The Miami Dolphins began the 2015 season at the Washington Redskins. Over the games first twenty-eight minutes the home team scalped the (pre-season) ready Dolphins who couldn't tackle or execute a play from either side of the ball while making Washington's savages look like a well oiled playoff machine.
Miami's daunting defense were hit head-on and quite frankly getting run over time after time as the Redskins held possession of the ball for 23 of the games 30 first half minutes. The Dolphin rookie Jordan Phillips had Miami's first and only sack of the game on the home teams game opening 12 play possession of 7:21 that resulted in a Field Goal and 3 - 0 lead.
The visitors had a tough road to hoe while an opening day event is the loudest, most inspired day of the season for the home team other than in a playoff atmosphere, and Miami's opening series went three and out. After a Redskin 5 plus minute drive came to an end upon a missed field goal, Miami took the ball with 27 first quarter seconds remaining and went six and out. With 12:09 remaining in the second quarter the Dolphins made their second defensive play of the game as Brent Grimes intercepted Kirk Cousins and returned what looked to be a pik-six for two yards at the Washington 21. On the Dolphins first play Tight End Dion Sims was carted off the field with a neck and head injury after diving for an overthrown Tannehill ball in the end-zone, and Miami went four and out in attempting to gain one yard for a first down from the twelve yard line.
Washington took the ball 78 yards in the opposite direction on 17 plays in 8:49 for a touchdown and 10 - 0 lead with 1:49 first half ticks remaining. Though the previously mentioned injury to tight end Dion Sims who was just one of two active for a team that likes to run a two tight end set seemed to be a nail in the coffin, it was actually a blessing in disguise as Miami was forced to spread wide with multiple receivers for the games remainder. Note; Ryan Tannehill talked to Sims after the game and said he seems to be fine! So. Miami gets the ball with fewer than two first half minutes to go and finally finds it's MOJO with an 80 yard, 9 play, 1:22 drive for a 3 yard Tannehill TOUCHDOWN pass the Rishard Matthews, and a 10 - 7 halftime deficit.
The Dolphins took the second half kick from their own 27, and marched down to the Redskin 22 for what looked to be at least a game tying field goal before on a third and four play Tannehill was sacked and fumbled while the ball was hot-potatoed threw the grasp of many all the way back to the Miami 40 where Washington recovered. Fortunately, Miami's defense came to play in the second half as Washington executed a run of negative two yards, and two passes for zero yards as the Dolphins (other than on the series of the Grimes interception) forced just their second three and out.
Two more scoreless Miami series, and a Washington possession ended the third quarter. The Dolphins second series began with 1:34 to go while continuing into the fourth quarter as Miami drove from their own 20 on ten plays in 5:13 to the home teams 4 when on fourth and four the Dolphins rookie Andrew Franks kicked the game tying 10 - 10 FIELD GOAL.
2015's first fourth quarter has arrived as has finally the Dolphins Defense and Special Teams. The Defense forces it's third three and out of the game, this time for minus five yards and Washington punts from their own 15 yard line. Miami punt returner Jarvis (JUICE) Landry fields the ball at his own 31 and hits the gas straight up the middle between perfectly executed blocks, and goes 69 yards untouched for a Miami Dolphin TOUCHDOWN as his team takes it's first lead of the season at 17 - 10.
The Redskins follow with a drive from their own 35 to the Miami 29 before an absolutely brilliant interception by free agent acquisition Brice McCain at the Dolphins two on a 3rd & 13 play. With 7:35 of the game to go Miami has a 6 play series for 20 yards and punts to Washington who with 5 minutes remaining drives from their own 31 to the visitors 20 in 2:43. On fourth and seven Miami brings the heat and forces an errant incompletion as Miami controls the ball over the final 2:17 for a 17 - 10 Opening Day Road VICTORY!
The rest of the AFC East won their opening day games at home versus AFC teams.
Miami gained 256 total net yards to Washington's (349 of which most came in the first half) as did the final Redskins Time Of Possession advantage of 37:54 to The Dolphins 22:06.
S Rashad Jones (7 solo) led the team with 12 tackles.
LB Koa Misi (9 solo) and Jelani Jenkins (7 solo) each had 11 tackles.
CB Brent Grimes and Brice McCain converted spectacularly played interceptions.
QB Ryan Tannehill went 22 of 34 for 226 yards with a touchdown pass.
RB Lamar Miller had 13 rush attempts for 53 yards.
TE Jordan Cameron caught four balls for 73 yards.
WR Rishard Matthews had a touchdown.
WR Jarvis (JUICE) Landry had 8 receptions for 53 yards with the final score deciding TOXIC 69 yard punt return TOUCHDOWN!
Thank You for an open minded read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
GOFINS!!!
