MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – It’s been a productive first half for the Miami Dolphins offense as they face the Dallas Cowboys and now three players are in the team’s history books.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa came into Sunday’s game needing only 79 yards to give him 4,000 passing yards for the season and was able to pass the mark on a drive that was capped off with a 50-yard strike to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
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Not only does Tua lead the league in passing yards but became the team’s first passer to throw for 4K since Dan Marino accomplished the feat with 4,116 yards during the 1992 season.
Entering Sunday’s game, Tagovailoa also ranks second in passer rating (106.0), is tied for fifth in passing touchdowns (25) and second in the NFL in yards per attempt (8.6).
For a guy who many say, “can’t throw deep,” those numbers speak volumes. But Tagovailoa encourages his critics not to worry because he “keeps receipts,” the quarterback admitted in Wednesday’s press conference with the media.
Tua will look to silence more of his haters by picking up a win in Sunday’s game as the Dolphins seek to capture their first victory against an opponent with a winning record (0-3) this season.
Jaylen waddles, Mostert surfs their way into the Dolphins’ history books.
Tagovailoa wasn’t the only Dolphins offensive player to break into the team’s record books in the first half of the Cowboys game.
Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle became the first wide receiver in team history to pass the century mark in receiving yards for three consecutive seasons.
Waddle needed just 36 yards in the final three games to accomplish the feat and vaulted himself into the record books with a 50-yard reception against cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
The Alabama connection (Tua-Waddle) remains strong early for a second straight game and has paid dividends as Hill continues to play through an ankle injury that he sustained in Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football.
And then there’s 31-year-old Raheem Mostert.
The running back leads the league in total touchdowns for a non-quarterback (21) and surpassed Ricky Williams last week for the most rushing touchdowns (18) in team history in a single season.
Mostert scored his 21st of the year with a one-handed grab from Tagovailoa during an 8 play, 71 yard drive, increasing Miami’s lead to 13-7
Mostert, who grew up a big fan of the former Heisman Trophy winner, told reporters this week that Williams reached out to congratulate him on the record.
Mostert, who needed 34 yards to break 1,000 yards for the season for the first time in his career, was able to accomplish the feat. name the play with first down gains of 15 and 5 that capped off a Dolphins drive that resulted without points after Miami failed to convert the ball on fourth down from the Cowboys 3 yard line.
Mostert’s career moment came four years ago when he rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns against Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game before the 49ers lost to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl in Miami.
Mostert says he wants another taste of that brand of football.
“I just want to help this team as best as I can to get into the postseason,” he said. “And once that happens, you know, I feel like I’m a little fireball. I start rolling in the postseason.”
A Dolphins victory on Sunday will guarantee them a playoff spot. If Miami wins out, they will finish as the top seed in the AFC, earn a bye, and clinch home-field throughout the playoffs until the Super Bowl, which will be played from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Scoring update: Cowboys 7 Dolphins 6. 4:31 remaining in the 2nd quarter at the time of this posting.