The Phinsider
The Miami Dolphins entered Week 8 with a 1-6 record and a sense of doom surrounding everyone on the team. The hot seat underneath head coach Mike McDaniel had never been hotter, and the calls for a change were incessant. A team in disarray headed into Georgia to face the Atlanta Falcons.
The team that hit the field was not the same team that has played through the first seven weeks. Miami was efficient. They were effective. They were attacking. They were a complete team, making impacts on offense, defense, and special team. They leave Atlanta with their second win of the year and looking like a team who should be competing for a playoff spot.
It is probably too late for the Dolphins to actually make a run this season, but at least the team that was on the field on Sunday looked like a team that should be fun to watch the rest of the year.
Can they keep it up on Thursday when they open Week 9 against the Baltimore Ravens?
Dolphins 34 – 10 Falcons
Miami’s opening drive featured a deep pass attempt from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa toward running back De’Von Achane, but the running back was pushed out of bounds as he tried to make the reception leading to an incomplete pass. A run for one yard and a sack finished off the three-and-out possession.
That did not take long. Miami won the toss, electing to receive the opening kick, only to accomplish nothing. The sack came on a blitz with no one considering picking it up and Tagovailoa simply had to eat the ball. Tagovailoa is wearing a visor for the first time in his career as he deals with a swollen eye.
Atlanta picked up five yards on their drive on a pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins, starting in place of the injured Michael Penix, Jr., to tight end Kyle Pitts, but they also were forced to punt on a three-and-out drive.
The defense came out quickly, with linebacker Bradley Chubb making an immediate tackle on a run from Bijan Robinson on first down, then linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Jaelan Phillips combining to stop Robinson for a one-yard loss. If the defense can bottle up the Falcons’ rushing attack, they may have a chance to stay in this game.
The Dolphins’ second drive was much more effective than the previous possession, with Miami relying on the run game to attack the Falcons’ defense. Achane, rookie Ollie Gordon II, and Jaylen Wright all got involved in the ground game, with Tagovailoa throwing just four passes on the drive. Achane picked up 25 yards on the ground, while Gordon added 11 yards and Wright picked up seven yards on his first carry of the year. The drive ended with Tagovailoa throwing a pass to Achane coming out of the backfield, with the running...
