and evaluate it. Obviously, we feel like he has been practicing well.”

Drake played a lot on Thursday night as he was a contributor on special teams and in the backfield. He finished with three carries for six yards. He also ran back two kick returns for an average 22.5 per attempt.

Miami will open up the season at the Seattle Seahawks on September 11. Tennessee will begin their season at home against the Minnesota Vikings.