Dolphins-Packers Week 16 Five Biggest Storylines … And How They Played Out

The Miami Dolphins dropped to 8-7 on the season after they misplaced, 26-20, in opposition to the Buffalo Payments at Arduous Rock Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Forward of the matchup, we provided our weekly rating and evaluation of the 5 largest storylines, and now it is time to revisit these to see how they performed out:

1. Residence Candy Residence

BEFORE THE GAME: If it looks as if it has been eternally just like the Dolphins have performed at Arduous Rock Stadium, nicely, it is as a result of it has been some time. Whereas the opposition has had one thing to do with it, it is fairly apparent that they’ve performed significantly better soccer at residence than on the highway this season. The Dolphins are 11-1 of their previous 12 video games at residence, and home-field benefit undeniably will probably be an element on this sport.

DURING THE GAME: The Dolphins did not get typical South Florida climate for this sport, with the 49-degree game-time temperature making it the coldest residence sport since 1989. However the climate did not play a job on this sport, nor did the being again at residence actually assist the Dolphins. Aside from the Minnesota sport, when the Dolphins needed to make an in-game QB change and Terron Armstead sat out along with his toe harm, the offense had performed mistake-free soccer at residence with just one turnover in six video games. They matched that in a single ugly efficiency and, not surprisingly, the top consequence was the identical because the Minnesota sport.

2. Tua vs. Rodgers

BEFORE THE GAME: This matchup will characteristic an fascinating QB matchup between future Corridor of Famer Aaron Rodgers and breakout star Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins are 0-2 in opposition to Rodgers, shedding in 2014 and 2018, however this is also the very best workforce they’ve had going in opposition to him. And Tua clearly is a giant a part of that, and he figures to play a key position if the Dolphins are going to defeat Rodgers for the primary time.

DURING THE GAME: Whereas there have been Rodgers flashes within the sport — notably the off-balance lengthy throw to tight finish Marcedes Lewis that most likely would have been overruled had it been challenged — he definitely wasn’t the explanation the Packers received the sport. Sadly, a greater argument may very well be made that Tua was the most important deciding issue within the consequence, however not in a great way for Miami.

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FOR EVEN MORE COVERAGE ON THE MIAMI DOLPHINS, CHECK OUT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’S MIAMI DOLPHINS PAGE ON SI.COM

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3. X on the Watson Watch

BEFORE THE GAME: An enormous purpose for the Packers’ offensive resurgence in latest weeks has been the efficiency of rookie second-round decide Christian Watson, the broad receiver from North Dakota State who has eight touchdowns previously 5 video games. Xavien Howard was a shock Professional Bowl choice this week, however this could be a superb sport to remind everybody why he acquired the status that earned him that Professional Bowl rep by serving to shut down Watson.

DURING THE GAME: Watson ended up enjoying solely 25 snaps earlier than he needed to depart the sport with a hip harm and caught six passes, although the one ones of consequence have been a 20-yard pick-up and a 10-yard catch on fourth down when he absorbed a success from Eric Rowe to hold on to the ball. Howard had a stable sport in protection and a sort out for loss on a working play, however his day was marred by his incapacity to return down with an interception in Packers territory with the Dolphins main 20-10 after leaping in entrance of supposed receiver Allen Lazard. It was the kind of catch that Howard routinely has made all through his profession.

4. On the lookout for a Raheem Repeat

BEFORE THE GAME: The Dolphins acquired an enormous efficiency from Raheem Mostert in opposition to the Payments final Saturday night time, highlighted by a 67-yard run within the first quarter, and it is a favorable matchup for the Dolphins working sport in opposition to a Inexperienced Bay protection that ranked twenty ninth within the league in dashing yards allowed. Retaining Rodgers on the sideline definitely is a method to assist decrease the injury he can do.

DURING THE GAME: The working sport once more was efficient, and this time Mostert acquired assist from Jeff Wilson Jr. on his return from a hip harm. Mostert and Wilson mixed to common 4.8 yards per carry, however the Dolphins once more did not give attention to the working sport and so they teamed for 17 dashing makes an attempt so the ultimate dashing whole was beneath 100 yards. There additionally was no busted-out run just like the 67-yarder, with the lengthy for Mostert being 17 yards and for Wilson 12 yards.

5. The Dolphins on Third-and-Quick

BEFORE THE GAME: Whereas it is truthful to present a tip of the hat to Josh Allen for the 32-29 loss at Buffalo, it is most likely extra correct to say the Dolphins missed a possibility to finish their season sweep of the Payments as a result of they have been so dangerous in third-and-short conditions. The Dolphins offense went 1-for-6 on third-and-3 or shorter, whereas Buffalo was 5-for-6 with the one miss coming on the finish of the sport when Allen kneeled proper earlier than the game-winning subject aim. It is fairly apparent to recommend the Dolphins might want to do significantly better in opposition to Inexperienced Bay.

DURING THE GAME: Neither workforce did nicely on third workforce, with the Packers’ 2-for-14 greater than twice as dangerous because the Dolphins’ 2-for-6 and a part of that was that there have been only a few third-and-short conversion makes an attempt. The Packers had one third-and-1, one third-and-2 and one third-and-3, whereas the Dolphins had just one third-and-3. That third-down try got here on the workforce’s first drive and Tua threw a deep move down the correct sideline that fell incomplete. So whereas we definitely would recommend it is a low-percentage play, it is not prefer it impacted the sport the best way the third-and-short failures did in opposition to Buffalo.

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