The Miami Dolphins are 3-0 for the first time since 2002. The Dolphins defeated the Atlanta Falcons (27-23) in a nail biter that ended with an interception by Jimmy Wilson.
The Dolphins started off slow in the first half with Ryan Tannehill continually being hurried, sacked, and off target. In total, Tannehill was sacked 5 times for a loss of 41 yards with an interception that came in the 3rd quarter when it was crucial for him to be on target. Prior to that, at the beginning of the 3rd quarter, Tannehill fumbled the ball after being sacked by Osi Umenyiora. Miami’s offensive line seemed to struggle for a majority of the game, but in the fourth quarter, they held it together, allowing for Tannehill to stand in the pocket.
Sims scored the first touchdown of his NFL career to solidify Miami’s win in the fourth quarter. He was able to catch the ball one-handed with a defender pulling him back. Charles Clay also had a great game, showing that he can catch the ball under pressure. Clay had four receptions for 40 yards which was 16 yards shy of the team leader Brian Hartline who himself had 56 receiving yards and a TD.
Credit should also be given to Miami’s kicker Caleb Sturgis who continues to show that he is the real deal. He was 2/2 in field goal attempts, 50 yards being his longest and was 3/3 in extra point attempts. On the other hand, the Falcons’ kicker, Matt Bryant, missed a critical 35-yard field goal in the 4th quarter that could have led Atlanta to a win.
Atlanta struggled a lot with penalties during the entire game finishing with seven penalties for 59 yards as compared with the Dolphin’s two penalties for 13 yards. Miami managed to improve their red zone completion percentage, scoring 3 out of the 3 times they were in red zone territory.
The Miami Dolphins are now 3-0 tying them for first place in the AFC East with the New England Patriots. If the Dolphins continue to play with poise and intensity, they very well could win the division title. Next week they play the New Orleans Saints on Monday night football.
