The Miami Dolphins are just fine without Tyreek Hill, it seems. At least that was the case on Sunday against the New York Jets, whom the Dolphins dominated 30-0.
It wasn’t a perfect showing, but the Dolphins’ offense still managed to find plenty of success with Hill on the sideline. Hill tested out his ankle pregame but was ultimately deemed unable to go and was included among the team’s inactives before kickoff.
In his absence, Mike McDaniel turned the focus of the game plan from Hill to Jaylen Waddle, and the Dolphins’ offense passing attack continued to produce throughout the first half when the issue was still in doubt.
Waddle was simply sensational as the focal point of the Dolphins’ passing attack, getting involved early and often all over the field. He scored on a 60-yard go route in the second quarter to push the Dolphins’ lead to 17-0, looking like Hill as he blazed past New York cornerback D.J. Reed. He finished with 8 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown. It couldn’t have looked easier.
And that’s the problem with perceptions: they can often be wrong. The struggles by the Dolphins’ offense on Monday Night Football against the Tennessee Titans that followed Hill’s ankle injury in the first quarter led many to believe that the Dolphins were only as good as Hill would make them.
Go on social media and the list was endless with complaints about the Dolphins. “Tua is no good without Hill.” “Tua needs Hill to run past defenders in order to hit on long plays.” “McDaniel needs Hill in order for his offense to work.”
All hogwash.
Tagovailoa was a perfect 13 of 13 before throwing his first incompletion during the first half. He scanned the field, read what was there, and spread the ball around. Durham Smythe was involved in the middle of the field. Chase Claypool was the most involved for his time so far in Miami. And, of course, Waddle was tremendous.
And that wasn’t a leaky defense the Dolphins took on. The Jets had kept all but two opponents under 30 offensive points this year (the Dolphins got to 34 in the last matchup thanks to a 99-yard pick six by Jevon Holland).
It wasn’t a statistical explosion on Sunday. The Dolphins rolled up a decent but unspectacular 305 total offensive yards on the day, with just 77 rushing yards on 28 carries. However, the Dolphins were efficient in the first half, after two Jets turnovers (a fumble and on downs) gave Miami’s offense a short field. After a punt, the Dolphins put together touchdown drives of 60 and 80 yards to put the game away at 24-0 at the half.
And – for at least another week – they’ve put away the talk about Miami’s offense being a house of cards without Hill. Hopefully they won’t have to keep proving themselves to their detractors without their superstar receiver moving forward.
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