- The Miami Dolphins beat Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football at TIAA Bank Field, 31-13.
- Ryan Fitzpatrick was in the middle of attention with excellent performance, and with an achievement never seen before.
- On the other side, Gardner Minshew had a mediocre contest, blending in Jags’ subpar display.
Fins Commanding Right From the Start
Fitzpatrick reached full speed early on, opening the night with 12 consecutive successful passes, something he never succeeded before. But not only that, his fantastic opening allowed the Dolphins to score on their first three drives, completely knocking out the shocked hosts. Now even though everybody talks about him, the 37-year old veteran praised his teammates and his coaches.
“It speaks to the creativity of our coaching staff to add some wrinkles on a short week,” Fitzpatrick said. “But it also speaks to the guys that were able to absorb the plan and make plays. It was nice to see everybody involved on a short week and with Chan.”
Fitzpatrick had 160 yards, 18-for-20, with two touchdown passes and one rushing TD. He wasn’t picked and suffered just one sack, even though the Jags’ defense did have several chances more to catch the 16-season veteran.
He would lead Miami to a 14-0 after the first period. At first, the Fins QB sent a 3-yard pass to Preston Williams, and after Jordan, Howard carried the ball into the endzone with a one-yard rush.
With 1:56 the Jags cut the deficit with James Robinson’s 11-yard running TD, yet they couldn’t restrain the rivals who responded in the very next attack.
This time Fitzpatrick found Mike Gesicki for a 15-yard TD catch with 5:58 to the halftime. The QB himself scored in the third frame, with a one-yard carry of his own.
Poor Minshew
Gardner Minshew was expected to step up and bring another win to his team, and also to improve his reputation with success at the nationally televised match. Yet he failed terribly.
Jags’ QB was 30-for-42, for 275 yards and one pick, along with a fumble.
“As a group, we just didn’t get it done,” Minshew stated. “We had too many mistakes. That’s plain and simple.”
The only player worth mentioning among the home team was James Robinson, who, apart from one TD in the first half, added one more in the final period, also on the ground, generating 129 yards in total, from the scrimmage.
The Jaguars now have two road games, the first one against the Cincinnati Bengals next week, and after that, visit Houston to play against the Texans.
Miami heads to Seattle next week to try to surprise Russell Wilson and his crew and then extend the road trip to land in San Francisco, where the 49ers await them.
Fitzpatrick Enters History
The NFL’s favorite journeyman became the first player who managed to beat one franchise with six different teams. Fitzpatrick did that against the Jaguars, whom he defeated before with the Bengals, Bills, Titans, Texans, and the Jets.
The way he plays, we might see even more of such achievements in the future.
