Dolphins must flip the script on defense to continue winning ways
For the second week in a row, the Miami Dolphins defense came out flat.
In a Week 8 win against Detroit, Miami allowed 311 yards passing and 82 rushing but managed to keep the Lions off the board in the second half.
In a 35-32 win against Chicago on Sunday, the script flipped as the defense gave up 116 yards passing and 252 rushing.
However, the Dolphins failed to adjust in the second half as Bears QB Justin Fields continued to tear up the defense and finished with 178 yards rushing, the most by a quarterback in a regular-season game.
It was the second time this season that Miami had allowed a quarterback to run for more than 100 yards in a game. Baltimore's Lamar Jackson accomplished the feat in Week 2.
Fields had been sacked 31 times entering Sunday’s game, the most of any quarterback, but the Dolphins sacked him just twice.
It soon became clear Fields would run, but Miami had no response. The QB finished with 15 rushing attempts.
The Bears picked up 15 first downs rushing, and Fields was responsible for 12 of them.
It was not just the front seven that struggled either.
Despite giving up just 116 yards passing, the Miami secondary was burned for three touchdowns. It got help from the officials when a potential pass interference went uncalled on Chicago’s final drive.
Miami ultimately made enough stops to hold on, but it was the second straight game the team had let a previously struggling offense move almost at will.
It is clear that something must change for the Dolphins' defense if Miami plans to make a run to the postseason.
In Week 10, the Dolphins will face the Browns (3-5), whose excellent offensive line paves the way for RB Nick Chubb.
Chubb has run for 841 yards, which led the league before Derrick Henry surpassed him during Cleveland’s bye in Week 9.
Following their Week 11 bye, the Dolphins will play at the 49ers, another team with a high-level offense. It includes Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel.
Defensive coordinator Josh Boyer was retained by new head coach Mike McDaniel, but the Dolphins defense has looked nothing like it did in 2021, when it finished 16th in yards allowed. Miami is 28th this season.
The races for the AFC East title and the three wild-card spots will probably come down to the wire. If things do not improve for the Dolphins, they could once again be left out of the playoffs. Miami has not made the playoffs since the 2016 season.
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