The Miami Dolphins Blowout the Falcons in Atlanta

For a Dolphins team that looked like the NFL’s get right game last week, the Dolphins dominated the Atlanta Falcons this week.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa played his worst career game last week and bounced back, Mike McDaniel called a splendid game, the Dolphins dominated the clock (39 minutes), and the Dolphins defense held the Falcons to only 10 points while keeping Bijan Robinson below 30 rushing yards (2.1 yards per carry for Atlanta, 2.6 after a late 12-yard run).

For Dolphins fans this game was a question of why now, what took so long for the Miami Dolphins to show what they were capable of, and where do they go from here as they sit at 2-6 with Baltimore on deck.

After questioning the coach, the quarterback, the general manager, and the owner Miami did just what they always do, reel everyone back in while giving more questions of “what-if?”

The Dolphins started this game with a change, bringing offensive coordinator Frank Smith to the sideline, and told Tua to play with more confidence and did he ever. Tua looked like the quarterback that got paid $200 million dollars and put together one of his best games of the season vs one of the NFL’s best pass defenses.

The Dolphins offense was balanced, distributing 37 carries between their three tailbacks, 18 for Achane (67 yards), 10 for Gordon (46 yards), and nine for Jaylen Wright (27 yards). This enabled Miami to get their screen game going, the play-action game going, and helped Miami’s offensive line give Tua time to read the field.

Tua went 20-26 for 205 yards and four touchdowns, boasting a 138.6 passer rating.

One of my biggest takeaways from the passing game was the resurgence of the middle of the field. Tua and Waddle were able to connect over the middle of the field all day, including on their 43-yard connection for a touchdown.

Waddle TD

After their worst game of the season, the Dolphins bounced back, and for a team with a lot of questions and jobs on the line, they responded the only way they could, by putting their most complete product of the season on the football field.

The Dolphins return home Thursday to face the Baltimore Ravens who find themselves in a very similar spot, likely with their star quarterback returning.

So, can the Dolphins turn this season around or was this just right time right place for the Dolphins?