The Miami Dolphins knew that Dak Prescott would be a handful to bring down — it was a big point of emphasis throughout the week leading up to the Cowboys game — and their fears were justified.
Prescott scrambled five times for 25 yards in Week 16, largely because the Dolphins had such a tough time getting him to the ground.
Up next is the biggest test of them all from an off-script standpoint: Dynamic Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, the MVP frontrunner who in just six seasons already has 5,223 rushing yards — the fourth-most by a quarterback in NFL history.
Containing, and then tackling, Jackson is the key to Sunday’s game for a Dolphins’ defense that seemingly leads the league in “almost sacks.”
Miami Dolphins Defense vs. Lamar Jackson
Sunday’s showdown is a matchup of the NFL’s No. 1 and No. 2 pass rushes. The Ravens have the NFL’s most sacks (54) through 16 weeks. But they’re ahead of the Dolphins, who have 52, only because someone on Miami’s defense lets a sack slip through his fingers seemingly every game.
The Dolphins rank first in pressure rate (28.7%), have the NFL’s most QB hits (129), and the league’s top quarterback knockdown rate (13%).
Miami also leads the league in sack rate (9.3) — a testament to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s ability to consistently bring pressure, since the Dolphins are also eighth in missed tackles on the season (100).
No Dolphins player personifies that dynamic more than Bradley Chubb, who leads the league with six forced fumbles, has 11 sacks, 21 QB hits, 31 pressures — and 12 missed tackles.
“You got to focus big time on finishing,” Chubb said. “That’s been the thing on my year. It’s the thing I’ve been trying to work on and not get frustrated with. I just got to go out there and the next opportunity I get and finish. That’s the main thing this week — for myself, and this defense — it’s going to be the word finish.”
If there is a silver lining, Jackson actually is slightly less of a running threat this year than earlier in his career — at least from a statistical standpoint. He’s on pace for his lowest yards per attempt average (5.5) and fewest yards per game (52.4) since 2019, his first full year as a starter.
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Jackson’s also averaging two fewer carries per game than he did in 2019.
Don’t take that to mean the Dolphins are underestimating Jackson’s ability to run. Just the opposite, actually. Fangio suggested Thursday that Jackson should prepare for a ton of different looks on Sunday.
“Lamar is one of one,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “… To watch his game progress each and every year, he has the same running ability, which is as good as there is in football regardless of position. Like unbelievable.
“… It’s a team effort. It takes coverage, rush, all of that.”
All of that means tackling with a consistency that’s been a rare defensive deficiency for the Dolphins in 2023.
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