MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Just as Tua Tagovailoa returned, the Miami Dolphins’ defense disappeared.
The Dolphins blew a 10-point lead for the second straight week, as the Arizona Cardinals made all the big plays late, including a 34-yard field goal by Chad Ryland at the gun, to beat Miami 28-27.
The loss dropped the Dolphins to 2-5. The Cardinals improved to 4-4 on the year.
Arizona Cardinals-Miami Dolphins Takeaways: A Defensive Meltdown
The Dolphins simply had no answer for Kyler Murray in the second half.
The Cardinals quarterback directed scoring drives on four of Arizona’s five second-half possessions. That included the final possession, a 13-play, 73-yard drive in which the Cardinals picked up four first downs.
Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. both went over 100 yards.
What made the collapse so jarring? The Dolphins’ defense was so good in the first half.
The Dolphins in the first half had just one bad drive: a nine-play, 70-yard TD drive that ended with a six-yard touchdown pass from Kyler Murray to Michael Wilson.
The Dolphins’ defensive backfield had two breakdowns on the play. Jalen Ramsey overpursued and ran past Murray on a blitz, and Cam Smith seemed to pick up the wrong guy in coverage, allowing Wilson to shake free.
Other than that drive, Anthony Weaver’s unit surrendered just 41 yards in the first half.
The Cardinals saw things in the first half that they could exploit in the second.
Mainly: David Long in coverage. He got beat multiple times, including for 37 yards by Trey McBride on the Cardinals’ opening drive of the second half. Long also missed multiple tackles, including an open-field opportunity against Greg Dortch on third down that extended the Cardinals’ touchdown drive late in the third quarter.
After Marvin Harrison Jr. beat Jalen Ramsey on a 22-yard TD, Jordyn Brooks blew up Arizona’s two-point conversion attempt by tackling an airborne James Conner.
But the Cardinals were in the end zone again on their very next drive, and another Long missed tackle was to blame. He whiffed on a two-yard touchdown run by James Conner that closed the score to 27-25.
And then, with the game on the line, the Cardinals marched down the field to win the game — and crippled the Dolphins’ playoff hopes.
The Return of Tua
The Dolphins lost despite setting season highs in points (27) and touchdowns (three).
Tagovailoa early on was magical with the ball fakes, looking like Magic Johnson on some pretty no-look pitches and passes.
But it was the little things that were much improved in the first half. The Dolphins as a team committed just two penalties and zero turnovers after a sloppy first six weeks of the season.
The Dolphins took a 13-7 lead into the locker room after outgaining the Cardinals 214-111, had five more first downs, and controlled the ball for over 18 minutes.
Then, on the Dolphins’ first drive of the second half, the viral moment of the game: Tua picked up a third down with a 13-yard scramble and then slid to avoid contact — to the delight of the crowd.
“TUA! TUA! TUA!” the fans chanted after Tua flexed in celebration.
The play was an important one. It extended a drive that ended in a 12-yard screen pass that Achane took to the house.
Tua’s day wasn’t perfect, however. He couldn’t handle a snap that his hands deep in Miami territory. The botched play resulted in a safety, and it was the third poor center-quarterback exchange.
But on the Dolphins’ ensuing drive, Tua orchestrated a nine-play, 70-yard touchdown drive, with Raheem Mostert scoring his second rushing touchdown of the game.
Yet the Dolphins failed on third down late in the fourth quarter to hand the ball back to Murray.
Dolphins Special-Teams Recap
We bang on Danny Crossman a lot here. But credit where credit’s due:
The Dolphins’ special teams were much improved Sunday.
Jason Sanders nailed a 53-yard field goal after doinking a 54-yarder in the Colts loss.
And the returners tabbed to replace Braxton Berrios (IR, knee) both had splash plays.
Dee Eskridge returned the opening kickoff 35 yards, while Malik Washington broke several tackles in a 19-yard punt return.
Dolphins Injuries
Jevon Holland’s painful season continues. In his first game back from a broken hand, Holland was knocked out of Sunday’s affair with a knee injury.
While the severity wasn’t immediately known, the fact that Holland tried to work it out on the sidelines before getting shut down suggests it wasn’t a season-ender.
