Hello Dolphin fans and welcome to the post game recap! The game is over between the Bears and Dolphins that ended in a tie. There was a lot of good and some areas to improve on so let’s dive in! 

To start the game the defense had a three and out and Tua Tagovailoa led out the first team offense. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle did not suit up, but we did see Malik Washington and De’Von Achane get the ball a lot on the drive. Tagovailoa only had one drive today where he went 5/6, 27 passing yards and no touchdowns. Tahj Washington led the game with 3 receptions for 53 yards on 4 targets. Tahj Washington and Malik Washington both played very well in the first of three preseason games the Dolphins will play. The running game went well with 101 rushing yards. Leading the rushing game were Ollie Gordon III and De’Von Achane and Gordon III, Wright, and Mattison scored a rushing touchdown.  

The second team offense struggled a bit being led by Zach Wilson. Wilson got Westbrook-Ikhine involved with a 35-yard reception. An area where Wilson needs to work is his pocket presence since he got sacked four times today. This being his first game with the Dolphins and its offense, there still is optimism that Wilson can freshen up areas of his game. It would not be a surprise if Wilson got more reps against the Lions on Saturday.  

Coming in late in the third quarter we saw rookie Quinn Ewers for the first time. Ewers finished the game going for 91 passing yards, 5/18, and no touchdowns or interceptions. He did get stripped sacked twice causing two lost fumbles, one of which turned into points for the bears. The backup offensive line did not do great to protect Ewers or give him time. We saw newly signed offensive tackle Germain Ifedi in which was not his best game, will need more time to get acclimated to the offense as well. 

We got to see Patrick Paul and Jonah Savaiinaea tag team together for the first time. Those two are the future backbones of this offensive line that got rebuilt in the offseason. Paul played about a quarter while Savaiinaeaa played until halftime.  

Defensively, the newly branded secondary saw some growing pains, but the pass rush and linebackers were the stars of the day. K.J. Britt and Channing Tindall lead the team in tackles, Grayson Murphy and Derrick McLendon each had a sack, Benito Jones and Willie Gay Jr had half a sack. Patrick McMorris had an interception after good coverage by Ethan Bonner which tipped the ball in the air. McLendon, who also had two tackles for losses, played well today. The second year inside linebacker out of Colorado, lead the Dolphins backup defense and made coaches keep an eye on him with his play. For a moment, the Dolphins run defense struggled out of the half but got it together throughout the third quarter. 

The special team’s unit was the best unit today for the Dolphins. On punts and kickoffs, players ran to the ball with a purpose stopping the Bears from getting anything. New special team’s coordinator Craig Aukerman is looking to rebuild one of the worst special team’s units a year ago, and today, he got off to a great start. Dee Eskridge, Erik Ezukanma, and AJ Henning showed their skills in returning kicks. Eskridge led the team with a 41-yard kick return that in return ended with a Jaylen Wright rushing touchdown.  

Areas the team needs to work on to succeed this season are limiting the penalties. The Dolphins had 10 penalties that cost the team 68 yards. The Bears had four first downs from defensive penalties committed by the Dolphins. This will need to be addressed before the season as penalties are not a part of the winning formula, in a possible last chance effort to win a playoff game this year. 

With the first preseason game in the book of 2025, the team will soon head to Detroit, Michigan against the Lions. There will be joint practices and a 1P.M. kickoff on Saturday. The team will need to tighten up certain areas like the penalties and turnovers, but this is what preseason is all about. 

Cover Photo Credit: Miami Dolphins