Just about nothing went right for the Miami Dolphins in their home opener in week two.
The Dolphins hosted the Buffalo Bills to Hard Rock Stadium looking to prove last season’s 30-point season finale loss was a fluke. It didn’t take long to see that wasn’t the case.
Big Hit from Bills Sends Tua Packing, Brissett to Start Week 3
Early in the game Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa went down with an injury after taking a big hit from Buffalo’s A.J. Epenesa. The Miami offensive line had already allowed two sacks and multiple pressures not even a quarter in at the time of Tagovailoa’s departure. We now know, following further tests, he has suffered fractured ribs and will miss at least week three in Las Vegas.
Backup QB Jacoby Brissett subbed into the game and the Bills continued taking advantage of the Dolphins after that.
Buffalo Scores Twice Early
The Bills reached the end zone twice in the first quarter. The first touchdown came off of a 46-yard run from running back Devin Singletary with more than 12 minutes left in the period. The score came on Singletary’s first carry of the game.
Five minutes later, after again getting the Dolphins off the field, Buffalo QB Josh Allen took the team down the field and fired a 5-yard pass to wide receiver Stefon Diggs to take a 14-point lead.
Dolphins Almost Get on the Board Multiple Times
Brissett tried to get the team going, but on his second drive, he threw an interception after misreading defensive coverage. He was looking for tight end Mike Gesicki down the right sideline and attempted to pull the defender into the middle of the field, but he didn’t jump the pass, and instead jumped Gesicki for the easy pick.
The very next drive for the Dolphins resulted in another turnover after piecing together a 13-play drive.
Neither team scored in the second quarter, despite the Dolphins being in field goal range multiple times and having a red zone turnover.
Bills Get Scores from All Over Offense
The Bills more than finished the job in the second half, piling on three more TDs to win by a 5-TD margin. Allen found tight end Dawson Knox for the third score of the game in the third quarter and RB Zack Moss put the game out of reach with his scores in the fourth.
Moss would score TDs on seven and one-yard runs to finish the shutout pounding of the Dolphins.
“Give Buffalo credit, they’re a good team,” Miami head coach Brian Flores said after the week two loss. “They played well in all three phases. We need to do a better job from an execution standpoint, give ourselves an opportunity to be in the game.”
Flores Takes Responsibility, But Also Places Rightful Blame on Players
Flores also took responsibility in the post-game press conference for not having his team ready and prepared to play. Something he said, begins with him.
He also didn’t hold back on saying different units of the team needed to play better, most notably, the offensive line and wide receivers. Flores called out lineman Austin Jackson specifically, who allowed the most pressures, as well as the receivers. DeVante Parker dropped a TD, Jakeem Grant and Jaylen Waddle fumbled, while Albert Wilson and Malcolm Brown dropped critical fourth downs that were in their hands, across the first down marker.
-
Ep 119: Patrick Mahomes' Top 5 List
by Full Press Coverage on May 27, 2023 at 7:49 pm
“It’s hard to put your thumb on it, obviously everything didn’t go right but everything didn’t go wrong, but we just got to find a way to see what we did well and build off of that,” Brissett said during the postgame press conference. “It’s going to be very important that we watch this film, be critical of ourselves, and try to build off of our good plays.”
Allen finished the day going 17-for-33 for 179 yards and two scores. Singletary finished the day with 13 carries for 82 yards to lead the running game, but Moss reached the end zone twice. He finished with 26 yards.
For the Dolphins, Tagovailoa finished the day completing only 1-for-4 passes before he fractured his ribs. Brissett went 24-for-40 for 169 yards and one interception.
How Do the Dolphins Bounce Back in Las Vegas?
Flores and team members say that they have to bounce back from their loss after studying film and seeing what went wrong for them on Sunday.
But how will they do that?
The obvious answer is to catch the football. But Miami needs its offensive line to provide more time against a suspect Raiders defense. Despite a 2-0 start, Las Vegas has given up 44 points through two games. The Dolphins have surrendered 51 in a mostly even slate.
Providing added time on Sunday saw Brissett escape the pocket and provide somewhat of a mobile attack for the Dolphins when the receivers couldn’t find separation. However, the biggest key, will be the WRs finding that separation.
It’s Fuller Time
The Dolphins will see WR Will Fuller V make his aqua and orange debut in a time Miami couldn’t need him more. The deep threat will look to do what he does best, burn defenses deep and force secondaries to stay honest in coverage.
Brissett may be a backup, but he’s no rookie. The 6-year veteran is one of the best backups in the league, and the fresh set of legs on Fuller should help provide an example in the WR corps for those around him. The OL may still have work, but Fuller V should be able to, and eager, to catch the football.
A new face with no Dolphins game tape to work with for the Raiders could be one of the biggest advantages for Miami early in the season. Kickoff is set for 4:05 p.m. on Sunday in Miami’s first game in Las Vegas.
Kayla Morton contributed to this article.
– Daniel Roberts is a Sports Contributor for Full Press Coverage Miami Dolphins. Like and follow on Follow @dantheman1892 Follow @FPC_Dolphins and Facebook.
Around FPC
NFL: Tom Brady On The Cusp Of 80K Yards And More
NFL: Fantasy Football Rankings Week 3
NFL: Chicago Bears: Roquan Smith on His Way to Having All-Pro Season
NHL: Sabres, Dahlin Agree On Three-Year Contract Extension
Wrestling: WWE Remains In Denial About AEW
PODCAST: Full Press NFL Podcast Ep 9: Can Tom Brady Play Until 50? Week 2 Picks and Preview
-
Ep 159: Remembering Norma Hunt With Chiefs Historian Bob Mooreby Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 8:33 pm
Chiefs historian Bob Moore joins Clark and Ira to discuss the life of […]
-
Ep 158: Billy "White Shoes" Johnson Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on June 4, 2023 at 2:05 am
Former Oilers star Billy "White Shoes" Johnson joins Clark and Ira to […]
-
See How Incoming SEC Freshman QB's Rankby LandryFootball.com on June 7, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Every year hundreds of high school quarterbacks receive college offers to […]
-
These Transfer QBs could have Big Impact this Seasonby LandryFootball.com on June 6, 2023 at 12:40 pm
Last offseason, Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. transferring to Oregon and […]
-
Ep 288: Coast 2 Coast 2-Copy Rookie Draftby Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 1:55 pm
-
Ep 287: BLeague Brings His A-Gameby Full Press Coverage on June 1, 2023 at 4:41 pm
-
Ep 286: FPC Dynasty Rookie Draftby Full Press Coverage on May 26, 2023 at 3:01 pm
-
Ep 285: Draft Discussions Dominatingby Full Press Coverage on May 18, 2023 at 4:38 pm
-
Episode 3.12: Mini-Camp Preview with Craig Hoffmanby Full Press Coverage on June 7, 2023 at 1:16 am
George Carmi (@Gcarmi21) hosts Craig Hoffman from the "Take Command […]
-
Episode 3.11: OTAs and Hot Topics w/Sam Fortier from the Washington Postby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 9:20 pm
George Carmi hosts Sam Fortier from the Washington Post to discuss the […]
-
Full Press Islanders - Wednesday, June 7thby Full Press Coverage on June 7, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Lou Lamoriello holds a press conference yesterday we talk about what was […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 770by Charlie Saunier on June 6, 2023 at 7:13 pm
Ep 770 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 6 & Preview Calder Cup Final […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - Tuesday, June 6thby Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 5:20 pm
A brief look at game one of the Stanley Cup Final and potential draft […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - Tuesday, April 6thby Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 2:00 pm
It is the Connor Bedard show at the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Will Connor […]
-
Full Press Kraken - Monday, June 5thby Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 4:30 pm
Kraken extend their GM, Captains and AHL update Learn more about your ad […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 769by Charlie Saunier on June 4, 2023 at 4:31 am
Ep 769 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 5 Preview Game 6 Milwaukee […]
-
6/6 - Golden Knights Cruise; NBA Final Heads To Miamiby Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 2:36 pm
Ian and John discuss the Golden Knights dominating win and look ahead to […]
-
6/5 - Heat Take Game 2; Golden Knights; Aaron Rodgers/Jordan Loveby Full Press Coverage on June 5, 2023 at 2:28 pm
Ian and John discuss the Heat's win over the Nuggets, the Golden Knights […]
-
6/2 - Nuggets Take Game 1, Barry Bonds, Stanley Cup Chat w/ Jim Biringerby Full Press Coverage on June 2, 2023 at 2:03 pm
Ian and John discuss the Nuggets Game 1 win over the Heat, the upcoming […]
-
6/1 - NBA Finals Preview, Aaron Rodgers, and Moreby Full Press Coverage on June 1, 2023 at 1:53 pm
Ian and John discuss Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Nuggets and Heat […]
-
5/30 - Heat Dominate Celtics; Vegas Advances; Jimmy Gby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 3:35 pm
Ian and John discuss the Celtics disappointing Game 7 performance against […]
-
5/29 - Celtics/Heat Game 7; DeAndre Hopkins Releasedby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 12:12 am
Ian and John discuss Game 7 between the Celtics and Heat as well as the […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Full Press MMA - Wednesday, June 7thby Full Press Coverage on June 7, 2023 at 11:00 pm
-
Ep. 248 - Would the Heat be the Most Unlikely NBA Champions Ever?by Full Press Coverage on June 7, 2023 at 9:22 pm
-
Fight Stack: UFC 289 - Nunes vs Aldanaby Full Press Coverage on June 7, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Nuggets at Heatby Broken Controller Media on June 7, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Fight Stack: UFC 289 - Oliviera vs Dariushby Full Press Coverage on June 7, 2023 at 11:00 am
-
Ep. 226: North Park Univ. Head Basketball Coach Sean Smithby Full Press Coverage on June 7, 2023 at 5:00 am
-
Episode 3.12: Mini-Camp Preview with Craig Hoffmanby Full Press Coverage on June 7, 2023 at 1:16 am
-
Full Press MMA - Tuesday, June 6thby Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 11:00 pm
-
FPH Daily: Stanley Cup Final Talk, Cole Caufield Extensionby Full Press Coverage on June 6, 2023 at 5:20 pm
-
Buffalo Bills Preview and Win Totalsby Broken Controller Media on June 6, 2023 at 5:00 pm
-
Boot 2 The Face "Too Much Wrestling"by Boot 2 The Face on June 1, 2023 at 11:21 pm
Your boys are back talking ALL of the pro wrestling that happened this […]
-
Boot 2 The Face "PPV Predictions"by Boot 2 The Face on May 26, 2023 at 1:06 am
BIG weekend in wrestling and EJ and Rucker are here to predict!AEW Double […]
-
AEW Double or Nothing and WWE Night of Champions Review and CM Punk Returnby Full Press Coverage on June 7, 2023 at 9:57 pm
Jim is back once again joined by Teddy Repantis as they review AEW Double […]
-
AEW Double or Nothing and Night of Champions Previewby Full Press Coverage on May 26, 2023 at 9:59 pm
Jim is back once again joined by Teddy Repantis as they preview Double or […]
-
Ep 167: Ahmed Johnsonby Full Press Coverage on June 3, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Ahmed Johnson was a red-hot act in WWF in the mid to late 1990s. We looked […]