Photo courtesy of Miami Dolphins
Things have gone from bad to worse for the Miami Dolphins. On Sunday, Miami dropped its third straight game with a 27-17 home loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Miami is now 1-3 and two games out of first place in the AFC East. The Dolphins were plagued by self-inflicted wounds on Sunday in the defeat.
Miami will now try to circle the wagons as it prepares to visit the reigning Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before it does, here are five “Fin”teresting facts from Sunday’s disappointing loss.
1. 0-2 Familiar
With Sunday’s 27-17 defeat, the Miami Dolphins are off to an 0-2 start at home for the third straight season. The Dolphins opened last season’s home slate with competitive losses to the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks. In 2019, Miami played its first two games and the first two games of head coach Brian Flores’ tenure at home. The Dolphins lost to the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots by a combined 102-10 margin.
This season, the home slate began with a 35-0 shutout against Buffalo. If there is a silver lining, it’s that Miami did win five of its final six home contests last season.
2. Turnover Streak Hits 26
There weren’t many positives from Sunday’s defeat, but one was that the Dolphins managed to extend the NFL’s longest streak with a takeaway to 26 games. After the opening drive for the Dolphins resulted in just one first down, Michael Palardy was forced to punt. It was mishandled by Indianapolis’ Nyheim Hines and Miami recovered at the Colts’ 27-yard-line.
The Dolphins would cash in with a Jason Sanders’ field goal. The kick served as the game’s first points and Miami’s only lead, 3-0.
3. First Time for Everything…This Season
With Sunday’s contest already well in doubt, the Dolphins finally found the end zone in the fourth quarter. Tight end Mike Gesicki and wide receiver DeVante Parker each hauled in touchdown passes from quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Last season, the two finished first and second on the team in touchdown receptions.
Gesicki caught six scoring tosses while Parker caught four in 2020. The catches on Sunday each served as their firsts of the 2021 season.
4. Brissett Can’t Get it Done Against Former Team
Brissett got his second start for Miami on the season and it came against his former team. After starting his career with the New England Patriots, Brissett spent five years with Indianapolis and made 34 starts, going 12-22.
It was his first start against a former team for Brissett and he struggled. Brissett finished 20-for-30 with 199 yards and two touchdowns, but fumbled twice and missed numerous throws. The last Miami starting quarterback to beat his former team was Ryan Fitzpatrick last season in a pair of wins over the New York Jets.
5. Two Decades, No Home Wins vs. Colts
Diehard Dolphins’ fans recall the team’s last playoff, which was a 23-17 overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts in the 2000 AFC Wild Card game. Miami beat Indianapolis less than a year later on a Monday night in South Florida, but hasn’t beat the Colts at home since.
The last victory at home for the Dolphins over the Colts was a 41-6 rout in December 2001. Since then, the Dolphins are 0-4 against Indianapolis at home. In Indianapolis over the stretch however, Miami is 3-3 against the Colts.
Mike Ferguson is the managing editor for Fifth Quarter. Be sure to follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeWFerguson. Follow all of Mike’s work by liking his Facebook page.