By Henry McKennaFOX Sports AFC East Writer
MIAMI — If quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was going to take the conservative route in the Miami Dolphins’ 20-7 victory over the New England Patriots, then new coach Mike McDaniel was apparently going to be aggressive.
Perhaps trying to make up for his dunk-and-dunk QB, the punter blitzed New England with a few good decisions.
If there was any play that exemplified the difference McDaniel makes when running this offense, it was his decision to go for it on fourth-and-7 from 42 yards out. Tagovailoa connected with receiver Jaylen Waddle and they all gained 42 yards for a touchdown.
The play came with 18 seconds left in the half and gave the Dolphins a huge boost going into halftime.
“He’s got a lot of cajones. Gutsy call,” Tyreek Hill said of his first-year coach.
Waddle established himself as a star in the NFL with more than 1,000 yards during his rookie season in 2021. But this is a new offense — one that now includes one of the best receivers in the league. Waddle is no longer the top goal. So it wasn’t certain, especially considering his injury during training camp, that he would pick up where he left off last season. But he has.
“Tua put the ball in the perfect spot. Jaylen did a good job of catching the ball and really just splitting three defenders,” Hill said. “We talk about it all the time. If you want to be good, you get the catch. The great ones get full of YAC.”
Running back Chase Edmonds said the Dolphins have preached a message about playing with confidence — and above all, playing without fear. Well, you can bet McDaniel left his fear behind when he made the call to Tagovailoa. And the quarterback appeared to do the same, zipping the ball into a tight window with three defenders in the area.
“He threw a great ball. The offensive line held up. Great ball placement. I couldn’t do anything but handle it,” Waddle said.
The cornerback in coverage, Jalen Mills, was a step behind Waddle. Mills appeared to anticipate Kyle Dugger making the tackle, but he fumbled, in part because linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley attempted a tackle at the same moment. Even with three defenders in the area, the Patriots barely got a hand on Waddle.
The Dolphins only attempted one fourth-down conversion on the stat sheet, but in reality they converted two. They lined up for a fourth down attempt and pulled Patriots defensive tackle Carl Davis offside for an easy first down.
Let’s be clear: The Dolphins defense was the reason Miami won the game, with one interception and two forced fumbles, one returned for a touchdown. New England’s offense looked incompetent due to an impressive series of blitzes that left QB Mac Jones with an injured back.
The stars of the day were cornerback Xavien Howard, who broke up an end zone pass that ended up as an interception on the Patriots’ opening drive, and safety Brandon Jones, who had 11 tackles and a strip sack that Melvin Ingram returned. for a touchdown.
But to win a Super Bowl in today’s NFL, the Dolphins need an offensive identity. That’s why they added McDaniel, an offensive-minded head coach who replaced defensive-minded Brian Flores. Tagovailoa did not attempt a pass that had 25 or more yards, and the rushing attack averaged 2.8 yards per carry. It wasn’t pretty. But McDaniel and the Dolphins may have found their identity on the touchdown that ended the second quarter.
They can lean into McDaniel’s aggressive approach. Lean into the elite players on the outside. Lean into Tagovailoa’s accuracy. And watch the offense take shape around it.
One thing was clear: McDaniel had every intention of feeding Hill, who had eight targets and one carry in the first half.
“Every day I’m just trying to stand out just to be the engine,” Hill told FOX Sports when asked how he’s seamlessly found a place as the top threat in this new offense. “I’ve always been the engine of every team I’ve been on, ever since I was little.
Waddle and Hill accounted for 163 of the 270 passing yards. They are likely to account for an even larger percentage in the coming weeks. Even if they don’t, they should start opening up more running lanes. At least that’s what Edmonds said. He preached patience while the offensive line learns the new system, an out-of-zone scheme that often takes some getting used to.
Edmonds said once everyone gets on the same page, the “two demons on the outside” should help set up the run — and then the run can help set up the pass.
“Right now, there are tough patches and there will be tough patches because you’re installing a new offense. Guys aren’t completely comfortable,” Edmonds said. “Guys don’t know exactly where to go for every pre-snap look, so McDaniel and the staff we have — they’re going to make sure we get those details, because when a mistake happens, that mistake doesn’t happen again.”
The Patriots are going through a similar transition. And for a team like Miami, searching for an identity without coaching staff continuity, the Dolphins should be satisfied with a win as they continue to build the bond around their offense.
But you can bet that when they consider what went right, they’ll be looking at that 42-yarder to Waddle. It was the play that completely changed the game — and perhaps the complexion of the AFC East, where the Patriots finished ahead of the Dolphins last year.
But the Bills are not a team in transition. They look like one of the NFL’s very best groups. So the Dolphins need to make progress before the two teams square off in Week 3.
Prior to joining FOX Sports as an AFC East reporter, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @McKennAnalysis.
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When is the next Dolphins game?
What channel is the Miami Dolphins game on tonight? CBS. Watch Dolphins games live on CBS.
Where should I stay for a Dolphins game?
Centrally located in Miami, the Stadium Hotel offers travelers easy access to many South Florida sports attractions, including Dolphin Stadium and Calder Racetrack. In addition to its 104 rooms and suites, the Stadium Hotel also offers more than 5,000 square meters of function space.
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| Season | placement | Average ticket price |
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| 2020 | Hard Rock Stadium | $151 |
| 2019-20 | Hard Rock Stadium | $61 |
| 2019 | Hard Rock Stadium | $103 |
| 2018-19 | Hard Rock Stadium | $61 |
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Who was 13 for the Dolphins? On Sunday, September 17, 2000, at halftime of the Dolphins-Baltimore Ravens game at Pro Player Stadium, Dan Marino’s jersey number 13 was retired. On the same subject : Former director Bruce Straley Uncharted and Last of Us has announced a new studio.
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Five facts: Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel.
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