The Miami Dolphins had an extremely tough opening day task at the dreaded perennial playoff powerhouse Seattle Seahawks, and their richter scale, record breaking, NFL house of rabid fans. Adam Gase's new Dolphin team most definitely came to play in shutting down Russell Wilson and 2015's fourth highest scoring offense, but in the end the (Super Friends) fell just shy in a highly competitive battle on the Legion of Dooms turf.
Seattle sacked Ryan Tannehill four times while the Dolphin quarterback went 16 of 29 for 186 yards with a touchdown run and zero turnovers. The Dolphins ran the ball 20 times for 64 yards. Arian Foster accrued 100 total yards from scrimmage on 16 touches.
Russell Wilson was relentlessly harassed throughout the day via the Dolphins defensive line whom did an excellent job of corralling the multi-dimensional severe threat. (Especially in the case of free agent acquisition Mario Williams) who forced many a Russell Wilson pass into incompletions, interceptions and/or into the stadiums front row of fans.
Wilson went 27 of 43 for 258 yards with a two yard touchdown pass (vs Bobby McCain), an interception to (Isa Abdul-Quddus), and a fumble (Kiko Alonso recovery) while being sacked on three occasions via (Suh, Super-Mario, Jason Jones/Jordan Phillips). Seattle rushed for 108 yards on 32 attempts and possessed the ball for 34:32 to Miami's 25:28
On first down at one minute into the (second quarter), Kenny Stills easy 71 yard Touchdown drop was extremely hurtful. Miami was down 0 - 3 on the scoreboard. Tannehill was sacked on the following play and the offense went three & out, rather than up 7 - 3 versus the mighty home team.
While trailing by a score of 6 - 3 one third of the way into the 4th quarter. Miami's kicker Andrew Franks missed a chip-shot (27 yard) Field-Goal attempt. The kick was actually blocked, but in reality the boot was a lame duck,(spiraling knuckle ball) that was going to miss wide left. The block actually changed the direction of the ball more accurately toward the uprights.
These two (EASY) missed opportunities equated to 10 easy points taken off the board. Everything else the same. Miami's Dolphins could very well have won 20 - 12 on opening day in Seattle rather than falling by a score 10 - 12.
In the end;
It took (a turnover-less) Ryan Tannehill just shy of 56 minutes to drive Miami 86 yards into the End-zone for the TEAMS first 2016 go ahead Tannehill Touchdown run. Against the leagues leaders in defensive scoring for the last 4 consecutive years!
It took Russell Wilson 59 and a half minutes to get his team into the End-Zone for 2016's first time, and the go ahead/winning touchdown's twelfth point.
Against what was goin-in. (A questionable Dolphin defense)!?
Appears as though that Miami might be able to compete and play with the BIGG-BOYZ!!!
A VALIANT EFFORT, (GOTTA GIVE'EM SOME CREDIT)!!!
GOFINS!!!
PS;
The Bills, and Jets, lost to lesser competition, and NY was at home.
GOOAAHHH Arizona Cardinals !!!
