Dolphins @ Raiders
Final Score: Raiders 31, Dolphins 28
Writer: Justin Herrera (@Semtexmex93 on Twitter)
The Las Vegas Raiders hosted the Miami Dolphins this week. Tua Tagovailoa and Josh Jacobs were the two major players missing from this Week 3 clash. This was a highly entertaining game that saw an unlikely battle of QBs between Derek Carr and Jacoby Brissett. It was a thrilling back and forth matchup that saw good offense and defense. This game came down to the wire, with the Raiders pulling it off with an overtime field goal. The game result was Las Vegas 31, Miami Dolphins 28.
Miami Dolphins
Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett: 32/49, 215 yards | 7 carries, 37 yards, TD
Jacoby Brissett shook Johnathan Abram out of his shoes.
… and then he got blasted by Denzel Perryman.pic.twitter.com/ST0blmAQWq
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 26, 2021
Jacoby Brissett started this game looking like a backup quarterback. Through the first few drives, Brissett was three for five with 12 yards, with a stupid safety on a screen pass that he should’ve never thrown. Early on, Brissett was carried by an Elandon Roberts interception returned for a TD and a turnover on downs that lead to a 24 yard Malcolm Brown TD. Brissett didn’t get anything going until the last drive of the 1st half, completing four of six passes for 30 yards, but more importantly, he shook Jonathan Abram completely out of his cleats.
The second half was looking a lot like the first did until Brissett broke off a 19-yard run that set up a field goal. After a turnover on downs, Brissett put together his best drive of the game connecting with Devante Parker on a nice 15-yard pass on 4th and eight. A few plays later, Brissett and the Dolphins had a pass interference call go their way that set them up for a one yard TD run from Brissett. The Fins then followed this up with a pass to Will Fuller V in the flat for the game-tying 2 point conversion.
I give Brissett credit for his overtime play, as it was everything you could’ve wanted from a QB. He started it off by lobbing up a deep ball to Devante Parker, which was broken up, but it’s that aggressive effort that you need when you’re trying to put away a team. On 4th and 20, Brissett unleashed another bomb, this time connecting with Mike Gesicki for 27 yards and a game continuing first down. This drive ended in a game-tying field goal, but unfortunately, it was the last time we saw Brissett as the Raiders scored on the next drive. Overall Brissett had good moments and didn’t lose the game for the Dolphins. That being said, he is a desperation pick as a fantasy QB option.
Running Back
Myles Gaskin: 13 carries, 65 yards | 6 targets, 3 receptions, 9 yards
Malcolm Brown: 7 carries, 31 yards, TD | 2 targets
Myles Gaskin gained most of his yards on two big runs, with one being a 14-yard run that helped set up an unsuccessful field goal attempt. He also pulled off a nice 15-yard outside run to set up a game-tying overtime field goal. Gaskin had plenty of opportunities in this game but just didn’t get enough going to make the impact he’s capable of. Malcolm Brown on the other hand wasn’t nearly as efficient but did score on a 24 yard run up the middle. The rest of his game was just six carries for seven yards. Overall, this was a weak game for the Dolphins’ ground game.
Myles Gaskin has a first down in Raiders territory! #FinsUp
📺: #MIAvsLV on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/JniNqvM7bL— NFL (@NFL) September 26, 2021
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Mike Gesicki: 12 targets, 10 receptions, 86 yards
Jaylen Waddle: 13 targets, 12 receptions, 58 yards
Devante Parker: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 42 yards
Will Fuller: 6 targets, 3 receptions, 20 yards
https://twitter.com/IHaveFourBalls/status/1442271717070622722
Mike Gesicki was targeted quite a bit, to say the least, with 12 targets and 10 receptions. Gesicki was the recipient of a 4th and 20 bomb that went for 27 yards and helped the Fins tie up the game. Gesicki was used prominently as a short-yardage receiver often gaining less than 10 yards per reception.
Jaylen Waddle was the Dolphins’ leader in both targets (13) and receptions (12). Waddle’s longest reception on the day was nine yards, and his overall yards per reception were 4.8. It wasn’t his fault as the offense, in general, was centered around the short game, only taking a limited amount of shots downfield. Unfortunately, the most memorable play for Waddle is the screen pass that turned into a safety
Devante Parker had a couple of big catches, one being a 15 yarder that set up a Brissett TD run. He also had a nice 7-yard catch that got the Dolphins into field goal range. Will Fuller V saw his first action of the season, reeling in three catches for 20 yards and a two-point conversion. He was also a step away from catching the game-winning TD in overtime. Both receivers’ stocks won’t be good until we get Tua back.
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Derek Carr: 26/43, 386 yards, 2 TD, INT
ELITE throw from Derek Carr 🎯
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/ZIlSsGH073
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 26, 2021
Derek Carr looks like an MVP candidate, and for the third straight week he has gone out and beaten a top defense. Carr started the game by throwing darts to Hunter Renfrow for 24 yards and catching Bryan Edwards on a drag route for 23 yards. This was followed by a miscommunication between Foster Moreau and Carr, leading to an interception returned for a TD. It took a safety by the Raiders’ defense to bring the offense to life. On the very next drive, he found Henry Ruggs for 18 yards and Darren Waller for eight yards, helping the Raiders get into field goal range. Carr started to carve up the Dolphins before the half ended by connecting twice with Ruggs for 48 yards before hitting Alec Ingold on a one-yard dump-off pass.
The second half is when Carr came alive. On his first drive he threw a touchdown to Rnfrow while running outside of the pocket. On the very next drive, Carr made competitions of 23 yards to Peyton Barber and Waller, before throwing a missile underneath to Kenyan Drake for 16 yards, setting up a Barber one-yard TD. Overtime started with Carr getting a high pass out to Ruggs for 16 yards, and then finding Edwards down the middle of the field for 32 yards, helping the Raiders get a field goal. The next drive was everything you want to see out of a clutch quarterback. Carr was calm, comfortable, and composed in the face of pressure. Carr dropped a dime of a pass into Edwards’ hands in the face of double coverage for 34 yards. This would inevitably help set up a game-winning field goal. Overall Carr had some early blunders but looked the part of an MVP player in the NFL.
Running Back
Peyron Barber: 23 carries, 111 yards, TD | 5 targets, 3 receptions, 31 yards
Kenyan Drake: 8 carries 24 yards | 6 targets, 3 receptions, 33 yards
Peyton Barber up and over 💈 @Pb25Peyton #RaiderNation
📺: #MIAvsLV on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/j29EEfDzR4— NFL (@NFL) September 26, 2021
Peyton Barber played better than anyone could’ve expected. Don’t get me wrong, there were occasions where he looked like the Barber we all know. There was the inability early on to get one yard on two carries, which resulted in a turnover on downs. There was also the fumble at the goal line that thankfully Alec Ingold was there to recover. Other than those mishaps, Barber was good today. He ran the ball well and found the holes frequently with burst. He tallied a TD and should’ve had two if not for the aforementioned fumble. On a day that he had 144 yards from scrimmage, his best drive could’ve been the last one as he gained 40 yards on 4 carries, with 27 of them coming off a nice outside run. Overall, Barber showed out in place of Josh Jacobs and could be considered a start next week depending on Jacobs’ status.
Kenyan Drake is in a certain role with the team, only getting eight carries and 6 targets on the day. It became apparent early that Barber was going to be the lead back. Drake did the most damage in the passing game as he had an excellent dump-off pass that just fell short of a TD and would set up a Barber TD run. Overall Drake’s day would’ve been fantasy relevant with the TD, but this just proves his role is not that of the number one on this offense.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Bryan Edwards: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 89 yards
Henry Ruggs: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 78 yards | 1 carry, 7 yards
Hunter Renfrow: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 77 yards, TD
Darren Waller: 7 targets, 5 reception, 54 yards
Zay Jones: 1 target, 1 reception, 15 yards
Foster Moreau: 2 targets, 1 reception, 8 yards
Henry Ruggs Mossed ‘em 👀
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/CduEEJpH7I— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 26, 2021
Bryan Edwards had the most yards but did his damage in big chunk plays. Edwards started his day with a drag route that he took for 23 yards. Edwards would be nearly silent until the game went into overtime. That’s when Edwards got up and caught two passes for 66 yards, essentially helping his team to a big overtime win. Overall, Edwards is still a shaky start, but if the Raiders go into overtime I know who I want on my team.
Henry Ruggs is finally getting used correctly, by spreading him out and getting him the ball in space the Raiders were able to optimize his potential. In this game he had a seven-yard end around and he elevated to grab a 23-yard ball on an out route. Ruggs also took a four-yard flat route and turned it into 25 yards. The point being it was good to see Ruggs all over the field and not just used as a deep route guy.
Any down and Hunter Renfrow, was a running joke on the broadcast. This was indicative of Renfrow’s ability to catch a pass in any given situation. Renfrow started his night with a short seam route that he turned into 24 yards. Later on, Renfrow made the catch of the day sliding in to snag a 25 yarder that seemed to miss its original target. Renfrow ended up finishing his day with a gritty TD that required him to break a tackle to get into the endzone.
Darren Waller had a rather pedestrian day compared to his usual stat lines, but this didn’t stop him from making an impact while catching a 23-yard ball to set up Barber’s one-yard TD run and help the Raiders get ahead. For the most part, Waller spent his time playing underneath as the safety net for Carr, though occasionally he hit a deep route and only caught one deep ball today. Overall this is an interesting receiving core to be invested in. Waller seems like the only guarantee but if Carr keeps playing to this level there could be quite a few values in Las Vegas.
— Justin Herrera (@Semtexmex93 on Twitter)