New Orleans Saints @ Miami Dolphins
Final Score: Dolphins 21, Saints 17
Writer: Steven Pintado (@coachstevenp)
In the rainy matchup between the Dolphins and Saints, this game was far from pretty. What looked like a one-sided blowout for most of the afternoon suddenly turned into a tight contest down the stretch. It quickly became clear this was a defensive battle, and Miami’s ability to win the turnover margin ended up being the deciding factor.
While the Dolphins’ defense controlled the game for the majority of the afternoon, the offense struggled to find any consistency. Once again, they leaned heavily on their star running back to carry the load, leaving the passing game looking flat and largely ineffective.
The Saints, meanwhile, opened the game with a rough start but eventually settled into a rhythm during the second half. They moved the ball better and showed signs of life, but ultimately it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback in the rain-soaked finish.
Three Up
- Tyler Shough — While the rookie did have two turnovers, he threw the ball well in the second half and threw two touchdowns.
- De’Von Achane — The Dolphins’ star running back continued to be leaned on with another 100-yard rushing day and had the biggest touchdown of the game.
- Devaughn Vele — The young receiver was leaned on in the second half of this comeback attempt and caught all eight of his balls for a big day.
Two Down
- Tua Tagovailoa — It almost seemed like the QB wanted to have the Dolphins lose, based on how often his drives stalled, and he did not throw well.
- Taysom Hill — After 10 carries last week, Hill’s touch involvement was minimal at best.
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback
Tyler Shough: 26/38, 239 Yards, 2 TDs, INT | 6 Carries, 18 Yards, Fumble (LOST), 2-Point Conversation
Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough put together a solid but inconsistent performance against the Dolphins. Early on, the Saints eased him in with quick, short throws, and that helped the offense find some rhythm. Unfortunately, the first half was still rough, as Shough committed two costly turnovers — a fumble and an interception on a ball he forced into a bad spot. He also struggled pushing the ball downfield, failing to complete a single pass over 20 yards and missing on most of his deeper attempts.
On the positive side, Shough settled in noticeably during the second half. He looked sharper in the short and intermediate ranges, consistently hitting his receivers for 12- to 15-yard gains that helped move the offense. He also showed improved poise when extending plays and keeping his eyes downfield. His second touchdown pass, to Devaughn Vele, was one of his best throws of the day — a well-placed ball to the back of the end zone where only his receiver could make the play.
Still, considering the conditions and his rookie status, Shough delivered a decent outing with clear flashes — though he still has plenty of refinement ahead of him.
Running Back
Devin Neal: 14 Carries, 47 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 22 Yards
Rookie running back Devin Neal drew the start in place of the injured Alvin Kamara, but he didn’t do much to make a strong impression. Miami’s run defense has tightened up over the past month, and Neal struggled to find any real traction on the ground, with his longest run going for just 8 yards. He lacked burst and wasn’t able to create much after contact, making the Saints’ run game largely ineffective when he was in.
His most encouraging moments came late, when the Saints were in negative game script and turned to him in the receiving game. Neal showed a little more juice with the ball in his hands, picking up gains of 10 and 8 yards on short passes in the fourth quarter.
It’s probably in the Saints’ best interest to continue giving Neal opportunities next week to see what they truly have in him, but based on this performance, he didn’t show enough to carve out anything beyond a depth role—at least for now.
Evan Hall: 5 Carries, 15 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Devaughn Vele: 8 Targets, 8 Receptions, 93 Yards, TD
Devaughn Vele had the big day for the Saints, leading the team in receiving yards against the Dolphins. Interestingly, Vele didn’t record a catch until the third quarter, but once he got going, he quickly became Shough’s go-to option late in the game. He consistently found soft spots over the middle of the field, stacking multiple receptions of 12 or more yards and moving the chains when the Saints needed it.
Vele showcased the full skill set — contested catches, tough grabs along the sideline, and excellent body control on his touchdown, keeping both feet in at the back of the end zone. This level of involvement hasn’t been typical for him, but it’s clear why the Saints traded for him and why they needed someone to step up after releasing Brandin Cooks.
That said, it’s important to note that all of Vele’s production came in the second half while the Saints were trailing 16-0. Game script and a bit of garbage-time flow likely boosted his numbers more than a sign of a true breakout role. Still, it was his most impactful showing so far, and it may earn him more looks moving forward.
Chris Olave: 7 Targets, 4 Receptions, 47 Yards, TD
Chris Olave didn’t deliver the WR1 production fantasy managers hoped for, but he still managed to find the end zone and salvage his day. Most of Olave’s work came in the second half. In the first half, he caught just one pass for 4 yards, and one of his early targets resulted in an interception after a miscommunication.
His third-quarter touchdown was a strong individual play — Olave won cleanly off the line, stacked his defender, and Shough dropped the ball in perfectly over the top. The rest of his receptions came in the fourth quarter as the Saints pushed the tempo and tried to stay alive in the game.
Olave should have better weeks ahead, but it’s worth noting he came into this matchup dealing with an injury that may have limited his usage and explosiveness. Even so, he flashed enough to show he can still create big plays when called upon.
Juwan Johnson: 9 Targets, 5 Receptions, 39 Yards
Juwan Johnson led the Saints in targets with nine, serving as Shough’s primary short-area option throughout the night. The veteran tight end consistently operated as the underneath safety blanket, with Shough looking his way whenever he needed a quick release or a high-percentage throw.
It was a tough outing for Johnson, though, as many of his opportunities came in contested situations. Early in the game, he had multiple difficult catch attempts where defenders were able to get a hand in and break the pass up. Despite the heavy involvement, he wasn’t able to turn the volume into big production.
Johnson was steady in his role as the reliable underneath option, but considering the favorable matchup on paper, many expected a bit more upside than what he ultimately delivered.
Mason Tipton: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 20 Yards | 1 Carry, -1 Yards
Foster Moreau: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 13 Yards
Taysom Hill: 1 Target, 1 Reception1, 5 Yards | 1 Carry, 2 Yards
Miami Dolphins
Quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa: 12/23 157 Yards, INT | 4 Carries, 4 Yards,
Tua Tagovailoa did not have a strong outing against the Saints. His ball placement was erratic throughout the game, and he looked off on several of his throws. He also took multiple unnecessary sacks on critical third-down plays, highlighting his limited pocket mobility when he holds onto the ball too long.
His lone interception came on a poorly floated pass into zone coverage — an area where Tagovailoa has consistently struggled. It wasn’t a case of overwhelming pressure, either, he simply didn’t throw the ball well. The rain likely played a role, as Tua has historically had issues with grip and accuracy when dealing with a wet football.
On the positive side, he did make a handful of key throws that helped Miami stay in scoring range. He delivered a nice strike to Jaylen Waddle over the middle for 22 yards, and later extended a play to find a wide-open Darren Waller for a big gain. But these moments were the exception, not the norm.
Overall, Tagovailoa’s inconsistency makes him difficult to trust from a passing standpoint, and based on what we’ve seen, expectations should remain tempered for the rest of the season.
Running Back
De’Von Achane: 22 Carries, 134 Yards, TD | 1 Target
De’Von Achane, the backbone of Miami’s offense, once again helped carry the Dolphins to victory. He set the tone immediately, breaking loose on the opening drive for a 29-yard touchdown run. Achane bounced the play outside, and once he hit the edge, his elite speed did the rest.
For the remainder of the game, Achane dominated the backfield touches. While backups mixed in occasionally, this was clearly his backfield. He ran with both burst and physicality, consistently churning out steady gains even in the rain-soaked conditions.
Surprisingly, he saw only one target in the passing game — and it could have been another touchdown. Miami dialed up a front-screen inside the 10-yard line, but Tagovailoa floated the ball too far out in front. If the throw had been on his frame, Achane almost certainly would have scored.
Even with the limited receiving involvement, Achane once again showed why he remains a top-tier running back for the rest of the season.
Jaylen Wright: 3 Carries, 16 Yards
Ollie Gordon: 3 Carries, 10 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Jaylen Waddle: 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 40 Yards
Jaylen Waddle turned in a very mediocre performance against the Saints. The rain played a factor, and Miami didn’t need to throw the ball much, but even within that context, this was a quieter outing than expected. It wasn’t entirely his fault — his first two targets in the opening quarter weren’t remotely catchable, and he didn’t record his first reception until midway through the second.
One of his early targets sailed too high and ended up getting intercepted, putting part of his slow start on poor ball placement rather than his own play. His best moment of the game came in the second half on a 22-yard catch, but outside of that, he was largely kept in check.
The Saints’ defense clearly schemed to limit him, frequently shading safety help or rolling double coverage his way. That opened opportunities for other Dolphins pass catchers, but made it difficult for Waddle to find space. When Miami gets ahead in games this season, it tends to abandon the pass, and Tagovailoa’s inconsistency in this matchup didn’t help.
Darren Waller: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 47 Yards
The Dolphins welcomed back Darren Waller, who finished third on the team in targets and delivered Miami’s biggest offensive play of the game — a 34-yard reception. On that play, the defense fully committed to Waddle, leaving Waller wide open to rumble downfield for a much-needed explosive gain.
His first two targets came early, but he wouldn’t see another look until late in the fourth quarter. That final target nearly turned into a touchdown, but Waller couldn’t get his feet down in bounds, missing the score by inches.
Waller’s involvement should increase moving forward, especially in games where the Dolphins face negative game script or are forced to lean more on the passing attack.
Malik Washington: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 30 Yards
Malik Washington operated as the Dolphins’ short-area receiver in this matchup, handling most of his work underneath. His biggest play of the night came on a wide-open 19-yard catch across the middle, but outside of that, his production was limited to short, quick-hitting routes.
His lone incompletion came on a sideline target that was badly off-target from his quarterback. Washington actually had to play defensive back on the play, disrupting the pass to prevent what looked like a potential interception by a Saints defender.
Washington continues to be a low-volume, inconsistent option in this offense. While he provides occasional chain-moving plays, he doesn’t offer much fantasy or long-term value as a secondary piece behind Miami’s top weapons.
Greg Dulcich: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 24 Yards
Julian Hill: 1 Target