The NFL's eighth ranked rushing defense Miami Dolphins went out west on 2014's week twelve to face Peyton Manning's Denver Bronco's. Miami's defense went into the game allowing 94.4 rush yards per game as the host Bronco's offense were twenty seventh in the league with an average rushing output of 89.9 yard per game.
Miami led the entirety of the game until only 5 minutes remained as they held the NFL all time greatest quarterback to just 249 yards passing. However. Denver's third string running back C.J. Anderson tallied 167 rushing yards on 27 carries as the Bronco's galloped for 201 on 35 attempts via the hoof.
The Dolphins with five rushes for 44 yards, along with two passes to (Dion Sims & Jarvis Landry) for an additional 36 yards opened the game with an 80 yard drive. Danial Thomas' 3 yard Touchdown run just 3:38 into the first quarter put Miami ahead early 7 - 0.
Aided with a Dolphin personal foul penalty of 15 yards. Denver answered with 8 rush attempts for 26 yards of 53 total to kick a 38 yard field goal, and a 7 - 3 Bronco deficit.
After an exchange of three and outs. Miami's Lamar Miller had another two carries for 20 yards (9, 11). Ryan Tannehill had a run for 7 yards on Miami's 47 total yard series that ended with one additional rushing yard on a Tannehill Touchdown run and 14 - 3 Dolphin lead two minutes into the second quarter.
Another 32 rush yards on four attempts were accrued on Denver's following possession of 77 yards that resulted in a Peyton Manning five yard touchdown pass to the NFL elite receiver Demaryius Thomas to pull within 14 - 10. This Bronco series was also aided by a Dolphin personal foul penalty via the same culprit, though this time it was accidental.
Miami ran four times for 17 yards on their very next series. The Dolphins drove 87 yards in ten plays, and took a 21 - 10 lead with a ten yard Tannehill to Mike Wallace Touchdown.
To this point, Miami had accrued 91 rush yards on 13 attempts for the game while scoring touchdowns on three of their four possessions. However. Ju'Waun James the backup left tackle to Brandon Albert went down to injury midway through the most recent drive, he was replaced by third string left tackle Jason Fox and the Dolphins ran just 8 more times for 7 more yards over the game's remaining entirety. Miami had an eleven point lead, but no longer seemed able to, or even willing to attempt running the ball from there on out. Does Jason Fox know only of pass blocking?
Denver replied with an 80 yard series of 8 Peyton passes, and a second Manning to Thomas touchdown for a 21 - 17 halftime deficit.
The Dolphins had 91 rush yards on 13 attempts while Denver ran 14 times for 64 yards.
Lamar Miller had 52 first half rushing yards on just 6 attempts.
Tannhill had completed 11 of 14 passes for 122 yards with a Touchdown run and pass.
Manning was 15 of 19 for 147 with two Touchdown passes.
Neither quarterback had been sacked.
Each team had 13 first downs while Denver held a two and a half minute time of possession advantage, Miami was ahead 21 - 17 on the scoreboard.
The home team Bronco's rushed for 137, and Peyton Manning passed for just 102 second half yards. Miami went the shootout route in rushing for a net seven yards on just eight questionable attempts while gathering just 106 second half passing yards. Though between Miami's final first quarter series and into the Dolphins first third quarter possession, Ryan Tannehill had a streak of 12 consecutive passes completed.
Denver's opening third quarter series covered 65 yards on 13 plays in 7 minutes to Miami's 15 where the Dolphins forced a 33 yard field goal that was missed. Miami followed with an eight & out for 13 yards which included Tannehills first sacking of the day, but the Dolphins recovered the fumbled punt at the Bronco 12 yard line. Five plays later Ryan Tannehill hit Jarvis Landry for a five yard Touchdown, and Miami Dolphin 28 - 17 adoration with 2:11 remaining in the third quarter.
Nine plays, 60 yards, and 3 minutes later the Bronco's scored one minute into the fourth quarter with a third Manning to Thomas short touchdown of five yards to pull back within 3 points at 28 - 25 with a successful two point conversion.
Miami's wheels started to falter on the first play of the drive with an injury to starting corner back Jamar Taylor who was playing in place of regular starter Courtland Finnegan who is also injured. The Dolphins are suddenly extremely thin at a position of previous strength, and are now forced to play first year rookies against the one and only Peyton Manning. Overall in the passing game (yardage-wise) the substitutions weren't of much consequence (102 pass yards in the second half), though the game took a sudden turn from a defensive scheme/responsibility point of view, and Denver's running game took over for 80 fourth quarter yards.
The Dolphins get the ball and go five and out for 17 yards. Denver obliges with an 11 play, 70 yard drive that running back C.J Anderson caps off on a ten yard touchdown run and first Bronco lead of the day at 28 - 32 with 5 game minutes remaining.
Upon gaining 15 yards in two plays and a first down on Miami's next possession, a Tannehill pass grazes a Bronco defensive lineman's shoulder, bounces off the glove like palm of Jarvis Landry, is intercepted and returned 37 yards to the Miami eight yard line. Two plays later Manning hits Wes Welker for a two yard touchdown and Bronco scoreboard advantage of 28 - 39 with 3:13 remaining.
Miami takes 1:39 to cover 84 yards in 9 plays. For a second time on the day Tannehill connects on one yard with Jarvis Landry for a Touchdown to narrow the margin to 36 - 39 after a successful Dolphin two point conversion with 94 ticks of the second hand to go.
The Miami Dolphins on-side kick attempt failed, The Denver Bronco's gathered a rushing first down, and took a knee twice to end the game 36 - 39.
Ryan Tannehill was 26 of 36 for 228 passing yards with a (not of his fault) interception while accounting for four Touchdowns, three through the air and one on the ground.
Peyton Manning went 28 of 35 for 257 with four passing touchdowns.
Each team had one turnover, and both quarterbacks were sacked one time.
Jarvis Landry led Miami with 7 receptions for 50 yards with two touchdowns, and Mike Wallace had a touchdown on 4 catches for 35 yards.
Demaryius Thomas had 10 catches for 87 yards with three touchdowns while Emmanuel Sanders had 9 receptions for 129 yards for Denver.
Lamar Miller had 49 rushing yards on Miami's first three possessions, and totaled 59 for the game as the Dolphins aborted the run game upon Ju'Waun James' second quarter injury.
C.J. Andersons 167 yards on 27 attempts, and Denver's 201 rushing yards (137 in the second half) led to an 8 plus minute time of possession advantage for the home team Bronco's with 29 first downs to Miami's 25.
The Dolphins are 6 - 5, just one game behind the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th seed as of this moment with five games to go.
Thank You for an Open Minded Read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
Beat the Jets!!!
GOFINS!!!
