Dolphins Diary Week 2: Disaster
There is one word to describe the Miami Dolphins in Week 2: disaster, and there is no other way to describe the game. Nothing went right, nobody played well, and the season appears to be in peril after just two games, as the Buffalo Bills dominated and won the game 35-0. The offensive line was horrendous, the defense was rolled over, and the offense was embarrassing as Tua Tagovialoa was injured.
It was a challenging game for the Dolphins, to begin with, as the Bills coming off a loss against the Steelers at home in Week 1, were going to come out strong and give a big effort. The Dolphins could not withstand that initial wave from Buffalo as they were down 14-0 before most fans had finished their first beer at Hard Rock Stadium.
The horror started from the first series, as Tua was sacked twice on the first series. The Bills, meanwhile, scored on their second play from scrimmage as Devin Singletary knifed up the middle for a 46-yard run. Seeing the game slipping away early, the Dolphins attempted to go for it on fourth down at midfield on their second possession. The fourth-down play saw Tua Tagovailoa suffer a rib and abdomen injury, forcing him to miss the remainder of the game. The Bills would go down the field again and scored on a Jared Allen pass to Stefon Diggs, as the Dolphins defense was confused by Allen's elusive scrambling.
The Dolphins' defense kept them in the game, as they forced two turnovers in the second quarter, extending their turnover streak to 24 games. This included an interception by Xavien Howard. However, the Dolphins' receivers dropped four passes as an opportunity to get back in the game went by the board. Jacoby Brisset was picked off at the Buffalo 15 while a fourth-down try at the 15 on the next series came up short.
Down 14-0 at the half, the Dolphins were manhandled on the line as the Bills marched down the field to make it 21-0. The Dolphins offense was unable to move the ball on offense, while the Bills moved the ball at will on a tiring Miami defense, as the steady rain set the mood for a dark day for all fans of the Dolphins.
Two weeks into the season and the Dolphins at 1-1 could be in trouble. Tua Tagovailoa has an MRI scheduled on Monday; the early diagnosis is a rib injury and an abdomen contusion. While X-rays were negative, the second-year quarterback was in immense pain as he missed the remainder of the game. The Dolphins will face the Las Vegas Raiders on the road next week. The Raiders are 2-0 and will be a challenging game, win or lose for Miami.