Dolphins Week 10 Wrap Up
Does anyone still think it is not Tua time? The Miami Dolphins quarterback is 3-0 as the Dolphins continue to play well in all facets of the game, improving to 6-3 with a 29-21 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. All eyes were on the two rookie quarterbacks when the game began. Still, the Miami special teams that made the big play early as the magic man Andrew Van Ginkel blocked a punt, setting up Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins offense at the Chargers one-yard line. Salvon Ahmed cashed in one the first snap, giving Miami a 7-0 lead they would never relinquish.
The Dolphins would make it 14-0 on their second possession. This was Miami's best drive of the day as they consumed seven minutes while going 88 yards in 13 plays. The Dolphins were helped by an offsides call on a Jason Sanders field goal. After taking the points off the board, the Dolphins, who had a Devante Parker touchdown overturned, got in the end zone as Jakeem Grant caught a short pass from Tagovailoa.
The Dolphins had a chance to go up 21-0 in the second quarter when Tua Tagovailoa made his only mistake of the game botching a snap at the Chargers nine-yard line. Tua showed no quit and ran down Rayshawn Jenkins, perhaps getting away with a horse collar to prevent a scoop and score. The Chargers would score on the ensuing drive, but Tagovailoa's desire was on full display. The Dolphins added a 50-yard field goal by Jason Sanders and led at the half 17-7.
The Chargers got off to a strong start in the second half, cutting the Dolphins lead to 17-14 with a touchdown on their first drive in the third quarter. The Dolphins answered with a second field goal from Sanders, as the Chargers looked to gain control of the game. The Chargers were on a drive inside Miami territory as the fourth quarter began. It was here that the Dolphins got their biggest defensive play as Xavien Howard picked off Justin Herbert. The Dolphins full advantage as Durham Smythe caught Tua's second touchdown pass of the game.
Justin Sanders saw his perfect season come to an end, as he missed his first field goal attempt of the season. Sanders missed a 47-yard field goal but later added a 49-yard kick, as the Dolphins built a 29-14 lead. With no timeouts, the Chargers drove down the field and scored with two minutes left, but the game would end when Devante Parker secured the onside kick.
Tua Tagovailoa was solid again, completing 15 of 25 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns. He was unable to do much with his legs, but the Dolphins were able to keep Justin Herbert from beating them, as the quarterback that was taken after Tua had 187 yards with two touchdowns.
Sidenote this game may have been the best uniform matchup of the season; the Dolphins need to make the throwbacks their full-time uniforms and the Chargers powder blue and yellow pops.