Miami Dolphins Postgame Notes at Houston Texans

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT HOUSTON TEXANS
NRG STADIUM
AUG. 19, 2023 | 3 PM CT
POSTGAME NOTES
AHMED LEADS RUSHING EFFORT IN 28 – 3 VICTORY

The Dolphins defeated the Texans, 28-3, this afternoon. It was Miami’s first win over Houston in the preseason since Aug. 24, 2002, which was the Texans’ first appearance at home in their inaugural season.
It’s Miami’s third straight preseason road win. The Dolphins won at Tampa Bay on Aug. 13, 2022 and at Cincinnati on Aug. 29, 2021.
Miami rushed for 205 yards in today’s win, the team’s most in the preseason since at least 2017.
o The total was the second-most by an NFL team this preseason. The L.A. Chargers rushed for 214 yards in their win at the L.A. Rams on Aug. 12, 2023.
RB Salvon Ahmed led the way with 99 rushing yards on 12 attempts, averaging 8.3 yards per carry.
o It marked the most rushing yards in a Dolphins preseason game since Aug. 14, 2004 when RB Fred Russell had 101 rushing yards against Jacksonville.
DEFENSE LIMITS TEXANS TO THREE POINTS
The Dolphins defense kept the Texans out of the end zone the entire game. Houston managed just three points, 10 first downs and 186 total yards.
o The three points allowed were the fewest by the Dolphins in a preseason game since Aug. 9, 2013 at Jacksonville, when the Dolphins won 27-3.
o The 186 yards allowed were Miami’s fewest in a preseason game since Aug. 30, 2018, when it allowed 185 yards to Atlanta.
o The 10 first downs were the fewest allowed by the Dolphins in a preseason game since the same 2018 contest against Atlanta, when they held the opponent to nine first downs.
Miami limited the Texans to just 32 rushing yards on 14 attempts (2.3 avg.). It was the fewest rushing yards allowed by an NFL team this preseason and the fewest Miami has allowed in a preseason game since at least 2017.
THOMPSON SLINGS THREE TOUCHDOWNS
QB Skylar Thompson entered the game in the second quarter and completed 15-of-22 passes (68.2 pct.) for 157 yards, three touchdowns and a 128.2 passer rating.
Thompson became the first NFL quarterback to throw three touchdown passes in a game this preseason. Thompson is also the last Dolphins quarterback to pass for three touchdowns in a preseason game, doing so on Aug. 27, 2022 vs. Philadelphia.
Thompson’s 128.2 passer rating was the highest by a Dolphins quarterback in a preseason contest since Aug. 31, 2017, when QB David Fales posted a 131.9 rating in a victory at Minnesota.
DOLPHINS RACK UP 21 FIRST – HALF POINTS AND 244 YARDS
The Dolphins totaled 244 total yards and 21 points in the first half of today’s game, giving them a 21-3 halftime lead.
It was Miami’s second-most total yards in the first half of a preseason game since at least 2017.
MIAMI DOLPHINS AT HOUSTON TEXANS
NRG STADIUM
AUG. 19, 2023 | 3 PM CT
POSTGAME NOTES
o The Dolphins had 291 total yards in the first half vs. Philadelphia on Aug. 27, 2022.
Miami gained 140 yards on the ground in the first half. It’s the most rushing yards in the first half of a Dolphins preseason game since at least 2000, topping the mark of 129 last week vs. Atlanta.
o Miami had three runs of 15+ yards in the first half, each by a different player: RB Salvon Ahmed had a 65-yard carry, RB De’Von Achane pitched in a 20-yard gain and RB Raheem Mostert had a 16-yard rush.
The Dolphins utilized two quarterbacks in the first half. QB Tua Tagovailoa made his first appearance of the preseason, completing 5-of-7 passes (71.4 pct.) for 61 yards.
o He was relieved by QB Skylar Thompson, who went 7-of-11 (63.6 pct.) for 57 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, good for a 116.3 quarterback rating.
o Thompson’s 116.3 quarterback rating in the first half is the third-best rating in the first half of an NFL preseason game this year and the best by a Dolphins quarterback since Thompson had a 136.8 rating in the first half on Aug. 13, 2022 at Tampa Bay.
Miami’s three first-half touchdowns came on a 2-yard run by RB Raheem Mostert, and 8-yard catch by RB Salvon Ahmed and an 18-yard reception by WR Braxton Berrios.
CAPTAINS