The Miami Dolphins fell to the Seattle Seahawks by a final score of 31-23 this afternoon, an end result that was brought about due to some frustrating struggles from some of the same usual suspects of Miami’s 1-3 start to the 2020 season. Offensively, the Dolphins were absolutely brutal in the red zone in Week 4. The Dolphins finished the day with 415 yards of offense and found themselves down in the red zone on three separate occasions. But just one of those possessions (the final one, which came in the final 2 minutes of the contest when Miami was trailing by 16 points) saw Miami reach the end zone. Other than that, the Dolphins ripped off five consecutive drives that resulted in field goals.
The Dolphins ripped off drives of:
- 9 plays, 54 yards
- 8 plays, 64 yards
- 10 plays, 48 yards
- 10 plays, 55 yards
- 17 plays, 73 yards
And yet walked away with just 15 points for their efforts. And yet Miami found themselves despite the struggles within two points at the halfway point of the 4th-quarter with momentum seemingly on their side. But the script, much like it did in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills, turned south from there as the Seahawks went back to the same well they had success with all day: targeting rookie CB Noah Igbinoghene in coverage.
The rookie’s issues arose at the end of each half. After a brutal mistake late in the 1st-half that allowed Seattle to go the full length of the field in just 21 seconds after Miami kicked a field goal to move the score to 10-9, Igbinoghene got caught jumping down in zone coverage to erroneously attack a route — opening up a massive void for David Moore to gash Miami for 57 yards. Two plays later, Seattle was in the end zone and led 17-9 at the half.
In the deciding possession of the game, Igbinoghene was again attacked in coverage on a deep crossing route by Tyler Lockett that went for 30 yards to move Seattle into field goal range. Three plays later, with 5:30 remaining, Igbinoghene got caught ill prepared for the snap and Russell Wilson lofted a touch pass over his head for a touchdown in the corner of the end zone to move the score to 24-15.
Miami’s subsequent possession was spoiled by an ill-advised throw from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and within two plays, the Seahawks had blown the score wide open before Miami collected their garbage time touchdown.
The end of the contest will certainly leave a sour taste in the Dolphins’ mouth, too — the Dolphins attempted a quasi-onside kick after cutting the score to 31-23 and on third down, facing the opportunity to force a potential punt with a minute left, the Dolphins appeared to stop RB Chris Carson short to force fourth down. The officials, however, seemed to have a different perspective than everyone else — calling a first down the effectively closed the game for good.
There’s plenty of blame to go around for the Dolphins in their Week 4 loss. The team will now have to buckle down and play a Week 5 contest in San Francisco to attempt a climb back to within one game of .500 on the season. But this loss will be hard to shake. Miami has plenty of progress on hand this season, but the late game mistakes will continue to cost the Dolphins until they learn how to eliminate them and close out close games.