Tag: Matt Haack

What we learned from Bills’ preseason win over the Bears

What we learned from Bills’ preseason win over the Bears (via @NateMendelson):

The Buffalo Bills made it look awfully easy from start to finish against the Chicago Bears in their second preseason game. The Bills leave Chicago with a 41-15 win.

As is always the case in the preseason, there were plenty of things to note in the contest when reading between the lines.

Here are eight things we learned from the Bills’ preseason win over the Bears:

Isaiah McKenzie working out with new Bills punter Matt Haack

Buffalo Bills’ Isaiah McKenzie, Matt Haack, working out together.

Isaiah McKenzie is already putting in some early offseason return work.

McKenzie recently re-signed with the Bills and following the departure of Andre Roberts to the Texans, McKenzie is in the front of the line in terms of those that could replace Roberts as a returner.

The Bills recently signed return man Brandon Powell to a contract and those two will likely battle for Buffalo’s kick return job during this offseason’s training camp. Maybe McKenzie is trying to get every advantage he can in that competition because he was working out with another new teammate on Monday.

It wasn’t Powell, rather, the Bills’ new punter Matt Haack. McKenzie posted this video on his social media account on Instagram and tagged Haack in the post:

While Powell will certainly get his looks at earning a roster spot, at least on paper for now, McKenzie is the favorite to win the job. Not only does McKenzie already play a pivotal on Buffalo’s offense as a gadget type player, he also had a nice game returning the ball in 2020.

In the Bills’ season finale, Roberts got the day off ahead of the playoffs and McKenzie got an opportunity. Roberts was very successful during his time in Buffalo, however, he never took a return in for a score. McKenzie did so last year in Week 17 on a punt. 

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Dolphins’ secret weapon in the kicking game becoming harder to miss

Dolphins’ secret weapon in the kicking game becoming harder to miss

The excitement surrounding the Miami Dolphins’ recent 3-1 stretch of play to return to .500 on the season could easily be pointed in a number of different directions. We could talk about the offense and how it averages nearly 28 points per game, or we could talk about a defense that is quite suddenly among the tops in the NFL in scoring defense. But there is a third component to the game of football that is often overlooked. But it shouldn’t be, at least not for this Miami Dolphins team.

Sure, you know all about Jason Sanders, the kicker who has started the season a perfect 15/15 kicking field goals for Miami. But how about Dolphins punter Matt Haack? Haack is enjoying the best stretch of his pro career as the Dolphins’ punter thus far this season, accentuated by his performance against the New York Jets as Miami felt content to play the field position battle with the Jets.

Miami, who jumped out to an early 21-0 lead, saw Haack take the field for seven punts on Sunday — which is as many kicks as his previous three games combined. And on those seven punts, Haack offered the following results:

  • 6 fair catches
  • 5 punts inside the Jets’ 20-yard line
  • 3 punts inside the Jets’ 10-yard line

The Dolphins effectively dared the Jets to move the distance of the field against them and asked Haack to keep the Jets pinned deep. Not only did Haack oblige, he thrived. For a player whose kicking resume has been scattershot in recent memory, getting as good of performances as Miami has gotten from Haack this season is a huge development and a huge upgrade.

Miami will look to continue to piece together ideal “team” efforts — but team efforts aren’t complete unless the special teams units tie it all together. On Sunday against the Jets, Haack did his part to keep the screws on the Jets and help Miami climb back to .500 on the season.

Dolphins officially resign P Matt Haack to restricted FA tender

Dolphins officially resign P Matt Haack to restricted FA tender

The Miami Dolphins have officially locked in punter Matt Haack, confirming that Miami’s special teamers will likely be returning in full force once again in 2020. Haack, who has served as Miami’s punter in each of the last three seasons, will return for a fourth barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Haack, of course, was a part of the Dolphins’ stellar “Mountaineer Shot” trick play — a critical moment in Miami’s victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in December of 2019. The play, which won the NFL’s play of the year award in 2019, featured Haack’s back-handed toss to kicker Jason Sanders for a touchdown and provided Miami fans with a memorable trick play that will be remembered for years to come. Would it have been nice to see come in a more meaningful season? Sure. But the Dolphins’ rebuild will be looked at favorably — 2019 included — if this team is able to secure long-term success and reboot their once proud winning ways.

And, at least for now, Haack looks to continue to be a piece of the puzzle. Haack averaged a career best 41.1 net yards per punt in 2019, all while punting 14 times less than his previous career low (69 punts in 2019).

As Miami’s offense continues to improve, ideally we’ll see less and less of Haack throughout the season. That is, of course, unless he’s making a guest appearance to throw another touchdown somewhere down the line.

Eagles fall to 5-7 after embarrassing 37-31 road loss to the Dolphins

Eagles fall to 5-7 after embarrassing 37-31 road loss to the Dolphins

It’s hard to have a glass-half-full mentality when you watched your team give up 37 points to a Miami Dolphins franchise in the midst of tanking. That’s exactly what happened as the Eagles fell to 5-7 on the season after an embarrassing 37-31 debacle in Miami, that saw Ryan Fitzpatrick once again shred the Philadelphia secondary.

It’s the third loss in a row for a team that still has aspirations for an NFC East title after allowing 37 points to a team that was averaging less than 15 per game.

For Miami, Ryan Fitzpatrick looked like a franchise signal-caller, going 27 of 39 for 365 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

The Eagles defense looked formidable over the past few weeks but on Sunday, they allowed 20-unanswered points in the second half, with one drive going for 96-yards.

DeVante Parker dominated the Eagles secondary, catching seven passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns while looking like a man among boys while facing the Birds secondary.

Miami’s final drive was a 13-play, 50-yard drive that took six minutes off the clock and gave the Dolphins a nine-point lead with less than three minutes remaining.

For Philadelphia, it’s a game that Carson Wentz can be proud of, as the Eagles star went 28 of 46 for 310 yards, three touchdowns and an interception on the games final play.

Dolphins’ trickery results in unbelievable touchdown vs. Eagles

The Dolphins dug deep into the playbook to pull out a 4th down touchdown in the 2nd quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles.

What is it about the Dolphins and December home games in retro uniforms?! The last time Miami suited up in their sweet throwbacks, they walked off the field as winners in the Miami Miracle. This time around, the Dolphins have scored one of the more unbelievable trick plays you’ll ever witness.

No, really. You have to see this one to believe it.

The Dolphins’ decision to go for it on 4th and goal from the one yard line hit the jackpot as punter Matt Haack took the direct snap, rolled to his left and shoved a ball to kicker Jason Sanders in the end zone — just as Sanders slipped past the defense to uncover all alone for six.

The continued fearlessness of Brian Flores and company has the Dolphins right in the thick of things in Week 13, they currently trail the Eagles by a score of 21-14 at the half.

For Sanders, he’s scored himself a piece of NFL history. He’s the first kicker to log a receiving touchdown in an NFL game since Jim Turner in 1977.

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WATCH: Dolphins score touchdown on the season’s most unusual play

The Dolphins went rogue on a field goal “attempt,” and came away with the season’s most improbable touchdown.

If anyone is still telling you that the 2019 Dolphins are tanking, don’t believe them. Because teams that are tanking don’t run plays like this.

With 4:40 left in the first half of their game against the Eagles, and down 13-7, Miami lined up on fourth down from the Philadelphia one-yard line in a field goal formation, but went to something that looked like a combination between the old Emory-and-Henry formation and the Redskins’ doomed Swinging Gate.

Here, the Dolphins found a much better result, as punter/holder Matt Haack took the snap, rolled left, and threw a shovel pass touchdown to kicker Jason Sanders.

And here’s the Next Gen Stats moving playbook version…

Kudos to head coach Brian Flores and his staff for catching the Eagles off guard, and making Week 13 a bit more interesting.

Watch: Eagles fall victim to trick play that led to a TD pass from Dolphins punter to kicker Jason Sanders

Dolphins punter Matt Haack throws a TD pass to the kicker Jason Sanders on trick play vs. Eagles

Sometimes you have to give credit when credit is due. The Philadelphia Eagles love to run a lot of tricks plays, so it’s shocking that this team constantly falls victim to them as well.

With the Dolphins fighting hard and looking to close out the season on a high note, Miami just took the lead over the Eagles, on a trick play that saw the team’s punter throw a touchdown pass to the kicker, Jason Sanders.

The odd formation saw Miami punter Matt Haack lined up behind the center in a super spread formation. After taking the snap, Haack rolled left before flipping the ball to kicker Jason Sanders in the end zone to give Miami a 14-13 lead after an extra point.

The formation was one that the Eagles clearly weren’t prepared for.