Game Recap – Miami Dolphins at Washington Commanders – Week 13

December 4, 2023

By Noonefromtampa

Washington Blown Out by Miami 45-15

First Quarter

Miami won the coin toss and deferred until the second half. Washington started with a 2 yard run by Brian Robinson up the middle and a Sam Howell incompletion. On third down, Howell scrambled right and hit Jahan Dotson for a 12 yard completion. Miami challenged the ruling that Dotson was inbounds. After the review the call on the field stood, giving Washington a first down.  Curtis Samuel caught a 5 yard pass and Antonio Gibson ran for 9 yards to pick up another first down. After that the Commanders only gained two yards and Tress Way came on to punt it inside the Miami 15 yard line.

On Miami’s first drive, Jaylen Waddle caught a 5 yard checkdown on first down. Raheem Mostert rushed for 3 yards over the right side. Then, on third down, Tua Tagovailoa lofted a pass over Jartavius Martin to Tyreek Hill for a 78 yard touchdown. The extra point was good. Dolphins 7, Commanders 0

Washington went three and out on their next possession and punted it away. Miami was held to a 49 yard field goal on their next series. The key plays on that drive were a 16 yard completion to Waddle and a 12 yard run by Mostert. Jamin Davis was able to make tackles for losses on the next two plays for a total of 7 yards, which put Miami in a third and 17 position. Waddle only picked up 12 yards on the third down catch to force the field goal. Dolphins 10, Commanders 0

Washington gained 7 yards on their next drive and was forced to punt again.  Miami then  started off with an incompletion and then K.J. Henry tackled De’Von Achane for a 7 yard loss on second down. On a third down screen pass to Hill, the defense then blew up a third down screen pass to Hill, for a 6 yard loss. Two Miami penalties were declined on the play.

After the Miami punt, Howell attempted to throw a screen to Dotson, but Andrew Van Ginkel intercepted and returned it untouched for a touchdown. Dolphins 17, Commanders 0.

Second Quarter

On Washington’s next drive, Robinson picked up 15 yards on two running plays. Howell was sacked for a 6 yard loss so back to run game. Robinson gained 29 yards down the Miami 37. Three plays later, Howell hit Samuel coming out of the backfield on a wheel route for 33 yards down to the 1 yard line. Dyami Brown scored a touchdown on a well-designed goal line screen play; however, the play was overturned on review. Howell then ran a sneak play and scored. Joey Slye converted the extra point. Dolphins 17, Commanders 7.

On the Dolphins’ next possession, Mostert and Hill both had 6 yard runs to start the drive. After an incompletion and a shirt run by Achane, Washington blitzed on third and 7, but Tagovailoa threw a pass deep and Hill was run under it and scored a 60 yard touchdown past Kendall Fuller. Dolphins 24, Commanders 7.

Washington was able to move the ball a little on the of following drive, mainly due to a 25 yard pass to Samuel on third down and three. After that, consecutive losses with another Howell sack and a 6 yard loss on a screen pass to Gibson forced another Way punt.

Mostert and Achane combined for 19 yards rushing to start the next drive. Hill caught a 20 yard pass on third and six to move Miami down to Washington’s 37 yard line. Two plays later, Benjamin St-Juste was called for pass interference again this week to give Miami 16 yards on the call. Hill was tackled for a 10 yard loss on an end around play. However, Washington allowed completions of 8 yards to Mostert and 16 yards to Waddle to get the first down. Mostert scored on a run two plays later. Dolphins 31, Commanders 7.

Washington ran out the clock to end the half.

Third Quarter

Miami started the second half with two runs by Mostert for 8 yards and on third down Hill caught a 5 yard pass on a shallow crosser for the first down. Achane caught a pass out of the backfield for 21 yards on a missed tackle by Khaleke Hudson. Other big plays included a 13 yard pass to River Cracraft and an 18 yard completion to Julian Hill. Achane scored from 4 yards out over the left side of the line. Dolphins 38, Commanders 7.

Washington started the second half with a 6 yard run by Gibson. Howell eluded the pass rush on second down and hit Gibson for a 32 yard completion. After picking up 6 yards on the ground, Howell hit Dotson for a first down with an 11 yard completion down to the Miami 20 yard line. Washington was only able to gain 7 yards on the next three plays and the Commanders elected to go for it on fourth down. Howell eluded the pass rush and ran it in from 14 yards out for the touchdown. The Commanders elected to attempt the two-point conversion and Howell hit Logan Thomas coming across the back of the end zone. Dolphins 38, Commanders 15

After the kickoff, Achane picked up 8 yards on first down. An offensive holding penalty backed up up Miami 10 yards on second down. An incompletion on second down then brought up third and 12. Hill caught a deep pass, but Percy Butler knocked him out of bounds before he could get both feet inbounds to force a punt, which Jamison Crowder returned 11 yards.

The big play on the next Washington drive was a 15 yard run by Chris Rodriguez on third and three. With the ball on the Miami 37, Washington ran two plays for no gain to set up a third and 10.

Fourth Quarter

The Commanders picked up two yards on third down with a catch by Cole Turner. Washington elected to try a 53 yard field goal on fourth down, which Slye missed just to the right of the upright.

Miami started replacing starters with backups and slowed down the offense. They picked up 17 yards and one first down before punting it away. Miami was able to down the ball at the Washington six yard line.

Washington avoided a safety and moved the ball out to the 15 on a 9 yard run by Gibson, but on third and one Rodriguez was stuffed for a two yard loss.

After the Way punt, Mike White replaced Tagovailoa at quarterback. The offense became Achane running the ball. He picked up 41 yards on 6 straight runs, including a 15 yarder. Jeff Wilson Jr. took over at that point and he ran the ball four times for 11 yards down to the Washington 8 yard line. Achane ran for two yards and White threw his first pass to River Cracraft for 3 yards, which set up a fourth and goal from the two. Achane scored on a pitch play to the left side. Dolphins 45, Commanders 15.

Jacoby Brissett replaced Howell and Washington ran out the clock.

Thoughts

Having Ron Rivera in charge of the defense did not make much of a difference against the high-powered Miami offense.

It seems like the defensive players just can’t wait for the season to be over.

Eric Bieniemy doesn’t help Sam Howell much with the play calling. With a porous offensive line, they keep throwing the ball regardless of down and distance. Often that leads to bad things like sacks and pick sixes.