The Miami Dolphins saw their three-game winning streak snapped with a 23-20 loss to the Colts in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Field on Sunday. Miami generated only a field goal in the second half and Colts QB Andrew Luck set a rookie passing record against the team’s beleaguered secondary.
The Dolphins (4-4) also suffered a third AFC loss and fell a game behind the Colts (5-3) in the race for a wildcard berth. Indianapolis now holds the all-important head-to-head tiebreaker. Miami needs to regroup quickly and fortify a secondary that allowed Luck to complete 30 of 48 passes for 433 yards with two touchdowns.
Offense: C
Rookie QB Ryan Tannehill moved well in the pocket a week after suffering a bruised knee and thigh injury that sidelined him for much of the team’s win over the Jets. The eighth-overall pick in April’s draft was sacked only twice as he completed 22 of 38 passes for 290 yards with a touchdown. However, he was under constant pressure and Colts DEs Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney routinely abused OTs Jake Long and Jonathan Martin. WR Brian Hartline had a solid day with eight catches for 107 yards, but could have done more as he was targeted 12 times. RB Reggie Bush finished with a team-high 41 yards on 10 carries and added a highlight-worthy 18-yard scoring jaunt. But the unit couldn’t sustain drives in the second half and struggled to make adjustments or show any creativity. Previous game's grade: A
Defense: D
The secondary regressed a week after looking dominant against the Jets. DE Cameron Wake continued his assault on opposing passers as he registered a sack to give him 8.5 this season, but he was the only Miami player to get to Luck. Overall, the pass rush generated just seven quarterback hits. The lack of pressure allowed Luck to pick apart a shaky secondary and routinely exploit linebackers lost in deep zone coverages. The Colts finished with a stunning 516 yards of total offense and didn’t turn the ball over. This one won’t go on defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle’s resume. Previous game's grade: A
Special teams: C
K Dan Carpenter continued his stretch of solid play by connecting on both his fields goals and P Brandon Fields averaged 53.3 yards over four boots, burying two inside the Indianapolis 20-yard line. However, RB Marcus Thigpen failed to break any long returns. When Thigpen did get a chance late in the fourth quarter, his 31-yard punt return was wiped out by a holding penalty on WR Marlon Moore. It was a crucial mistake in a tight game. Previous game's grade: A+
Coaching: C-
The first-half showed a team prepared for a hostile environment. The offensive and defensive game plans weren’t perfect, but were aggressive and put pressure on the Colts to make plays. However, poor play calling before the half left enough time on the clock for Indianapolis to get in range for a last-second field goal. Coach Joe Philbin, offensive coordinator Mike Sherman and Coyle all struggled to make adjustments in the second half and got way too conservative, playing not to lose instead of to win. Maybe this will be a step in the learning process and not a sign of a larger issue. Previous game's grade: A
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