By: Mike Rifkin
On Sunday the Miami Dolphins pushed their winning streak to 4 games with a 33-10 drubbing of the Carolina Panthers. This recent winning streak has pushed the Dolphins record to 5-7 and on the outside looking into the wild card hunt. There are two major reasons the Dolphins have won four in a row and are trying to make a run to a wild card: the defense and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Let’s start with the defense that was a major factor in the team going 10-6. In 2020 the defense was third in the league with a turnover differential of +9, over the last four games the defense has forced 10 turnovers bringing this season’s turnover differential to -1. Let’s start with two rookies on defense showing up. In the first round of the NFL Draft the Dolphins had two selections the first was a wide receiver from Alabama (more on him later), but the second was Jaelan Phillips a defensive end from the University of Miami. As the season has gone along Phillips has been getting more comfortable in this defense. On Sunday against Carolina Phillips had three sacks, and over the four game winning streak he has five sacks giving him six and a half sacks on the season. On the opposite side of him there is Emmanuel Ogbah who in 2020 had nine sacks, has six so far this season and three and a half have come during this winning streak. Ogbah is a free agent at season’s end and it would be smart of the Dolphins to bring back a player who has been so good for them. Now let’s go to the secondary. In the second round the Dolphins selected Jevon Holland, a safety from Oregon who had opted out of 2020 due to Covid and to prepare for the draft. Holland has really played well over the last four games with two fumble recoveries and two interceptions during the win streak and was all over the field in an upset win over the Baltimore Ravens a few games back. Then there is Xavien Howard who in 2020 led the NFL with 10 interceptions (should have been defensive player of the year). In the offseason he wanted more money and the Dolphins were able to restructure his contract. Early in the season Howard had a groin injury that hampered him but over the four game win streak Howard has a forced fumble, fumble recovery and an interception.
Tua Tagovailoa deserves a lot of credit for what he has been through this season. Whether it’s an injury, horrendous offensive line play or Deshaun Watson rumors Tua has played his best football recently. Since 1950 there are four quarterbacks who had back to back games with 80% completion percentage or better with a minimum of 30 passing attempts. Their names are Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa. This year the Dolphins drafted a player Tua is very familiar with in receiver Jaylen Waddle from Alabama. Waddle on Sunday had 9 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown. During the four game winning streak Waddle has had over 60 yards in each game. At the trade deadline there was talks that the Dolphins were going to acquire Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson who is currently in a legal situation due to 22 women who have accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior. Watson would like to be a Dolphin from all reports, but if Tua plays as well as he has over the last four games will they do it? Yes Deshaun Watson is a top tier quarterback in the NFL when he plays, but with a bad offensive line and limited weapons Tua Tagovailoa is making it a difficult decision for the front office. Here is the ultimate question for Tua’s doubters: if the Dolphins win out and make the playoffs or just miss, will that show them enough? The Dolphins will look to push their winning streak to five on Sunday when they take on the New York Giants at Hard Rock Stadium
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