The Miami Dolphins defeated the Washington Commanders 45-15 at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland on Sunday.
Mike McDaniel’s team did just about everything they needed to do in Week 13 to improve to 9-3, even though they had a few starters leave the game with injuries.
As we do after every game, let’s take a look at some of those who deserve credit and some who deserve criticism for their performances against the Commanders.
STUD: QB Tua Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa was impressive on Sunday in a game that he needed to perform well if he wanted to be taken seriously as an MVP candidate.
The former Alabama quarterback completed 75% of his passes for 280 yards, two long touchdowns and an incredible 141.0 passer rating.
Even more impressive, he did that in just three quarters of action.
DUD: Team health
After losing linebacker Jaelan Phillips to a torn Achilles last week, the Dolphins suffered three injuries to starters in this game.
Linebacker Jerome Baker suffered a knee injury in the second quarter that required him to be helped off of the field after a hit from his teammate, safety Brandon Jones.
Before halftime, left tackle Terron Armstead headed back to the locker room early due to an ankle injury that kept him out for the remainder of the game.
Right guard Robert Hunt left the game in the third quarter due to a hamstring injury.
None of the three ever returned to action.
STUD: WR Tyreek Hill
Hill has been incredible to watch all season, and this week was no different.
The Cheetah hauled in five receptions for 157 yards, including 78-yard and 60-yard scores from Tagovailoa. Again, he did this all in three quarters of work.
DUD: LBs in coverage
Miami’s defense was strong for most of this game, as they held Washington to just 15 points and scored a touchdown of their own. However, if we’re nitpicking, and we are, the one area that needs to be addressed in the linebacking coverage.
On the play that Baker got hurt, he was tasked with covering wide receiver Curtis Samuel, who had been in the backfield. The play resulted in a 33-yard gain, Washington’s longest of the game. That’s not a position that he should be put in.
Washington’s second-biggest gain came on a play where Sam Howell found running back Antonio Gibson down the right sideline with linebacker David Long Jr. in coverage. That’s not a huge mismatch. Long just needs to play that better.
But, again, these are nitpicks.
STUD: LB Andrew Van Ginkel
Filling in for Phillips on the edge, Van Ginkel made his presence felt frequently on Sunday.
The linebacker recorded five total tackles and was robbed of a sack by the official stat department that was recorded as a split between Bradley Chubb and Zach Sieler.
Van Ginkel’s best play was the pick-6 in the first quarter that put Miami up three scores for the first time.
Phillips’ loss is still huge, but Van Ginkel’s performance makes it more manageable.
