As Dolphins coach Mike McDaniels hinted, starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa did not participate in the first preseason game against the Falcons at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday, August 9, and he was not needed.
His place was taken during the first half by QB Skylar Thomson who this time won the particular duel against Mike White, who entered in the second and failed to score.
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Luckily, Atlanta did not score anymore, and the performance of the first two quarters was enough for the Miami team to take a 20-13 victory in the first test, thus increasing its lead in these preparatory exhibitions to 7-1.
While the result is the least important thing, a win is a win, especially against a rival of the Falcons’ stature, who are contenders for the NFL title. It is true that the starters did not play, but the substitutes gave a very good signal.
Quarterback Thompson finished with 95 yards, completing 8 of his 19 passes with a touchdown and an interception; while White only managed 26 yards, completing only 4 of his 14 passes, with no TDs and all interceptions.
For Miami, running back Jaylen Wright (rookie) stood out with 55 rushing yards and 1 TD, and Chris Brooks (2nd year) with 40. In addition to wide receiver Jeff Wilson with 18 passing yards, 7 rushing yards, and a TD; as well as 2nd year TE Tanner Conner with 70 yards.
It would be unfair to overlook the great work of Miami’s defense in general, which only allowed one touchdown and two field goals, despite the youth of its players. Of course, the Falcons’ second unit’s attack was not anything to write home about either.
“I liked the fact that they didn’t blink, that they trusted their training,” McDaniels said in the first half. “There were some ups and downs, good and bad, which is all we want. So I’m looking forward to what they do in their first opportunity to finish.”
The negative part of the Dolphins was the large number of errors they made, which while understandable, is something that a team that aspires to conquer the NFL crown has to eradicate or reduce to a minimum.
Both teams fielded an army of substitutes, including several rookies, and Atlanta got off to a bad start with a fumble and, most importantly, an injury to safety Kion Smith.
The Dolphins, led by QB Thompson, took the lead with 8:17 left on a mammoth 58-yard field goal by Jason Sanders. That is GOOD, Center-B. Ferguson, Holder-J.Bailey.
The Falcons tied it 3-3 (5:30′) with another 39-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo, after the Dolphins lost Kion Smith due to injury and before the costly interception of their QB Thompson that cost the first touchdown of the game.
The Atlanta running back ran 1 yard on a fourth down to score the TD and put his team ahead 10-3 with 3:05′ on the clock, after Koo’s extra point, the score with which the first quarter completed.
But at the start (14:53′) of the second (14-0) the Dolphins responded with another touchdown to tie the game 10-10, when Thompson gave a pass to Jeff Wilson to complete the 6 yards, plus Sanders’ point.
The Dolphins were three yards away from a TD when replay denied Thompson the 4th down, but on the next play Miami recovered the ball after a fumble, and immediately after that Dolphins RB Jaylen Wright ran 6 yards to complete his team’s 2nd TD (5:41′) and put Miami ahead 17-10 after Sanders’ extra point.
QB White came in for Miami at the start of the third, in which Atlanta struck first (12:08′) with a great 53-yard FG by Koo to get within 17-13.
But the Dolphins responded again later (8:18′) with another long FG from Sanders of 46 yards to stretch the lead again to 20-13.
The defenses adjusted and there was no more in the third quarter (3-3) in which the fans entertained themselves by doing the wave.
The Falcons nearly tied the game when they were close to the end zone after a punt when the ball accidentally hit a Dolphins player after a bounce and then after getting within a yard, they missed all four downs against a good Miami defense.
The final quarter ended 0-0 by a miracle, as Atlanta again tied the game with 1:09 left when QB Nathan Rourke passed to the left to OJ Hiliare, who caught it in the same corner and fell out of bounds. The referee ruled the pass incomplete and the decision was upheld on replay.
Miami took a knee and sealed a victory that they hope will be the first of many.
