The Miami Dolphins took a sledgehammer to the Houston Texans in their second game of the preseason. No surprise, then, that the winners outnumbered the losers for a team that, for the first time this summer, has looked like the group that has real Super Bowl aspirations.
Miami Dolphins vs. Houston Texans Winners and Losers
Winner | QB Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa’s first snap in eight months was a disaster. Not only did the Dolphins’ fourth-year QB throw a bad pick to Denzel Perryman on his very first snap, he caught a leg to the back of the head while trying to make a tackle.
Texans defense intercepts Tua on the first play @d_perryman52
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📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/L9mPiySUki pic.twitter.com/QK7BBVQ3R4— NFL (@NFL) August 19, 2023
And when the Dolphins’ next offensive snap nearly sailed over his head, the offense was a total mess.
But Tagovailoa settled down immediately, completing five of his last six passes for 61 yards, leading a 14-play, 93-yard drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown run by Raheem Mostert.
Tagovailoa responded to adversity, got his jersey dirty, and might have shown enough for Mike McDaniel to sit him in the Dolphins’ preseason finale.
Loser | Dolphins Coverage Teams
McDaniel explained away last week’s 79-yard punt return for a touchdown by Falcons’ Dee Alford with a rationale that made some sense:
McDaniel correctly pointed out that the group that gave up that big play was largely comprised of players who won’t be on the team during the regular season.
That excuse didn’t apply to the 43-yard kickoff return they gave up to Steven Sims in the first half. There were some top-line players out there for that lapse.
McDaniel brought back special teams coordinator Danny Crossman after a bad 2022. His unit has picked up where it left off.
Winner | QB Skylar Thompson
It’s almost as if playing with better players makes you a better player.
Last week, Dolphins QB Skylar Thompson was surrounded by a bunch of guys who likely won’t be on the team in 10 days and turned the ball over three times on five drives.
This week, Thompson was surrounded by a bunch of guys who likely will be on the team in 10 days and threw two touchdowns in the final three minutes of the first half.
Skylar Thompson finds Braxton Berrios!
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📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/L9mPiySmuK pic.twitter.com/o5QEbAvlUc— NFL (@NFL) August 19, 2023
Granted, he got some help (more on that in a moment), but Thompson (who left briefly with an undisclosed injury before returning and then throwing a third touchdown) showed poise and accuracy that were missing the week prior.
Perhaps the QB2 battle isn’t over yet.
Loser | O-Line Depth
Two of the Dolphins’ eight best offensive linemen are returning to South Florida with injuries.
Two days after Terron Armstead suffered a lower leg injury — he was spotted on the Dolphins sideline wearing a walking boot — Robert Jones suffered what appeared to be a lower-body injury of his own.
He got hurt in the first half and walked with effort to the Dolphins’ locker room for further evaluation.
The second half without those two players was rough. Not only did Thompson get dinged up, Mike White got smoked at least once.
Winner | Salvon Ahmed
The Dolphins have some serious depth at running back — even with De’Von Achane’s undisclosed second-half injury. Myles Gaskin staked his claim to a roster spot last week.
Salvon Ahmed turned on the burners
📺: #MIAvsHOU on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/L9mPiySUki pic.twitter.com/FoS0vPmafh— NFL (@NFL) August 19, 2023
This week it was Salvon Ahmed’s turn. He went over 100 yards on his first 10 carries, the majority of which came on one carry. Ahmed showed great burst on his 65-yard scamper that set the table for one of Thompson’s three touchdown passes.
If Achane’s injury is at all serious, Ahmed probably secured his place on the team Thursday.