The Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts faced off in Week 7. We reacted throughout the game.
The Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts faced off in Week 7, with both teams looking to keep themselves in the AFC playoff picture. The game is likely the last game for the Dolphins without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is eligible to return from injured reserve next week following a Week 2 concussion. It also marks the return of quarterback Anthony Richardson for the Colts, who is returning after missing two games with oblique and hip issues.
The game started strong for the Dolphins, but then turnovers brought the Colts back into the game. A injury to starting quarterback Tyler Huntley forced Miami to move to Tim Boyle, but the bigger second-half issue was the Dolphins’ inability to stop the run. Miami did nothing in the second half and the Colts came away with the win.
Final Score
Dolphins 10 - 16 Colts
Immediate Reactions
1. The Colts started with a three-and-out, which the Dolphins then matched. A second three-and-out for the Colts continued what looked like another Miami game with offenses that could not make anything work. The Dolphins ended that with an 11-play, 58-yard drive, with running backs De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert getting the ground game going and tight end Jonnu Smith coming up big on a couple of catches, including the screen pass from quarterback Tyler Huntley for the 10-yard touchdown. Dolphins 7-0.
2. The Dolphins defense is getting to Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, but he is escaping each time and turning it into a gain. Oh, but then the defense took care of the problem. Richardson could not hold on to a low shotgun snap, with Dolphins defensive lineman Zach Sieler sliding in to cover up the loose ball - even without his helmet - to end the Colts drive and give Miami the ball back. After a run from Achane was called back for a penalty, the quarter ended.
First Quarter Score: Dolphins 7-0.
Second Quarter Reactions
3. Six plays later, the Dolphins punted. Then the Colts punted on another three-and-out. Then Miami punted after an eight-play, three-yard drive. The second quarter has been...uneven at best. This is rough to watch. Miami is still committing way too many penalties - when a tight end lines up offsides, despite looking straight at the ball, there is no excuse. The penalties have to be cleaned up. The Colts have to figure out a way - after this week - to calm down Richardson. The game seems too fast for him right now and he is spraying the ball all over the field.
4. Quarterback Tyler Huntley threw a 25-yard wheel route to fullback Alec Ingold. Yes, a 25-yard pass to the fullback. Ingold has been a monster lead blocking, and now is a deep threat for the team as well. He is doing everything for this team and he should be in consideration for another Pro Bowl appearance. The drive ended with a 33-yard field goal from kicker Jason Sanders. Dolphins 10-3.
5. After an incomplete pass to open the last drive of the half for Indianapolis, Richardson found wide receiver Michael Pittman for a 33-yard gain. The four play, 36-yard drive ended with a field goal as time expired. Dolphins 10-3.
Halftime score: Dolphins 10-3.
Halftime Thoughts
There really was not a lot of anything happening in that half. Miami clearly wanted to establish the run, picking up 115 yards on 25 carries already - including 11 for 59 yards for Achane and eight for 31 yards from Mostert. Huntley scrambled for 20 yards on five rushes.
The passing game is all about everyone except Miami’s normal receiving threats. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have not been targeted on any of the 11 pass attempts from Huntley. Instead tight end Jonnu Smith has four receptions on four targets for 56 yards and a touchdown, all which are game highs at halftime.
Miami’s defense has to tighten up against the run - especially against a Colts team that does not have running back Jonathan Taylor for the game. The pass rush is getting close to Richardson, but he has been able to scramble out of trouble and turn near sacks into gains. The secondary, playing without safety Jevón Holland, has been solid. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks seems to be doing just about everything for the team right now.
Long snapper Matt Overton, who signed with the team yesterday, has been fine without any issues on punts, extra points, or field goals so far.
Third Quarter Reactions
6. Oh the Dolphins just missed a huge play. Hill was targeted for the first time deep down the sideline, but he never found the ball. The pass hit the ground in front of him - if he had seen it and kept running, he would have caught it in full stride and probably would still be running. The window in the end of Lucas Oil Stadium is open, and Hill was looking back toward that area, which may have led to him not seeing the ball. Such a great chance, but the team missed on it. After trying to draw the Colts offsides, the Dolphins took the delay of game and punted. They then forced a punt from the Colts on a three-and-out - with Colts fans booing their offense off the field.
7. Oh damn. Mostert was stood up and stripped on the first play of Miami’s possession, with the Colts coming up with the loose ball. Four plays later, running back Tyler Goodson found the endzone from seven yards out, tying up the game. It was a great strip to get the ball from Mostert, but they cannot afford to have things like that. The Dolphins should be crushing the Colts right now; Indianapolis’ offense has been sputtering all game, with Richardson struggling to throw the ball. Miami needs to get back into rhythm and get the lead back, quickly. Tied 10-10.
8. The teams traded three-and-outs before Miami had another drive end with a lost fumble, this time from Ingold. Running back Jaylen Wright was having success since the Mostert fumble. Now, how can the Dolphins respond to a second lost fumble?
9. They forced the three-and-out, but then matched it with one of their own as quarterback Tim Boyle replaced Huntley for the Dolphins. Huntley went into the locker room with an injury to his throwing shoulder. The quarter ended with a 16-yard pass from Richardson to Adonai Mitchell.
Third quarter score: Tied. 10-10.
Fourth Quarter Reactions
10. The momentum has completely switched in this game. The Colts are simply running it down the Dolphins’ throat right now and Miami has no answer. Between the running backs and Richardson, the Dolphins cannot stop whatever Indianapolis wants to do. Even when they get to someone in the backfield, they miss the tackle and the play turns into a gain for the Colts. Just not effective defense. Colts take the lead with a field goal. Colts 13-10.
11. Six plays. 41 yards. A pass to Jaylen Waddle for the first time today. A run from Mostert for 14 yards. The drive had promise, but a 3rd-and-1 run from Ingold for no gain set up a 54-yard field goal attempt, with Sanders’ kick hitting the upright. No good and the Dolphins now have to find a way to stop the Colts’ running game and then make another drive.
12. The Colts went back to what worked, and it continued to work. The Dolphins defense cannot stop the Indianapolis running attack right now. A nine-play drive for a field goal is already an issue, the face that it took 3:23 off the clock and forced Miami to use their two remaining timeouts, this might be too much for Miami. Colts 16-10.
13. The Dolphins have 1:51 to move 70 yards. Why are they not trying anything deep? An eight yard pass to Hill, a short incomplete target toward Waddle, a seven-yard pass to Malik Washington, a Boyle scramble for four yards, and a nine-yard pass to Achane moved the ball to the Indianapolis 32-yard line, but also ran the clock to just 45 seconds remaining. A quick pass to Achane that was likely designed to get the running back out of bounds to stop the clock but became a one-yard loss in the field of play, led to a clocked incomplete pass. On 4th-and-2, the Dolphins attempted a deep ball down the sideline, but the pass went out of bounds and the Colts won with a kneel down to kill the seven seconds remaining on the clock.
Final Score: Colts 16-10.
