The quietly streaking Miami Dolphins will have their hands full in Sunday’s showdown with the surging Arizona Cardinals. Tua Tagovailoa didn’t blow anyone away in his NFL debut as a starter, but he did manage to keep from blowing an impressive win over the Los Angeles Rams. He might need a better effort on the road against a Cardinals team coming off a monumental overtime victory over the previously unbeaten Seattle Seahawks.
Still Tua time in Miami
Don’t expect any kneejerk reactions to rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s debut as a starter. Granted, it was his first time playing in the offense as the official starter, and he was facing a ferocious Rams defense led by the human sack machine, Aaron Donald.
Yet, for a team that’s actually competitive in the AFC right now, it’ll be interesting to see the extent of their patience if the team is losing. Make no mistake, Ryan Fitzpatrick might actually be the best option for the team right now, but it’s also clear the Dolphins want an opportunity to evaluate their young quarterback behind center ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft.
So it’ll be Tua time again on the field in Sunday’s matchup against the Cardinals.
Even without Chandler Jones hunting quarterbacks on the edge, the Cardinals still boast a pass rush that ranks top-10 in the league. It will literally be another sink-or-swim scenario for Tagovailoa for a second consecutive week. He’ll have to keep his head on a swivel and get the ball out quickly against another aggressive defense.
The Dolphins’ offensive line has done a pretty good job of keeping their quarterbacks upright, but Tagovailoa will also have to be sure not to compromise that success by holding onto the ball for too long. It would help if the Dolphins could consistently run the ball to settle things down. Arizona is notoriously bad against the run, but Miami has the fifth-worst rushing attack in the league with the team averaging 98 yards per game on the ground. They could also be without running back Matt Breida (hamstring) and will be without leading rusher Myles Gaskin (knee).
One team that can run the football, however, is Arizona. They are averaging 160.7 rushing yards per game this season. That could put tremendous pressure on Miami’s 21st-ranked run defense to ensure they don’t get ran out of the building.
Arizona has the world’s attention
All eyes are on Arizona right now.
No, not for the U.S. Presidential election, but all eyes are focused on the Cardinals proving their legitimacy as NFC contenders. The chance to knock off the Dolphins is an opportunity for the Cardinals to show a little consistency. There have been too many times in the past where they have pulled off an upset, only to get throttled by a team they were favored over the following week. After defeating the Seattle Seahawks, the Cardinals need to go out and show some consistency as a football team.
They can start by turning up the heat on Tagovailoa in the pocket. One of the criticisms for the rookie first-round draft pick coming out of college was his tendency to hold onto the ball for too long and refusing to give up on plays that aren’t there. The Cardinals have the secondary to cover in the backfield long enough to give their pass rushers time to get home. An aggressive effort could quickly lead to forced turnovers in the Cardinals’ favor.
They’ll need all of the help they can get with quarterback Kyler Murray facing a Dolphins defense that quietly ranks first in the league in average points allowed. He has to avoid stalled drives and aim to come away with touchdowns instead of field goals. More points puts even more pressure on Tagovailoa to play hero ball. The NFL doesn’t preserve many happy endings for young heroes, especially when they’re facing a good defense.
Running back Kenyan Drake and corner Dre Kirkpatrick are both listed as questionable to play for Sunday’s game. (edit: Drake is now listed as out).
