The Miami Dolphins put a beatdown on the Carolina Panthers in their Week 6 meeting, as Mike McDaniel’s team walked out with a 42-21 victory.
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Dolphins, as they were shut out in the first quarter, allowing Carolina to build a 14-0 lead.
They couldn’t do anything in that first period. They were making mistakes and dumb decisions, including a “too-many-men” penalty and a fumble on a fake quarterback sneak.
However, from there, Miami was essentially dominant.
They scored 35 straight points, as their offense and defense did their jobs.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 67.7% of his passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns and a 126.0 passer rating. He was decisive with his throws, finding his targets in open space and not trying to do too much.
The wide receiver duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle continued to make life easier for Tagovailoa, as the two combined for 13 receptions, 214 yards and two touchdowns.
Running back Raheem Mostert may have been the star of the game, as he proved that Miami will still have a productive rushing attack without De’Von Achane. Mostert rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns on 6.8 yards per carry, while also recording three receptions for 17 yards and another score.
The Dolphins’ offensive line, which entered the game without left tackle Terron Armstead (injured reserve) and center Connor Williams (groin injury), wasn’t a problem. They kept the pressure off of Tagovailoa for the most part and created lanes for the running backs.
Defensively, the Dolphins found their groove after the first quarter. They sacked rookie quarterback Bryce Young four times, as Christian Wilkins got home twice and Bradley Chubb and Zach Sieler recorded sacks of their own.
They weren’t great against the run, allowing 4.3 yards per carry, but because of the lead that the offense built, Carolina went away from running the ball.
Vic Fangio’s unit also allowed Adam Thielen to do whatever he wanted, as he brought in 11 receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown.
This was an impressive win for the Dolphins, but they can’t start slow against many other teams and expect to win. Luckily, they were playing a winless team, and they were able to secure their victory.
