Falcons vs Dolphins Preseason Week 1 closing rating and fast reactions

The Miami Dolphins hosted the Atlanta Falcons within the first week of the 2024 NFL Preseason on Friday evening. The sport, that includes depth gamers for each groups because the starters all sat out the competition, felt like a preseason sport. At instances, it might have been higher, with errors or questionable selections resulting in turnovers. At different instances, nice performs had been made. Total, it was the primary preseason sport of the yr, and it performed out precisely like the primary preseason sport of the yr.

Each groups struggled to search out their offensive rhythm. The Falcons completed with 226 yards and a 3.2 yards per play common whereas Miami gained 265 yards on a 3.9 yards per play common. Neither crew regarded nice on Friday evening, nevertheless it was simply the primary of three preseason video games.

You may try my fast reactions from all through the sport, in addition to my halftime and post-game ideas beneath.

Ultimate Rating

Falcons 13 – 20 Dolphins

Instant Reactions

First Quarter

The starters not enjoying permit for loads of appears on the depth gamers who could also be preventing for a roster spot. This could give a good suggestion of who’s making a case to make the 53-man regular-season roster.

Fascinating transfer for Miami to start out Skylar Thompson at quarterback over Mike White. Perhaps they wish to see how he works with the second crew, letting the teaching workers choose if he will be the first backup to Tua Tagovailoa this yr.

A commerce of three-and-outs to start the sport appears very preseason.

Cornerback and particular groups ace Siran Neal is having an awesome begin to the sport. He made a sort out on particular groups, then pressured a fumble and recovered the unfastened ball on the Falcons’ second possession to get Miami the ball again.

Kicker Jason Sanders completely demolishes a 58-yard discipline purpose try. There was loads of area to spare as he provides Miami the lead. What a good way to start out the preseason and construct some confidence for Miami’s kicker.

Dolphins 3-0.

The Dolphins used Sanders on the opening kickoff of the sport, however then used punter Jake Bailey on the kickoff after the sphere purpose. The crew is clearly experimenting with the right way to deal with the brand new dynamic kickoff this season.

This broadcast has to determine these audio points. Primarily based on the responses on X, it’s driving everybody insane. The profitable tweet of the evening is:

(For those who don’t know who that’s, please don’t remark. I already really feel previous.)

Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix is carving up the Dolphins’ protection proper now. A 41-yard go adopted by a 16-yard acquire two performs letter will not be precisely the defensive consequence Miami was wanting proper right here. The Falcons finish the drive with a discipline purpose.

Tied 3-3.

Oh come on. Thompson on the primary play threw simply an unsightly go into the protection and it was picked off. Not resolution in any sense.

The protection did an awesome job of shutting down the run on the Falcons’ possession, however Penix once more discovered success via the air, gaining 20 yards on two passes earlier than a one-yard run from operating again Carlos Washington, Jr., scored a landing for Atlanta.

Falcons 10-3.

Miami wants a solution. The offense has stumbled below Thompson and he’s not making an awesome case to be the second-string passer proper now.

Wow! An enormous acquire on a Thompson go to…a good finish? Tanner Conner with the 43-yard acquire. Miami has not used their tight ends a lot the final couple of years. The place did that come from? However, if it really works, they should use it.

Second Quarter

Operating again Jeff Wilson is making a case to make the roster, even when his dashing stats should not nice proper now. He has simply seven yards on 5 carries, however he additionally has three receptions for 18 yards and a landing now. He isn’t dominating, however he may very well be in consideration for a depth position.

Tied 10-10.

Penix is constant to heat up. Over the span of three passes, Atlanta has picked up 16 yards and if attempting to get out of the shadow of their very own purpose line. Dealing with a Third-and-6, Miami cornerback Nik Needham made a diving go breakup to decelerate Penix and drive a Falcons punt. Nice play from Needham.

Miami turned exhausting to the operating sport on the possession, with rookie broad receiver Malik Washington getting it began on an finish round for 21 yards. Rookie operating again Jaylen Wright picked up one other 21 yards on carries on the following three performs. Operating again Chris Brooks added eight yards two performs later earlier than a delay of sport backed up Miami 5 yards. The Dolphins had been in a position to acquire one other yard, then, after initially trying like Miami gained sufficient for a 4-and-2 conversion, a replay problem gave the ball to the Falcons after discovering Thompson’s scramble got here up wanting the road of acquire.

Penix was pulled for the possession for Atlanta, with Tyler Heinicke assuming the quarterback position. On the second play, Heinicke appeared to assume the Falcons jumped early, however no penalty was known as and Miami defensive lineman Isaiah Mack picked up the unfastened snap to present Miami the ball again on the Falcons’ six-yard line.

Wright took the hand off up the center for the six-yard landing. The rookie is having preliminary NFL expertise.

Dolphins 17-10.

The Falcons’ offense has stopped working after the swap to Heinicke. Rookie cornerback Storm Duck, an undrafted free agent, broke up the go on second down, then had nice protection to drive the incompletion on third down, resulting in a Falcons’ punt. May Duck drive his approach onto the Miami roster? He must have a very sturdy preseason, and people two performs may very well be the beginning of that.

Washington with an 18-yard punt return. He’s making an affect on this sport.

Vast receiver Willie Snead with a foul drop. Simply let the ball bounce away. Thompson with a tough throw on third down, effectively in entrance of Wright for the unfinished go and a three-and-out possession. The Dolphins had an opportunity to go up two scores, however couldn’t discover any rhythm after the Snead drop. Tough possession.

This half has appeared actually sluggish.

The protection did what was wanted. Mack made a sort out on a run for 2 yards adopted by rookie security Patrick McMorris stuffing a run for a one-yard loss, then linebacker Channing Tindall stopped a run for 4 yards and compelled a Falcons punt.

The bottom sport continued to take heart stage for Miami on the following possession. Wright gained 11 mixed yards on the second and third performs of the possession earlier than Brooks added seven yards of his personal. Nevertheless, Brooks misplaced three yards on the following play, and an incomplete go from Thompson introduced up a 4th-and-6. Thompson tried to search out Conner on a go to the best, nevertheless it was damaged up and Miami turned over the ball on downs.

Linebacker Channing Tindall flew via the road of scrimmage to sack Heinicke virtually as quickly because the quarterback acquired the shotgun snap on the ultimate play of the half.

Halftime Ideas

That basically was a protracted first half. The sport has been on for nearly two hours already.

It additionally seems like a preseason sport. The play calling feels very vanilla and there have been some sloppy moments.

The Dolphins additionally want to handle the enjoying floor. Too many gamers have slipped on the turf.

Miami’s rookies are enjoying effectively tonight. Patrick Paul performed your entire first half at left sort out. Jaylen Wright has seven carries for 40 yards and a landing. Malik Washington has a carry for 21 yards and a reception for 5 yards, together with two kick returns for a 23-yard common and 4 punt returns for a 5.3-yard common. Patrick McMorris leads the sport with six tackles and two tackles for a loss. Storm Duck has had some good performs in protection.

Thompson didn’t have an awesome first half and certain will give solution to Mike White for the second half. He completed the primary interval 8-for-19 for 95 yards, a landing, and an interception. Some drops damage him, however the offense didn’t really feel like he was in full management of it. The door is open for White within the second half.

Miami main 17-10 on the half and getting the ball to start out the second half feels good, however it’s nonetheless a preseason sport and doesn’t imply something within the standings on the finish of the day.

Instant Reactions

Paul continues to be within the sport as White is available in at quarterback. Fascinating. The Dolphins should stability getting the rookie some expertise and defending him from harm. On this sport, they’re extra within the expertise facet of that stability.

Wright picked up 15 yards on the primary play, however then the Dolphins protection stalled behind three incomplete passes from White. Miami punted after the three-play, zero yard, 1:06 possession. Not the beginning the crew hoped to have within the second interval.

The Falcons began the drive with an 11-yard go, however the Miami protection stepped up after that. Defensive lineman Neville Gallimore sacked Heinicke, adopted by a brief acquire on a go and an incomplete go. Atlanta tried a 53-yard discipline purpose, pulling inside 4 of the Dolphins’ lead.

Dolphins 17-13.

After a fumbled snap led to a three-yard loss for Miami, White discovered Conner on a brief go over the center, with the tight finish turning it right into a 21-yard acquire, however stayed down on the turf after the play with an obvious harm. He walked off the sphere on his personal however went straight to the locker room after throwing down his mouthpiece in frustration. The Dolphins returned to the bottom sport, with Wright taking a backwards go, reducing again all the best way throughout the sphere, and choosing up 14 yards earlier than two Brooks runs picked up eight yards. Sanders kicked his second discipline purpose of the sport, this time from 38 yards, to increase the Dolphins lead again to a landing.

If Miami can maintain this floor sport going into the common season, it’ll bode effectively for the crew. An offense already constructed to be dynamic via the air including a risk on the bottom could be big for Miami. Wright is unquestionably making a case to be an element within the rotation throughout the common season. Brooks is making a case of his personal, on this case for a roster spot.

Dolphins 20-13.

The groups then traded three-and-outs.

Carlos Washington, Jr., began the drive for the Falcons, choosing up 11 yards on the primary two performs of the drive. Then all the pieces stalled out as Duck, McMorris, and fellow rookie security Mark Perry additionally stepped as much as shut down the drive. The Falcons punted once more.

Miami went three-and-out once more.

The Falcons matched Miami for an additional third-quarter three-and-out.

Brooks ran for 3 yards to start out the drive for the Dolphins, operating out the clock on the interval.

Fourth Quarter

White accomplished his second go of the half on the primary play of the fourth quarter, gaining six yards. Brooks then ran for 11 yards earlier than a White go for one yard. A number of performs later, Miami lined up for an additional 58-yard discipline purpose try, however Sanders hit it improper and the ball instantly flew broad left.

The Falcons introduced in Nathan Rourke to exchange Heinicke at quarterback. A few false begin penalties killed the drive, main to a different three-and-out.

The Dolphins picked up no yardage on a three-and-out possession as White fell to 4-for-11 on the evening with two extra incompletions. Neither backup quarterback offered any confidence throughout the sport.

One other Falcons three-and-out ought to have given Miami the ball again, however the punt bounced into Needham as he labored in protection, with Atlanta recovering on the Miami 22-yard line. Two run stuffs introduced up third down for the Falcons, however a Rourke go for 16 yards gave them a primary down on the Miami three-yard line. An incomplete go, a lack of two on a run, and a Rourke scramble for 3 yards stopped by Duck on the Miami two-yard line introduced up 4th-and-Aim. Rourke threw incomplete into the again of the endzone, turning the ball over to the Miami offense.

The Dolphins bought fortunate there. The Falcons wanted to punch that ball into the endzone.

Brooks picked up 5 yards to get Miami some respiration area, shifting the ball out to the seven-yard line. A White go misplaced two yards, organising Third-and-7 from the Miami five-yard line. White scrambled, operating for the marker however sliding simply earlier than the primary down line and resulting in a Miami three-and-out. A replay problem from Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel ought to have overturned the play, with White showing to slip after crossing the first-down line, however the refs upheald the decision.

It appeared the Falcons had been destined for an additional turnover on downs after they confronted a 4th-and-4, however Rourke ran a quarterback draw up the center and picked up 21 yards. After the two-minute warning, an incomplete go, a run stuff for 2 yards, and an incomplete go introduced up one other fourth down try. The Falcons threw once more on fourth down, with the ball caught however receiver OJ Hiliare was unable to get each ft down in bounds and the Dolphins survived a scare.

Miami knelt to kill the clock.

Ultimate ideas

This sport was not in regards to the win or loss. This was in regards to the depth gamers displaying that they’re able to contribute this season. No group did that higher than Miami’s rookies. Paul bought a ton of expertise at left sort out. Wright was lively within the dashing sport. Washington confirmed good palms as a runner, receiver, and particular groups participant. McMorris had an awesome sport on protection, main the sport in tackles together with a go protection. Duck and Perry made performs after they had been on the sphere.

One other sturdy efficiency was from a veteran with none competitors on the roster. Kicker Jason Sanders appeared to be in mid-season kind, connecting on each of his first two discipline purpose makes an attempt earlier than an unsightly third attempt early within the fourth quarter.

Neither quarterback regarded sharp on the evening. The battle for the backup on the place will proceed into subsequent week. Miami might have to contemplate bringing in a veteran to spark the backup place.