Colts @ Dolphins
Final Score: Colts 27, Dolphins 17
Writer: Ben Brown (@BenBrownPL on Twitter)
Many fantasy managers came into this game looking to see if Jonathan Taylor could finally break out and have a big game worthy of his preseason draft stock. Many were also curious to see how the Miami offense, especially their pass catchers, would fare with Jacoby Brissett under center. Well, Taylor went off for his biggest game of the year, and those who roster Devante Parker or Mike Gesicki were happy with their outputs on Sunday.
This was a slow game in the first half, with all but two drives resulting in punts. Both teams muffed a punt in this game as well, with Nyheim Hines fumbling the first punt of the game and Jakeem Grant dropping one later in the game. It was a wash, however, as both turnovers only resulted in field goals.
Special teams takeaway!
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/iOprD9uSA2
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 3, 2021
At 1:43 in the 2nd quarter, the Colts took their first offensive snap with a lead this season. It’s not the start to the year the Colts wanted, but Sunday was at least a step in the right direction. The second half was much better offensively for both teams, but the Colts especially looked much more solid, scoring on all of their drives (if you don’t count the punt that they ultimately recovered).
This wasn’t a flashy game by any means, and the best player on the field was clearly Taylor, but the Colts did enough to clinch their first win of the season.
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback
Carson Wentz: 24/32, 228 yards, 2 TD, 2 sacks | 5 carries, 8 yards
For the most part, Carson Wentz looked pretty good on Sunday. There were a few times that he was noticeably limping thanks to his two injured ankles, but there were also occasions where he scrambled out of the pocket to make a play, and he even scrambled for a first down with their back against the wall on their own three-yard line. I was impressed with how mobile he looked despite the bum ankles.
Wentz really only had one notable throw that was suspect at best, at least from what I saw. While he escaped without throwing an interception, he did throw a deep ball to Michael Pittman that was tipped and probably should have been intercepted. Other than that, Wentz was was solid.
His first touchdown was an easy toss to a wide-open Mo Alie-Cox to cap off an 11 play, 84 yard drive to begin the 2nd half.
THROW TO MO ‼️
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/XHe1gSu0e9
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 3, 2021
His second touchdown, also to Alie-Cox, was an absolute bullet that Alie-Cox went up to get. It was an almost perfect throw that essentially sealed the game.
Big Mo is a bad, bad dude.
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/8A7519itAa
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 3, 2021
I don’t want to say that Wentz looked like the Wentz of old in this game, but he looked closer to the Wentz of old than I’ve seen in a while. Overall, I was impressed.
Running Back
Jonathan Taylor: 16 carries, 103 yards, TD | 3 targets, 3 receptions, 11 yards
Nyheim Hines: 2 carries, 6 yards, Fumble (Lost) | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 5 yards
Marlon Mack: 10 carries, 22 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 1 yard
Jonathan Taylor. The man showed up to play in this one and had multiple long runs to help pad his stats. One of them resulted in a touchdown…
JT takes it home. 🙌
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/FYzotlQK5M
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 3, 2021
And he made a defender miss to break out another long run later in the game.
Nifty little move from @JayT23.
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/qOqtxtHAVl
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 3, 2021
Taylor was featured early and often in this game, earning a carry on each of the Colts’ first three plays and then a reception on their fourth. A holding call on Zach Pascal wiped away a 15 yard gain at one point, but Taylor once again looked like a stud in this one regardless. He hit holes with power, made defenders miss, and caught a few passes along the way, including one that was overthrown that he made a nice play to go up and get. It was a good day to roster Jonathan Taylor.
The only thing that could get in between Taylor and RB1 status this season is Marlon Mack. While Mack is clearly on the back end of his career, he still touched the ball 11 times and Indy seems intent on making sure he gets his fair share of carries. He did bounce one run outside for a nice 12 yard gain, making a defender miss as he got around the edge, but he was stuffed for a five-yard loss on the next play and didn’t do anything with the rest of his touches. He shouldn’t be taking chances away from Taylor at this point, yet here we are.
Nyheim Hines fumbled the first punt of the game, giving the ball back to the Dolphins and leading to a field goal. He was rarely used in this game. I’m not sure if it was a game script thing or if he was in the dog house, but he’s been inconsistent at best this season and I’m not sure I would be trusting him in my starting lineup at this point.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Michael Pittman Jr.: 8 targets, 6 receptions, 59 yards
Zach Pascal: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 44 yards
Mo Alie-Cox: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 42 yards, 2 TD
Jack Doyle: 1 target, 1 reception, 24 yards
Parris Campbell: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 22 yards
Ashton Dulin: 1 target, 1 reception, 17 yards
Michael Pittman didn’t get going until the 2nd quarter and even then he was relatively quiet. 11.9 PPR points is an acceptable output for a flex PPR option, but he was one move away from punching a reception into the end zone and really delivering on the day. He made a nice move to gain separation, then caught the ball and turned toward the endzone. The defender made a good play to stuff him at the two-yard line, but part of me thought Pittman could have gotten in. I haven’t seen a replay so I could be totally off base, but either way, it was an average day for Pittman.
The only time I really noticed Zach Pascal was on his holding penalty. He also had a “reception” on a shovel pass at the goal line that he couldn’t convert for the score. Carson Wentz was able to connect with Mo Alie-Cox for the score a play later, but it seemed like a strange play call with how well Jonathan Taylor was running the ball.
Speaking of Mo Alie-Cox, he had himself a game. Yes, he was wide open on the first touchdown reception, but that second one was a phenomenal catch. He also did a great job in the blocking game and opening up holes for Taylor. His five targets nearly equaled the six he had in the first three games combined, and don’t forget that he was targeted 39 times last season. Keep an eye on this.
Miami Dolphins
Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett: 20/30, 199 yards, 2 TD, 3 sacks | 3 carries, 8 yards, 2 Fumbles (1 Lost)
Jacoby Brissett initially looked good in this game. His first few drives were decent, and he showed that he has the ability to make a play with his feet when needed. He scrambled for a first down on third and short and even threw a nice pass on the run to Will Fuller for 20+ yards that was called back thanks to a penalty. Brissett is smart and he goes through his progressions quickly. He’s a competent NFL quarterback.
Unfortunately, that’s his ceiling. He’s not a true playmaker by any sense of the word. He has a long windup when he throws which often results in him trying to fit a ball into a tight spot between multiple defenders, which he did on multiple occasions in this one. One of those near the end of the first half should have been intercepted, and it would have given the Colts a short field with plenty of time to score. Brissett needs to be better than that if the Dolphins want to stay in the playoff race.
He was strip-sacked on the first play of the fourth quarter on a play where he tried too hard to make something happen.
Big Grove jars it loose. 💪
The Maniac scoops it up. 😈
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/2DwkpCe8AO
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 3, 2021
The smart play would have been to just take the sack here and move on. They had good field position and a fresh set of downs, but instead, he got turned around and the ball was knocked out of his hands when it was already too late.
To Brissett’s credit, he didn’t let it phase him. He drove the ball down the field on their very next drive and threw his first touchdown of the day to Mike Gesicki.
Brissett to Gesicki! @MiamiDolphins score on 4th and Goal. #FinsUp
📺: #INDvsMIA on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/LQA2LnkGPz— NFL (@NFL) October 3, 2021
He again led them down the field for a touchdown on their final drive of the game, but it was too little, too late at that point. Brissett shouldn’t be on anyone’s fantasy radar except in the deepest of leagues, and even then he may only be the starter until Week 6.
Running Back
Myles Gaskin: 2 carries, 3 yards
Malcolm Brown: 8 carries, 23 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards
Salvon Ahmed: 3 carries, 1 yard | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards
Yeah… I don’t know what happened here. Malcolm Brown was featured early on the ground and was even the first back to be targeted through the air. After that, Salvon Ahmed saw a few touches and it wasn’t until after both of them saw the ball that Myles Gaskin was given an opportunity to carry the rock. Why the Dolphins simply abandoned the run game in this one I don’t understand, because they weren’t really out of it until after Brissett’s strip-sack.
The fact that Gaskin wasn’t targeted once in this game was an atrocity. They were lacking a quick dump-off guy all game and usually Gaskin is that player. They simply didn’t use him (or any of their backs, really) in that role at all. I questioned Miami’s play-calling in this game.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Devante Parker: 9 targets, 4 receptions, 77 yards, TD
Mike Gesicki: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 57 yards, TD
Jaylen Waddle: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 33 yards
Will Fuller: 2 targets, 1 reception, 6 yards
Albert Wilson: 2 targets, 1 reception, 11 yards
Durham Smythe: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 6 yards
Jakeem Grant: 1 target, 1 reception, -7 yards, Fumble (Lost)
Jaylen Waddle was the first receiver to make a splash. He caught all three of his passes before the end of the first quarter and wasn’t targeted again until late in the third quarter. After that, nothing. They were moving the ball when Waddle was involved and struggled to move it when he wasn’t, for the most part. I would have liked to see what the offense looked like with more targets for Waddle, because I think the game would have been much closer had they not abandoned him.
Will Fuller had the one long catch that was called back and one catch for six yards. He did hurt his hand in the 2nd quarter and didn’t return to the game. Will Fuller got injured – who possibly could have seen that coming?
Mike Gesicki was the go-to guy down the stretch for Brissett as the Dolphins tried to climb back into the game. He had one target in the first half, one in the third quarter, and four in the fourth. He stumbled to the ground on his touchdown catch but he stood on his head to catch two long passes, each for 22 yards while the Dolphins drove down the field in the no-huddle offense. It would have been a better sign to see the production spread out over the course of the game rather than all in garbage time, but we’ll take what we can get out of the inconsistent Gesicki.
Devante Parker had three notable plays, and all of them came on the last drive of the game. One was a 42-yard bomb that Parker went up to get late in the fourth quarter, making a nice play over the defender to secure the grab. A few plays later, he dropped a touchdown pass that he really should have had on third and two on the Indianapolis three-yard line. On fourth down, Parker was targeted once again and he made a phenomenal play to catch the ball and get his feet down inbounds to secure the score.
.@JBrissett12 ➡️ @DeVanteParker11
📺 Watch #INDvsMIA on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/LcbsEYoKfG
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) October 3, 2021
Again, it’s not a good sign that most of Gesicki and Parker’s production came in garbage time when the game was already over, but we’ll take what we can get out of these guys.
— Ben Brown (@BenBrownPL on Twitter)