The Dolphins came out and fought on Sunday. The offense was too sharp for this Raiders team in a game that was close at times but never felt in doubt. Tua played his best game of the season, and the Raiders had no answers on defense.
Brock Bowers had an absolute monster game, going for 13 receptions, 126 yards, and a touchdown. Luckily for the Dolphins, he was the only trustworthy source of offense for the Raiders, as nobody else could hurt them that badly.
It was a pretty straightforward game. The drives were long, and there was only one punt and one turnover near the end. The Dolphins improved to 4-6, while the Raiders fell to 2-8 in another disappointing season.
Offense Clicking On All Cylinders
The Dolphins offense played the game they needed to play. Except for a short drive with 45 seconds left right before halftime, they scored every time they had the ball. They managed four touchdowns and two field goals, including two scores for Jonnu Smith, who has solidified himself as a big piece for this offense.
It's back-to-back games with a touchdown for Tyreek Hill, who hadn't scored since Week 1 before these last two weeks. I thought Hill's wrist injury would allow Jaylen Waddle to get more involved, but it hasn't happened this season. Jonnu Smith out-snapped both Hill and Waddle after barely getting a look throughout the season's first few games.
The backfield now wholly belongs to De'Von Achane, who saw 17 carries compared to five for Jaylen Wright and three for Raheem Mostert. Mostert seems to be slowly being phased out. The Dolphins had more joy passing it than running it, but Achane still managed 73 yards and a touchdown.
Big Game From The Defensive Line
For the second game in a row, the defensive line stepped up. Calais Campbell continues to defy his age and played another great game. Campbell, Zach Sieler, and Emmanuel Ogbah all had sacks, and Minshew did not have much time to throw. The Dolphins now have seven sacks in their last two games.
The Raiders admittedly don't have much of a rushing offense, but the defensive line also helped to keep that in check. The Raiders rushed for only 60 yards on 16 attempts, and their leading rusher was Jakobi Meyers, who only had one carry. Both Alexander Mattison and Zamir White left the game with injuries, which forced the Raiders to rely on Ameer Abdullah, who scored a late receiving touchdown but only had one rushing yard.
Having Zach Sieler back is massive for the defense. Sieler missed two weeks after suffering a fractured orbital bone but didn't want to have surgery so he could play and help the team. He's now stated that he'll wear a visor for the rest of his career. Rookie Chop Robinson only played 43% of snaps but ended with a team-high 86.4 PFF grade.
Taking Care Of Business
Ultimately, the Dolphins had to win this game, and they did. It was an excellent game to build confidence, and the team played well, but they'll know there are much more formidable challenges to come. The fans and the team shouldn't get carried away.
With the NFL being so top-heavy this year, they're in the mix for a Wildcard spot, but it will be challenging. This Sunday is another must-win game against a lower-end team, but the Patriots have shown much more than the Raiders this season, especially since Drake Maye took over.
The Dolphins will likely have to go 5-2, at worst, across these last seven games, so winning every home game, regardless of opponent, is imperative.
Bet Recap from Preview
Dolphins -7 cashes. It's the third game in the row the Dolphins have covered. It looked a bit nervy once the Raiders made it 24-19 with four minutes to go, but their defense had no answer for the Dolphins all game, who quickly made it 31-19 and didn't look back.
Up Next: New England Patriots
The Pats come to Miami for their annual game next. The Dolphins should consider this another win, but it's a divisional game, which can always get dicey.
Final Score: Dolphins 34, Raiders 19
Souza's Three Stars
1st Star- Tua Tagovailoa (288 Passing yards, 3 TDs, 0 Turnovers, 90.8 QBR)
2nd Star- Jonnu Smith (6 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TDs)
3rd Star- Jalen Ramsey (5 tackles, 2 PDs, 1 INT)
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