BY Omar Abdallah
Omar Abdallah
The Miami Dolphins played their most complete game of the 2019 season on Sunday against the New York Jets in what was Adam Gase’s first game against his former team in Miami.
The game did not get off to a good start for Dolphins fans, with the Jets took the ball right down the field on the opening drive capping it off with a touchdown pass from Sam Darnold to Jamison Crowder and it looked like it was going to be a long day for the Dolphins defense.
But after a sack by rookie defensive tackle Christian Wilkins on the Jets’ second drive and a missed field goal subsequently after, the Dolphins took complete control of the game until the final whistle, winning by a final score of 26-18.
Ryan Fitzpatrick led the offense to three straight touchdown drives in the first half and finishing the game completing 24 of 36 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns.
Preston Williams hauled in five receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game with a knee injury.
It has been revealed today in head coach’s Brian Flores Monday interview that he has suffered a season-ending knee injury which was later revealed to be a torn ACL, according to a league source.
Mike Gesicki, the Dolphins second-round pick of the 2018 NFL Draft from Penn State, had the best game of his young career catching six passes for 95 yards while DeVante Parker caught his fourth touchdown in the last five games.
With the Dolphins leading 21-12 at the half, the game was not over by any stretch of the imagination with them being outscored by opponents 130-20 in second halves this season.
Before Sunday’s game, the Dolphins have not managed to score a single point in the third quarter.
But for the first time this season, the Dolphins showed up in the second half and were able to put the game away.
The Dolphins defense was stoutly barring the touchdown they allowed on the opening drive.
The defense tallied up three sacks and picked off Sam Darnold at the Dolphins 1-yard line as New York was threatening to score before the half.
Miami now has a 1-7 record midway through the 2019 season and is set to go on the road and face the 5-3 Indianapolis Colts that could be without their starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett as he suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.
A good first win for Brian Flores in a season that is focused mainly on building up assets for the upcoming NFL draft, finding pieces week-by-week will help this team not just for this season but for the future of this franchise.
