By Andres Cruz
After their week one matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was postponed due to Hurricane Irma, the Miami Dolphins finally took the field on Sunday to play their season Opener during week two against the Los Angeles Chargers in Los Angeles.
The game was closely contested the entire time, in what would turn out to be a game of field goals.
Early in the first quarter, The Dolphins utilized their impressive running game, with Jay Ajayi bulldozing through the defense and into Charger’s territory. The Los Angeles defense later pushed back, forcing the fins to go for a thirty-yard field goal on fourth down. Cody Parkey sank his first of four field goals for the day, making the score 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Second Quarter was all Los Angeles, as they quickly gained the lead in the game. Right off the bat, Younghoe Koo makes a field goal from forty-one yards for the Chargers, tying the score 3-3. After an offensive run down the field, Chargers’ running back Melvin Gordon trucked his way into the end-zone, giving Los Angeles the lead at the end of the first half. The Miami offense, however, wasn’t having it as they quickly tied the score again with an impressive touchdown pass to Wide Receiver Kenny Stills in the third quarter.
Around the eight-minute mark in the third quarter, Chargers Quarterback Philip Rivers completed a historic touchdown pass to the legendary tight end, Antonio Gates. The pass was Gates’ 212th touchdown catch, the most by any tight end in NFL history. He broke Tony Gonzalez’s record of 211. The quarter eventually ended with a Miami field goal and Chargers in the lead, 17-13.
The game eventually came down to be decided by a series of field goal attempts from both sides in the fourth Quarter. Cody Parker made two field consecutive field goals for the Dolphins, with his last one being from an impressive distance of fifty- four yards. Within the last minute of the game, Philip Rivers led the Chargers offense on a nail-biting run down the field. With ten seconds left, Younghoe Koo missed the field goal that would’ve sealed a Los Angeles victory from forty-four yards. The Dolphins won the closely contested matchup, 19-17.
Besides the fact the Dolphins are starting off their season undefeated, the win was especially great for Quarterback Jay Cutler, who’s Dolphin debut was on Sunday against the Chargers. Cutler came out retirement during the offseason, at short notice, to replace the Dolphin’s former starting Quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, after he severely injured his left knee during practice. When news that he would be Tannehill’s replacement reached fans, Cutler was almost instantly met with skepticism and criticism on whether he’d be better or just as good as Tannehill after barely practicing in the offseason. Although, after an impressive performance on Sunday, most Dolphin’s probably forgot there was ever a Ryan Tannehill.
Altogether, The Dolphins had a really great game statistically, primarily with their offense. Jay Ajayi rushed 122 yards in 28 carries. When asked about Ajayi’s performance Sunday, Jay Cutler said, “I have the best seat in the house.”
When reporters asked Chargers Linebacker Melvin Ingram if Cutler posed a threat to his defense, he responded: “None. We don’t see him as a problem for us.” That, however, wasn’t the case as Cutler passed for over 200 yards against the Chargers.
Sunday’s game was a big morale boost for the Dolphins, players and fans alike. Now all the Dolphins have to do is keep winning games like these to potentially see a playoff run.
