NFL
Oakland Raiders vs Miami Dolphins Recap
Dolphins Outlasted The Raiders For A 28-20 Victory
The Miami Dolphins pulled off the win Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. The game would of came down to the wire if Oakland would have kicked a field goal early in the first quarter instead of going for it on fourth and goal.
Oakland held their own in the first half. Former Green Bay Packers WR Jordy Nelson finally got involved as a Raider. A pass on the first drive was short up the middle but Nelson was able to dodge defenders before getting forced out of bounds for 61 yards total. Two plays later, QB Derek Carr throws a pass out of the shotgun straight into the end zone to Nelson for a touchdown.
Miami was unable to score until the second quarter. Their running game has got them nowhere, but QB Ryan Tannehill kept them alive with 289 passing yards and three touchdown passes. It also didn’t help that Carr has a habit of throwing interceptions.
Nelson A New Threat For The Raiders?
Nelson might have finally found a rhythm with the Raiders. He was in Green Bay for a decade and QB Aaron Rodgers’ top receiver. Moving teams and adjusting to a whole new QB is hard if the rhythm is something completely different. It took him the pre-season and three regular season games to catch on. Nelson showed his power and that his 11th season he is still a top receiver. Nelson had six receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown. Making him the top receiver in fantasy this week.
How Are The Miami Dolphins 3-0?
The Dolphins are now 3-0 for the first time since the 2002 season. Miami only won six games last season, but they are also the only team to ever have a perfect season. It might of been in 1972, but they are showing a lot of similarities to their record-setting season. Tannehill has thrown seven touchdown passes and only two interceptions. Miami has yet to get their run game really going, but the defense steps up in retaliation, stopping the third down and forcing turnovers in the clutch.
Their 3-0 standing has them placed first in the AFC East. Their upcoming opponents-Patriots, Bengals, Bears and Lions-can give them a run for their money. But the way the Dolphins have played the first three games shows that every other team they face should be a bit worried.
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Photo credit to Raul-305 via Flickr
