Miami’s 31 unanswered points lead to a season win over New England

Miami’s 31 unanswered points lead to a season win over New England

The Miami Dolphins had nearly 400 yards of total offense but fell 30-17 to the Green Bay Packers on a chilly Thursday night at Lambeau Field.

The passing offense was one of several positives for the team to build on as it continues its late-season push.

​​We go to Inside the Numbers, presented by BDO, to take a look at the most notable team stats, individual metrics, milestones and more from Miami’s Week 13 loss.

Another strong start from Tagovailoa

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 37 of 46 passes (80.4 percent) for a season-high 365 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions, for a passer rating of 114.2. The 365 passing yards are his most in a game since he posted 466 passing yards on September 8, 2022 against the Los Angeles Chargers. It is the third time in his career that he has recorded consecutive games with more than 300 passing yards, and it is his fourth career game with at least 350 passing yards.

Tagovailoa completed at least 70.0 percent of his passes for the sixth straight game, continuing the longest streak of his career and the longest active streak in the NFL. His streak ties him with Detroit quarterback Jared Goff for the longest such streak in the NFL this season. He has the highest completion percentage (74.5 percent) in the NFL this season. The highest completion percentage ever in a single season is 74.44%, set by Drew Brees with New Orleans in 2018.

Tagovailoa has a three-game streak with a passer rating of at least 110.0, his longest streak in 2022. His passer rating of 108.0 ranks him third in the NFL this season, trailing only Goff and Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Tight end Jonnu Smith led all pass catchers with 10 receptions for 113 yards (11.3 average), both career highs for the eighth-year veteran. His 10 receptions are the most by a Dolphins tight end since at least 1970 (Mike Gesicki, September 26, 2021 vs. Las Vegas). His 113 receiving yards brought him to 3,071 in his career, surpassing the milestone of 3,000 receiving yards.

Smith has already set a career high with 58 catches for 648 yards (11.2 yards average) this season, while his four receiving touchdowns rank as his second-best mark. Among tight ends, he leads the league in receiving yards and is second in receptions and touchdowns since Week 7 through Thursday’s games.

In the last three games, Smith has 25 catches for 300 yards; Both are the most by a Dolphins tight end in a three-game span in franchise history. He is on pace to have the best season by a Dolphins tight end, currently ranking first in both receptions and receiving yards and ranking first in touchdowns through the team’s first 12 games of the season .

Achane, Hill Find the end zone

Running back De’Vachane continued to make a name for himself as a receiving threat out of the backfield, recording eight receptions for 56 yards (7.0 average) and a 14-yard touchdown from Tagovailoa, while adding 14 yards on the ground. His eight receptions marked the high point of his career, which he reached on November 3, 2024 in Buffalo.

Achane surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards in a season (1,005 total – 576 rushing, 429 receiving), becoming the first Dolphins running back to have at least 1,000 scrimmage yards in the team’s first 12 games since Jay Ajayi in 2016.

Heading into Thursday’s games, Achane ranks first among NFL running backs with 57 receptions and six touchdowns, while he’s second to New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara with 429 receiving yards. He is the only player in the NFL this season to lead his team in receiving yards and rushing touchdowns.

Wide receiver Tyreek Hill caught six passes for 83 yards (13.8 yards average) and a 12-yard touchdown. The contest marked Hill’s 44th career game and 16th as a Dolphin with more than 75 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown. The 83 receiving yards are the most he has had in a game since September 8, 2024 against Jacksonville.

Brooks joins elite society

Linebacker Jordyn Brooks recorded nine tackles (five solo) against Green Bay. His 607 career tackles (364 solo tackles) rank him fourth among active players through his first 75 games, behind All-Pro linebackers Bobby Wagner, Roquan Smith and Lavonte Davis.

Brooks also recorded a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit.

Individual/team stats and milestones

Kicker Jason Sanders continued his streak of making at least one field goal in every game this season by hitting a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter for Miami’s first points of the night.

Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle caught four passes for 53 yards (13.3 yards average), including a 16-yard reception on fourth down that set up Sanders’ field goal. Hometown fullback Alec Ingold caught two passes for 15 yards (7.5 yards average).

In his first start with the Dolphins, linebacker Tyrel Dodson totaled a team-high 10 tackles. Safety Jordan Poyer added nine tackles while cornerback Siran Neal recorded two pass deflections.

Several Dolphins reached games played and started milestones. Safety Patrick McMorris made his NFL debut, long snapper Zack Triner made his Dolphins debut and linebacker Quinton Bell made his first career start. Brooks played in his 75th career game, offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg made his 50th start, defensive tackle Benito Jones made his 25th career start and offensive lineman Robert Jones made his 25th career start.

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