Dolphins Clinch Narrow Victory Over Saints with Waller’s Return
The Miami Dolphins scored a narrow 21-17 victory against the New Orleans Saints, showcasing a blend of grit and strategy that marked their latest outing. The game was particularly notable for the return of tight end Darren Waller, who made his presence felt in his first action since an injury sidelined him in Week 7.
Roster Dynamics and Inactives
Remarkably, the Dolphins entered this contest without any significant injuries, as every player on their 53-man roster was healthy enough to suit up. This left only two players, linebacker Andre Carter II and cornerback A.J. Green III, as the inactives, both of whom were recently signed from other teams’ practice squads. Backup quarterback Zach Wilson was the only active player who did not see any game time. On special teams, five players—Ethan Bonner, Elijah Campbell, K.J. Britt, Kendall Lamm, and Caleb Johnson—contributed, with Johnson being promoted from the practice squad just a week earlier.
Offensive Highlights
The return of Waller and tackle Austin Jackson was critical for the Dolphins’ offensive strategy. Contrary to initial expectations that Jackson would share snaps with Larry Borom, he played nearly every offensive snap, missing only one. Waller, on the other hand, participated in 28 of the 60 offensive plays, catching two passes out of three targets. While this was a step down from his previous outings against the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Chargers, it was a vital first step in his recovery.
“Some of those things when you’re out for a certain amount of time, you’ve got to get back into a rhythm feeling like the small things that make for the big plays,” Waller reflected post-game. “Just those things are valuable as I head back into getting ready to prep for Week 2; it’s good to get back out there and just feel everything again.”
The Dolphins’ offensive scheme continued to rely heavily on their “heavy formation,” with Daniel Brunskill contributing as an extra offensive lineman/tight end/H-back for 19 snaps. In their last four victories, Brunskill’s snap count has consistently ranged from 18 to 22, illustrating his importance in the Dolphins’ approach.
With Waller’s return and Brunskill’s involvement, the wide receivers not named Jaylen Waddle and Malik Washington saw limited action. Waddle led with 55 snaps, while Washington logged 36. The trio of Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Cedrick Wilson Jr., and Dee Eskridge managed just 26 snaps combined. In the backfield, running backs Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright each had three carries; however, Gordon had a more significant role with 16 offensive snaps compared to Wright’s six.
Defensive Standouts
On the defensive side, four players stood out by participating in all 72 defensive snaps: cornerbacks Rasul Douglas and Jack Jones, along with linebackers Tyrel Dodson and Jordyn Brooks. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick closely followed with 71 snaps, while Ashtyn Davis and Ifeatu Melifonwu contributed significantly, with 69 and 56 snaps, respectively, as the Dolphins often employed nickel formations.
Bradley Chubb’s performance has notably improved since the departure of Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles. Chubb played a season-high 58 snaps, marking his third consecutive game exceeding the 50-snap threshold. Similarly, Chop Robinson also registered a season-high with 45 snaps, which coincided with one of his strongest performances of the year.
In a game defined by strategic returns and defensive resilience, the Dolphins continue to build momentum as they navigate their season, embodying the tenacity needed to secure victories in a tightly contested league.
