A closer look at the Miami Dolphins and how they got to 3-0
The Dolphins are just one of three teams in the league that are undefeated.
After dropping two in a row, this Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins has added significance for the Patriots. They have not lost three in a row since 2002, and were they to do so this weekend at Gillette Stadium, they would fall three games behind Miami in the AFC East.
The Dolphins enter Sunday’s game as just one of three teams in the league that are undefeated. It’s been a surprising start for a team that lost wide receiver Jarvis Landry, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, and center Mike Pouncey in the offseason. Landry signed with the Cleveland Browns, and Suh joined the Los Angeles Rams. The team parted ways with Pouncey when they acquired Daniel Kilgore from the San Francisco 49ers. Pouncey signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.
All three of Miami’s wins have been one possession games. In Week 1, they defeated the Tennessee Titans, 27-20, with the winning score coming on Kenny Stills 75-yard touchdown reception from Ryan Tannehill. The Dolphins also scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter when Jakeem Grant answered Dion Lewis’s game-tying touchdown with a 102-yard kick return.
Tannehill finished 20 of 28 for 230 yards and two touchdowns, both to Stills, who hauled in four passes for 106 yards.
The Dolphins showed they could win a divisional game on the road in Week 2, spoiling the home opener for the Jets by jumping out to a 20-0 lead at halftime and holding on for a 20-12 win. Tannehill threw two more touchdowns and finished 17-23 for 168 yards.
In Week 3, Miami trailed 17-7 in the third quarter before rallying to defeat the Raiders, 28-20. Tannehill again went 17 of 23 for 289 yards and three touchdowns.
After missing all of last season with a knee injury, Tannehill is finally showing why the Dolphins selected him eighth overall in the 2012 draft. For the season, he has seven touchdowns and just two interceptions. The 30-year-old was asked about his improvement this week.
“I’m constantly working the details of playing the position, so hopefully I’m better in a lot of areas,’’ said Tannehill “I think I’m a little better in pocket movement. We work a lot of drills with [offensive coordinator] Dowell [Loggains] and [quarterbacks coach] Bo [Hardegree]. Dowell and Bo design a lot of drills for us, work on our pocket movement, ball security, being able to keep our eyes downfield, feel the rush around us and create our target line in front of our target so we’re accurate with the football.’’
A former Patriots wide receiver has been a favorite target for Tannehill. After five seasons with New England, Danny Amendola signed with the Dolphins last offseason. He has 11 catches for 100 yards through the first three games.
Tannehill was asked about Amendola’s ability to absorb hits after making catches.
“It’s huge. To be able to have the confidence and the bravery — I don’t know the politically correct word to use here — in order to stand in there and make those catches in tight windows, knowing that you’re going to take some punishment afterwards is huge,’’ said Tannehill. “Some guys can’t do it, but if you look at Danny, he’s a guy who has done it for his whole career and continues to do it.’’
Dolphins coach Adam Gase offered similar praise, comparing the Dolphins’ signing of Amendola to Wes Welker joining the Broncos in 2013.
“Danny, just seeing him every day in meetings and doing things the way that he does it and the intensity that he brings and everything he does has been great for our guys to witness,’’ said Gase, who was the offensive coordinator in Denver in 2013. “It just makes me feel a little bit like when we got Wes in Denver, where our younger guys realize, ‘Wow, this guy really goes all out every rep in practice.’ Danny is the same way. I think those young guys feed off of that and see him work and that’s really rubbed off on our guys.’’
The Dolphins do not have an explosive rushing attack. Kenyan Drake and veteran Frank Gore have combined for just 202 yards in three games, but considering the Patriots have allowed 143.3 yards per game this season, the defense won’t be overlooking either running back.
Defensively, while Suh is gone, the Dolphins still have Cameron Wake and added Robert Quinn, who played his first seven seasons with the Rams. Wake, who has 10½ sacks in 17 career games against New England, has been dealing with a knee injury the last couple of weeks. He did not practice Wednesday, but returned to the practice field Thursday.
Both defensive ends figure to see more time on Sunday with Andre Branch and William Hayes getting injured last week, and that could make for a long day for Tom Brady.
Provided Brady can stay on his feet, he’ll be facing the 29th-ranked pass defense, as Miami is allowing 288.3 yards per game through the air. However, they are tied with the Seahawks for the league-lead with seven interceptions, led by third-year cornerback Xavien Howard’s three picks.
Veteran safety Reshad Jones anchors the defensive backfield and has two interceptions as well. Jones missed last week’s game against the Raiders with a sore shoulder, and his status for this week could be determined on Friday. Rookie Minkah Fitzpatrick, the 11th pick in last year’s draft out of Alabama, started in place of Jones last week and recorded 10 tackles.
