Despite early season turmoil shrouded by injuries and difficult losses, the Dolphins had a chance to pull back to .500 with a win in Indianapolis. An early touchdown drive, and a 10-point first-half lead made that possibility feel like a reality, but 16 unanswered points by the Colts coupled with another injury to a Miami quarterback has the Dolphins at 2-4.
Read up on the three takeaways from the 16-10 loss in Indianapolis.
- Defense continues to top the charts
What a start for Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver in his second stint running an NFL defense. The Dolphins held the Colts to 284 total yards, four conversions out of 13 third down attempts, and just 16 points. The only Colts touchdown of the day came as the result of a 28-yard drive following a Dolphins turnover.
Heading into the Monday games, the Dolphins defense ranks fourth allowing just 285.2 yards per game. The Dolphins retain their perch as the top third down defense allowing just 26.5 percent of opponent's attempts to move the sticks.
The group is playing lights out top to bottom, but it starts at the cornerback position. Jalen Ramsey has been one of the most versatile, impactful players in the league as he moves all over the formation, rushes the quarterback and mixes his man and zone coverage looks to maximum effect. On the season, per Pro Football Focus, he's been in coverage on 164 plays allowing just 84 receiving yards. At .51 yards per coverage snap, Ramsey trails only Seattle's Riq Woolen among cornerbacks in that category (Pro Football Focus).
- Thin margin for error
On the other side of the ball, the Dolphins couldn't scratch out enough offense to secure the win. Three penalties wiped out first down runs by Dolphins running backs, including a 32-yard Raheem Mostert carry brought back on a holding call in the third quarter.
Miami ran the ball 40 times, shortening the game down to 12 possessions for the Fins despite 13 drives of four plays or less combined between the two teams. That game script set up the classic close game in the fourth quarter giving either team an opportunity to seize victory.
The Dolphins stayed on schedule despite some of the penalties, but it was the fumbles that proved fatal. Miami put the ball on the carpet twice in the final 18 minutes of the game 鈥 the first leading to the only Indianapolis touchdown of the day, and the second occurring on the Colts 13-yard-line as the Dolphins were going in on first down.
"When you run the ball 40 times, it does minimize your opportunities," Head Coach Mike McDaniel said post-game. "Collectively as a team, we just have to play smarter football. I'm very frustrated because you think you emphasize things correctly, and you think you have certain things fixed, and when they're not, it's not going to be anybody else's fault but me."
- Run emphasis limits opportunities in the passing game
The Dolphins ran the ball frequently and effectively, totaling 40 carries for 188 yards and a respectable 4.7 yards per carry. But with 40 rushing attempts comes limited opportunities in the passing game" and then continue on from there.. Wide recievers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle played their highest snap counts of the season (62 and 59 snaps respectively) and were part of some critical blocks in the run game. The result of the run-heavy attack, however, fewer targets for the two. They combined for four targets and just 19 receiving yards Sunday.
"Sometimes they're limited to requiring a lot of attention and emphasis from the defense, which gives other guys opportunities," McDaniel said. "But we have to take advantage of those opportunities, and I need to find ways to get them involved."
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