With Tua Tagovailoa sidelined, the logical path to victory for the Miami Dolphins seemed to be the team’s ground game. But in back-to-back losses against the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans, the Dolphins running backs struggled to find much room.
That changed Sunday in the team’s 15-10 win against the New England Patriots.
Despite losing De’Von Achane to a concussion in the first quarter, the duo of Raheem Mostert, who returned Sunday after missing three games with a chest injury, and fourth-round rookie Jaylen Wright led the way in Miami’s win.
“I think we had been disappointed with what we’ve produced on the ground, just in general” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said after the game. “I think the running back room was ready to put the team on their back, so to speak.”
Mostert finished his return with 19 carries for 80 yards, his highest total since Week 13 of the 2023 season. He was topped by Wright, who managed to pick up 86 yards on only 13 carries even after a 33-yard gain was negated by a penalty.
“Jaylen Wright definitely stepped up big,” Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold, who scored Miami’s only touchdown, said. “Raheem [Mostert] to come back and be able to play physical … to be able to find those creases, I think both of those guys played really hard, really physical. It was really cool to see them flourish in the fourth quarter like that.”
By the end of the game, the Dolphins had 193 rushing yards — more than their last two games combined, and their biggest output on the ground since Week 5 of 2023.
“I just feel like it all came together in the second half,” Wright said. “I felt like we were getting good movement thanks to the offensive line. We were getting good movement you know and getting it up to the second or third level. It opens things up for the run to produce great runs.”
The Dolphins will be without Tagovailoa for at least one more week, as the quarterback is required to miss four games or more before returning from injured reserve. If Miami can continue to find momentum with its ground game, it would go a long way toward keeping the 2024 season afloat until it once again resembles its Week 1 self.
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