Dolphins defeat of Commanders in Week 13: standout players and busts
The Miami Dolphins won Sunday at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, over the Washington Commanders 45–15.
Despite seeing a few starters leave the game due to injuries, Mike McDaniel’s team improved to 9-3 in Week 13 by doing almost everything they needed to.
Let’s examine who should get praise and who should receive criticism for their performances against the Commanders, just like we do after every game.
STUD: QB Tua Tagovailoa
In a game where he had to do well to be considered a serious MVP candidate, Tagovailoa impressed on Sunday.
The former Alabama quarterback had an amazing 141.0 passer rating, two long touchdowns, and 280 yards after completing 75% of his passes.
It’s even more amazing that he completed that in just three quarters of the game.
Team health
The Dolphins lost linebacker Jaelan Phillips to a torn Achilles last week, and in this game, three starters were injured.
After being hit by teammate and safety Brandon Jones in the second quarter, linebacker Jerome Baker sustained a knee injury that necessitated medical attention off the field.
Terron Armstead, a left tackle, left the game before halftime after suffering an ankle injury that prevented him from playing the whole game.
A hamstring injury forced right guard Robert Hunt to leave the game in the third quarter.
Not one of the three ever went back to work.
WR Tyreek Hill
Throughout the season, Hill has been amazing to watch, and this week was no exception.
With five receptions for 157 yards, the Cheetah brought in scores from Tagovailoa of 78 and 60 yards. He completed all of this in three quarters of an hour.
LBs in Coverage
For the majority of the game, Miami’s defense was solid; they allowed Washington to only muster 15 points while also scoring a touchdown. If we’re being picky, which we are, there is one thing that the linebacking coverage needs to address.
Baker was supposed to cover wide receiver Curtis Samuel, who had been in the backfield, on the play in which he was injured. Washington’s longest gain of the game, a 33-yard gain, came from the play. It is not the place for him to be placed.
Sam Howell found running back Antonio Gibson down the right sideline with linebacker David Long Jr. in coverage, setting up Washington’s second-biggest gain of the play. That mismatch is not very great. All Long has to do is perform that better.
However, these are merely quibbles.
LB Andrew Van Ginkel
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Van Ginkel, standing in for Phillips on the sidelines, was noticeable a lot on Sunday.
The linebacker was denied a sack by the official stat department, which was split between Bradley Chubb and Zach Sieler, despite recording five total tackles.
The pick-6 that put Miami up three points for the first time in the first quarter was Van Ginkel’s best play.
Although Phillips’ loss is still significant, Van Ginkel’s performance helps to make it more tolerable.
